Page 9 of Sev’s Blackmailed Bride (The Dante Dynasty #1)

Primo released a full-bodied laugh. “More complicated than her belonging to your best friend?” He swept his hand through the air, the gesture leaving behind a smoky contrail.

“It is impossible to cut the connection. The Inferno has no respect for time or place or complication. It knows. It chooses. And it has done so for as long as there have been Dantes. You either accept the gift and revel in the blessing it offers, or you walk away and suffer the consequences.”

Sev stilled. “What consequences?”

“You ignore The Inferno at your own peril, nipote.” He leaned forward, each word stone-hard. “If you turn your back on it, you will never know true happiness. Look at what happened to your father.”

“You think The Inferno killed him?” Sev demanded on a challenging note. “Are you that superstitious?”

Primo’s expression softened. “No, it didn’t kill Dominic.

But because he chose with his head instead of his heart, because he married your mother instead of the woman chosen for him by The Inferno, he never found true happiness.

And both our business and our family suffered as a result.

” He took a slow drag of his cigar, the tip flaming with an unholy red glow.

“I am warning you, Severo Dante. If you follow in your father’s footsteps you, too, will know only the curse, never the blessing. ”

T ina Fontaine threw herself into a chair near where Francesca sat at her drawing board, while Kurt filled the doorway leading into the small office. One look at their expressions warned Francesca that her previous night’s indiscretion had left her career teetering on a knife’sedge.

“You owe my dear husband a huge thank you for stopping me from calling the police last night,” came Tina’s opening volley.

Francesca stared in horror. “The police?”

Tina leaned forward, not bothering to disguise her fury. “It was your big night. And you disappeared with a bloody fortune in gems around your neck without bothering to tell anyone where you’d gone. What did you expect me to do?”

Francesca clasped her shaking hands together. “I’m sorry. Truly. Ihave no idea what came over me.”

The ring of truth in Francesca’s comment gave Tina pause. “Where the hell did you go?”

“I think I can guess,” Kurt inserted. “Holed up somewhere clutching a wastebasket, were you?”

Francesca stared at him, utterly miserable. She didn’t have any choice. She couldn’t lie. She had to admit the truth and take whatever punishment they chose to dole out, even if it meant the end of her career at TH. “Not exactly. I—”

From behind Tina’s back, Kurt gave a warning shake of his head. “But you were suffering from a severe case of nerves, Iassume?” Before Francesca could reply, he continued, “It’s the one excuse Tina can sympathize with, can’t you, darling? It happened to her on the night of her first show, too.”

Tina gave an irritable shrug. “Yes, fine. It happened to me when we opened our first jewelry store in Mendocino. Too many nerves, too much champagne, and too little intestinal fortitude.” She shot Francesca an annoyed look. “Is that what happened?”

Francesca hesitated, before nodding despite nearly overwhelming guilt. “I’m so sorry. The crowd got to me and I decided to leave early.” She kept her gaze fixed on Tina, but caught Kurt’s small look of approval. “I promise it won’t happen again.”

“I suggest it doesn’t. Next time I’ll fire you.” Tina continued to stare with uncomfortable intensity. “How in the world did you evade security? Ineed to know so in future our designers and models can’t pull a similar stunt. ”

Francesca kept her gaze fixed on her drawing table. “There’s an exit off the balcony,” she whispered. “One of the guests escorted me.”

“Go on.”

Francesca swallowed. “As for the jewelry, Ican’t tell you how sorry I am that I worried you. Iswear I kept it safe.” Or rather Sev had. She’d been too far gone by that time to give a single thought to what damage their lovemaking might do to the delicate pieces.

“That’s the only thing that saved your job,” Tina said sternly. “If anything had happened to the jewelry, you’d be cooling your heels in jail.”

Tina’s assistant appeared before she could say anything further and leaned into the room around Kurt. “Call for you,” she informed her boss. “It’s Juliet Bloom’s rep.”

Tina came off the chair as though catapulted and flew toward the door.

She paused at the last instant. “Fair warning, Francesca.” She threw the admonition over her shoulder.

“The rep wasn’t happy when I couldn’t produce you last night.

If she’s calling to blow off our deal because you were incapable of doing your job, you’re gone. ”

Francesca fought to draw breath, seeing her career vanish before her eyes thanks to one night of utter foolishness. “I understand. ”

“And there’s a call for you on line three, Francesca,” the assistant added, with a hint of sympathy.

“Excuse me for a minute,” she murmured to Kurt. She picked up the phone, not in the least surprised to hear Severo Dante’s voice respond to her greeting. “How may I help you?” she asked in as businesslike a tone as she could manage.

“Huh.” He paused as though giving it serious thought. “I’m not quite sure how to answer that. Most of the possibilities that come to mind would be interesting variations on last night’s theme.”

She didn’t dare respond to the comment. She’d risked quite enough already, thanks to Sev. “I’m really busy right now. Could I get back to you in regard to that?”

“In regard to that, you can get back to me anytime you want. But I’m calling for a different reason, altogether. Iwant you to meet me for lunch at Fruits de Mer at one.”

She spared Kurt a brief, uncomfortable glance. “That’s not even remotely possible.”

“In hot water, are you?”

“Yes.”

“Then let’s make it tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry, that’s quite impossible. ”

“Make it possible or I’ll come by the office and let you explain my presence to the Fontaines. Or better yet, I’ll explain everything to them. Personally.”

Oh, God. If he did that, she’d be fired for sure. Painfully aware of her father listening in, she chose her words with care. “You are such a gentleman.” Let him read between those lines, or rather,lies.

He chuckled. “You’re not alone, are you?” At her pointed silence, he added, “I’m serious. We need to talk. Will you come tomorrow?”

“It would seem I have no other choice. Now, Ireally have to go.” She ended the conversation by returning the receiver to its cradle. “I’m sorry about that, Kurt.”

He regarded her far too acutely. “I assume that was your young man from last night?” He held up a hand before she could reply. “I caught a glimpse of you and your mysterious friend leaving together.”

Francesca stiffened in alarm. Had he recognized Sev? No, he couldn’t have or he wouldn’t be acting so understanding. “And that didn’t worry you?” she asked hesitantly.

“Not when I consider some of the antics Tina and I got up to when we were first dating. Ido, however, recommend in the future that you don’t mix business with pleasure. ”

Embarrassed color warmed Francesca’s cheeks. “I hope you know that I don’t usually... I’m not—”

He waved that aside, but not before she saw his cheeks turn a ruddier shade than normal. “I helped you out of a tight spot this time because, quite frankly, we need you and what you can do for Timeless Heirlooms. But Iwon’t bail you out again.”

“I understand.” It killed her to be having this conversation with her father. More than anything she hoped to win both his approval, as well as his friendship. Instead, he’d helped her lie to his wife and put their relationship at odds. “As I told Tina, it won’t happen again.”

“Listen to me, Francesca.” He took the chair Tina had vacated. “Your six-month contract with Timeless Heirlooms is almost up. Tina and I are both very excited with what we’ve seen from you so far. Equally as important, we’ve enjoyed working with you.”

She smiled in genuine pleasure. Receiving such a huge compliment from her father meant the world to her. “Thank you. I’ve enjoyed working with you, as well.”

How could she not? She was living the dream of a lifetime, one she wanted more than anything.

Thanks to the detective she’d hired, she’d been able to track down her father the minute she’d graduated from college and approach him without anyone being the wiser.

To her delight, she discovered that he shared her passion.

Even more incredible, the company he and Tina ran were actively hiring designers, if only on a trial basis.

“Tina and I were on the verge of making your position here permanent. But after last night, we simply can’t take the risk. Not yet. You understand our predicament, don’t you?”

Her smile died. In the past six months she’d struggled to prove herself as both a top-notch designer, as well as a woman he’d be proud to claim as his daughter. It had all gone so well. Until last night. And now she’d ruined everything.

“I do understand,” she managed to say. “Kurt, Ican’t thank you and Tina enough for giving me this opportunity. Iswear I’ll make it up to you.”

“I don’t doubt that.” He offered her a slow, generous smile, one that never failed to fill Francesca with an intense longing.

He stood and held out his hand. “We’ll give it another couple months.

Maybe once we have Juliet Bloom under contract, we’ll feel more comfortable offering you a permanent position with us. ”

Francesca slipped her hand into his bearlike grasp, fighting back tears.

Determination filled her. It didn’t matter what it took, she’d find a way to win his approval, as well as a permanent job at Timeless Heirlooms. If that meant avoiding Sev—well, after the lunch he’d forced on her—then that’s what she’d do.

Because nothing was more important than having the opportunity to get to know her father, even if she could never tell him the truth about their relationship.