Page 14 of Dex

“Surprise guest, huh?”I snap.

His expressions smacks of a win.“Daniela was in town, and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to invite her.”

I don’t fucking believe the gall of this man.“She just happened to be in town?”My gaze flicks to the heiress’s wide eyes.She stares back at me, calm and collected, as if she’s seen men worse than me.But that big, wide smile of her soon got wiped off her face.

Matteo sniggers.“Or maybe you put this event together just so you could find a way for her to meet us.”

We’re all thinking the same thing.

Zach offers her a polite nod.“Nice to meet you, Daniela.”He extends his hand, and the heiress shakes it firmly, but she eyes us with uncertainty.

“Yeah,” Jett mutters, barely looking at her as he catches another whiskey glass.Rio, on the other hand, can’t seem to look away.He’s transfixed by this woman.

“This is a bride auction, isn’t it?”I say flatly, glancing at the Beauty Queen, and I swear I see her flinch.“Just call it what it is.”I eyeball the old man.

He chuckles.“This is Dexter.You’ll have to watch him, Daniela.He can be quite cutting with his remarks.”

Her bright green eyes meet mine with surprising ease.What I see now is something else.Not fear.Not even interest.There’s a calmness about her, like she’s assessing me.Trying to figure out what kind of monster I am before deciding how to handle me.

But even though she plays it cool, I can see the tension in the way her fingers tighten ever so slightly around the stem of her glass.I can see right through her indifference.

I glare at the old man again and don’t care if the heiress hears me.“You planned this.”

“If my sons are too busy running from responsibility,” he says smoothly, “then I have to bring opportunity directly to them.”

I snort.“And by opportunity, you mean something for your own personal gain.”

“That’s up to you.”He scans us all in one swooping one-hundred-and-eighty-degree gaze.“I’ll leave you to make Daniela feel at home.”He pins his gaze on Jett.

“I’m already taken,” Jett growls, and tightens his arm around Cari’s waist.The heiress and Cari talk, before Zach jumps in, just itching to be noticed.

My father turns to Daniela.“Please, make yourself at home, and report to me if they bite, or are rude.They shouldn’t be.I’ve spent a fortune on educating them.”

I look away, feeling abject disgust and unable to face him.

“You know what?”I mutter.“I need some fresh air.”

I head towards the balcony, desperate to get away.

Chapter 5

DANI

A soirée in Paul Knight’s penthouse.I still have to pinch myself.

This is such a big deal for me, for my family.I can’t believe that I’m here, meeting all the Knights.

Looking around, the penthouse, it was already so amazing to see during the day, but now, for the evening party, it has a different mood; opulent, rich, and discreet.The smell of money and power pervades the air.

I’m told that we’re in the Great Room.It’s a large open space with windows for walls on one side of the room, and with stunning views of the city and Central Park.

The sequined black, figure-hugging dress I’m wearing seems too much.With a high neck, it reveals my bare shoulders even more because I’m wearing my hair up.To make matters worse, the dress catches the light, shimmering as I walk and I suddenly feel overdressed, wrongly dressed, for a room filled mostly by with men in suits.

I wish I hadn’t listened to Paul Knight.I’m already seeing that he manipulated me into wearing something I wouldn’t have chosen for myself.

This dress is more for a party and not for an event like this.I wish I’d gone with my gut and worn something demure.like the smart but dressy trousers I’d picked out.But Paul insisted I wear something dazzling, something that would catch the eye of a Knight.

I feel so out of place, and I’m sure it shows.I don’t know what to look at, and I know no one, apart from Paul Knight but he’s busy being the host.Luckily the views from this room are stunning, and I look out often, as do most people here, but they’re talking and laughing.The penthouse is a hive of activity, chatter and people circulating.

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