Chapter Six
“WHAT?!” ELECTRICITY SHOT through her nerve endings, leaving them scorched and tingling, charged up and crackling. “Have you lost your mind?”
“It wouldn’t be real, only for show.”
That didn’t reassure her, not when he was reminding her that he didn’t really want her. His remark about looking in a mirror had been a false compliment. All he really wanted was to use her, same as every other man in her life.
“Hear me out,” he commanded as he set aside his cutlery and counted off on his fingers. “It conveys to him that you have found yourself an ally, one who isn’t afraid to use this information you’re holding. How much damage will it do if it gets out?”
“I’m not sure.” Otto hadn’t wanted the scandal, but… “It would damage his personal reputation, but it’s not illegal or anything like that.”
As ammunition went, it wasn’t deadly at all. Otto would have to admit he’d known for years that she wasn’t his, but he could spin it by saying he had been generous enough to raise his wife’s by-blow.
On the other hand, Mira would rather have someone on her side if and when that truth came out, even if it was only a for-show fiancé. She would especially love it if her fiancé was someone Otto couldn’t influence against her.
“Don’t wait for him to use it,” Rocco continued.
“Put him on the defensive. Make him answer to why his daughter threw over the fiancé he picked out for her and took up with his competitor. The markets will see your jumping ship as a signal that Vorstoben is headed into unsettled waters. That will hit him where he’s tender.
I imagine he’ll say you’re slumming or something equally unpleasant, but everyone knows you and I don’t need each other’s money.
The conclusion will be that you’re following your heart. ”
Mira had to take a sip of wine to dampen a throat that had turned as arid as a desert. “I’ve never done anything to deliberately provoke him.”
“Are you afraid to? Is he violent?” His tone tightened with aggression.
“No.” Just mean. But what did Otto think? That he could treat her the way he had and she would meekly allow him to continue intimidating her?
He probably did believe that, seeing as she had never fought back before.
“Engaged, though?” she asked. “Surely going on a date is enough?”
“A date could be dismissed as a business meeting. No. Let’s make him think we’ve been lovers for a while, that he missed seeing it. That will knock him off his stride.”
Lovers. Her heart lodged itself in her throat, where its stumbling beat was so strong, she had to resist pressing a hand there.
“Then you introduce me to those social circles Otto has done his best to lock me out of. I will close deals before he knows they’re on the table. Trust me, Mirabella, he will feel pain and lots of it.”
“I would like to save face around the broken engagement,” she admitted. There was still a chance that Axel would try to marry Otto’s real daughter. She wanted to be ahead of that, not look like the rejected party. If she was already engaged—
“Perfect.” Before she realized what Rocco was doing, he had tapped his phone and was saying, “Biglietti per l’opera, per favore.”
“Stasera?” a woman asked.
“Sì. Tonight,” he added in English for Mira’s benefit, then rattled off more instructions that were too rapid for Mira to follow.
“But—” Misgivings flexed through her.
Rocco was right, though. She needed to be on the offensive. That’s why she’d come to him, wasn’t it? What was the risk? That Otto would hate her? He already did.
Rocco finished his call, then asked, “Are you worried you won’t have anything to wear? I asked her to notify a boutique that we’re going to the opera. We’ll finally have our date, cara.”
Rocco poured himself a drink, then checked his phone again, even though he’d looked seconds ago. Still nothing from Silvio.
If there hadn’t been a connection between Mira and his mentor, he wouldn’t have had qualms about this fake engagement. Of course, if the connection didn’t exist, he wouldn’t be so far into a brawl with Otto that he wanted to knock him out for good.
Would Silvio discourage him from aligning with Mira to do that? Rocco wasn’t sure he’d allow Silvio to sway him. This chance to get the better of Otto was an opportunity Rocco refused to ignore.
It was dangerous, though. Would Otto be goaded into revealing Silvio was Mira’s father?
Rocco didn’t think so. That news could hurt Silvio and his family if it came out, but it wouldn’t impact Rocco’s company or his desire to compete against Vorstoben.
In fact, further aggression from Otto would spur Rocco on.
There was a slim chance that Mira knew Silvio was her father, but Rocco doubted that. Why come to him if that was the case?
No, she was angry with Otto, and Rocco would use that to his advantage.
But he couldn’t trust her. Not completely. Not until she opened up about why she was so angry at Otto.
Her steps approached from the guest wing. He pocketed his phone and turned—
A curse slipped from his lips as she came into view. It was a guttural reaction to being sucker-punched.
“No?” She anxiously splayed her hand against her middle as she looked down at her champagne-hued gown.
It poured down her figure from a pair of thin straps, weighted by intricate swirls of amber beadwork, revealing her thighs and leaving her upper chest and arms bare.
“Should I change? The pink one is even more revealing. She didn’t have a lot to choose from that didn’t require alteration. ”
“It’s perfect.” He swallowed, trying not to betray how affected he was. “But a dress like that is like being on a date with a porcupine. I’ve caught a cuff link before, and been scolded for ruining couture.”
Her expression stiffened. She turned away slightly to peer into her clutch. “You’ll have to keep your hands to yourself then, won’t you?”
“I will need your hand, however,” he told her.
Her surprised gaze flashed back to his.
He held out the ring box. When she didn’t move, he opened it, revealing the ring he’d bought while she was trying on gowns. The rose cut diamond was flanked by a pair of smaller diamonds—simple, but opulent enough to draw attention.
“That’s beautiful.” She cautiously came closer.
“I expect it back.” It had cost him seven figures, but he had refused to skimp. The stakes were too high.
“Of course,” she murmured, but didn’t take it. She only rolled her lips together.
“You don’t like it?” He had never offered a woman a ring before and his heart didn’t accompany this one, but he was stung by her hesitation.
“I just got out of an engagement I didn’t want.”
“Why did you agree to marry Axel?” He snapped the box closed and let his hand fall to his side.
“Many reasons. I knew it was what Otto wanted and that Axel would be the better CEO for Vorstoben. I’ve never aspired to run it myself.
It made sense to help Axel take over. Also…
” She hugged herself and her shoulders twitched in a flinch.
“My grandfather had arranged my mother’s marriage to protect the fortune she was inheriting.
I thought the contract Otto drew up would do the same for me. ”
“Did it not? Is that why you’re angry with him?”
“No. That contract is moot.” She waved it off. “He was lying and I was naive about a lot of things. Now, I know that I have to protect my fortune. And myself.”
“We’re talking about the money you’re taking out of Vorstoben? It was your mother’s?” He’d wondered if it was Silvio’s.
“It was my grandfather’s, but yes. He amassed it with a career in pharmaceuticals.
He didn’t want my mother to squander it.
Or hoard it. He wanted it to grow and support future generations.
He was acquainted with Otto’s father and thought Otto would provide well for Mom, especially if he was contractually obligated to do so. ” Her mouth twisted with irony.
Otto. Not “Dad,” Rocco noted.
“What was their marriage like?” he asked.
“Civil,” she pronounced stiffly. “That’s the warmest word I can use to describe it. They lived apart a lot. That’s why Mom had the villa. She never said a denigrating word about him, but she never said a fond one, either.”
“And you were prepared to lock yourself into the same kind of arrangement?” He hadn’t liked her engagement from the moment he’d learned of it, chased by the itch of the one that got away. Now, he was affronted on a new level.
“Axel and I agreed we would divorce after a year.”
“Ah.” He opened the ring box again. “Is that what you need in order to accept this? A finish line? How about this—I’m so confident we’ll have Otto on the ropes within the next few weeks, if you’re still wearing this ring a year from now, you can keep it.”
Her lashes flickered, then her glossy red lips pursed before she plucked the ring from the box and slid it onto her finger.
The ring fit perfectly. It was well-balanced and felt…
No. Rocco’s ring only felt right because she was used to wearing the one Axel had given her. Mira had left that one with her trustee and Axel’s assistant had probably already retrieved it.
This one was even more magnificent, but its elegant simplicity kept it from being ostentatious. Damn the man, Rocco had flawless taste.
Look at his tuxedo. It was a midnight blue jacket with black satin lapels.
His shirt buttons were black so they formed a dotted line of three beneath his black bow tie, making her think about what was behind them as he helped her from the car outside the theater.
His naked chest had stayed in her mind for three long years and judging by the superb fit of his suit, he was as muscular and powerful as ever.
Meanwhile, he had called her gown a porcupine.
He seemed to have no compunction against allowing his fingertips to skim her bare shoulders when he took her light coat, though.
Then he wove his fingers through hers as he led her up the stairs, making her heart thud and her skin prickle as she sensed people staring at them.