Page 33 of Proposition 2

20. Cadence

The home Leo led me into was magnificent and completely overwhelming for someone who grew up in a humble house, scraping by on the bare minimum. I’d known his family was rich, but I’d never realized the extent.

The home was inside the same compound as the building where I’d first met Leo’s father, but I hadn’t noticed it then. I didn’t know enough about styles to be able to call it anything other than a mansion, but it was tastefully done and not the gaudy showroom like the ones I’d seen on TV.

The people in the sitting room were just as breathtaking. I’d seen Leo’s father before, of course, and he still wore a pinstripe suit with a cigar hanging from his lips, but the women beside him were gorgeous.

Both had thick, dark hair and the same green eyes as Leo, though the younger woman’s were slightly lighter. She looked like a miniature copy of the regal woman seated beside her who’s locks were twisted up in some fancy style I had no idea how long it took to make. I assumed this had to be his mother and sister, though it was hard to tell since the older woman looked too young to have born a child his age.

The other couple seated across from them were almost the polar opposite. The man’s hair was cropped short and still coal black though the lines on his face betrayed his age. His eyes were just as dark when he turned them on me, the curiosity in them barely hiding the disdain I could feel.

The woman beside him had pale blonde hair lighter than mine, with bright blue eyes, and pouty lips painted cherry red. She was curvy, and I felt an instant stab of jealousy as her gaze brushed past me to crawl over Leo.

Everyone stood as we entered, Leo’s parents moving forward first to greet us. His father’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me, and I couldn’t tell if he remembered our first encounter, but he shook my hand as Leo made introductions.

“Cadence, this is my father, Mateo, and my mother, Aelia.”

His mother ignored my hand and wrapped me in a hug, giving me a warm smile. I murmured a greeting, cheeks flushed as they moved back.

“And this is my sister Eleni.”

The smile he gave his sister showed the affection he felt for her. She gave me a hug as well before stepping to the side to hug Leo. He kissed the top of her head before releasing her and turning his attention to the taller man and the blonde as he wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me against his side.

“Leo, you know Dimitri. This is his daughter Tasia,” Mateo announced.

Leo’s face closed off, the mask he used for business slipping into place as he reached out to shake Dimitri’s hand. Though Tasia stood close enough for him to shake hers as well, he only gave her a short nod.

She flashed a smile at him before her gaze darted to her father’s. I couldn’t see a difference in his expression but whatever she noticed there caused her to drop her gaze to the floor, clasping her hands in front of her.

“Is this your wife, Leo?” Dimitri asked. “She looks familiar.”

Those dark eyes moved to me, sending a shiver down my spine at the coldness in them. Leo’s fingers tightened on my arm, pulling me closer as he shifted so he was further between the strange man and I.

“No, we’re not married yet.”

My natural reaction was to rebuke his yet, but I could feel an undercurrent between the men that made me keep my mouth shut. There was a short, tense silence following Leo’s statement before Aelia spoke up.

“The food should be ready, why don’t we go to the dining room and take our seats?”

The dining room was just as nice as I’d expected, with a formal table and chandelier hanging above it. Mateo took a seat at one end of the table while Dimitri took the opposite. I was seated between Mateo and Leo, with Aelia across from me. Eleni sat opposite Leo with Tasia between her and Dimitri.

The seating felt… strategic. Like there was a meaning and purpose behind it I couldn’t understand.

I felt out of place, especially with the other women looking so polished. Even with the nice clothes Leo had given me I was only a cheap imitation.

Both his mother and sister tried to draw me into conversation, but I was too nervous to do more than answer their questions as simply as possible. Leo and Dimitri were discussing something I couldn’t catch, but Mateo remained silent for the first part of the meal. He waited until dessert was served before he began to ask me questions.

“What do you do, Cadence?”

I lifted my eyes from my plate to focus on the man beside me. I tried to push aside the fact that I knew he was a dangerous man.

“I’m an assistant in an administration office.”

A gleam of calculation entered his eye, but if he thought I would do anything illicit for him, he was mistaken. He would be disappointed anyway since I doubted anything I did would be considered useful.

“And how did you meet Leo?”

I stuttered for a moment until Leo cut in and answered for me.

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