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“That won’t be necessary,senhora.”
“Good. Will you keep my secret?”
“Of course.”
Bullshit.
* * *
When I getinside the main building at Huntsman Lodge, I’m given immediate access to the elevator. Either the security personnel recognized my face, or they were expecting me. Even if Alvarez didn’t tattle, Antonio certainly knows at this point.
Now that I’m here in a building with his name splashed all over it in big letters, I’m a little nervous. But I won’t let a few jitters stop me. If I allow him free rein to cheat, he’ll never stop.
His assistant, Cecelia, is waiting for me when the elevator doors open, and she escorts me to his office. “You can go right in. He’s expecting you.”
Of course he is.
I’ve never been inside his office.Maybe that tells me everything I need to know.
I take a deep breath before entering.
44
DANIELA
The fury, the disappointment, the embarrassment, and yes, the hurt that I’ve tried to control since I first saw those pictures several hours ago are a tempest now, with a flood threatening. But I will not give him my tears.Not a single fucking one.
Antonio’s leaning back in his chair, with an elbow resting on the graceful arm.He’s beautiful. But only on the outside.
The truth is, I’m almost angrier at myself than I am at him. How could I have been so foolish as to believe he’d be faithful? That I would ever be enough—me, enough for a man who believes that a marriage is nothing more than a business transaction. He said it himself. I just didn’t want to believe it.Stupid, stupid, stupid woman.
Antonio’s a cheater—that’s on him. But my heartache is my own doing.
He appraises me from head to toe, with the gaze of a predator. “Princesa, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?”
I’m consumed with the urge to hurl everything within reach at his head, but I’m not playing that game. It’s too easy to dismiss an out-of-control woman. He’s going to have to deal with someone who’s calm and composed—at least on the outside.
“I’d like a few minutes of your time.”
“Then you’ll need to make an appointment.” His tone is dismissive, but I’m not going anywhere. “I make it a rule to keep my personal life separate from my business. It couldn’t wait?”
“Perhaps. But I came because I have no idea when you’ll be home again. It can’t wait forever.” I flash him a saccharine smile, and he glowers. He’s not amused. That makes two of us.
“Say what you came to say.”
I take the photos out of my tote bag and toss them on the desk in front of him, and then I sit in the chair across from him.
“They arrived with today’s mail.” It occurs to me that I should have made a copy, or at the very least taken a picture of the images.
He glances at the top photo and shoves the entire pile aside. “I’ve already told you that you don’t need to worry about Sonia.”
“And I’ve already told you that I won’t be embarrassed publicly. There are few places in Porto that are as public as the Intercontinental.”And gorgeous. It’s always been my favorite hotel. But I’ll never set foot in it again.
He doesn’t say a word about the photos before he picks up the phone. “Do you have any information about the matter you brought to my attention this morning?”
Really, Antonio?You’re going to do business while I’m sitting here waiting for an explanation? If he’s thinking I’ll storm off in a huff, he’s mistaken. I lean back in the chair, cross my legs, and fold my arms across my chest.
“It’s enough for me,” he says to the person on the phone. “Send Thiago to pick up our friend. My office. Right now,” he adds before hanging up.
