Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 66

It's almost dark that evening when I pull up to the gates to Kent's estate. I spent the day with Janeen, planning my next steps, letting the sound of her laugher and warm advice wash over me like a healing balm. I also let her curl my hair into sexy waves and exchange my slouchy sweater and leggings for a pair of tight jeans and a turtleneck, all black. She spent some time doing my makeup too, transforming me into the smokey-eyed femme fatale I felt I needed to be to take this next step.

The gates slide open without hesitation and I pull the car through. Instead of heading around the back of the house to the garages, though, I curve around the driveway and park directly before the front door. I take a moment to steel myself and then step out, looking towards the guard I know will be standing by the door at the top of the steps.

I don't let my surprise register when I see that it's Jerome standing there. Instead, I keep my face blank as I walk slowly up to the door and calmly hand him the keys to the Prius I borrowed that morning. "Next time," I say softly, holding his eye. "I'm taking the Lexus."

He blinks at me, shock and confusion on his face, but I brush past, opening the door myself and leaving it ajar as I walk calmly into the house.

I head directly for Kent's office, knowing he'll be there. I don't bother to knock before I open the door.

He turns his head, glaring, opening his mouth to admonish whoever is interrupting him, but he goes silent when he sees me standing there, my arms crossed over my chest, a set of papers folded in my hand.

I don't say anything as I cross the room to him. Kent just closes his mouth, watching me as I walk. I hold his gaze as I stop before him, my expression blank. Then, slowly, I lean forward and place the signed contract on the desk in front of him. "I'm ready when you are," I purr, looking him directly in the eye.

Then, without another word, I turn and leave him alone in his shocked silence.

As soon as I leave Kent's office, I head right for the kitchen, hurrying my steps. Janeen and I had planned every moment of that - parking at the front of the house, demanding a better car from the guard, delivering the contract to Kent and what I would say as I did it. But now that that's all done I don't have a script anymore and I feel my nerves coming back.

What I know I want is a big glass of wine to take upstairs with me, because I have a feeling Kent isn't going to let this rest tonight and I definitely want something to calm me down before -

I stop in my tracks as soon as I enter the kitchen. Daniel's sitting right there, at our breakfast table, reading a book.

Shit. Daniel.

Honestly, I'd forgotten all about him.

He looks up at me and instantly closes his book, coming over to me. "Fay!" he breathes, relief all over his face as he takes my hand. "Are you all right? Where have you been all day?" "Um," I say, my eyes darting away from him. "I went to see my sister -"

"Good," he says, nodding. "I'm glad you got some time away. Are you all right?"

I look up at him, biting my lip and nodding shallowly.

"Good!" he insists, looking at me eagerly. "Fay, there's no reason we can't turn this around - we don't have to listen to him, we can tear up that contract you signed this morning and start our engagement again, on our own terms." "Um," I hesitate, pulling my hand from his. "Daniel?"

He stops, looking at me curiously. "What is it, Fay?"

But I lose courage, folding my arms awkwardly over my chest. "Nothing," I murmur. "Actually, I'm not feeling well. I think I'm just gonna..."

Daniel takes a slow step away from me, putting his hands in his pockets. "Of course, Fay," he murmurs, his voice worried. "Whatever you need."

I give him a little half smile and then head to the fridge, taking out a bottle of wine and grabbing a glass from the counter. I don't look at him again as I scurry out the door, though I can feel his eyes on me.

"Coward," I hiss, cursing myself as I hurry up the stairs. Damn it, at the first trial of this new, powerful me I totally collapsed. I dart into my room, pressing the door closed and taking a deep breath, closing my eyes as I steel myself.

I know that I owe Daniel more than that. But damn it, Janeen and I didn't plan what I was going to say to him, and he caught me by surprise. But I could do it - I figure out the best way to break it to him that I was leaving him for his dad - "Oh my god," I mutter, flying open. God damn it, but this was so ridiculous.

I move across the room then, opening the bottle of wine and pouring myself a big glass. This was Janeen's advice too - a drink for courage, but not so much that I get sloppy. There was, apparently, a fine balance. But I drink the glass of wine quickly, my hands shaking a little as I glance towards the door.

I don't know if I'm going to be able to find that balance tonight.

I pull a new phone out of my back pocket - one that Janeen gave me this afternoon, one of her "burners," she called it, that she usually uses to text her married clients from the club who want a little more anonymity.

Kent took away my phone when I first got here, but things are different now. I'm not his son's fiancé who needs protection anymore. I work for him now - not just as his girlfriend, but as his spy. And as such, I'm entitled to certain freedoms. Like texting my sister whenever I want.

I send her a quick text now, hoping she can give me a little courage. My stomach is all tied in knots.

Fay: Here now - part one of the plan went just as we want it to! Now, just sitting in my room waiting for him to respond??

A few seconds later, her reply beeps through.

Janeen: You've got this, little sis! Remember - it's about what you want. Don't let him pressure you into moving faster than you want to. Make him wait.

I nod to myself, bolstered by her words. That's right. It's about me now. And I may have agreed to be his - his mistress -

God, I've got to stop getting nauseous when I think that word -

But he does not have any right to make me feel -

I jump as a knock sounds on the door and freeze, my eyes going wide. Oh my god. Was that him? Does he want to...

I hesitate, waiting, but another knock doesn't come. I put my wine glass down and slowly walk to the door.

"Hello?" I whisper, sounding more anxious than I want to. But no reply comes.

I lean down to peak through the keyhole in my door, but I don't see anyone standing there. Curious, I twist the knob and slowly pull it open.

Outside my door sits a white box tied with a red satin ribbon. I look up and down the hallway but there's no one there. I quickly snatch the box, pulling it to my chest as I slam the door closed and lean back against it, my breath coming quickly. Then, my curiosity getting the better of me, I hurry to my bed, quickly untying the ribbon and pulling the top off the box.

I go still when I see that inside there is nothing but a confection of black lace. My blood turns to ice as I run my fingers over it, realizing what it means. As I lift it out of the box, trying to figure out precisely what kind of lingerie it is, a little card falls from one of the folds.

Dropping the fabric, I grab at the tiny piece of cardstock, unfolding it.

The message is very simple.

Put this on with your black Prada pumps. I'll be there in fifteen minutes.

I cover my mouth in shock, shaking my head back and forth as I read it again and again.

Fifteen minutes?

And then what?