AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m just worried you’re doing something dangerous,” I mutter.
Since I became Don, the dynamics of our relationship have been heavily shifted. Now that he doesn’t have so much responsibility he’s been inclined to pursuing other hobbies. Hobbies I’m not sure I’d like if I was made aware of them.
“I’ll be fine,” he says, before looking me over. “How are you, mi amore?”
“I’m fine, why are you asking?”
“Oh, one of the men was telling me that you were ill yesterday. If you’re still ill, you should be in bed resting.”
My fist clenches. Despite Rico specifically telling them not to, they still tattled to my father. It’s like they’re intentionally undermining me. My father might not be doing so intentionally, but the men are sending a clear message, the more they do so. They don’t trust me, they don’t accept me. I’m willing to bet it’s because I’m a woman.
Still I bat the thoughts away. It’s a problem for another time.
“I was feeling a little nauseous last night, Papa. But I’m okay now, thanks for asking.”
His brown eyes don’t leave my face but after a second, his expression eases.
“Alright. You’ll let me know if there’s any trouble right, Katerina?”
“Of course,” I say, the lie leaving my lips easily.
There’s probably nothing that would make me go to my father for help. Doing so would be a show of weakness. He knows it, I know. Whatever’s wrong, I’ll handle it myself.
“Have a nice day, mi amore,” he tells me, stepping aside.
He’s humming a tune as he walks away while I head for my car. Rico’s already there, waiting for me. His eyes roam over my face, searching for a hint of yesterday in my expression. He won’t find anything but steel. Once he’s assured himself that I’m okay, he opens the door for me.
“Where to first?” I ask him.
“Headquarters. I need to tell you something in private. And then we need to deal with some other issues.”
He opens the car door and I enter. Thirty minutes later, we’re at my family’s most protected building apart from the house. The building is like a vault and contains all of our most prized information secrets. It’s where all our affairs are handled, different rooms for different problems.
When we arrive, Rico and I take a seat in my office.
“I looked into the Steeles, to find out some information on them.”
I cock my head to the side. “You mean you tried to look into them,” I correct. “Steele industries is a technological giant in the corporate world. They have robust encryption protocols and are continuously monitoring their network traffic. Basically, they’re a fortress with a hell of a lot of security codes to prevent any of their data from ever leaking. They have firewalls and codes, most of them built personally by both Alexander and Graham Steele. There’s no looking into them. Any information they don’t want out, doesn’t get out.”
Rico blinks before rolling his eyes.
“Took the words right out of my mouth,” he says sarcastically. “But seriously, if we can’t find anything on them, then you’re walking into this meeting blind.”
I shrug. Rico’s eyes narrow. “And you’re not worried,” he says.
“It doesn’t matter. By 5pm today, I’ll know what I need to know.”
I’m absolutely terrified. Alexander assured me it was business but there’s no way he can keep his personal feelings aside during a meeting with me. Neither of us can.
When the time for the meeting arrives, I head for the hotel with my head held high. I’m in complete control, intent on not losing my cool. As soon as I step onto the rooftop however, my steps falter. I spot him immediately.
My stomach churns as I stare at him for a few seconds before he looks up. There’s a dark scowl etched onto his handsome face as he sits. Eyes on his phone, fingers scrolling. He’s in a casual three piece suit sans a tie. His dark hair is as full as I remember, although it’s straighter instead of wavy. His eyes, the same striking green that haunts my dreams. He’s grown more muscular, his jawline as sharp as ice.
The expressionless face is new though. The Alexander I remember used to have an openness to him that was endearing. The man seated gives off a vibe that feels like a ‘fuck you and stay away’ to the rest of the world. My heart tightens.
He’s changed.
He looks up then and I’m frozen in place. I fell in love with that man when I was 19 years old. And then I destroyed us.
