She’s dressed in a red two-piece suit with nails and lipstick to match. Glossy, raven-black hair hangs like a curtain down her back. Her bronze skin is as flawless as her makeup. A dainty gold flower stud adorns her nose. Long lashes frame eyes so dark they seem to be bottomless.
She meets us halfway across the floor, her gaze direct and friendly. If this were high school, I’d want to be her friend.
Ignoring Dante, she offers me a broad smile. “Miss Teszner, I’m so pleased to meet you.”
She knows who I am? I steal a sidelong glance at Dante who stands like a statue next to me.
“If you’re wondering how I know your name, I made your hotel reservation. Naturally, Dante told me he’d be bringing you with him to the office tonight.”
He did? He obviously tells her more than he tells me.
She extends a hand. “I’m Penny, Dante’s assistant.”
I shake her hand. “Please, call me Tatiana.”
She rolls her eyes in Dante’s direction. “I would if my boss wouldn’t kill me.”
“Cut the dramatics, Penelope,” Dante grumbles.
She hooks her arm through mine, drawing me away from Dante as she leads me toward the big room. “I hope you’re not too tired after the journey. Would you like to freshen up?”
“I’m good, thank you.”
“We have an excellent choice of refreshments. Are you hungry? The spirulina muffins are a great choice if you’re sporty like Dante, but my favorite are the black velvet ones.” She winks. “You can see it on my hips, can’t you?” We stop in front of the office. “I can get you a cappuccino or a latte to go with that.”
I take an immediate liking to her. “That’s kind, thanks, but I’m not hungry or thirsty.”
“Are you sure?” She studies my face like my mom used to do whenever she told me I was losing too much weight. “We also have freshly squeezed mango juice or mint-infused sparkling water. Personally, I’m a fan of the cucumber water. The herbal tea selection is extensive if you prefer that to coffee.”
“I’m fine, really.”
Taking my elbow, Dante pulls me to him. “She said no, Penelope.”
Penelope shakes her head. “Jesus, Dante. Don’t be such a jerk. I’m just making sure.”
“You can go home now,” he says coolly. “Thanks for waiting.”
She clicks her tongue and pats my hand. “If you need anything, don’t bother to ask him. Just call me. And if he doesn’t give you the number, it’s listed.”
After directing an accusing glare at Dante, she takes her leave.
Reino opens the door. Dante leads me inside a spacious boardroom with an oval table and at least twenty chairs. A slender, attractive man sits at the end of the table, an empty cup and one of those famous muffins half-eaten in front of him. He’s wearing a three-piece dove-grey suit that matches the color of his hair.
He stands when we enter. “Dante.”
Reino and two of the men take up a position in the room. The others wait outside, standing guard at the door.
Dante pulls out a chair for me.
Not having a choice, I sit down. I’m not sure my legs will carry me. I’m too nervous, not liking it when I don’t know what to expect, although I’m ninety-nine percent certain this is the part where I sign over what’s left of my inheritance.
Dante shakes the man’s hand. “Thanks for coming.”
The man pushes gold-rimmed spectacles up his nose, barely glancing at me. He slides a file over the table toward Dante and puts a Montblanc pen on the folder. “Everything is ready as you instructed.”
Dante doesn’t take a seat. He stands over me as he opens the file and puts a stack of papers in front of me.
I pick up the first page and start reading, but everything blurs in my vision. I have to blink several times for my eyes to focus. I only catch a phrase here and there. The legal jargon is confusing. What I do understand though, is the word printed in big fat letters at the top of the page.
