Page 13 of Dex

“Did you know the combined wealth in this room exceeds, oh, I don’t know, a few trillion dollars?”

I roll my eyes.Of course, this asshole would do the math.

Paul Knight doesn’t collect people.He collects power.He likes to own the narrative, make sure every piece on the chessboard moves at his command.

And tonight?

Tonight is a goddamn power play.

I tense as he continues, his voice oozing control.

“Tonight I have a very special guest…” He lifts a hand toward the entryway, that familiar smile of his sharp enough to slice through steel.“As Knight Enterprises looks to strengthen its ties in emerging markets and expand our global footprint, it’s my pleasure to introduce a woman whose intelligence, influence, and heritage align perfectly with that vision.”

The moment she steps into view, I fucking know exactly who she is.

Jett curses under his breath.

I hear collective gasps around me, from my brothers.

Daniela Oliveira.

She’s breathtaking.Tall.Voluptuous.Filling out her sparkling, shimmering, sequined dress, like it was made for her.

It’s also completely inappropriate.There are only two other women here, excluding Cari, and they’re both wearing dark business suits.And trousers.As if they need to dress like men to fit in.

This Brazilian Beauty Queen looks like she ought to be on the red carpet at a Hollywood film premiere.

“Jesus,” I mutter.

“Fuck,” Jett says at the same time.

“Isn’t that the woman you were meant to marry, Jett?”Zach jokes, elbowing me.

“Is that her?”Cari pipes up.She’s been silent for most of the evening, but she cranes her neck, her gaze fixated on this woman that Jett was once supposed to form an alliance with.Just like that, Jett slips his arm around Cari’s waist and pulls her closer to him.A territorial move if ever I saw one.

“Who cares?”he growls.

“She’s gorgeous,” Enzo adds, nodding.

“Shut up,” Rio snaps.“Shut the fuck up.”

I look at Rio’s face and his eyes are transfixed.Paul stretches out his hand, and Daniela takes it as he leads her to the front.He introduces her as the “the family behind AO Eletronica.All the way from Brazil,” Paul adds, looking jubilant.Like the cat that caught the canary.

She steps forward, her voice measured but soft.“I’m delighted to be here.”She sounds a little breathless, and she’s not as thin or as fragile as I thought she was.She is literally Amazonian; tall and voluptuous, with the face of a movie star.Full, luscious lips.Dramatic eyes.High cheekbones.Long, wavy dark hair.

This was the “something”on the old man’s agenda.My attention fixes on Rio again, and I see that his eyes are glued to this woman.

The heiress is still talking but I barely hear it.Because all the pieces are falling into place.Paul Knight just made this event about her.

About this deal.

About the marriage alliance.

Something in the pit of my belly tells me it’s back on.

I glance at my brothers.“He can’t stop himself, can he?”

“Never.”Jett drains his whiskey glass.The old man crafted this entire night around her.Then, like the goddamn showman he is, he takes Daniela’s hand and leads her straight toward us.

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