Sold To Mr. Milano - Daniella Wright Page 0,13

you please let him know that I would like to see him?”

Finally, he responded in a brisk and irritated tone. “Mr. Milano has ordered for you to stay here. If he sees it fit to speak with you, he will come. Until then, you sit. You wait. You leave me alone.”

I straightened and lifted my chin. “I respect your duties to your boss, but you must not understand who I am. I am Alicia Martino. Don Martino’s daughter. My father is a very important man. Mr. Milano is aware of this, and I assure you...If you inform him that I want to speak to him in regards to my father, he would humor my request.”

“Alberto is a very thorough man,” he retorted snidely. “If he wanted us to take heed to such requests, he would have said so.”

“Or perhaps he trusts his men to use common sense and their own good judgment.”

“We do as we’re told. As should you. Now, go sit and stare out the window or something.” The other guard laughed a little under his breath, apparently amused by his co-worker’s treatment of me.

“Even still...would you really want to risk not meeting an expectation of Mr. Milano? Especially when it involves another important man such as my father?”

I watched him weigh the consequences before finally groaning and rolling his eyes. The whole effort seemed to be a waste of time to him, but nonetheless, he turned to open the door and murmur something to one of the guards outside. I heard boots trailing off down the hall, and I knew at least my message would reach Alberto, even if he didn’t see me. Which is exactly what I thought he had decided by the next afternoon when I still hadn’t heard from him. But finally, after the sun had set again, an hour or so after dinner, I heard a woman’s voice outside followed by a knock on the door. One of the women working in the house exchanged a few words with the guards in my room, then was given entry to step inside and address me.

“Ms. Martino,” she waved for me to follow. “Mr. Milano is requesting your presence.”

I followed along anxiously through the dark halls of the manor. I figured Alberto had been considering my message ever since it reached him, and maybe only after sleeping on it and having a few drinks after dinner did his curiosity finally get the better of him.

I was led to his study, ushered inside, and the door slammed shut behind us. It left me alone in the room with Alberto who kept his back turned to me from his seat, with his legs perched on the windowsill. It looked as if he had been taking in the night air, but now the window was closed - probably to prevent any risk of me finding a way to jump out of it.

“They tell me you have something to say...in regards to your father?” He asked curiously, still without turning around.

“More or less.” I swallowed and cleared my throat, which had become dry from barely speaking since I arrived days ago. “I was hoping...that you could help me. Or more so that I might help you. Both really.”

“What are you babbling on about, woman?” he growled, finally standing from his seat to make himself another drink. I noticed his eyes looking me up and down as he stomped across the room. “And what does this have to do with your father?”

I reminded myself of everything I had been practicing in my head since the day before. “He doesn’t know,” I said quietly, drawing my eyes and hands down to my bulging stomach. “I left home so he wouldn’t find out. What you said in the car...you were right. I don’t know who the father is. I have disgraced my family. I may deserve whatever happens to me, but please give me some chance at redemption.”

He cut his eyes over with a smug smile, seeming pleased that I told him his suspicions were correct. “What chance at redemption do I have to offer you?”

“Time. Just give me more time and perhaps, a chance to earn my own way...before sending me back out there to face him. I’m not sure what you have planned for me, but if it hasn’t been decided...I was hoping you might give me a job. Once the baby is born, and I have saved a little money, I could go back to my father’s house more dignified