Page 33 of Claimed By the Enemy
I look up from the legal journal I’ve been pretending to read to find Dom’s assistant hovering by my desk with an expression of barely contained panic.
“Yes?”
“Mr. Moretti would like to see you in his office. Immediately.”
My stomach drops. “What for?”
“He didn’t say. But he seemed…” She pauses, searching for the right word. “Insistent.”
Shit.
“I’ll be right there,” I say, closing the journal.
I take my time walking to his office.
I knock once and enter without waiting for permission, because showing weakness now would be suicide.
Dom is behind his desk, but he’s not alone. Sitting in one of the leather chairs across from him, looking perfectly at ease and slightly confused, is Amara.
My heart stops.
“Sophie!” Amara turns as I enter, her face lighting up with surprise. “I didn’t know you’d be here. I was just telling your husband about our boat trip plans.”
Our boat trip plans. My carefully constructed escape route, laid out in detail for the one person I most need to avoid.
Dom’s eyes meet mine over Amara’s head, and I can see the calculation there. He knows. Somehow, he knows exactly what I was planning.
“Amara was just explaining how much she’s looking forward to your girls’ weekend,” Dom says, his voice perfectly pleasant. “It sounds like quite an adventure.”
“It does,” I manage, trying to keep my expression neutral. “What are you doing here, Amara?”
“Oh, I stopped by to finalize some details with you, but when I mentioned to the receptionist that I was planning a trip for Sophie Moretti, she directed me here instead.” Amara glances between Dom and me with obvious curiosity. “Your husband is…” Amara pauses, studying Dom’s face carefully. “Very interested in making sure you have a good time.”
There’s something cautious in her tone, and I can see her protective instincts kicking in as she glances between us.
Dom leans back in his chair. “In fact, I was just thinking that you both should join me for dinner tonight. I’d love to hear more about your plans.”
No. No, no, no.
“That’s… unexpected,” Amara says slowly, clearly picking up on the tension in the room. “Sophie never mentioned you were the type to plan social events with her friends.”
“Sophie and I are still learning about each other,” Dom replies smoothly. “Marriage is full of surprises.”
That’s one way to put it.
Amara’s eyes narrow slightly at that. “I’m sure it is. Especially when it happens so quickly.”
The silence stretches uncomfortably. Dom’s smile doesn’t waver, but I can feel the tension crackling between them.
“Well,” Amara continues, her voice carefully neutral, “dinner still sounds… nice. Should I bring anything?”
“Just yourselves. Shall we say seven?”
“Perfect. Sophie, is that okay with you?”
What choice do I have? If I object now, Amara will ask questions I can’t answer. And if I don’t show up, she’ll want to know why.
“Of course,” I say, my smile feeling like it might crack my face. “I’m looking forward to it.”
