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Staying on guard, I keep my hands in my pockets and look her over. She’s naked, head to toe, not a scrap of fabric on her. Her skin is slightly flushed, telling me she must have just finished with a client. Kelara’s hair is a dark-brown, and her eyes are the shade of honey, highlighting her intentions clearly. Approaching me, she touches my shoulder, and I glare down at her.
“What do you need? If this is business related, you can speak to Giulio.” Coldly, I start shutting her down. I’m not a changed man. I’m not doing this because I have a gorgeous wife at home who I love, but I don’t want to put my cock where my business is, when there is a lot at stake with this new arrangement.
I already fucked her one too many times, and look at how she’s behaving. The way she waltzed into my office like she had some sort of right to me. If word were to spread that I’m sleeping around, then Emelia may get wind, and that could lead to not only a war in the marriage that has already been hinted at, but also between our now blended families. One day, I will satisfy my needs, but not when I’m only one day into marriage.
I’m not a dumb man. That’s for immature boys who can’t control their urges.
“You.” She slinks to me, and I push her away with just enough force to jolt her backward. “What was that?” she asks, seeming affronted.
“Nothing. I’m not interested in this at all. If I want you, I will pay for it,” I insult. She felt it, and her jaw tics, but it's really in her eyes, and if they could slice me down the center, they would.
“You’re an ass.” Moving to grab her, I’m stopped by Giulio's interruption.
“Sir. The Irish are here.”
Wanting to tell her to never disrespect me again, I fight against it, because I don't have the time. Kelara is lucky my second meeting showed up early. I roll out my shoulders and my neck, tugging on the lapels of my suit jacket at the same time, trying to get my head level again and gain back my focus.
“You need this job. I will make you kiss my shoes and then kick you out on the street if you ever disrespect me in here again,” I threaten her, because it's all I have time for. And she knows it.
Cowering under my harsh tone, she drops her head and whispers, “Yes, Dante.”
“Mr. Valiente. You address me as Mr. Valiente.” I leave her with that.
Moments later, she is out of my sight, and Giulio and I make our way down the hall to the conference room.
“How did Emelia react to her new detail?” I ask.
I hired two men to look after her, for both safety reasons and also the glaring fact that I can’t trust her yet. There are two in the penthouse for the times that I am unable to be there—which will be a lot. I felt two was being generous to her, seeing as Iwantedto put two more outside. But there is building security, and I decided to cut her some slack.
“She wasn’t…” He pauses, and I stop and look him directly in the eyes, urging him to go on with just the lift of my brows. “Pleased. We will be replacing some of the dishware. Let’s just say some plates were thrown.”
This gets my blood boiling, and I can’t just sit here and let her get away with being so irrational. Defiant little shit. Grabbing my phone, I select her number and press Call.
“Oh, my dearest husband, to what do I owe this wonderful pleasure?” The word “pleasure” holds such disdain, and I mimic it.
“You little brat. Do you have to turn everything into a fucking show?”
She laughs. “Aw, were the plates your best friends? Do they talk to you and keep you company? Is your little heart as broken as they are?”
“You’re getting on my last nerve. If you want to act like a fucking child, I will treat you as such. Do not keep fucking with me. You want a war, principessa, I can give it to you.”
“Good. I have years of pent-up rage from bullshit handed to me by men like you that I am looking to unload, and you’re the perfect candidate.”
Looking at Giulio, I glare. He steps into the room and gives me a minute out in the hall.
“You either play the part, or I will call your father, and we can call off this deal. I can make the arrangements, and I will start building alliances against one another once again. You want that, wife?” I enunciate the last word, making sure she feels that shit in her goddamn chest. Even though that is the last thing I want to do, because it could get in the way of my pre-made plans, I still use it as a threat. Because I know she hates her family more than she could ever hate me.
Emelia may feel close to that type of hatred, but I haven’t hit that peak yet.
“If it means it would be your downfall, then I wouldn’t give a care in the world. Also, I just want you to know—it's only him. It will always behim. I’ll never stop loving Damian.”
This statement. This enrages me. What the fuck did she just say to me? To make such bold announcements. Does she think she even has a chance to be with him again? We’ll see how much she wants him ones I flay his skin from his very bones.
“You have no idea what I’m capable of. Hold tight, Emelia. This has only just begun.” I end the call, making sure I have the last word.
The rest of the evening dragged on, meetings, business deals, and another fucking letdown. I had to handle a man myself, leaving him with more fingers cut off than attached.
That’s what I do when you steal from me. You’d think everyone would learn after hearing the horror stories on the street about what happens when you take from me. But this just goes to show, you must reinstate force and give reminders of your power. You have to re-terrify those who have forgotten just what you are capable of.
