Page 98 of Dancing with the Devil

I hummed, nodding in response as I slowly started eating.What happened last night? The last thing I remember is… fuck. I don’t remember anything.

I finished breakfast and washed it down with two glasses of water. I hesitantly got up and made my way up to his office.Please, don’t kill me.

I slowly opened the door to his office and saw him looking down at his computer. He leaned back in his chair and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed a number and brought the phone up to his ear. He spat out some Italian and as I walked in, his head shot up.

He pushed his chair back, signaling for me to come and sit on his lap. I was hesitant at first, but the look in his eyes dared me to disobey him right now—I was too hungover for that.

I sat down and he rested his hand on the low of my back. He finally ended his phone call and my heart hammered in my chest.Just calm down, Nirah.

“You wanted to see me,” I cleared my throat as he put his phone down on his desk. “Before noon,” I added but when I looked at him, he was not smiling. “Okay…” I trailed off. “You’re not in the mood for jokes. Noted.”

“Would you be if you had to bring your drunk fiancée home from a night out, after she danced with other men?” he asked and my brows drew together.

“Would you ever dance with other men?” I playfully asked and his expression deepened. “Sorry,” I quickly apologized, lowering my head.

“Why’d you sneak away from Cesar, Nirah?” he asked and I shrugged my shoulders.

“Because I didn’t want him lurking around at the club with me,” I truthfully answered.

“And why did you go to the club?” he asked and I swallowed hard.

“Because I was mad at you.”

“And why were you mad at me?” he asked, making me scoff.

“You know why,” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“No. I don’t. Tell me why,” he pressed and I paused for a second.

“Because…” I awkwardly shifted.

“Because I still kept contact with Fernandina?” he finished my sentence for me and I shook my head.

“I don’t care about the women in your life, Antonio.”

“That’s a lie. Try again.”

In utter disbelief, I tried standing but he gripped my hips, holding me to his lap. “Try—Again.”

“What do you want me to say, huh?” I rhetorically asked. “I don’t like her. That’s it.”

He gave me a single nod and opened one of his drawers. He pulled out my handbag and relief washed over me. I took it from him and opened it, finding all my belongings.Except… my ring.

I chewed the inside of my cheek, feeling angry with myself. I dug my phone out, seeing multiple missed calls and text messages from Silvia, Jordan, London and Stephanie. I felt eerie, so I dropped my phone in my purse and stood up.

Antonio grabbed my wrist, stopping me. He opened his free hand and my heart dropped.My ring. As I reached for it, he closed his hand, pulling back. “I thought I lost it—Antonio, give it to me,” I said but he didn’t. He simply stared up at me like he was thinking—hard—and I swallowed the lump of anxiety down my throat.

“Do you really want this?” he questioned and I nodded.

“Of course I do, what are you even talking about?”

“Youdidn’twant it, and told Silvia to give it back to me, so she did.”Shit.

“What?”

“And since you were so curious last night,yes, I did appreciate the lengthy reason as to why you hate me. Silvia made an effort not to leave out a single detail. You’d be impressed.”

I—No…