16. Lorde
Lorde
“ N ame!”
The security guard looks at his clipboard. I already know what he’s going to say before he opens his mouth… and he already knows what my answer is going to be. “Do you have an appointment, Ms. Sheen?”
“No, sir.” Before I get waved away, I say, “But I need to see Mr. DeMonte, if he’s in.”
I can tell from the security guard’s expression that such a thing is a fat chance in hell. The whole me getting in to see the man of the house thing, that is.
“It has to do with his daughter. Trust me. He’ll want to hear this.”
At least the guard steps back into his booth and makes a call. I idle in front of the main gate for more than a few minutes. Finally, the guard steps back out, the gates opening.
“Go right on ahead, Ms. Sheen.”
“Thank you.”
There’s a reason I chose this car for today.
Classic Italian. A man so proud of his heritage will surely be impressed with (cough, my mother’s) tastes.
He’ll like my outfit even more. Got my Valentino turtleneck in this thrice-damned heat and Armani trousers.
Both were tailor-made the last time I was in Europe.
Never thought I would wear this turtleneck, but even a girl like me knows how important it is to have such a piece in her wardrobe. I’m glad for my foresight today.
I park in front of the entrance and am greeted by the head butler.
His accent is thick and his mannerisms a bit gruff, but I can tell he fits in with this place nicely.
Time to already be on my guard. I sling my leather knapsack over my chest and look like some Yale schmuck as I take the front steps one at a time.
The butler says he will lead me to Mr. DeMonte’s office.
Here we go.
I’ve rarely seen Marcello DeMonte. He’s not exactly a public personality like his daughter.
You only see photos of him in the business papers – boring – and sometimes in the social pages if it’s a gala or fundraiser.
Not the kind of man you look at and go what a handsome fella!
He’s not ugly, but you can only tell that he’s related to Daisy because of the cheekbones and a defiant chin.
Otherwise, he’s broad-shouldered and stout.
A formidable man. I can see how he has a lot of clout in the business world.
He's in his office. The man stands and says hello, although the confusion on his wrinkled face implies that he doesn’t know why I could be here. Someone approved of me coming onto the property, though. If not him, then who?
“Mr. DeMonte.” I extend my hand across his desk for a firm shake. The butler closes the office door behind me.
The man has the blankest look. His hand hangs limp by his side after we’re done shaking. Don’t blow this, Lorde. “Do I know you?” He’s losing interest already.
“Lorde Sheen.” I clear my throat. “Yeah, that one.”
The butler returns with a tray of refreshments once I introduce myself. He then stops halfway into the room. No wonder. Mr. DeMonte has gone from pure indifference to being prepared to rip my ovaries out of my body.
Like I said… I’m that Lorde Sheen.
“Sir,” the butler says with a clear tone. “Should I…?”
Marcello flips some papers over. Whatever he uses to freshen up his office smells a lot like my sweet Daisy. Honeydew. A little cinnamon. Sweet and spicy. I also know for a fact that she tastes pretty sweet.
How about I not mention that to her dad?
“That’ll be all, Andre. Ms. Sheen and I need privacy for a few minutes. This is sensitive.”
“Yes, sir.” The butler bows before excusing himself. I swear I hear the door lock.
Look, I am not usually one to play into stereotypes, but this has the feel of a mob hit about to go down. Great. The cops are going to find my body wearing this preppy bullshit. I even smoothed my hair down today and put on a touch of makeup! Shit. I’m such a poser.
“Why are you here?” Marcello growls, slowly sitting in his office chair.
His look says that he’s heard it all. With a daughter as gorgeous as Daisy?
I’m sure he has. Does it make me sound like an idiot to hope that he’ll make an exception for me?
You know, the girl fucking up his daughter’s tastefully arranged engagement? While being female too?
“I came to speak about your daughter, Daisy.”
Holy shit. That is legit fire burning behind his eyes. Whelp. Goodbye, life. We had a good run.
“Lorde Sheen.” He draws my name out in a tired drawl. “You’re that movie star’s daughter, right? The girl the papers say has a new ‘girlfriend’ every week?”
“Yes, my mother is Camilla Sheen.” I don’t comment on the other stuff.
“You’re the girl my daughter was caught kissing a few weeks ago.”
I try so hard to keep a straight face as I nod. You’d be squirming too if you had a hot white light shining on you! “Yes, Mr. DeMonte. I don’t know if Daisy has told you, but we’ve been seeing each other for a while.”
That look on his face. The one wanting to kill me? Guessing Daisy hasn’t told him.
“I want to clear the air, Mr. DeMonte. Daisy and I are very much interested in pursuing a serious relationship together. I’ve come to ask for your permission to date your daughter.
” It feels so weird saying that. Not just to a woman’s father, but to a guy so traditional that he actually tries to betroth his adult daughter to a stranger.
And probably, you know, doesn’t think much of the whole queer thing.
At best, he’s indifferent on a personal level and thinks it gets in the way of him crafting the family he wants. At worst? Oh, boy.
“Daisy is engaged.” He clears his throat. “And not dating women. I don’t know what this world is trying to tell you, Ms. Sheen and the good Lord knows it’s none of my business what you do with your life, but in this house… well. We’re Catholic!”
His somber tone has transformed into a formidable growl.
The protective Daddy is pacing in front of his lion’s den and prepared to snap at the heels of anyone looking to get in.
Don’t I know that Daisy is reserved? I bet DeMonte is the kind of guy who thinks his daughter is some chaste waif who doesn’t know her urethra from her vagina.
“I know, sir. I was as shocked as she was to find out.”
Uh-oh. Bad, Lorde, bad! Don’t piss him off!
“That is to say… I don’t think he’s the right person for her. Sir. If I may say so. Ahem. Sir.”
Look at me. Losing it. You’d think I consider this man my future father-in-law or something.
Speaking of something… that something is burning in my pocket right now.
At least Marcello doesn’t rip my head off. Instead, he sits back in his seat. Upright, but too far away to choke me out. “What makes you think that, Ms. Sheen? I don’t have to assure you that my wife and I have done our due diligence in picking a good match for our daughter.”
Parents always like to think that, don’t they? From what I’ve dug up on Cristiano, however, he’s a bigger playboy than some of my acquaintances in Hollywood. He’ll be true to Daisy for as long as the honeymoon. If that. Maybe until they have their first kid by the time she’s twenty-five.
I lean forward. I want this man to see the whites of my eyes. “Have you ever been in love before, Mr. DeMonte?”
He doesn’t answer. According to Daisy, her parents’ marriage was arranged… but that doesn’t mean this gruff guy has never been in love. I’d find it impossible to believe.
Time to play my hand.
“I’m in love with your daughter, sir. I’m pretty sure she loves me, too.”
He’s not smiling. He’s also not killing me. I might be on to something here!
“Listen, sir, I’m definitely no expert. I’ve never been in love before Daisy… I didn’t even know that’s what I felt until very recently. She’s a special woman.”
I think I see the man slowly nod. Good. Good, Lorde, keep going!
“So special that she’s managed to make me look at my life in a whole new way.
I know what those papers say about me. They’re not flattering.
I didn’t love any of those women. That’s why I was always looking for a new one to fill the void.
With your daughter, I don’t feel any void.
She’s my perfect match. It’s like a whole new day has dawned every time I look at her.
” I remember how I felt when I woke up with her still beside me.
Relieved. Happy. I’ve woken up next to many women before.
I was never relieved to see them. “We both know that your daughter is beautiful on the outside. I admit I think that, too. But she’s also gorgeous on the inside.
She has a fire to her that I can’t resist. I’m a dowdy moth compared to her.
She’s got big dreams, and I want to help her make them come true. ”
He grunts.
“I haven’t known her for very long, it’s true.
Sometimes, though, you know that it’s right, yeah?
I do. This time around, I feel that spark.
I want to know everything about Daisy. For goodness sake, I want to know what her favorite time of day is, so I can make sure I’m always there to see her smile when it appears. ”
I think I have him. I think.
“She’s engaged. To a man.”
If I didn’t think it would tank my chances, I would smack my head against his desk.
Instead, I pull what I have out of my pocket and place it before Marcello.
His eyes widen. His mouth parts. He looks like he wants to say that better not be what I think it is.
It is.
“I want to marry Daisy.” My throat is filled with apprehension, but somehow, the words come out. “I’m serious, sir. I want to call her my wife. I know I can be a good spouse to her… and a good daughter-in-law to you.”
I think he’s going to throw me out of his office and tell me to never come back. Know what I get instead?
“You don’t even have a father, Ms. Sheen.”
So, we begin.