Chapter 18
Edmundo
Flipping the pages of the agreement, sent over from the Mancini family, I searched every line for a hidden agenda.
Aldo Mancini had never been a fan of mine, so a deal between our two families had seemed impossible. But Aldo had gone and gotten himself caught up in a mess and was killed for his stupidity.
Things looked promising now that Romeo had taken the lead in the North American markets. Cesare…well, that was another story. But I had it on good authority that the father and son did not always agree on the best way to proceed, and that boded well for me.
This contract was the first between our families in four generations, but I planned to make it the first of many. I finished reading and scribbled my name across the bottom.
Grabbing my phone, I hit Romeo’s number, and he answered on the second ring.
“Mr. Genovese, good to hear from you. I assume you’ve had a chance to look over the contract I sent?”
“I did, and I find it to my liking.”
It was incredibly generous and gave me a higher percentage than I would’ve asked for myself, but I wasn’t going to tell Romeo that.
“I’ve already signed off and will have it delivered to you tomorrow.”
“Excellent, I’m happy we were able to come to an arrangement that is mutually beneficial.”
“Likewise. I don’t have time for old family disputes. No one even remembers how they started, and it’s unproductive to think in such small terms.”
“Yes, agreed. I appreciate the call to let me know, but is there something else you want to discuss?”
I smirked. “Why would you ask that?”
“Just didn’t take you for the type of man to bother yourself with calls such as this. I’m sure you have more important things to do,” Romeo said.
He was smart, and I liked that about him.
“You caught me. There is something else I’d like to discuss if you’ll entertain me for a few more minutes.”
I walked over to the small bar and poured myself a scotch.
“I have a few minutes,” Romeo replied.
Sipping on my drink, I wandered my office.
“Are you betrothed, Romeo?”
My query was met with dead silence on the other end of the line.
“I’m not interested in you for myself,” I cheekily added.
Romeo chuckled on the other end of the line.
“I’m just shocked. This was not where I thought the conversation was headed,” Romeo said.
“It’s good to know that I still have some shock left in me,” I said, swirling my drink.
The photo of Ren and me from this Christmas sitting on the bookcase made me smile.
“Actually, you’ve caught me at a good time. I’m between marriage contracts at the moment.” The scotch stilled on the way to my lips. “Let’s just say that things did not work out between us, and she has chosen another.”
“I see. Should I offer my condolences?”
“No, it’s fine. So the answer is no, I am not betrothed. Who do you have in mind?”
“My daughter, of course, but I wouldn’t feel right proposing an arrangement without the two of you meeting. I’m sure you feel the same way, so I’d like to extend an invitation to dinner. Can I convince you to join us?”
He hesitated, and I could hear a pen tapping like he was thinking it over.
“Yes, I’ll accept the invitation.”
“Excellent, I’ll be in touch with the time and location closer to the day.”
I heard the argument in the hallway before my office door was unceremoniously slammed open, and Patricia, Victoria, and Marcus barged inside.
“I told you that he was busy,” Marcus said.
“And I told you that I didn’t care,” Patricia fumed.
“Well, it seems I need to deal with a different family matter. We’ll speak soon.”
Romeo chuckled on the other end of the line before he hung up.
“It’s fine, Marcus. I’ll take it from here.”
I walked back to my desk and closed the open file before sitting down and glaring at the bane of my existence.
“There, see, I knew he’d see me,” Patricia said, her nose in the air as she marched over.
Like a peacock on display, Patricia fluffed her hair before perching herself in one of the chairs across from me. Victoria looked sheepish as she stood behind the second chair, eyes downcast.
“I’m glad you still know where the house is, Victoria. I was beginning to wonder since I haven’t seen you since Christmas,” I said, and her cheeks turned red.
“Sorry, Papa, I’ve been…busy.”
She glanced sideways at her mother, and my suspicions were confirmed. Part of the distance between was not her doing.
“Too busy to join me for dinner the other night. I see…maybe you should move back here full-time.”
Patricia made a disgruntled noise in her throat but kept her words in check.
“You might as well sit,” I said, gesturing to the vacant seat. “Rather than stand there resembling your mother’s servant.”
Victoria bristled at the comment and sat down quickly. I knew the description would bite her ego. My daughter was not short on her mother’s arrogance.
“So, to what do I owe this late and impromptu visit, Patricia?”
“We are here to talk about Victoria’s future,” she said, and I glanced at the clock.
“At eleven-thirty at night? This is when you choose to speak to me about our daughter’s future?”
Victoria shrank away from the look I shot her.
“Did you put your mother up to this?”
“No, Papa. I swear,” Victoria said.
“Do not cower from him,” Patricia ordered.
“It’s not cowering, it’s respect, Patricia. Something you’ve lacked your whole life, so I wouldn’t expect you to understand why my daughter would want to show me some.”
“I think we’ve already established that she is not your child,” Patricia said.
Anger burned in my gut, and I could feel my already very short fuse disappearing.
“Is that so? And yet, that is what you claim you are here to discuss. That was a quick conversation. If we are done, please see your way out,” I growled.
Patricia sneered at me, but it was the tear running down Victoria’s face that held my tongue from spewing the next angry retort.
This fight was not about Victoria and her future. It was about power and control. Patricia felt hers vanishing and was scrambling to maintain the little she had left. Her lack of restraint when it came to her spite and her need for authority were a toxic combination.
Victoria raised her head, and the sadness in her eyes hurt my heart. I hated that Patricia had dragged her in here and put her smack in the middle of our argument. It was childish and selfish.
Looking at Victoria, I slowly leaned forward and placed my arms on the desk.
“We have established that Victoria is not mine by blood. But make no mistake…you are my daughter. I will always love you, defend you, and look after you as I would any of my children.”
Turning to glare at Patricia, I spoke directly to her.
“Do not ever march into my office and throw Victoria’s paternity in my face again, or you will wear through the last of my patience where you’re concerned,” I said, slamming my fist on the desk.
Patricia jumped like I’d shot her out of a cannon.
“You are skating on very thin ice, Patricia. Choose your next words carefully.”
“I…I apologize. That was rude of me,” Patricia said, and I sat back in my chair.
“It’s Monday, and it’s late. Stay here for the night, Victoria. I’ll have the guards return you to school tomorrow. Your mother and I need to speak alone.”
Victoria stood, but hesitated. She came around the desk and leaned over to hug me.
“I’m sorry, Papa,” she whispered in my ear.
“We will speak tomorrow.”
“Yes, Papa, goodnight,” she said, before walking away.
In moments like that, I saw the young woman hiding under the ignorant, arrogant shell.
“Buonanotte, amore mio. Dormi bene,” I said, wanting her to know that just because her mother and I were at odds, it didn’t mean that I loved her any less.
With a slight smile pulling at the corner of her mouth, she left and closed the door. I was shocked when she didn’t hug Patricia or say goodnight. That made me hopeful that she would not turn out the same.
“What is this really about?”
“Exactly what I said. You now have…” I cocked an eyebrow at her.
“Your biological daughter in your life. I want to ensure that Victoria isn’t forgotten in the paternity of it all.
I want our daughter to be cared for. That means a proper inheritance and a suitable marriage to someone who can increase her status.
You may not be able to see it, but she is technically a bastard, and if it ever got out, she would be ruined. ”
“When have I ever said that I wouldn’t provide for Victoria?”
Patricia’s lips pursed, and I could see the wheels turning.
“I guess you haven’t.”
“That’s right, I haven’t. Yet, you still haven’t delivered the information I asked for eighteen years ago.”
Her face blanched, knowing where this was going.
“I will ask you again. Who is Victoria’s father?”
“You said you didn’t want to know.”
Patricia crossed her arms and looked away from me.
“Yes, you’re correct. Before you got pregnant, I didn’t care. But once Victoria was born, I changed my mind, and you’ve yet to tell me. Why is that? Do you not know?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said, with a haughty flip of her hair. “Of course, I know, but…that is not why we’re here. You haven’t answered my question.”
I polished off my drink, trying to decide what to do with Patricia. At the moment, it was tempting to throw her out the window and be done with it.
“Patricia, I don’t believe for a second that you are here to discuss Victoria’s future. So tell me what this is really about, or get the hell out.”
She picked at invisible lint on her sleeve and then sighed.
“Fine, I may have wanted to speak to you about the divorce. Also…what can I do to get you to back off my father’s company? Just leave them out of this. My poor mother is distraught, believing she will have to move out of their family home.”
“Why should I?”
Patricia stood and walked over to stare at the painting on the wall.
“Because at one time we were not at odds. I’m still Victoria’s mother, and it will only add further strain on our daughter if my family ends up in poverty.”
She had a point. Victoria adored her grandparents.
“Fine, I’ll send over my new demands by the end of the week.
But let me make this abundantly clear, Patricia, this is the only time I do this.
If you come here again, begging me for a handout, you will not like what I do after that.
Next time you need to speak with me, make an appointment.
You’re no longer welcome in my home. The guards will be instructed to shoot on sight without prior notice of your arrival by me or Victoria. Understand?”
Patricia nodded and turned to leave.
“Oh, and Patricia…”
She stopped with her hand on the doorknob and looked back.
“I expect to know who Victoria’s father is before the divorce is finalized, or I will start digging. You really don’t want me to do that.”
Her face morphed into a mask of rage, but she wisely kept silent and slipped out the door.
Unbelievable.
Marcus walked in as I swiped my phone off the desk.
“Sorry, we wouldn’t have let her in at all, but she had Victoria with her,” he said, closing the door behind him.
“Patricia certainly knows how to manipulate a situation.”
I walked over to fix myself another drink and then poured a second for Marcus. I held it out to him.
“Thanks.”
“She still won’t tell me who Victoria’s father is. Have you ever heard any rumors?”
He shook his head.
“No, for such a big mouth, she certainly knows how to keep a secret when she wants to. What are you going to do?”
“I hate to have to do a DNA test, but the more she refuses to tell me, the more worried I become about why she won’t just say.”
I tapped my phone on my chin as I had a thought.
“It’s not you, is it?”
Marcus spat the scotch back into the glass as he choked and then gasped for air. He glared at me as I laughed.
“Asshole.”
“Thought I better ask,” I said, wandering over to the window.
“No, you just wanted to see me throw up in my mouth,” he grumbled.
He was right. Marcus would never have been able to keep that secret from me for eighteen years. He parked himself on my leather couch and took another sip.
“I feel you glaring at me.”
“You do know that I will never get that out of my head, right? Every time she shows up, I’m going to picture it, and…ugh…it would be like sleeping with demon sludge,” he said, still gagging.
“Demon sludge…that’s a new one.”
I tried to remember who Patricia had hung out with back then, but I’d avoided her as much as possible. We only had family meals to keep up appearances.
“I’ll see if I can make it part of the divorce proceedings. I really don’t want to ask Victoria to do the sample. This has been difficult for her as it is.”
Unlocking my phone, I hit Mr. Valentino’s number. It went to voicemail after three rings.
“Mr. Valentino, I’m still waiting on that footage. Maybe I didn’t make myself clear when we spoke earlier. Get me the footage, or I will retrieve it personally, and neither of us wants that to happen.”
I hit end and looked at Marcus.
“Do you think it’s really her?”
He sighed as I walked over and sat in the armchair across from him.
“I honestly don’t know. For your sake, I hope so. I’ve certainly seen crazier shit happen over the years.”
Wasn’t that the truth.