Page 31 of Broken Princess

One Week Later

"Ms. Donovan," Francis says, opening the door to the car waiting to pick me up at the curb outside of Lorenzo's apartment building. The driver is always polite if a bit cold, but that's what I've come to expect from anyone who works for my father.

"Nice to see you again, Francis," I say, slipping into the backseat. "It's been a while."

"I was away on business," he says in a cryptic tone.

"Sounds mysterious." He just stares blankly at me until I sigh and say, "Right..."

He closes the door and gets in on the driver's side, adjusting his mirror before pulling out.

Dad called me to request—or rather, demand—my presence at the last minute, as usual. Lorenzo isn't home, since he's had to go back to class, even if he's acting like he thinks I'm going to escape every time I go outside the door.

I guess if he comes back and finds me gone, he'd probably be right.

I'm tempted to let him sweat a little, but I decide to text him and tell him where I'm at. If we're going to be co-parenting, I'm going to have to take the higher road.

A lot.

For the rest of my life.

Ugh. This is going to be complicated.

Not as complicated as keeping my dad from finding out about the pregnancy, though. I'm wearing a baggy academy sweatshirt and jeans, which I'm sure he's going to have plenty to say about, but at least it'll keep my secret. Hopefully.

I'm relieved I'm not going to class right now if only because I'm sure Kayleigh would be mocking me relentlessly for my backslide in style. At least she's not likely to be home on a Friday night. She's probably with Lorenzo, wherever he is.

The thought makes my stomach churn. I check my phone and realize he still hasn't seen my message, so I tuck it back into my bag and try not to think about it.

It's not like we're together. How many times do I have to tell myself that before I start acting like it? My heart is still convinced it has some claim to him. Maybe the fact that, no matter what's happened, he somehow still manages to maintain that vice grip he has had on my heart from square one.

The car comes to a stop in front of the mansion and I notice that the hedges out front have been cut in a new way. The lawn looks different, too, so I guess they're changing things around. Natalie is all about keeping up appearances on the outside. A perfect metaphor for our fucked-up family.

Francis gets out to open my door and I follow him up the walkway to the house. I'm feeling a little better than I have been, but the moment I walk past the door, it feels like there's a rock sitting in the pit of my stomach, so all that improvement goes out the window.

I really can't tell if it's nerves or morning sickness. Hopefully I won't throw up in Dad's office.

As relieved as I am that he's back in one piece, I'm also nervous, because it's the first time I've seen him since... well, since I left. And I'm sure he's going to have plenty to say.

"Mr. Carillo is waiting for you upstairs," the butler announces, nodding to me.

"Thanks," I say, putting my hand on the railing of the stairs to steady it since my hands are trembling. I feel like I'm walking up to the top of a diving board that's a mile high.

When I reach the end of the hall, I knock on the door. There's no answer for a second, but before I can knock again, Dad calls from inside, "Come in."

I open the door and walk into the study that's even bigger than what I had pictured. There are books all along one wall, and a small sitting room with leader furniture and a desk lamp across from the massive mahogany desk.

It's definitely a mafia boss's lair, alright. Like I could forget what he is even for a second.

"Hi," I say, relieved my voice doesn't sound quite as small and frail as I feared.

He looks up from whatever papers he's signing, and casts a judgmental glance at my outfit, but rather than commenting on it, he motions to one of the leather chairs across from his desk. "Have a seat."

I walk over to sit down and fold my hands in my lap, deciding to wait for him to be the first to speak. That was listed as a power move in one of my classes on negotiation, but after a few seconds of him just staring at me in silence, I fold like a piece of paper.

"So… you're back," I say, clearing my throat.

"Yes," he says, cocking an eyebrow. "I'm relieved you didn't try to skip town again in my absence."

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