to tell her, but I realize by not telling her, I’m doing the same thing I’m mad at her for. “I’m gathering info on Matteo to hand over to Christian. He only wanted you to get to Matteo. If I can get him a better way to get to him, then we kill two birds with one stone. Dove, you need to promise me that you won’t do anything foolish while I’m out doing jobs for your father. I can’t stand the thought of you hanging out with him, and Alberto like you’re old friends while I’m out there. Promise me...”
Turning my head, I look over to her, she stares up at the ceiling. “I promise,” she mumbles in defeat.
Now I only wish I could believe her.
37
Zane’s gone again. Doing another job for my father. I feel him pulling away from me, emotionally, he’s shutting down. I know he still wants me, still loves me, but the games my father is playing, it’s draining him. He’ll do anything to protect me, anything to try and save us from this situation when the only person who can save us is me.
I know I promised Zane I’d stop pretending with Matteo, but I just can’t do it. I can’t let Zane take all the responsibility. We are in this together, and I can’t sit back and do nothing.
He thinks what I’m doing is risky, and it is, but sometimes there are risks you have to take. A knock sounds against the heavy wood of the door, and before I say anything, the knob twists, and the door opens, a maid’s head pops into the room. She can’t be but a little older than me, her heart-shaped face and almond eyes make me think she could be a model if she wasn’t here working for my father. I look up at her and smile. Her expression is blank, and she doesn’t return the smile, but in her eyes, I can see fear.
“Your father is requesting your presence in his office,” she whispers, eyes cast to the floor. I swallow around the knot that’s forming in my throat.
He’s been eating up a lot of my time during the day, requesting me to eat dinner with him, which conveniently happens to fall at the same time Zane walks in the door. I know it’s a set-up, a way to drive a wedge between Zane and me, and in a way, it’s working.
“Thank you. I’ll be right down,” I say, and she closes the door quietly behind her. Sighing, I force myself out of bed and run my hands through my silky brown hair in an attempt to make myself a little more presentable. Once done, I slip from the room and walk down to Matteo’s office. Guards are still posted throughout the house even though Zane and I haven’t made another attempt at escaping.
I’m not sure when he will ever trust me, and he’s smart not to because the instant he does, I’m running with it.
Standing just outside his office, I push the door open and listen as it creaks. Matteo looks up from something on his desk and to me as I pop my head inside.
“You asked to see me?”
He waves me inside, and I stop right in front of his desk. “Yes, I want you to go with Sophia and pick out a dress for the event. I also want you to get your hair done.”
My brows furrow. “What’s wrong with my hair?”
“Of all the things you can fight me on, you fight me on your hair?” He lets out a chuckle. “Just get your hair done, please. It looks dull.”
I’m tempted to tell him to fuck off, but that would derail my plan completely, so instead, I bite the inside of my cheek.
“When is this Sophia woman coming?”
Matteo’s gaze flicks to his watch and then back up to me. “Should be here any minute now.” I nod, ready to turn around and walk out. Why subject myself to his bullshit any more than I have to. “Also, pick something out that isn’t too revealing but gives a tiny peek. I want people to be talking about us for weeks to come.”
“Of course,” I mumble and step out of the office. I go upstairs and get a pair of tennis shoes before coming back downstairs. Lingering in the foyer, I wait for this shopping lady to show her face. Just as Matteo claimed, she shows up a few minutes later. Priding myself on