“Turn around.”
I obeyed, and he brushed my hair aside with surprising gentleness. The cool touch of the necklace against my skin made me flinch, but I didn’t move. He fastened it around my neck, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary.
“We’re late,” he whispered.
I raised an eyebrow, confused. “I thought you just wanted to talk. I didn’t realize we had an appointment.”
“We’ll talk after dinner. A big client is joining us,” he said, his voice casual, but an edge to his words made my stomach flutter.
A big client—his words sent a thrill of anxiety through me. Pretending to be engaged to a man like him would never be easy.
He gently touched my back as we made our way to the restaurant. The touch was firm, possessive, and yet strangely comforting.
“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice low, almost teasing.
“A little nervous. I’ve never done anything like this before,” I admitted, my heart pounding.
“Stay calm. Just be affectionate and talk as little as possible. We met on one of my trips, and it was love at first sight. We got engaged in Greece.”
I nodded, forcing a smile. “I’ll keep that in mind, don’t worry.”
“I know you’ll do great,” he said, his smile like a challenge.
As we approached the restaurant, an elegant man stood up and extended his hand to Dante. His gaze swept over me, appraising.
“Good evening, Mr. Dante. I apologize for interrupting your evening,” Mr. Gilbert said, his tone smooth as silk.
“Mr. Gilbert, this is my fiancée, Karen.”
“Nice to meet you, Miss Karen,” he said, his smile practiced but not warm.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Gilbert,” I replied, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.
“Lucky man, Dante,” Gilbert said, eyes lingering on me. “Your fiancée is gorgeous.”
“I know,” Dante replied, his voice dripping with pride. “I’m lucky to have found her.”
Dante pulled out a chair for me, and I sat, my nerves buzzing. The waiter arrived, and Dante leaned toward me, his voice dropping to a murmur.
“Do you want to look at the menu? Do you speak Italian?”
“I speak a little,” I said, “but I’ll be comfortable if you choose for me.”
He smiled and spoke to the waiter in perfect Italian, ordering risotto with porcini mushrooms and beef tagliata. As the waiter left, Dante turned his attention to Gilbert, diving into a business conversation I couldn’t follow.
But my gaze wandered. At a table in the back, a blonde, impeccably dressed woman was staring at us. Her eyes were fixed on Dante, intense, almost possessive.
Instinctively, I leaned closer to him, my voice low. “Is your ex the blonde?”
Dante paused mid-sentence, glancing at her before looking back at me. A slow, knowing smile spread across his face.
“Yes. How did you know?”
I winked at him, and the answer was clear between us.
After signing the contract, Dante stood, taking my hand in his. “Here’s your chance to show off,” he said, his grip tightening on my waist as he led me toward the blonde woman.
I pressed closer to him, feeling the weight of her gaze on my back, the tension thick between us. Dante’s smile was full of satisfaction, but I wasn’t sure if it was meant for me or her.
