Page 23 of Dex

He frowns.“What?”

“I’m sorry.That was too personal.”

“Then don’t ask.”His eyes stay on the road, though he glances at me every now and then, his irritation evident.“Answer me this,” he says.“Is this your doing?”

I shift uncomfortably.“What do you mean?”

“You coming here, and being presented to us tonight.Don’t you feel like you’re in a meat market?”

“I’m a businesswoman, first and foremost,” I say defensively, even though that’s a little white lie.I’m a daughter, first and foremost.And I want my father to be well again.I want Papai to stop lying in bed, worrying over the company, over our future.

But I don’t say any of this to Dexter.I came here to make an alliance, but the Knights don’t know that.Paul Knight was careful about how to dress this up, and I’m not sure what I’m allowed to give away to his sons.

“I don’t like being tricked,” Dexter says.

“I understand,” I say softly.“I would hate that too.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?”I ask, again, deeply curious, because he evaded answering the first time I asked.If he does, then he’s out of the running.

“Why are you asking me such a personal question?”he asks, his eyes still on the road.

“I was curious.”I feel like a fool.I feel like I’m giving the game away.But I’m not here for long, and I need to know which of the Knights might be my best choice.If none of them are, I need to go home, and find another way.

“My father is a controlling man,” Dexter says, after a while.“You should be wary of him.I don’t know what he’s told you.”

“He hasn’t told me anything.”

“Then why are you here?”

“To do business.”

“What sort of business?”

Before I can even think of how to answer, my cell phone rings, and it’s my mom.I glance at Dexter, see the hard line of his lips and decide that I don’t want to talk to my mãe with this sullen angry man next to me.

The phone keeps ringing.Mãe is obviously desperate to find out how this evening went.It’s past midnight back home, and I feel guilty that my parents have been up waiting for my feedback.

“Aren’t you going to get that?”Dexter turns to me.Something in his eyes softens just then.“Answer your call, Daniela.It might be urgent.”

So, I do.I pick up.“Oi, Mãe… já sabia que você ia me ligar.”

Hi, Mom.I knew you’d call me.

“Meu anjo, estou preocupada.Você está bem?”

My angel, I’m worried.Are you okay?

My heart bursts with relief and love at the sound of my mother’s voice, and to hear her words.I’m lucky that I have this type of relationship with my parents.Seeing Paul Knight with his boys, I feel incredibly blessed.I also feel homesick, and I briefly consider getting the next flight back.

“I’m okay,” I tell her, speaking in my mother tongue, which is helpful, because Dexter won’t understand.

“Was it good?What were the boys like?”she asks eagerly.

“Oh, you know … I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

“Tell me now!We’ve been waiting to hear from you, my love.Your Papai also wants to know.”

She hands the phone over, and my stomach clenches when I hear my father’s soft voice.“How was it, Daniela?Are they nice?Did you find someone you liked?”

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