He continued. “You can release your statement, but her identity stays anonymous.”
“Dio mio, basta!”
Everyone flinched except for Nicolas.
Instead, he replied to his father’s outburst,“No, ha qualcosa di importante da fare. Non può rivelarsi adesso. O così, oppure quei vecchi restano scontenti di me.”
Both men’s eyes stay leveled on each other.
“Plus we already agreed to have the announcement with her identity revealed early next year. It will be done, Father. Just not now.”
Riccardo continued staring. “Nicolas…are you telling me her business is more important than yours?”
“We both know you won’t like the answer to that question, so why ask it?”
His expression stayed stoic as he searched Nicolas’s face for something. Then slowly, he gave a stiff nod. “Fine, but the next time something like this happens I will not be listening to a word you say.”
“It won’t.”
“Let me start preparing dinner,” Alessandra interjected. “Anna, take Emily outside for some fresh air. The lilacs have shown some off-season blooming. I’m sure she’ll like them.”
Her daughter promptly escorted Emily from the tense showdown between the Re men. Before she could make it out the door, Riccardo’s voice stopped her. “Your cousin, Jason.”
She turned to face him.
There was a gleam in his gaze, enough to send a shiver through her.
“The one who tanked his clothing company and has been dragging your family’s name through the mud,” he continued. “Rumor has it he borrowed money from the wrong people. If he doesn’t pay up in the next few months, there’ll be a bounty on his head.”
All the muscles in her body contracted.
As much as Emily hated Jason, he was still family. She remembered how he’d begged their grandfather for money again recently. But this time, the old man had told him he’d have to figure things out on his own.
Was this what he’d come up with? Borrowing black market cash?
Nicolas stepped to shield her, his lips parting, but she beat him to it.
“And why is that any of my concern?”
A beat of silence.
Riccardo gave a low, gruff laugh. “Just thought I’d give you a heads-up. We’re now family, after all. Allof us.”
The way he said it was like a verdict.
It made her feel somewhat sick.
Yes, this marriage was a contract, but she was legally tied to him because of his son. His son who resembled him in every way and yet, somehow, didn’t.
Her voice was unwavering. “Jason’s made his mistakes, and I’m sure he’ll learn from them. I appreciate your concern, but trust me, it’s misplaced.”
His cane tapped the floor like a metronome. “You’re good at pretending, aren’t you?” he mused. “I suppose that’s why you became an actress. Does it serve you just as well outside of work?”
“Enough.”
Nicolas’s arm went around and rested on Emily’s hip. Those brown eyes were gentle as he took her hand in his. She gulped, looking down at where they were now joined, trying to mask her surprise.
Looking back at his father, his lips curled into a sneer. “You can insult me all you want. I can take it. But not her. Never her.”
