Page 37 of Dex

My phone buzzes and I snatch it up, my stomach twisting when I see a text from Dexter.

Meet me in the lobby.Now.

I reply:

Now?

He texts back:

Yes now.??

I let out a sigh.I desperately need to make some phone calls, but first, I need to figure out what the hell Dexter Knight wants.

Chapter 11

DEX

I send the heiress a text, because my father is moving way too fast.Either she knows something I don’t, or the old man is withholding something from me.

I look up to find her walking towards me.She looks sad, and it makes my stomach tighten.She’s away from her family, and everything familiar.Dropped into the Knight family like a grenade, and I have to suffer the consequences.

This poor woman has no idea of what she’s walking into.I remember her conversation with her parents.How much she loves them.How much she cares.How she’s doing this for them.

Jesus.

She’s in for a shock.

Her eyes, no longer dazzling, but a more muted dull tone now, fix on mine, and I swear my heart flips a little.I can’t remember the last time that happened and it startles me in a way I’m not prepared for.I didn’t expect to feel anything, yet something about the way she moves, the way she looks at me, makes my stomach knot.My heart begins to race in a way I don’t understand.I haven’t even seen this woman naked, and already she’s having an effect on me.

She crosses her arms.“You needed to speak to me.”

“We need to get our stories straight, get to know each other,” I say.“I need to get you a ring or something.”

“I believe its customarily a ring.”Her expression is guarded, like she doesn’t quite believe me.“I can use something I have from my jewelry collection if that makes it easier for you.”

“We need to play the part, so I’ll buy something appropriate.I mean, we’re getting married, aren’t we?It’s the least I can do.”

“Yes, we are.”

I scratch my ear, glance around the marble floored lobby.Wave at some people I know.“I don’t know anything about you.”My gaze meets those sparkling green eyes again.

“You don’t,” she agrees, a little too quickly.“And I don’t know much about you, except that you didn’t want this.”

“Well, you picked me.It’s crazy, but here we are.”

She exhales, eyes flicking away momentarily before coming back to mine.“I picked you because… because you didn’t fall all over me.”I let her words sink in, and try to understand.“I’ve had it all my life,” she says, something raw and honest in her expression.“I’m sorry if you think that’s arrogant.It’s just… you’redifferent.You didn’t stare at me like I was a commodity.You pushed back.You asked questions.”

She stops like she’s said too much, but I already get it.Guilt gnaws at me like a starving rat.I wince, thinking of the Brazilian Beauty Queen label I tagged on her, and in doing that, I reduced her to something plastic and pretty.

Men want to fuck her.

Women hate her.

It must be awful for her that people only see her as a beautiful face and body.They dismiss her as vapid, but the more I’m getting to know her, Daniela is anything but that.

I don’t know whether to pity her or admire her for putting herself out there like this.For stepping into what’s basically a cattle market.

“Why the rush?”I ask.“Is there something you’re not telling me?”

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