Chapter 2
G enevieve
Put a smile on your face. Pretend you’re happy.
Sighing, I did my best, the pretense something I used to be successful at.
The restaurant was full of people, several waiting by the door for a table.
As soon as I walked in with my entourage, there wasn’t a single head that hadn’t turned in our direction.
While I was used to the notoriety, I instantly felt claustrophobic.
It had been a long time since I’d been paraded like royalty.
I sucked in my breath, held my head high, and walked through the crowd as I was led toward the back of the building.
Only a few steps later, I suddenly felt as if I was being watched.
A slight hitch in my step forced my bodyguard, Emiliano, to bristle.
I threw out my hand and turned my head, shifting my gaze from one side of the room to the other.
When I finally found the source of the prickles now adorning my arms and neck as if priceless jewelry, I was shocked at the intense sensations flowing through me when our eyes met.
Even from across the room, I was able to capture the stranger’s dangerous beauty. He was breathtakingly handsome with a strong chiseled jaw. The man was emitting carnal vibes while remaining polished and very much in control.
Emiliano flanked my side, following my gaze.
“You were let out of your cage for the evening,” I teased as I felt the heat cresting along my jaw.
He issued a growl, something he’d started doing the first time I’d tried to leave him behind in New York. “I need to keep my eye on you. Obviously. This isn’t a social event.”
“Ha. I’m a big girl now and I thought that’s exactly what this party was all about.” I took another deep breath. Why did the dress need to be so low cut? Of course, Papa was using my return as both a business-making venture and a warning. He enjoyed putting the fear of God into people.
“Let’s not keep your father waiting.”
Sighing, I gave the attractive man a nod and he lifted his glass in return. It had been a very long time since I’d felt even a small amount of attraction for any man, no matter how gorgeous.
As I was guided away, an overabundance of heat coiled in my system.
“Why the pomp and circumstance, Emiliano? My father knows I hate it.” I was whining, but after a long flight the day before, a room full of people was the last thing I wanted to face.
Emiliano stepped in front of me, immediately motioning to the other man who’d ridden in one of the two vehicles flanking the SUV he and I had ridden in.
Another soldier. Another tough guy.
Antonio moved quickly, fearing pissing off his commander.
Granted, at six foot five, Emiliano was a formidable man.
He’d been my personal bodyguard as long as I could remember, forced to uproot his world and move with me to New York when I’d entered Columbia.
In being forced to do so, he and I had become friends.
He’d been like a second father to me and as much as I’d hated being followed wherever I’d gone, the familiar company had kept me from being too lonely.
“Because your father loves you. This is an important day for you,” he barked out, immediately opening the door for the private room. He’d remain like a statue during the festivities, ready to defend our family from harm’s way.
I threw him one of my looks, the one that usually made him laugh.
Not tonight.
This was all about remaining on duty. “We will see what the future brings.” I took a deep breath and stepped inside, trying desperately to keep a smile on my face.
There were at least fifty people inside, many of whom I hadn’t seen since I was maybe twelve years old.
While they all greeted me with smiles and the lifting of whatever drink they had in their hand out of respect, they were all wondering the same thing.
What the hell is she doing here?
News flash. Me too.
“There you are, mi hermoso angel !”
“Papa,” I mewed as I rushed into his arms. To almost everyone else, Julio Morales was a monstrous man capable of performing heinous deeds.
His reputation as a brutal leader had been something he’d carried with him since overtaking the throne when he was barely twenty-four years old.
He’d built a massive empire, almost all of Spain and the bordering countries bowing down to him while others in his path of terror feared what he was capable of.
But to me, he was simply my father. My rock. The man who’d bounced me on his knees, always finding the time to listen to my tales of woe. I adored him with everything I had.
“How I’ve missed you.” He kissed my forehead.
“Papa. You saw me last night.” I laughed and so did several others standing in the beautifully decorated room.
The restaurant had been one of my favorites growing up, always my destination of choice for birthdays whenever possible.
I noticed my beautiful little sister being fawned over by some enchanting but dangerous older man.
Bella was far too young to be blushing. I growled and Papa noticed, laughing when he followed my gaze.
“Can’t a father miss his daughter? And don’t worry. Luca knows better than to lay a finger on Bella. Come. We have champagne.”
“Uh-oh. Where’s Marco?” My younger brother had been none too happy I’d been asked to return home. At seventeen, he truly believed he was ready for leadership. In my eyes, the young man was still the kid playing video games until all hours of the night.
Papa led me toward a table, nodding to one of the waiters to pour me a glass. I was somewhat surprised he’d chosen my favorite rose champagne. While I adored the vintage, the color had always signified possible weakness.
When the flute was firmly planted in my hand, my father grabbed a knife, tapping it against the open bottle.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I believe everyone here knows my beautiful daughter, Genevieve. She has graced my home with her presence once again and this time, on a permanent basis. Please welcome her home and celebrate in the joy that she’s accepted the position of abogada . ”
As I’d expected, there were several gasps from the crowd. Being labeled the family attorney had obviously been unexpected. As my father’s councilor, I had more power than his lieutenants. That put the fear of God into people, including guests who’d only known me as a little girl.
I swept the room, chilling my expression and my smile to a point I sensed fear. I’d been taught how to play the game better than almost anyone. Now it was time to practice what I’d been taught.
Turning the fear into terror for the devil and his spawn.
After everyone quieted down from clapping and begrudgingly cheering my new appointment, I kissed my father on the cheek.
He squeezed my hand, his grin as mischievous as I’d remembered from early on. He certainly didn’t need to worry what anyone else thought at this point in his life. He either owned or controlled half of Spain.
I mingled through the crowd, accepting fake congratulations. While some might be considered my father’s friends, one thing I’d learned was that you couldn’t trust anyone but your family and a few select others under any circumstances.
After a rousing forty-five minutes of pretending as if I gave a shit about anything being discussed, I needed some air and a moment to myself.
Fortunately, the private room also opened directly to the hallway leading to the restrooms. After a few seconds of careful calculation, I was able to slip out on my own.
I took a deep breath, laughing softly to myself. I’d been a hellion as a child, slipping away from my parents on several occasions. I’d finally learned after almost being kidnapped that it was in my best interest to stay close to my appointed guards.
As two women left the ladies’ room, I pulled myself together and headed there.
Once inside, I stared at myself in the mirror, wondering where the girl who used to wear jeans with her hair always in a ponytail had disappeared to.
She’d been the girl attending classes and spending weekends in the library or working at the coffee shop.
The woman dressed in a body-hugging cobalt dress staring back at me was barely recognizable. The festive attire was nothing more than a uniform, the color matching that of our family crest. A statement piece. Yes, my father had taught me well.
I pulled out my lipstick, grateful I’d purchased a twenty-four-hour lip stain instead of gloss.
I touched it up more to buy some additional time, but knew Emiliano was likely having a cow about now.
The last thing I wanted was to get him in trouble on his first night back on duty since arriving back home.
That would shame his mother and father.
Chuckling, I threw open the door, almost dropping the slender tube as I headed outside. I’d never considered myself clumsy, but when I ran smack into a hard substance, I almost tumbled to the floor.
“What the…” At least I managed to bite back a series of very American curse words before spewing them, jerking my head up to stare into the most insanely gorgeous pair of obsidian eyes. The extreme cocktail of emotions from running into a rock-hard body assaulted my senses almost violently.
There was no doubt the man I’d run into was the one from the other side of the room.
I was forced to suck in my breath as I drank in the brutal cut of his chin and his sloping jawline stubbled with a hint of a beard.
He was even more gorgeous up close, his dark, wavy hair longer than most men who worked in what I considered a highly conservative field.
It was slightly tousled as if he’d just engaged in a lust-filled night of passion.
With an aristocratic nose and cheekbones most actors would die for, he was the epitome of a photographic face.
Wearing a wry smile, he kept a firm, steadying grip on my arm as he allowed his gaze to fall.