Page 38 of Dex

She puts a hand to her chest, expresses surprise.“No.”

My gut tells me not to believe her.“Your father’s company, AO Eletronica, is in good shape?”

“Yes.”She pauses.“My father wants the credibility that comes with having an American co-partner and your father wants a share of the South American telecom market.What better way to do that than with a strategic alliance?Besides, it’s been months since your father first approached us, and my father didn’t want to lose this opportunity.”

I study her for a long second, try to find cracks, a sliver of information she lets slip.But she’s good.“I understand your disdain for me, Dexter, but we are businesspeople.If we look at this as a business deal, we’ll be fine.”

“Then we should get together and try to get our stories straight.Like the old man advised us to.”

“Why do you keep calling him old man?”she asks innocently.“Do you have no respect for your father?”

“Welcome to the Knight Family.”I get ready to leave.“I have a meeting I need to be at.I’ll pick you up from your hotel at seven?”

“Seven is good.”

I check my phone, a habit as easy as breathing, to see an email from my father.He wants us to meet in the conference room later this afternoon.

Great.I can hardly wait.

I’ve been focused on urgent emails and tasks for the last few hours, and now make my way to the conference room to see what the old man has to say.

The Italian Knights are already there.Rio nods as our eyes connect.Matteo keeps tapping the pen on the table.Enzo sits there, quietly.He also nods when I catch his eye.The only one who doesn’t acknowledge me, or Jett or Zach, is Matteo.That asshole has an attitude.

“What’s this about, Dad?”My eager younger brother asks, as the old man walks in, his movements sharp and precise.

“This is about something Jett should have done, but didn’t,” my father replies smoothly.

Screw him.I wish he’d stop poking his finger at Jett, but I have a feeling he’s about to announce the marriage of convenience.

Jett leans back in his chair, unimpressed.“Let me guess,” he says flatly.“You’re still bitching about the arranged marriage.The one I wanted no part of.”

“Doesn’t matter now,” my father says coolly.

I sit up and exhale, wanting to steal the old man’s thunder.“Because I agreed.”

No reaction from Jett or Zach.They already know.

“You’re actually doing it?”Matteo asks, his brow lifting a little.“Agreeing to an arranged marriage?”

“Shut up and listen,” Rio mutters.

Enzo stares at me quietly.

I feel the weight of all their gazes.Weighing.Assessing.Judging.

“Why would you marry someone you don’t even know?”Matteo asks.

I don’t answer.

The old man glances at his watch, like this is some quick memo about a minor schedule change.Not a potentially massive decision for Knight Enterprises.Not a huge change in the trajectory of my life.

“You all met Daniela Oliveira at the soirée last night,” he says.

“Yeah, thanks for the advance notice on that,” Jett drawls.

“She was nice,” Zach offers.

“And very pretty,” Enzo adds.

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