Page 94 of Summoned
He’s no longer holding his glass for a toast. Instead, he takes his utensils and sinks his knife into the steak on his plate. As he carves, his gaze slowly drifts over the curve of my shoulders. “You’re a very beautiful woman, Nicole. That’s why I said yes so easily…to the marriage.”
“And here I thought it was for my intellect,” I snap. My eyes dart to my father, who’s deep in conversation with Daniel’s older brother. I reach for my glass and take a heavy gulp.
Daniel smirks. “Then let’s skip the pleasantries.”
“I prefer it that way,” I say through clenched teeth, wondering how far this will go.
He raises an eyebrow, as if the whole situation bores him. “Call it what you will. We both know what this is. A deal. No one’s expecting grand declarations of love. However, we need to look good while we’re at it. You’re the face beside me. I’m the man providing for you. Anything else is unnecessary drama.”
His knife cuts through the meat again, metal scraping against porcelain. “You’ll have everything you need. And to keep you from getting too bored”—he stuffs a piece of steak in his mouth, still talking while he chews—“we’ll find you something to do. Charity work, maybe?”
My fingers curl around the fork. “I already havesomething. Architecture.”
He waves his hand dismissively. “Architecture, right…” he says with a lazy smile that dares me to throw my wine in his face. “Of course, I wouldn’t take that away from you. If it helps you stay sharp, keep at it. It’s good to have a hobby that keeps you occupied. But once the children come, you’ll want to give it up yourself.”
I squeeze my knees under the table, trying to contain the fury rising with every word. “Children?”
Daniel takes a sip of wine and leans in slightly. “My father always dreamed of grandchildren to carry on the business. Sure, my sister has kids, but they’ll never move back to Bulgaria. And my brother”—he nods toward the older Deliberov seated two places down—“can’t even tie his own shoes, let alone raise a family.”
My throat dries up. “And how exactly do you plan to have these children?”
“In vitro, of course.”
My chair screeches as I shoot to my feet. I fling the napkin onto my plate with such force, it nearly knocks over the wineglass. I stomp toward the restroom, my pulse pounding in my temples, sweat beading on my palms, and slam the door shut behind me.
I haven’t even caught my breath when the handle clicks. Of course. Leave it to my father to barge into the women’s bathroom without so much as batting an eyelash.
“What the hell was that?” he growls.
I can’t contain my fury any longer. “You said it was just dinner!” And clearly, you made a deal behind my back.”
His eyes narrow for a split second, then his expression clears and he raises his hands to his chest in feigned calm. “I had no idea Daniel had already made up his mind. That’s even better. What’s worse is you jumping from the tablelike a sulking teenager when you should act like a woman who knows her place.”
My hands dig into the marble edge of the sink behind me. “He’ll make me give up architecture! Everything I am!”
“So what?”
My heart pounds so hard, all I can do is gape at Father. Finally, I blurt, “You’ve said all my life that I should have a purpose!”
He straightens up even more. “Nicole, stop acting like a victim! You’re being offered a life of luxury—no worries, no responsibilities, no dirty hands. And you’re throwing a tantrum, acting like a spoiled brat who doesn’t know how lucky she is.”
I try to breathe, but my lungs burn. His silhouette blurs before my eyes, and I’m back in the cave again. The mist. The cold stone beneath my knees. I see him, his features twisted with contempt.
I also see myself. Standing up, naked and filthy, clutching that pencil.I am what I am. If you can’t accept that, step aside.The words echo in my chest, holding me upright.
Unwavering, I meet his gaze. My father, the man waiting for me to break, to crawl back into the neat little box he prepared for me, and return to that table. “Dad, I’m not going to marry Daniel Deliberov.”
His eyes narrow further, jaw twitching with tension. The silence becomes so heavy that I can hear the grinding of his teeth.
“Dad…” My voice shakes, but I hold firm. “I’m sorry, but…”
His hand snaps forward, seizing my wrist forcefully. Before I can react, he’s dragging me toward the door. My heels scrape against the floor, but I can’t break free.
“You’re coming now. Don’t make a scene. Unless you want to regret it for the rest of your life.”
“Let go of me!” I twist my wrist hard, trying to wrench myself free as pain shoots up my arm.
He yanks again, throwing me off balance. I dig my heels into the floor, shoving against his chest with my free hand. “I saidlet go!”
