Page 50 of King of Greed

It was the first ultimatum I’d ever issued, and I meant every word. I usually wasn’t this dramatic, but I refused to let Dominic barge in like a jealous rhino every time he saw me with another man. He’d lost the right toanyopinions on my personal life weeks ago.

His eyes snapped to mine. Shock flitted through them, followed by a quick flash of betrayal, then hurt.

I would be lying if I said his reaction didn’t pull on at least one heartstring. Despite everything that’d happened between us, I didn’t want to actively hurt him, but I couldn’t let him walk all over me either.

My conviction must’ve been scrawled all over my face, because after what felt like an eternity, Dominic turned and walked away without a word.

However, the moment was already ruined. No matter how hard I tried to laugh, dance, and focus on Ignacio again, my mind was stuck on the man who held more shares of my attention than he should. He was gone but stillthere,his gaze a warm weight on my skin, his presence a black hole that drew every inch of awareness toward him.

I couldn’t take it anymore. I lasted one more song before I made an excuse about needing another drink and left Ignacio on the dance floor.

I stormed toward the bar, where Dominic sat like a king surveying his empire. I stopped inches away from him and jabbed a finger at his chest. “Enough.”

His eyebrows rose. “I didn’t do anything.”

“You’rehere.”

“It’s public property,amor.I have as much right to be here as you do.”

“You know what I mean. And stop calling meamor.” My heart threatened to pound out of my chest. “It’s not…I’m not…”

“You’re not what?” Dominic’s voice dipped a decibel.

“I’m not your wife anymore.” I shouldn’t have drunk so much. My head swam, and my palms were clammy with sweat.

“No.” He didn’t take his eyes off mine. “But you’re still my love. That hasn’t changed.”

Damn him.Damn him to hell.

He said the right thing every time…when he cared enough to say it. His confession after Monday’s dinner had been stuck on a permanent loop in my head for the past week.

That’s all I ask. A chance for us to talk and get to know each other as we are.

I knew better than to fall for it, but sometimes, resisting him was like a falling stone trying to resist the pull of gravity.

My phone vibrated against my hip. I wrenched my gaze from his, eager for a distraction while my pulse pounded at triple speed. It spiked even more when I saw who was calling, but I pressedacceptanyway. Anything was better than being alone with Dominic. We might be surrounded by people, but when he was there, no one else existed.

I turned away from him and pressed my phone tight against my ear. “Mom? Is everything okay?”

The last time my mother called me out of the blue like this, she’d lost her passport and missed her flight to New York after partying too hard at some billionaire’s chateau in Europe. She had been the guest of honor at a major fashion event in the city the following day, and I’d scrambled to get her an emergency passportanda new flight so she could make the event. If it hadn’t been for the Davenport name, I might not have succeeded.

“Everything’s wonderful,” she trilled. “In fact, I haveamazingnews, darling. Are you ready?”

Disbelief coasted through me when she delivered her bombshell. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but the timing was absurd, even for her.

“ThisTuesday? Are you kidding?”

“Why would I kid about something like that? This is a big deal! Of course, you and Marceloneedto be there. You’re family, and family is nonnegotiable.”

“Yes, but— ”

“Oops, I have to go. Bernard is waiting for me in the hot tub.” She giggled, which was a deeply disconcerting sound coming from one’s fifty-seven-year-old parent. “See you soon! Don’t forget to moisturize and hydrate. You want to look good for the big day.”

“Mom, you can’t— ”

Dead silence interrupted my protest. She’d hung up.

“What is it?” Dominic asked when I faced him again. A frown was etched in his brow; my end of the conversation was enough to indicate something was wrong.

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