Chapter Three
Alicia
"Basta, Alicia! " my father hisses, tugging gently on my arm, silently commanding me to sit in my chair. " Estás avergonzando."
I sigh and sit in the seat opposite my husband-to-be, shamefully staring down at my plate after being scolded by my father as if I'm still a little girl.
"Oh, don't be silly. She's allowed to express how she feels."
I look up in shock to see Dominic's mother, Louise King, smiling back at me as she sweeps a blonde strand of hair away from her face.
"At least one of us is allowed to," Dominic grumbles as my father and brother take their seats to the right of me.
Michael nudges him and subtly shakes his head, showing that he disapproves of his son's snarky comment, and I smirk, enjoying the fact he obviously isn't happy to be here.
As everyone settles into their seats around us and a waiter comes over to take everyone's orders, I discreetly flick my gaze back to the man across from me, scanning his features and taking him in while he's distracted.
He's tall, easily over six feet with how he towered over my small frame when he stood up to greet us all. From the quick sweep I did of his body before he sat back down, I can tell he's got a muscular physique with the way he fills out his shirt and suit trousers.
His thick, dark hair is neatly cropped at the sides, but slightly longer and messier on the top.
Sharp, dark brows drawn down in a frown that shadows his brown eyes, making them appear darker than they actually are.
His nose is straight and narrow, along with sharp, chiselled cheekbones that add to his intimidating aura.
The dusting of stubble along his jaw has me intrigued as to what he'd look like in a couple days when it's grown out slightly, and I lick my lips as I picture it in my mind.
He's handsome, not that I'd admit it out loud.
My eyes trail down his arms, impressed by the muscles I can see hidden beneath his shirt. When my gaze catches on the three silver rings sporadically placed on both his hands that are tightly clasping the menu he's pretending to read, my brows raise in surprise.
I wouldn't have pegged him for the sort of man to wear jewellery.
He seems too clean and proper.
I wonder whether he has any tattoos hidden beneath his clothes.
"What are you having, Lissa?"
My father's voice snaps me out of my thoughts, and I quickly tear my eyes away from Dominic, glancing down at the menu I've been holding.
"I'll just have the seared scallops with the baby spinach."
Folding my menu back up, I hand it over to the waiter and then reach for the bottle of white wine that's in the centre of the table, pouring a generous amount into my glass.
Dominic scoffs, and I glance up at him, narrowing my eyes.
"Problem?"
Before he can respond, Michael clears his throat and leans forward in his chair, resting his arms on the table.
"Perhaps we should start talking business already? Get that out of the way."
"Brilliant idea," my father adds, sending me a sharp glare which has me rolling my eyes.
"Why the sudden change so close to the wedding?" Dominic asks, his dark, curious gaze locked onto my father.
"Well, my eldest daughter didn't want to go through with the marriage, and I wanted to respect her wishes."
Lenny chuckles from beside him, and my father and I both sigh in response.
Dom's brows raise as he turns to my brother.
"You have something to add to that, Lenny?"
"Shouldn't it be your father leading this discussion, not you?"
My eyes flick back and forth between the pair, and when Dominic smirks before taking a sip of his drink, and then crosses his arms over his chest as he stares down my brother, a twinge of excitement grows in my stomach.
"Not at all. I'm the one in charge of this organisation because my father actually trusts me enough to pass down his responsibilities to me. Guess the same can't be said for you."
Fury sparks in my brother's gaze, and he looks like he's ready to bite Dominic's head off.
A smile plays on my lips as I continue to glance between the two.
Who knew this would be so entertaining?
"Okay, that's enough. How about we all stop with this ridiculous dick measuring contest and actually discuss what we need to so that we can all get out of here and leave in peace?" Louise snaps, glowering at all of the men at the table.
Damn.
I think I might like her.
"My sister didn't want to go through with the marriage because she has found something true with someone back home," I say, drawing everyone's attention to me.
"I proposed to my father that I take her place instead because it's beneficial for us to have ties here in London, and after your family had merged with the Rossi's it would've been harmful for both of our families to back out of this deal. "
Lifting my glass to my lips, I sip on my wine as Dominic and his parents all stare at me with a mix of thoughts and emotions passing over their faces.
"You should be proud, Brody," Louise says, breaking the silence. "You have an extremely smart girl right there."
My father chuckles and nods.
"I certainly do. Sometimes she's too smart for her own good."
"Can we get back to the topic at hand instead of blowing smoke up your daughter's arse?" Dom grumbles.
Michael buries his head in his hands, and I roll my eyes, draining the rest of my wine before grabbing the bottle and topping my glass up.
"What else would you like to discuss?" my father asks, shifting in his seat.
"Well, we have a proposition for you. Considering you made a change at the last moment, causing us to have to discuss this whole arrangement again, I thought it was best that we also get to change part of the deal, so we can actually benefit from this arrangement I'm forcing myself into."
Oh, this bitch.