Chapter 3

Dante Pov

I sat in my study room handling the document that my men submitted to me to go through and sign. 

Being one of the wealthiest in the country wasn't just playful or easy work. To get to this position which was feared by the government and the business world, I had gone through knives and bullets, and this had made my heart cold. 

I trust no one and this is also why I still haven't gotten married at this age. Oh! I now have a fiancée, and speaking of the devil, my phone rang and when I looked at the interface, the name “Geneva” could be boldly seen on top. 

I looked at the call indifferently but didn't pick up and only continued to read through the contract, and just like I predicted, the phone didn't ring again. 

Geneva is a wise woman and this is also one of the reasons I chose her among the women who satisfy my pleasures. She knows her places and doesn't break my rules and she also knows how to satisfy my sexual needs. 

The engagement to her had been deliberate but it was not something real. I had only done this to shut the mouths of investors and media who had kept on yapping about my marriage status. 

Suddenly, the face of a young woman appeared in my mind and I couldn't help the irritation that filled my heart. 

I lit a stick of a cigar and stood up to walk to the window, and my eyes couldn't help but trail to the window on the other side. The window was one I had been unconsciously paying attention to for the past few days since she came. 

“Little Lily…” I gasped at those names and then closed my eyes to inhale a deep breath. 

Her image conjured in my mind and I could feel myself going stiff.  The words she had asked me that day sounded again and a scoff appeared on my face.

“Have I thought of her?” I muttered, and when I think about it now, I know the answer would still be my reply to her. 

No! I hadn't thought of her until her father suddenly came to me one day to demand that I help him take care of her and that was when I remembered that dainty young 18 or 19-year-old girl who had boldly confessed to me. 

I had felt all this was just a child’s fantasy and it’d fade away with time, but— 

The image of her standing in front of me, now grown and mature with the boldness, sexiness and charm of a woman as she whispered, “Dante, I'm back!” appeared in my mind.

To be honest, I really didn't want to think much about those words, but the moment I looked into those emotion-filled eyes and saw the single tear that rolled down her face, I knew clearly that the little girl had grown up and she hadn't forgotten her feelings for me, but…

She is my friend’s daughter! Someone I'm meant to protect, how could I let that happen—

KNOCK!!

My thought was interrupted and my brows furrowed in a tight frown. 

Who would dare come to my study without being called?! The workers know these rules in this house and they wouldn't dare…. 

My thoughts suddenly strayed as the image of someone popped into my mind again. With curiosity, I walked back to my seat and commanded, “Come inside!” 

The moment the door opened and the sweet scent of jasmine flowers hit me, I just knew I had guessed it right. 

“Dante..?” 

Her soft and nervous voice sounded, but when I raised my head and turned towards her, my fingers which held the cigar tightened and my breath spun rapidly. 

My eyes widened and the calmness I had been proud of was shattered with the view I saw. 

Lily, dressed in a black night gown that was decent enough but also made one's imagination go wild, stood in front of me. 

The black night gown accentuated her beautiful, sexy figure, her hair was left unpacked and it cascaded down her back, and her face which was bare of any makeup looked so beautiful that it made my heart skip, and when my eyes trailed down to her long, beautiful model-like legs… 

My blood surged, my breathing slowed down and my mouth became parched. I gulped then forced my gaze away from her legs and returned to her face, but it seemed to be the biggest mistake. 

Her face was flushed red and those eyes… they stared at me with obedience, trust and infatuation. 

Fuck! 

What the hell is this girl trying to do?! Is she trying to seduce me?! 

To calm my heart, I took a long drag of my cigar and finally returned to my indifferent state. 

I threw her a sharp glance, “Why are you here and not sleeping?” 

Lily looked startled, then her fingers intertwined and loosened in nervousness but I acted like I didn't notice and just kept my eyes on the document I was reading. 

“Well… I can't sleep. I'm worried about my father. I just wanted to ask you some questions, and…and..” She stammered, then paused and bit her lips which was enough to make my mind surge again. 

Shit! 

“Little vixen!” I cussed in frustration. I didn't know why she was able to affect me this way but I have been finding everything seductive and it's making me lose my mind.

Now, I couldn't help but doubt my decision to let her live here.

Suddenly, I slapped my palm on the table which made her flinch. She looked at me with shock.

“Little Lily…” I bit those words out, then glared at her, “Are you trying to seduce me?! Didn't I tell you not to have delusions and stay obedient if you want to live here?!” I snapped, clearly pissed off not with her, but at myself for reacting heavily to her tactics. 

“What do you mean?! And don't call me “Little” I'm not little anymore! I'll be 23 years old in two months!” She snapped back in annoyance and I couldn't help but be shocked by her boldness. 

As the boss of the underworld and business world, it was rare to see a bold person like her but… I could do nothing about her. 

I stood up, then gritted my teeth and walked towards her. Then with the hand that held the lit cigar, I held her chin and tightened my fingers on it. 

“Urggh…! You—” She groaned from the pain but I didn't let her go. 

I looked into her eyes with my cold ones, then leaned in closer to her and blew some air on her face which made her cough. 

“Stop those delusions you have, girl… You’re inexperienced and can't take me. I love it rough, wild and crazy and I’m sure you can't take it. Let's maintain this decent status we have and stop seducing me. I don't want to lose control and make things—” 

“Then do it! Make things crazy, Dante. Who knows? I might be able to take that wildness, the roughness and craziness. What do you think?”