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“Good. I was impressed by how well you handled the meeting yesterday. For someone your age to have so many ideas to take a failing magazine and make it profitable is impressive, don’t you think?”
“Melanie didn’t think so.”
“Don’t worry about her. Who was that you were talking to just now? You appeared annoyed by her.”
“Buffy? She was Melanie’s closest friend, and it was because of her that I was getting fired.”
“Really? Explain.”
“That dress that I collected from Rome. I brought it in, but Buffy snatched it and hid it so I’d get in the shit.”
“What was she just telling you?”
“That Melanie isn’t done with me yet, and neither is she.”
“Regretting our deal? I could have her fired in seconds if I hadn’t agreed not to let anyone else go.”
“She’ll give up soon enough without her buddy here to back her up. Let it go.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
She glares at me. “That’s your trouble. You don’t have to be the big violent macho asshole all the time. Not everything needs to be resolved with a fight. I don’t want to fight. Your daughter doesn’t want to fight. She doesn’t want you killing her bullies. She wants you present in her life. I can tell she wants to be reading to you.”
“She said that?”
“Not in so many words, but trust me, she wants you to be a father, not a businessman. She’s not a firm you can buy out. She’s a person, and she loves you. She’s scared of your temper after seeing you talk to her nannies. You must be gentle with her, or she’ll hate you.”
“Some would call it tough love.”
“That’s what my dad used to call it with me. I hated him for it. You want the same with your little girl?”
“Anything else?”
“Since you asked, I’ll tell you. I’d spend a bit less time worrying about fucking over my brother and a bit more time worrying about losing my daughter.”
I choose to ignore that because I can feel anger rising, but I refuse to give way to it. Blow up, and she might run, and then where will I be with the wedding booked and Alicia already a big fan of hers? “Will you be done with your meeting by eight tonight?”
“I’ll be picking up Alicia and taking her home at four. Why?”
“I want you to try on your wedding dress tonight.”
She freezes on the spot. “I thought maybe you’d forgotten about that,” she whispers.
“It’s booked for tomorrow at nine in the morning, but I need to ensure the dress fits.”
“Do I need a dress if it’s a formality?”
“No wife of mine will get married without the correct dress. Go, get on with your meeting. I’ll see you tonight.”
27
Hunter
* * *
Ernesto looks across at me through the legs of the woman dancing on the table. “Not bad,” he says with a leer. “Am I right?”
“Needs a clean.” I run my hand along the table’s edge, scooping up dust.
