Page 62 of The Deal

The following weekend, when it’s my scheduled day with Giovanni, I sent Nico to pick him up. Sophia is no longer welcome in my home. I’m supposed to have him every second Sunday, and if she wants to keep living the lifestyle she does, that’s how it’s going to stay.

When she left here last week, she was adamant that if I kept Chloe around, I would no longer be able to see my son, so I stuck by my threat and cut her off. If that woman thinks she can control my life, she’s mistaken.

Sophia is a gold digger and has only ever wanted me for my money, so the moment she realised she’d no longer be receiving funding from me, she quickly changed her tune—like I knew she would.

In all the years she’s known me, I’ve never been in a relationship with a woman, though I wouldn’t exactly call what Chloe and I have right now arelationship. But if things keep going the way they are, it’s definitely heading in that direction.

That thought doesn’t scare me in the slightest.

I like this woman more than I’m ready to admit, and I’m pretty sure she feels the same way. At least, I hope she does. There’s a small part of me that wonders if I’m being played, that she’s softening me up, getting me to drop my guard so she can disappear when I least expect it. Deep down, my heart tells me that’s not what’s going on, but I’ve been fooled before.

Chloe spent every night this week in my bed. I haven’t officially moved her in there yet; it’s way too early for that, but I’m comfortable with our current situation, and with where this is heading.

My biggest concern is the secrets I still carry. They have the potential to either make or break us—there’s no in-between—and I can only pray it’s not the latter.

I lean on the doorjamb at the entrance to the kitchen and smile as I watch Carmella and Chloe with my son. He may not carry my blood in those tiny veins of his, but I consider him mine nevertheless.

To me, not being biologically related to a child doesn’t make you any less of a parent. What really matters is the bond you share and the dedication you have for their well-being. It’s not DNA that defines fatherhood; it’s the love and commitment you feel in your heart.

The three of them are laughing and chatting as they pack the basket of food we are taking with us today. I glance down at my watch; the helicopter should be arriving any minute. It’s how Giovanni and I usually get to my cabin whenever we go there.

Since we only get to spend the day together, I don’t want to waste all our time on the road. I want to do all the fun things with him and make memories.

“Chloe,” Giovanni suddenly says.

“Yes, sweetie pie,” she replies, looking down at him and smiling.

“Do you know how to bait your own hook?”

“Umm, no,” she answers, scrunching up that cute nose of hers.

“I do,” he says, standing a little taller. “My dad taught me. He’s teaching me all the cool stuff so I know what to do when I’m old like him.”

Old like him?I’m only thirty-four years old. He makes it sound like I’m ancient.

“Wow, that’s awesome.”

“I can teach you if you like.”

“Umm, okay.”

“You’re coming with us today, right?” he asks.

“Your dad invited me, but I wanted to make sure it was okay with you first. I wouldn’t want to intrude on your special time with him.”

“I want you to come. I like you; you’re nice.”

“You’re nice too,” she replies, her smile growing.

She reaches out and gently runs her hand over his dark hair, just like she did with me last week when I opened up to her about my situation with Sophia. She may not realise it, but there’s something undeniably maternal about her. You only have to see the way she cared for her father after her mother left to understand that.

Sophia lacks that quality. I have no doubt she loves her son, but even when he was a baby, she showed no interest in breastfeeding. She insisted I hire a wet nurse, which I found incredibly cold.

We also had a full-time nanny who stayed on after I left. It was crucial to me that Giovanni was well cared for, even though he wasn’t technically mine. I was a more hands-on parent when he was born, despite being at work during the day.

“Have you ever been fishing?” he asks her.

“No, I haven’t.”

---