Page 33 of Forced Arrangement

I watch with amusement as Franco’s jaw tightens, but there’s something else in his eyes—something that had flickered to life the moment she touched him. I knew Franco well enough by now to recognize when he was affected by someone, andJustine, with her boldness and charm, had clearly thrown him off balance.

“My job is to make sure everything runs smoothly,” Franco replies, his tone carefully controlled, though I can hear the hint of tension beneath it. “And that includes keeping an eye on anyone who might be a threat.”

“Oh, a threat?” Justine echoes, her eyes gleaming with mischief. “Are you saying I’m dangerous? Will you have to pin me down and make me confess all the bad, bad things I have done? I should let you know that I prefer traditional ropes to handcuffs.”

“Okay, ease up, tiger. You're going to give the man a stroke, and then I'll have to revive him.”

“What? I haven't done anything. I'm simply asking the man if I'm a looming danger.” She turns back to him, her winning smile slipping right back into place.

Franco’s gaze locks onto hers, and for a moment, it feels like the air around us has shifted. “That remains to be seen,” he finally says, his voice dropping.

I have to stifle a laugh, watching the sparks fly between them. Justine, ever the flirt, is clearly enjoying the effect she’s having on Franco. And Franco, for all his coldness, isn’t immune to her charms.

“All right, you two,” I interject, deciding it’s best to intervene before things get out of hand. “Let’s not get carried away. Justine, I’ll take you to the apartment I’ve set up for you, and Franco…I’m sure you’ve got important ‘second-in-command’ things to do?”

Franco’s eyes flick over to me, a flash of something in his gaze before he gives a curt nod. “Of course. I’ll leave you to it.”

Justine pouts playfully, but she lets go of his hand, though not before giving him one last lingering look. “I’m sure we’ll see each other again soon, Franco,” she says with a wink.

Franco’s expression doesn’t change, but I can see the way his eyes follow her as we walk away, his usual stoicism faltering just a little. Justine got under his skin, and I have a feeling this is only the beginning of whatever is brewing between them.

As we get into the elevator to go to the apartment I’d arranged for Justine, I can’t help but smile to myself. Franco is curious about my friend, that much is clear, but whether that’s a good thing or not remains to be seen.

***

The apartment I had set up for Justine is just a few floors down from the penthouse. It wasn’t as grand as Angelo’s floor, but it’s safe, secure, and most importantly, private.

“This is fantastic, Sophia,” Justine says as we step inside, her eyes lighting up as she takes in the space. “You really didn’t have to go all out like this.”

“I wanted to,” I reply, watching as she explores the living room. “You deserve a nice place to stay. And I wanted you to be close, just in case…”

Justine turned to me, her expression softening. “In case what?”

“In case things get…complicated,” I admit, my voice trailing off. “This isn’t just a holiday, Justine. There’s a lot going on and I don’t want you caught in the crossfire.”

She walks over to me, placing a hand on my arm. “Hey, I’m here because you’re my best friend. And we agreed that you wouldn't patronize me by diluting the facts, right?”

“J…”

“Right, Sarah?” she pins me with a look that is clearly meant to pull at my heartstrings.

“Right. I'm sorry. I don't know the full details yet, but there's a power struggle going on. My father’s position needs to be filled.I'm the one, his only heir, and naturally, the mantle falls to me. But there's someone else who wants it and he's trying to kill me. As long as I'm alive, he will never have a legitimate claim to power.”

She's uncharacteristically quiet for a few minutes before she speaks.

“I'd say that’s all poppycock, but I know you're not one to dick around. Damn, when did our lives slip into a bad remake ofThe Godfather?”

My chuckle is light, but it’s nice to feel like laughing about my situation.

“I think the thing I'm most scared of is finding out that my mother lied to me my whole life. She told me that my dad was this monstrous person that she had to get me away from, but coming here and learning more about him…it doesn't seem that way. Also, he apparently knew where we were all those years, yet he never came looking. That must mean something, right?”

“Right. If he was truly a heartless monster, he would've come to drag you both back home.”

“Exactly.” I exhale and plop down on the sofa.

“She was going to tell me something, that day in the hospital. The day she…” I swallow, unable to get the words out. Justine reaches out to squeeze my hand.

“She was going to say something, but she never got to say it. What if she lied to me about this? What do I do then?”

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