"The library. Your father's already waiting."
Of course, he is.
This is going to be bad, I can feel it.
We follow Caterina through a side hallway to a room lined with books. My father stands by the window, a glass of scotch in hand, looking every inch the disappointed patriarch.
Nothing unusual.
"Close the door," he says without turning around.
I do. The click of the lock sounds too loud in the quiet room.
"This better be important," I say. "We were leaving."
"Oh, it's important." Caterina moves to a desk, picks up a manila folder. "I've been doing some research on Miss Mancini. And I found some very... interesting information."
My hand slides into my pocket, fingers closing around the ring. Whatever this is, whatever game she's playing, it doesn't matter. I've already made my choice.
"Caterina—"
"Did you know," she continues, opening the folder, "that your girlfriend used to be an escort?"
The room goes silent.
Bianca goes rigid beside me. I can feel her starting to shake.
I think I’m also frozen.
"Not just any escort," Caterina pulls out photos, spreads them across the desk. "A high-end one. Catering to wealthy clients. Many of whom are in this room tonight."
My bones are frozen but I force myself to look. The photos show Bianca—younger, different hair, but unmistakably her—at restaurants, hotels, entering luxury apartments.
Fuck.
"Client lists." Caterina produces more papers. "Hotel receipts. Payment records. Three years of documented evidence that your girlfriend sold herself."
"That's enough." My voice comes out flat.
"Is it?" She looks up, eyes gleaming. "Because I also have testimony from several clients. Including my uncle Richard. Remember him?” She asks, turning to Bianca. “The man she was so cozy with in the powder room at your father's party," she adds, turning back to me.
Bianca makes a small sound. Broken. Devastated.
"He recognized her immediately," Caterina continues. "Confirmed everything. She charged two thousand dollars for dinner and conversation. Very... wholesome services, apparently. Though I'm sure some clients wanted more."
I just stand rigid. I have no idea what to think yet. But I’d be damned if I let this bitch’s plan work.
"Stop." I step forward.
"Your girlfriend is a whore, Dante." My father finally turns around. "A common prostitute who sold herself like?—"
"I said stop." The words come out as a snarl.
"Why?" Giulio takes a long drink. "Because the truth hurts? Because you've been parading around a woman who's been with God knows how many men in our social circle? Do you have any idea what this does to our family name?"
I grit my teeth. "I don't care."
"You should." Caterina gathers the evidence. "Because I'm going to make sure everyone knows. Every judge you've ever dealt with. Every politician. Every business associate. They'll all know that Dante Vitale's girlfriend used to fuck them for money."
