Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 62

The door to Kent's office is wide open when Daniel and I arrive, so we step in, still holding hands. Daniel pushes it closed behind us and I spend a little longer than necessary looking at the dark wood of the closed door, remembering what had happened there only a few hours ago. When I turn to look at Kent, I anxiously take a step closer to Daniel's side. Is Kent seriously going to tell Daniel what happened last night? I hope, fervently, that he won't. Daniel would feel so betrayed, and I can't hurt him like that.

But Kent gives nothing away, standing there behind his desk, his arms characteristically crossed over the hard muscles of his chest. My eyes flit over his body and I despite myself I can't help remembering the hard contours of his form pressed against mine - the feel of him hard and ready for me -

I gulp, dragging my eyes back up to his stern face, refusing to let my mind go there.

"Come," Kent demands, glancing towards the two chairs set in front of his desk. "Sit."

Daniel and I do as we are ordered, walking quickly across the room and settling ourselves in the chairs. He gives my palm a little pulse with his fingers before dropping my hand, silently letting me know that our agreement still stands, that we're on each other's side. God, I hope that by the end of this meeting that's still true. Anxious, I fold my hands in my lap.

"We have decisions to make," Kent says sternly, looking first at Daniel, and then at me. "After Fay's embarrassing display yesterday," he continues, fixing his eyes on me, "I frankly don't see any point in going forward with this charade of an engagement." My mouth drops open in shock and I hear Daniel give a little cry of protest.

Kent holds up a hand, though, silencing him and continuing. "It's not as if you, Daniel," Kent says, "have done very much to ensure her fidelity. I'm aware that the two of you don't have much of a romantic connection, and I've never cared about that, but you've certainly taken no pains to ensure that your bride is content enough to keep in line."

I glance over at Daniel and see that he's blushing at this, chagrined.

"We can be better," I hear myself blurt, speaking without thinking. "Daniel and I will spend more time together - we'll make sure that we're seen in public, having fun, being...being romantic..."

I bite my lip, wondering, really, how much it will take to wipe the memory of my date with Ivan from people's minds. But then, at the thought of Ivan, my stomach turns over a bit. Despite his betrayal, his public display of what I thought was a secret date, I have to admit that I am attracted to him.

Is this really what I want? To be tied to Daniel in a loveless relationship, when someone like Ivan...

My eyes travel to Kent, then, too. Tied to Daniel when someone like Kent...

"No," Kent answers, interrupting my train of thought, his voice low and flat. "Too much damage has been done. Your relationship is a laughing stock now. It's dead." He flicks his eyes to Daniel then. "I'll find you a new bride, soon. One a little more manageable than this one."

I blush at this, looking down at my hands, feeling terribly guilty. I had thought it was just a date with Ivan - a little freedom. I hadn't realized how much I was ruining.

"Dad," Daniel says, leaning forward in his chair, "this can't be the end of it - I like Fay - she's precisely the girl I want to marry -"

"It's done, Daniel," Kent intones, dismissive, looking down at a thin document on his desk. "Forget it. Move on. I'll arrange for your first date with an appropriate girl sometime this week." Daniel apparently forgotten, Kent shoves the document in my direction, looking directly at me.

"You're still an important person in this world, Fay," he says cooly, and I feel myself surprised to hear him admit what I've long suspected. That my relationship with the family means something to him. "I'd still like to have you formally tied to the Lippert family, to be known and understood as one of mine. Here is the offer I'd like to make you, in exchange for your allegiance."

I hesitate, glancing at Daniel before reaching forward and taking the document off the desk. I page through it, not understanding most of the legal wording there, until I get to the third page which details...

"Oh my god," I stammer, my eyes going wide as I look up at Kent in disbelief. "Is this is this for real?"

Slowly, Kent nods, studying me. "Yes, Fay. One million dollars a year, and the purchase of your childhood home with the deed immediately signed over to your adoptive father. Plus, the purchase and gift of a beach house, in your name, so you can spend your spare time there with your dad, your sister. Anyone you choose. I don't care which house - you can pick it."

My jaw drops open to hear him confirm what I saw on the paper. I take a moment to digest this in silence, my eyes fixed on Kent, his on me.

"What - what do you want from me?" I ask quietly. "What do you want me to do?"

"I want you to turn on your father." he answers. "Quietly, discreetly, so that I can wipe out his power in this world and take it for myself. I'll direct your every move, don't worry. But in particular, I want you to continue your relationship with Ivan, to convince him to leave Alden and ally with me instead."

I blink in shock, staring up at his audacity. But, frankly, it's - it's brilliant...

"Fay," Daniel protests, worried. "Don't do it - don't get involved in this, it's too dangerous - I can give you more, keep you safe -"

"Do you have a pen?" I interrupt, my eyes on Kent. Kent pulls a pen from a cup on his desk and slides it across the desk to me. Daniel tries to grab it first, but I swat his hand away, snagging the pen and hastily signing my name to the bottom of the fourth page. "Fay," Daniel moans, putting his head in his hands. "What did you just do -"

"It's everything I've ever wanted, Daniel," I explain, turning apologetic eyes to him. "A way to help my family, to stand on my own two feet, to mark my allegiance with this family. And you and I - we can still be - but we can..." I hesitate, not knowing how to say it all just now.

But I shake my head, dismissing it, instead turning my eyes to Kent now, grateful for this gift. "Thank you, Kent," I say, meaning every word. "I'll do everything I can. Thank you."

He nods, his face stern, but I swear I see something flicker behind his eyes. A softness I don't usually see there.

Daniel pushes his chair back hard as he gets to his feet, storming towards the door. "I'll never forgive you for this, Dad," he asserts, staring hard at his father as he yanks the door open. "She was mine, the only one I had on my side, and you took her from me." I feel guilt roil in my stomach as I realize, suddenly, that he's right. We entered this room promising each other that we'd be a team, and at the first hint of money and freedom...I abandoned him.

I lower my eyes in shame as Daniel slams the door shut behind him.

"Don't," Kent says, his voice soft.

I look up at him, confused.

"Don't let him make you feel bad for doing what's right for you," he insists, his voice steady. "You made the right choice, Fay. And I'll take care of you. I won't let you get hurt."

I nod, agreeing, but still...Daniel was the only friend I had in this house, really. Was I totally alone now?

"Besides," Kent continues, producing a second document from the top drawer of the desk. "We're not finished with our business today."

I frown, leaning forward and picking up the document. What else could there possibly be? I glance over it, frowning, not understanding the meaning. It looked like a basic non-disclosure agreement, but... "What's it for?" I ask, looking up at him.

"It's a contract, Fay." Kent explains slowly. "For an additional service I'd like you to perform. One that will be...quite lucrative."

I return my eyes to the contract, blinking in shock at the astronomical number I see printed on the second page. "What - what for?" I ask, meeting his eyes again. "What do you want me to do?"

Kent places his hands evenly on his desk, his muscular shoulders rolling as he leans across it to bring his face closer to mine. His green eyes flash with hunger as he stares into my eyes.

"I want you to be my mistress, Fay."

I go stock still when I hear the words, completely unable to move, to react. His eyes hold mine for a moment and then rove lower, to my mouth, my chest, my legs crossed neatly in the chair before dragging slowly back to my face. "And I'm willing to pay handsomely for the privilege."