His Ultimate Demand

The pain of the memory scythed through her before she could guard herself against it. She shook her head.

‘Why don’t you drink, Ruby?’ His voice was hypnotic, pulling on a cord deep inside that made her want to reveal everything to him.

‘I don’t like the loss of control it gives me.’

Silver eyes narrowed. ‘Something happened to you?’

‘You could say that.’

‘Something bad?’

‘Depends on your definition of bad. Someone upset me. I thought getting drunk would solve the problem. It didn’t. It made it worse.’

‘Who was it?’

‘My father—’ She stopped as she realised how much she was revealing to him.

‘Ah, sì. Fathers. It’s such a shame they’re necessary for evolution, isn’t it?’ Although his words were light, his eyes had taken on that haunted look she’d glimpsed this morning in his kitchen.

Out of nowhere came the overwhelming urge to take his pain away. ‘I can’t believe we’re standing in one of the most spectacular rooms I’ve ever seen, discussing our daddy issues.’

‘You’re discussing your daddy issues. I have none.’

She frowned. ‘But you just said—’

His mouth tightened. ‘I merely expressed a view on evolution.’ He took a large slug of his drink and set the glass aside. ‘Come, the show’s about to begin.’

He walked her deeper into the room, to an even larger space where a stage was brightly lit in hues of blue and green.

Several more acrobats struck different poses from their ropes but as the oriental-themed music filled the room they started to perform as one. Immediately she recognised the world-renowned group whose exclusivity was reserved to royalty and the crème de la crème of A-listers.

The fluidity of their movement and sheer talent taken to hone such an awe-inspiring performance kept Ruby mesmerised for several minutes, until she noticed Narciso’s renewed tension. A glimpse at his profile showed a tense jaw and tightly pursed lips.

She debated for a second, then took a breath.

‘It’s okay if you don’t want to admit to having daddy issues. I lived in denial myself for a long time,’ she whispered, aware several guests stood close by.

‘Excuse me?’ he rasped.

‘I could apologise but I thought we were...you know...sharing.’

‘I don’t share, Ruby. At least not in that way.’

‘Listen—’

‘You’re missing the show,’ he cut across her.

Forced to curb her reply, she resumed watching the show, aware that he grew tenser with every passing minute.

A particularly daring acrobat surged right over their heads. Narciso’s hand tightened around hers. Thinking he was reacting to the spectacular display, she glanced at him, to find his gaze fixed across the stage, on the man who’d confronted her less than an hour ago.

In that instant, the resemblance between them struck her hard. Their similar heights, their silver eyes, the proud, arrogant way they viewed the world. How could she not have seen it until now?

‘Oh, my God, he’s your father.’

He stiffened and glanced down at her with cold, grim eyes. ‘He’s a man whose DNA I happen to share. Nothing more.’

Applause broke through the crowd as the show finished in a crescendo of dives and leaps choreographed so fabulously, she couldn’t help but clap despite her shocking discovery.

They were father and son. And they hated each other with a passion that was almost a separate being every time they were within feet of each other.

She wanted to know what had placed such a wide divide between them but she held her tongue. She had no right to pry into anyone’s life. Her own baggage was enough to be dealing with. After fighting for so long and so hard to get away from the noxious environment her parents chose to inhabit, the last thing she wanted was for someone like Narciso Valentino to dredge it all up.

The smartwatch on her wrist beeped twice.

Narciso glanced down at it. ‘We’re leaving.’

Her heart climbed into her throat, and she fought the snap of excitement fizzing through her. What on earth was wrong with her? She couldn’t be secretly thrilled with the thought of being alone with this man.

Could she?

Within minutes their cases were being loaded into the trunk of the stretch limo that stood idling in the underground car park, with a smartly dressed driver poised at the door. She slid in and Narciso joined her.

The moment the door shut, she wanted to fling it open and dive out. She’d thought she was venturing into the unknown by coming to Macau.

By agreeing to go to Belize with The Warlock of Wall Street, she was really stepping into an abyss.

‘I...don’t think I can...’ She stopped. What was she doing? She’d forced herself to endure a TV show after Simon had convinced her it was the only way she could fund Dolce Italia.

She’d plunged herself into the very environment she’d grown up in and actively detested just so she could establish her independence. Now she stood on the threshold of seeing it pay off.

‘Having second thoughts?’ he asked as the car rolled up a ramp and exited into bright mid-afternoon sunshine.

‘No. I’m not,’ she insisted more to herself than to him.

‘Good.’

The smartwatch emitted several discreet beeps. ‘What’s it doing?’

‘It’s erasing the evidence of my activities here.’

‘Wow, you’re not part of the CIA, are you?’

‘I could be if spies are your thing.’ He gave another of those wicked smiles and her mouth dried.

‘I’ll pass, thanks. Although I’m curious what you have to do to belong to a club like that.’ She took the watch off and examined its multifaceted detail.

‘It involves a lot more than chicken bones and goat sacrifices, I can assure you.’