Page 9 of Dex

He’s tall.Gray-blue eyes.Not as warm as I expected.Truth be told, he’s nothing like I expected.His voice on the phone had been smoother, more inviting.In person, he studies me with a sharp, assessing gaze.His smile is soft, but I feel as if there’s something calculating behind it.

I recover quickly, returning his smile as I step forward.

“Daniela,” he says, extending a hand.“Welcome.”

“It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“Shall we?”He gestures for me to follow him.

I pass a few rooms, before Paul Knight leads me into this smaller more informal one, but I don’t see photos anywhere.The entire penthouse reeks of money and mind-boggling wealth, yet there is no color.No warmth.No woman’s touch.Everything is sleek and metal or glass.It’s nothing like my home back in São Paulo.The home that will always have a place in my heart, no matter where I might settle in later years.

We sit.We talk.He asks about my family, my father, my mother.

“It takes a lot to call me directly,” he muses.“I’m impressed.”

“I understand, Mr.Knight.”

“Don’t call me Mr.Knight,” he corrects, amused.“Too formal.If we’re going to be family soon...”

I force another polite smile, as the picture of Oscar Ramos in my head fades, replaced by a blur of the Knight brothers.I have no idea which one it will be.I look around the room and find it odd that there are no family photos to be seen.Not a single photo up anywhere.

“I was surprised to hear from you.It’s been months since the previous deal fell through.What prompted this, Daniela?”

I have to be careful.I can’t tell him about Oscar Ramos, or my father being so sick with worry.

“Well, Mr.—Paul,” I correct myself quickly, “You were the one who approached my father first.”His eyes narrow.He doesn’t like being reminded of that fact.He tilts his head, and I can’t tell if he’s surprised that I said what I did, or if he’s angry.

I smile, leaning forward slightly.“My father is excited about this arrangement, as am I.It’s an incredible opportunity for both of us.I truly believe we can benefit from each other.”

He tilts his head, considering me.“So, you’re not in it for the relationship?”

I blink.“It’s an arranged marriage, Paul.”

“In some cultures, arranged marriages lead to...fruitful entanglements.”

“Yes, but affairs of the heart can be unpredictable,” I counter smoothly, “It might be better, for both parties, to see this more as a business proposition.”

His smile sharpens, and he seems to like my answer.“I like that you’re pragmatic.Business-minded, too, and you have no delusions about what this is.”

“I am fully aware that this is purely business.”I don’t yearn to meet a man and fall in love.

Not yet.

I had two relationships while I was in college here in the US.Nothing serious.Ever since I moved back home, I’ve been focused on proving myself at my father’s company.He gave me a prestigious role, but I work hard, long hours, to prove myself.I don’t want anyone to accuse my father of nepotism.

But I see what my parents have and I want a marriage as strong and as durable as theirs.I want a man to look at me the way my father looks at my mother, when she doesn’t even realize it.When she’s doing the most mundane of tasks like watering a plant, or sipping her coffee.

My father looks at my mother as if she were his next breath.

I hope to have that one day.

For now, I keep mostly to myself.I’ve learned to bury my own needs and focus on my family and our business instead.

The marriage of convenience is like a task on my to-do list.It’s a goal, something that needs to be done, and once it’s done, I can cross it off.

Most of the men I’ve met see me as a commodity.So it’s going to take a special man for me to open up and trust him.To allow myself to fall in love with him.

I feel a coldness here, sitting across the room from Paul.There’s a lack of spirit here, but I try to remain positive.The Knight brothers are closer to my age than Oscar Ramos, and I should be grateful for that.At least I’ll have more in common with them.

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