"Okay, so...congratulations are in order, I guess," I say, plastering a smile on my face.Then I remember I have to seduce just one of them, so I lower my voice, all coquettish and everything, and run my hands down each of their arms.And burn my fingertips in the process.Their utterly defined muscles are blatantly evident under the luxurious fabric of their suits.
"Congratulations, Lorenzo," I purr, except I sound hoarse as crap.How do people purr?Will Lorenzo fall for me?Hardly, the man barely smiles and doesn't tolerate anything less than perfection.I'm so not perfect.Who wants to be that boring?
"Congratulations, Emilio."I try a little laugh to go with my murmur, and it turns into a cackle, and I swallow half his name.Maybe Emilio?Gosh, no.He folds his fitted sheets, I just know it, while I bundle them up around my arms and toss them into my linen closet.Emilio is a neat freak, and I live in organized chaos.
Moving on.
"Congratulations, Marcello," I say, trying to sound like I said something sinful, but honestly, I could see why someone would think I needed an exorcism.
Gosh, I'm exhausted.Trying to seduce three men at the same time, hoping one catches on, is intense.I need a year-long nap.
And no.I'm the last woman Marcello, god to all women, will fall for.I've seen the types of women on his arm.I don't even come close to their league.
Great, three mafia bachelors, and not one of them would willingly want to marry me.
Why couldn't I have gotten here when Pablo Moretti was still in the king's chair?
Chapter Five
––––––––
Isabella
––––––––
But then I think aboutmy father.My family.I mean, we could start over from nothing, but I know my dad; the devastation would kill him.And I need my life to remain the same.I'm not strong enough for change.
No.I need to get my father back.I need to marry one of them against my heart's wishes, and then my father has to pay all his debts, some of them to mafia organizations, I later discovered.I hate that my father was desperate enough to take loans from sharks just to see his dream being built.
But after we're in the clear, he's retiring for good.No more shenanigans for him.
"What do you want, Isabella?"Lorenzo asks.
Right.
I strode toward the massive boardroom table and leaned my bum against the edge.
