Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 115

I stare at Kent for a second, shocked and confused. What, really, is he asking me?

"I'm serious, Fay," Kent continues. "What's your price? An adjustment to the contract? Money? A condo in Milan?"

I go still for a moment, considering that a condo in Milan sounds amazing -

But then I turn fully to him, frowning. "Kent, do you ever consider that my continuing to communicate with Ivan might benefit you too? That I might be doing it for your sake?" "Really," Kent says, his voice rich with sarcasm. "You kissed Ivan last night for my sake."

"One," I say, taking a few quick steps closer to him, "I did not kiss Ivan last night -" I grimace a little inwardly, thinking that Kent doesn't really know that I was definitely going to kiss Ivan last night had Natalia not interrupted - "and two," I continue, interrupting Kent before he can object, "that last night Ivan told me some really interesting stuff that you might want to know."

Kent snaps his mouth shut and considers me for a moment. "Fine," he says, giving in. "What did he tell you that was so worth it?"

"Kent," I hesitate, coming to stand in front of him again and look up into his face, wanting to see how he reacts. "Ivan asked me again to come to his side. He insisted - insisted that you're going down. I don't know why he wants me to do it - if it's because he has feelings for me, or wants the allegiance to my dad, I don't know - but Kent," I pause, shaking my head and hoping he hears me, "Ivan was sure. He says it's dangerous for me to stay in this house. He wants me out."

Kent grits his teeth and looks away from me, his eyes going vague as he processes this news. "It doesn't mean anything, Fay," he mutters. "I can protect you."

"I know," I say, putting a hand on his arm and making him look down at me again. "But Kent, if you let me talk to him, maybe I can find out more. Don't cut off this connection. We can get more from it."

"Fine," Kent growls, leaning down and surprising me by pressing a kiss to my mouth, a lingering one that floods my stomach with heat. "But Fay," he says when he pulls away. "No hands. All right?"

"You know Kent," I murmur, looking up at him from under my eyelashes. "If you were just willing to admit that you didn't want him touching me because you have feelings for me," I whisper, smirking, "I might be obliged to do it for free."

Kent glares at me, but I see the smile starting on his lips as he considers my counter-offer. "Two condos, Fay. Milan and Paris."

I laugh, shoving away from him and wrinkling my nose. "Show me the property listings," I say, giving him a little wink and turning to head back to the door. "And we'll talk."

I finish my tiny coffee by the time I finish climbing the winding iron stair and, after I push through the back of the wardrobe and duck back into my room, I place the empty cup on my bedside table as I yawn and head for the shower. Honestly, after five hours of sleep, one cup doesn't cut it.

I smirk as I turn the shower on and, stripping off my barely-worn pajamas, I consider whether I can convince Kent to let me install a fancy little coffee bar of my own in my room...

By the time I come of the bathroom, though, I'm feeling much more awake. I'm also pleased to see that my clothes for the day have been delivered. I move to them, unfolding them quickly and finding that a frown comes to my face as I consider the perky little white sundress that Kent has sent me for the day - patterned with sunflowers and tied with yellow ribbons at the shoulders.

I mean it's...just not quite right.

I mean, I didn't get into any of the strategic books that Kent recommended for me, but my mind is starting to mull over some of the things that Kent said last night, especially now that I've got a little espresso in me to fuel my thoughts.

And while this little sundress is very cute, and fashionable, and the perfect dress for a day of summer shopping...it also feeds into everything Natalia says about me that makes me feel bad about myself.

Natalia already talks to me like I'm a stupid little girl whose role in this family is strictly as an ornament, if that. In many ways she looks at me as less than that - as a weight, a detriment, someone who cannot take care of Daniel (which she implies is my job) and a silly little nothing who distracts the men from their duties.

So showing up to breakfast today in sunflowers and ribbons?

It only reinforces what Natalia already thinks of me.

Very suddenly, I shake my head and re-fold the dress, moving to my wardrobe to tuck it away for a better moment. Then I sort through the selection of clothing that Kent keeps stocked in my wardrobe at all times, pulling out a simple pair of tight black cigarette pants, a black belt, and a form-fitting green turtle neck as well as my favorite pair of comfortable black pumps.

My outfit chosen, I move towards my vanity and suddenly notice the little manila folder sitting on my bed which was apparently tucked under the clothes that Kent sent. Curious, I pick it up and flip it open, laughing when I see a printed real estate listing for a ridiculously gorgeous, ridiculously expensive flat in Paris overlooking the Sienne. At the top of the page, in Kent's neat and precise handwriting, is written "in exchange for no hands."

I toss the little folder away on my bed, shaking my head, taking it for the joke that it is.

Honestly, Kent's much funnier now that he's getting laid consistently.

I sit myself down in front of my mirror and quickly braid my hair so that it falls straight down my back. That done, I apply very simple, very serious makeup and quickly dress, glancing at the clock and realizing that I'm about five minutes late for breakfast. Perfect, I think, slipping on my shoes and smirking a little as I head for the door.

As I push through the door into the kitchen, I see that Daniel, Alessi, and Natalia are already seated at our little table for two, which has been expanded recently to make room for our guests. Daniel is the only one facing the kitchen door and his eyes go wide with surprise when I walk in. I give him a little wink and then walk cooly past our table, heading directly for the espresso machine. There, I take my time making a double and then - in a move I've never been brave enough to make before I stop by the table of old men who are always in the corner at breakfast time.

They greet me warmly, as if I do this every day, and I slide one hand cooly into the pocket of my tight pants as I ask how they are and talk playfully with them about their plans for the day as well as my own.

"Little Fay," one of them says - an uncle on Kent's side, though I don't know his name and feel guilty about it, after all these months. I make a mental note to ask Daniel. "You come see us more often, okay?" He gently pats my arm before tapping his cheek, asking for a little kiss, which I give him with a laugh. "Knock 'em dead," says Anthony, another of the crew.

"Especially that flashy one," growls the last - the eldest - glaring over at Natalia.

"I'll do my best," I promise, giving him a big smile before walking casually away and bringing my coffee over to my seat next to Daniel.

"Well, Fay," Alessi says, grinning at me. "You are looking very beautiful today."

"Beautiful," Natalia concedes, looking me up and down, "but inappropriate for our day of shopping. Fay, what is wrong with you? You don't know how to dress?"

Daniel opens his mouth to defend me but I speak over him, still not sitting down.

"Sorry, Natalia," I say, tilting my head to the side in an apology I definitely don't feel. "My plans have changed - I have a meeting today with a very important man. You'll have to go shopping on your own. Do you think you can manage? I can show you where to pick up the bus that takes you to the shopping center."