Page 28 of The Heiress

He spends most of our dinner talking about this woman and that young lady with some rather randy visuals. Luckily, the breeze is blowing his words in the other direction of other diners. I’ve spent most of the time thinking about what happened with Daisy two days ago, anyway. We may not have gone as nuts as I initially wanted, but it left me with such a warmed heart that listening to bestie talk is in no way appealing anymore.

Angus naturally catches on to this and asks me what’s up.

“You’ve got to face the facts,” Angus says while downing his second beer of the evening. “Her father’s marrying her off to some sleazebag and would make your life hell if you intervened. I know you want to be with her, and she doesn’t want to be with that other guy, but…”

“I know,” I grumble. “Believe me, I know!” I’ve spent more than my fair share of time trying to come up with a solution for Daisy’s dilemma. “But it’s…”

“No, girl.” Whoa, where did that stern voice come from? So not like Angus. I don’t like it. “Listen, at the end of the day, she’s another fling. I know she’s gorgeous, funny, a good time… I know you keep thinking about her, but there are so many girls out there. You’ll find someone else. It’s best to cut her loose and let her fight her family in a way she knows how. It’s the 21stcentury. She doesn’t have to marry someone she doesn’t want to.”

“But…” Angus can fuck right off, yeah? “I don’t want anyone else.”

It’s true. All I want is Daisy. The Italian beauty with legs for miles, silky soft hair, and a pouty, feisty mouth that’s always begging me to kiss it.

“The only way you could make this work is if you convinced her father of that. You’re not exactly the upstanding country clubguya man like Marcello DeMonte is going to want for his only daughter. You’d have to do more than convince him to give you a shot. You’ll have to charm him into thinking you’re already family. And, you know, the whole gay thing.”

As if the Heavens have opened up and God has stricken me with a bolt of creativity, I’ve got the craziest idea in the world.

It’s a long shot, but it might work.

“Hey, Angus, I’ve gotta go.” I slap some money down on the table before grabbing my jacket and slipping out of my seat. “There’s something I need to do.”

He grins. “You’re a goner, girl. Good luck. I’ll come to your funeral when DeMonte is done having his bodyguards maul you to death. Maybe it’ll count as a hate crime!”

“She’s worth it.” I jog to the valet. I need to get to the jewelry store before it closes and I lose my nerve.

My plan involves a very expensive ring. I hope I know Daisy’s tastes well enough!

Chapter 15

Daisy

“Ineed to take control of my life.” I squeeze some lemon into my iced tea. The sun is shining bright on this hot July day. Even though Ashleigh and I sit in a cabana at one of the dock’s nicest restaurants, I still fear for my tender skin. This tea better cool me down. “This whole thing with Cristiano confirms that. I mean, I barely know what I want to do after I graduate college. My parents make it sound like I’m going to get a degree to keep up appearances and then get married right away to start my life of unhappy homemaking. As if.”

Ashleigh is squeezing every citrus fruit that grows in the sun into her water. She’s on a diet again. I keep telling that girl it’s about lifestyle changes and not fasting for days at a time, but does she ever listen to me? “I have no idea what I’m going to do, either. My parents want to either marry me off or have me do something impossible.” She scrunches her nose. “Like be a doctor or a lawyer. Why does it always have to be a doctor,lawyer, or wife? Ugh. My brother gets everything… and he’s younger than me!”

I know that feeling well, and it’s a common occurrence in our circles. Even though I’m the only DeMonte child, my parents have done nothing to secure my inheritance outside of some trusts. What I mean is that I was never prepared to take over the company. If I had been a boy? I would’ve been in the main DeMonte office from the time I could read. Ashleigh’s parents at least have a son to use as an excuse. The fact he’s three years younger than Ashleigh, though, is so telling that I want to hurl.

Thing is, though, I’m not sure I want to do Daddy’s job, anyway. I don’t imagine myself being some CEO or managing a huge company like DeMonte’s. I don’t know what I want to do. My whole undergrad career has been me screwing around in general ed. I have to declare a major this year. Right now, I’m about to pick English, because I don’t know what else to do!

Until recently, I didn’t let any of this bother me. Now? Since my father decided who my future husband will be? It’s like a storm has erupted in my head. It’s not only about the husband thing, although that was the impetus. I should be allowed to pick my romantic partners. I should be allowed to do whatever I want with my life, within reason, of course. I like to think I’m an intelligent girl. Bullheaded and stubborn? Hell, yes. I hear my grandmother was a right asshole until the day she died. It’s a DeMonte thing.

Ashleigh squeezes the life out of one more orange slice before deciding her water is edible. “Maybe you should pick a good role model for the kind of woman you want to be.” She picks upThe Daily Socialand flips through the pages. “Although, I can’t think of anyone like us who isn’t partying and floating all day long.”

I fold my arms on the table and sigh. My memories keep going back to Lorde and the way she cradled me in that hotel bed. Who knew a girl like that could be so tender? She may have called medirty things while I ate her out, but we went to sleep with mutual respect I have never experienced with someone before.

If only my parents wouldn’t flip their shit if we dated.

“Holy moly! Look at this ring!” Ashleigh slams the paper in front of me. A yellow ring highlights a blown-up photograph. “That’s so vintage. I’m jelly.”

I pick up the paper and stare at the ring. The photograph is grainy, but I see a pretty blue ring that looks like it may have come from the forties. Don’t know. I’m not as hip to vintage as Ashleigh is. I’m a sleek and modern type of girl.

“Don’t you like that lady?”

Finally, I look at the rest of the article. My mind has been so clouded that I don’t even register anything beyond the ring. Now, I see some cute photos of Kathleen Allen and her partner out for a walk in… Paris? It’s Paris. City of Love. Sigh.

The article implies that the ring is an engagement ring since Kathleen is wearing it on her left hand.“Could a wedding announcement be in the air?”On one hand, I want to swoon, on the other… last thing I want to think about is marriage.

“Yeah, I like her. Don’t personally know her, though.”

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