Page 144 of Dex

His lip trembles.“Don’t you see?I wasn’t upfront with you.I was desperate, that’s why I did the cowardly, weak thing and ordered my accounts department to mislead Paul Knight.God, forgive me.”

“Why would you do such a thing?That’s not who you are.”

“I was trying to protect you.”

“By lying to Paul Knight?”I ask gently, trying to keep the bitterness from my voice.

He lowers his head.“I didn’t want you to marry Oscar Ramos.If Paul Knight saw the state of the business, he would never have agreed to an alliance.”

“You made the business look better than it was so he’d agree to the alliance?”

“I didn’t want you to marry Ramos.Not that man.He had an idea that we were struggling and he made me an offer, before Paul Knight came along.He told me he’d invest in us, help us to regain our power, but he wanted something in return.You.”

I remember Oscar Ramos.How he glanced at me, put his hand on my bare shoulder and gave me a wolfish smile that made my insides fall.This man would devour me the moment we closed the door to the bedroom on our wedding night.I shiver, just thinking about it.

It’s what made me go to New York to speak with Paul Knight.I swallow.The thought of that slimy snake of a man being anywhere near me, makes me want to retch but that’s something I’ll now have to overcome.

“I couldn’t do it, Daniela.I couldn’t sell you off like that, and I was trying to figure out our next move, but you flew to meet Paul Knight and when you told us you’d met Dexter, and that everything would be fine, I thought my prayers had been answered.I thought Paul Knight would protect the company, and I stupidly thought he’d do it from afar.Not only did he come into work with me, poring over the books and examining all our processes, but he also hired a top audit firm to go through everything.That’s how he discovered the truth.”

It explains why Dexter was so worried when his father stayed behind.He knew that old man was up to something.And now my heart is a mess of contradictions.Of rage and sorrow, love and betrayal.All of it tangled up in the hollow space that Dexter had once occupied.

“I walked into the deal blind,” I whisper.“I was walking into a fire pit, Papai.I wish you’d forewarned me, at least.”

“How could I?I was ashamed of myself, using you.But the Knights were young, good-looking, and everything about them looked perfect.”

I look away.

“Is it not perfect?”my father asks, his dark, baggy, saggy eyes on me.

“You should be careful of Paul Knight.”

“You shouldn’t do anything hasty, filha.”

I place a hand on my father’s arm.“I’m going to fix it.”

“How?”my mother asks from the doorway.Her face is pale.“What are you planning, filha?”

I stand slowly, meeting both of their eyes.“I am going to marry Oscar Ramos.”

They both go still, like I’ve caused their hearts to stop beating.

“No,” Mãe breathes.“You cannot do this.”

“I’m already divorced,” I say softly.“It’s done.”

My father looks like I slapped him.“You… you divorced Dexter?”

I nod once.“In the Dominican Republic, before I came here.Divorces can be finalized quickly there than in the U.S or Brazil.I had to do it.”

I was able to file unilaterally, and without Dexter, Paul or media attention.I needed it to be quick, because I wrestled with the decision all the way there.Raquel kept telling me not to rush, to think things through.Even after I told her that Dexter and I had tricked her and everyone around us, she somehow seems to think I should talk things over with Dexter.Her advice shocks me.She’s supposed to be my wing woman.I can’t deny my love for Dexter, but everything I’ve learned about the Knights makes me sick to my stomach.

I will get over him.

She’s not as convinced.I’ve sworn her to secrecy, and made her promise not to say anything to Dexter, or Rio.

My mother looks stricken.“What did Dexter say?”

“He doesn’t know.”

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