“Only when hell freezes over,” I retort.
Lorenzo Di Rossi reminds me of a crocodile lounging on a muddy riverbank. At first glance, he seems harmless. Far too lazy to attack. But the moment his gaze snaps onto me, my fight-or-flight response kicks in.
Angelo and Fina might be the public faces of the Di Rossi family, but this man still wields considerable power. And he knows it.
“Mio caro,” he says with a smile as he stands to greet us. Dry lips brush my cheek, and I struggle not to recoil. While Lorenzo acts like a jovial father-in-law, my instincts tell me he’s dangerous. After all, it’s because of him I’m stuck in a marriage of convenience to a man I despise. “Such a pleasure to finally see you after you ran away from my son.”
The words are spoken with a congenial smile, but his eyes are reptilian cold.
“Such a shame Kane found me,” I quip, refusing to let him get the upper hand. He might hold all the power in the room, but I won't submit without a fight.
Fina sucks in a sharp breath as Lorenzo’s lips flatten and all traces of amusement vanish. The hum of conversation fades as he and I stare at each other. Then he chuckles, and the tension breaks.
“The girl has a sense of humor,” he says with a smile before lifting his hand and summoning a nervous man in a waistcoat over. “More champagne.” The man nods and scurries away. “What do you think of our newest project, Chiara?”
“It’s impressive,” I reply honestly.
“My son and I both appreciate beautiful things.” There’s a subtext there, but I don’t care to examine it too closely.
“The hotel’s booked out for the next twelve months,” Angelo says, butting in. “Profit projections have exceeded our initial forecasts.”
“Good, we can use that to our advantage.” The conversation continues, and after a few minutes of pretending I give a fuck, I accept a glass of champagne and tune them out.
Guests approach to pay their respects, and soon various exquisite dishes arrive. Nobody asked what I wanted, but it all looks delicious, so I don’t care.
Angelo fills my plate for me, acting like a solicitous husband. I’m tempted to stab him with my fork but decide it’s not worth the drama.
Fina doesn’t contribute much to the conversation either, only answering direct questions. It soon becomes apparent that Lorenzo is an old-fashioned misogynist. Even though his daughter works hard for the family, in his eyes, she has no value.
It’s not until Lorenzo turns the conversation to her marriage prospects that I focus once again. Her cheeks pale, but she doesn’t defend herself.
“Henry Graville junior has expressed an interest,” Lorenzo murmurs to Angelo, who nods like this conversation is perfectly acceptable. “But he’s not proven his family can afford her.”
I watch as Lorenzo’s gaze slithers back to me.
“The Faugno heir would have been my first choice,” he muses while sipping a glass of bourbon, having moved on from champagne. “But he’s married some whore waitress.”
Angelo’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Salvatore married a waitress? I wasn’t aware.”
“Yes, the fool. I expect Aroldo wasn’t too happy about it.” Lorenzo sneers at the idea a man might decide to choose to marry for love. At least I assume that was the case. Not having met Salvatore Faugno, who knows? “He has two younger brothers, though.”
“Ah yes, Christiano and Romano.” From Angelo’s cough, neither is marriage material.Thank god.
“Perhaps Fina would like to choose her own husband,” I interject. Angelo’s hand reaches beneath the damask tablecloth and squeezes my thigh in warning. But staying silent is not in my nature.
“Fina will marry whomever I choose.” Lorenzo waves his hand dismissively.
Fina frantically tries to catch my eye, but I shake my head in disgust. “How progressive of you.”
“Get your wife under control,” Lorenzo hisses at Angelo when the people sitting nearby pause their conversation to listen to ours.
“Of course, Dad.” Angelo turns to me with a look that would strip paint. “Darling, let me show you where the bathrooms are.”
Fina’s chair scrapes on the tile as she jumps up. “Let me show her, Angelo. I need to powder my nose.” Angelo’s jaw tightens, but he nods.
“Take Kane with you.” Fina grabs my hand and leads me away from our table before Lorenzo can lynch me. My personal guard dog trails after us and takes a position outside the ladies’ bathroom.
Once inside the cavernous room, Fina waits until a glamorous woman dripping in jewels leaves before she speaks.
