Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Dad
Chapter 68

The next morning, I reach over and grab my cell phone off of the nightstand the moment I wake up, dying to see if Ivan texted me back. It's not my burner phone, or my old cell phone which Kent took, but instead my Kent-approved cellphone, which I'm sure he monitors. But whatever let him look. This is all part of his big plan, anyway. I bite my lip, trying not to smile when I see that I have a message waiting. Eagerly, I click on it.

Ivan: So, has he finally let you out of your cage, Fay? Of course I want to see you. Pick you up at 8.

My smile drops a little as I read this and I sit back on my pillows, wondering why I feel...well, a little disappointed. I stare at Ivan's text, reading it two and then three more times, sorting through my emotions.

And I realize that I'm disappointed because there's a third person in this text, quite present if unnamed. Kent. It's not just me and Ivan's secret liaison anymore.

I drop my phone into my lap as I lean against my pillows to think. I mean, it's never really been just me and Ivan, not ever - Kent and my dad were always involved, and Daniel too. But that afternoon at the bar, during that gap in space and time with only the two of us in it, it was....well, it was really nice.

And, quite frankly, I don't like the idea that this is suddenly a triangle. Kent and Ivan, with me in the middle.

I sigh as I realize, quite suddenly, that I'm being kind of a brat. I'm trying to have my cake and eat it too - to have both Ivan and Kent in my life, but to keep them in completely separate spaces when the reality is that I'm the pawn in their games, not the other way around.

Well.

At least for now.

I smirk to myself just a little and remind myself that I have Janeen in my back pocket, and that she's had loads of experience playing men against each other to get what she wants. And she told me precisely how to handle something like this. If Ivan's going to bring Kent into it, then I'm going to double down.

Eagerly, I pick up my phone again and send off a quick reply.

Fay: No worries, I'll come meet you wherever we're going. Can you send the address to Kent so he can arrange the car?

When I come back from the stables that afternoon, the house is relatively quiet. I frown as I walk down the hall and up the stairs, wondering where everyone is. But I shrug it off as I reach the landing, focusing on my evening and everything that I have to do to prep for it. Shower, then drying my hair, then...

As I turn to my door, though, I stop in my tracks. A little white box is sitting on the ground, propped against it, a black bow wrapped around it this time. My stomach drops when I see it. I glance furtively around, wondering who else has seen it - god, did Daniel see it? Embarrassed, I rush forward, grabbing the box as I press through my door, shutting it briskly behind me.

Then, I turn to the bed and carry my gift to it, placing it gently down on the duvet gently, as if there might be a bomb inside, ready to explode.

As I open the box, I see that there's no bomb in it but...my breath ratchets up anyway as I lay my eyes on something equally dangerous.

There are two garments inside the box, and one note. I reach for the note slowly unfolding it.

For your date, and then for after.

Be home by midnight. I'll come and find you.

"Crap," I murmur, dropping the note, my knees going to jelly. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to lean back on Janeen's teachings. After all, I knew this was coming - I signed up for it. So why do I want to skitter away like some scared little rabbit? I steel myself, clenching my teeth. "Come on, Fay," I murmur to myself, trying to say what Janeen would say. "Be tough."

I exhale sharply through my nose and get back to business. Because it was business, after all - I did sign a contract.

I open my eyes and lift the first garment out of the box. Despite my tough talk just moments ago, my eyes go wide and my breath catches. It's a little smoky-grey dress that...well, it's so skimpy it wouldn't be out of place in the opening scenes of Pretty Woman. "Oh my god," I murmur, looking at the cutouts on the side, the absolute bare scrap of fabric that's supposed to cover my a*s. Then I glance back down at the box and realize...

Oh my god, this isn't even the lingerie.

I look back and forth between the black satin corset and lace panties that are still in the box and the slinky grey dress in my hands, realizing with horror that Kent wants me to wear this out on my date with Ivan -

My cheeks rush with heat as I figure out that Kent is sending me out to Ivan basically naked - dressed in something Janeen would wear on the main stage -

My embarrassment turns quite quickly to anger and to steely determination, though - faster than it has before. I narrow my eyes at the dress, realizing, suddenly, what Kent is doing.

"Fine," I snap, tossing the dress on the bed and stalking into the bathroom. "You want me to go on this date looking like your hooker? No problem, Kent."

I'd just make him pay through the teeth for it later.

Or at least, that's what I say to myself as I turn on my shower and peel off my riding clothes. Because the reality of standing up to Kent...

Well, it never goes quite as I plan in my head, does it?

I only saw Jerome as I left the house. He was at the foot of the stairs as I tottered down them in the six-inch heels Kent sent me to pair with my outfit. Jerome had opened his mouth to say something, but I gave him a withering glare as I made my way slowly down the stairs and he just shrugged, holding out a hand to help me balance.

I didn't ask where Kent or Daniel were as we walked to the garage and he helped me into the car. We're silent now as we drive, our relationship newly awkward. I glance at him, wondering if he knows that I know about him and Daniel, or if this new stiffness is about me leaving him stranded in the road when I left with Ivan the first time.

No answers come to my questions, though, making me sigh. When we pull up to the restaurant - I do a double-take, surprised to see that it's actually the same restaurant that Daniel took me to a few weeks ago - Jerome grabs my hand as I open the passenger-side door. Surprised, I look back him.

"Fay," he says, worry on his face, and I think - some real affection as well. "Just be careful tonight, okay?"

"Okay," I say, giving him a little smile. "Thanks, Jerome." A little warmth spreads through my stomach as he nods back to me. Maybe our friendship isn't totally screwed after all.

Still. I've got business to take care of.

I step out of the car, closing the door behind me, and look around for Ivan.

My eyes go to him immediately and my stomach turns over, instantly filled with flutters. His six-foot, leanly-muscled frame is wrapped, for the first time since I've known him, in a chic black suit, his tattoos peaking over the crisp white collar of his dress shirt. Despite his ease at the valet stand, Ivan is clearly a man of significant power. It seems like everyone's eyes are drawn to him, inevitably, as they pass through the doors of the restaurant.

But Ivan carries his power easily, like a jaguar moving through the jungle, totally confident in his status as predator, not prey. His eyes meet mine and flick over my body and he stands up straight to greet me. A small smile curls at the corner of his mouth. "Hey, Fay," he says quietly as I cross the short distance to us. "You look...nice."

His words check the final few steps I take towards him, making me hesitate and look down at myself. "What?" I ask, looking back up at Ivan with a frown. "You don't like my dress?"

He just shakes his head slowly, still smiling but pausing before he replies. "He's just really got his hooks into you, hasn't he, Fay?"

My cheeks burn in embarrassment and defiance at his words, the regret in his voice.

But as I look back down at myself, in this ridiculous dress and these crazy heels...

Damn it, but I know he's right. I'm Kent's little barbie doll, and he sent me out dressed like this to let Ivan know it.