CHAPTER 4

She didn’t understand anything about the brief argument between the two men, whom she had just learned were brothers. It seemed this wasn’t the right day to talk to the CEO. She was about to turn and leave when the man spoke.

“As I expected, you came back to accept my offer.”

If there was sarcasm in his voice, she chose to ignore it. She came here for something more important, not for a pointless fight.

“I came back because you didn’t give me a choice, Mr. Ricaforte,” she said, glaring at him. Who cared if this man looked like a modern god in his business suit, his appearance radiating power and authority?

“Do you think you can escape me again, Zenna?” he asked softly as he walked toward her.

She raised an eyebrow. She wouldn’t show him fear or unease. She wouldn’t be intimidated by a Ricaforte man. While other women might throw themselves at men like him, she wouldn’t. She would do what he wanted because she had no other choice. This was for Nathaniel—she had to do it.

“What are you up to, Matt? Are you making me your mistress?” she asked, emphasizing the last word. Damn. She had never dreamed of becoming someone’s mistress.

“Who told you that?” A hint of a smile played on his lips. “You’ll never be my mistress, Zenna. It doesn’t suit you to be one.”

The fine hairs on her skin stood on end when he gently held the back of her neck. His thumb traced slow circles on her nape, sending a jolt of electricity down her spine that made her shiver.

He stared at her lips. Her throat suddenly went dry as he ran his tongue over his lower lip. His lips looked sensual, naturally red.

“It would suit you better to be…”

She raised an eyebrow. To be what? She met his gaze with defiance, though her heart pounded wildly in her chest. She suppressed the sudden surge of excitement.

“…a fuck buddy.”

She raise her hand for a slap, but Matthew caught it before it could touch his face.

“Why, Zenna? Do you expect me to make you my wife? To give you my name, huh? Sweet, I don’t believe in marriage. But I do believe we’re compatible in bed.” He moved closer and whispered, “Wanna try again? It’s been over two years since we proved that, hasn’t it?”

Marriage didn’t exist in his vocabulary? Impossible!

“You’d need to drink a drum of holy water, Ricaforte. God! You’re a manwhore. And if you think I want to marry you, you’re wrong. Unlike you, I have someone I actually want to marry. Move on. Don’t be bitter just because your wedding fell through.”

Instead of getting annoyed, he seemed amused, his gaze grazing her as if studying her.

“I’ve already found the cure for my manwhore tendencies—and that’s you, Zenna.”

She was about to respond but shivered when she saw the seriousness and darkness on his face as he said it.

Zenna didn’t know how to deal with Matt. He had made it clear they were nothing more than fuck buddies. Something twisted deep inside her heart, but she kept it hidden. What mattered most to her was Nathaniel. If she had to humble herself for the sake of her child, she would. But she swore to heaven that Matt would never find out about Nate. She would do anything to keep their paths from crossing.

Fuck buddy didn’t mean living under the same roof. He wanted her body, and that was all she would give him. She insisted on being available whenever he needed her, whether at his house or wherever he wanted to claim her. She wanted him to feel embarrassed by his offer. She outdid any prostitute.

“You can always come to me if you want, right?” he said.

“No!” It was too late when she realized how obvious her reaction had been. He raised his eyebrows at her before focusing back on driving.

Shit. She wanted to pull her hair out. She shouldn’t have let him see she was hiding something.

“I-I have someone at home,” she stammered.

He noticed the movement of her jaw and the hesitation in her voice.

“A housemaid?” she clarified.

“In that case, you’d better stay at my house. There’s a cleaner every other day, not live-in. No disturbances.”

Damn pervert, Ricaforte.

She closed her eyes tightly and massaged her temples. Her head hurt from convincing him.

“Fine. If you really don’t want to, I won’t force you. We can still see each other every day. We can make it anytime in my office, baby.”

“Fuck buddy… in your office?”

He bit his lower lip, suppressing a smile while keeping his eyes on the road.

“You’ll be my PA, Zenna. Please don’t focus on being my fuck buddy, sweet. I can’t take it anymore.” His voice turned raspy.

“Your PA slash fuck buddy, huh!” She wanted to snap at him. He didn’t even really need a PA—he just wanted her around whenever he wanted to get laid. Asshole.

He chuckled. “Oh, Zenna Marianette. You and your clever ass. You probably already know what I want to do to you right now.” The darkness in his voice made her shiver.

She swallowed hard and turned her attention to the window outside. She needed to get used to this arrangement with Matt. She also needed to prepare herself for what he wanted. She was no longer a virgin to be coy about it now. She had already given her innocence to this manwhore two years ago. What else could she withhold from him? Ah… Nate, their child.

“Where’s Rhaim?” Matt asked, frowning as he looked at his cousin Rael, who had just returned from the dance floor.

“There, the kid got cornered.” He plopped onto the sofa beside Markus. “Damn the woman in red!”

“Who?” Kiel asked, busy caressing the smooth thigh of the woman beside him—another high-class whore.

“I don’t know her. Ask Rhaim,” Rael said, stabbing the contents of his glass. Cursing nonstop.

“The woman in red?” Kiel teased, noticing the mestiza woman.

“You look rejected by chicks,” Matt teased Rael even more.

“Shut up, Matthew. If not for me, you wouldn’t get laid. How many years would you still be dry?” Rael hissed at his cousin.

“I paid you more than enough, tado,” Matthew retorted. If only his cousin knew he was still celibate. He had abstained for years because of the woman he had met in Viareggio. Suddenly, he fell silent as Zenna crossed his mind.

The image of the woman teased him in front of him. The curves of her body, the softness of her skin—it made him slump in his seat. His half-brother Markus noticed something and gave him a sharp nudge with his elbow before tapping on his cellphone and heading to the darker part of the club. Markus might go off with some random woman. That was Markus, a true Ricaforte—a womanizer through and through.

“Hey, Matt! Remember Thea Monteverde? She’s here in the Philippines, bro. And guess what—she’s also in the club right now,” Kiel informed him with a malicious grin.

Althea Monteverde. His ex-fiancee. His face soured, and he clenched his jaw. Thea, the bitch and drama queen—how he hated that woman. He almost strangled her. Thanks to Markus, though; if it weren’t for the stag party, she might have already gone to hell with him. And thanks to Mari, for that unforgettable night. He made sure that Thea would never fill the void of his desires.

But speaking of the bitch, he saw her on the dance floor with a man, yet her eyes were on him. He already knew what her next move would be. He wouldn’t wait for her—he immediately stood up, ignoring his cousins.

“Damn, man, long night ahead. Don’t rush home,” Rael warned.

“I forgot, I have plans with Zenna.”

“Plans or just avoiding someone?” Kiel snapped.

“I don’t want a scene with Thea here. You don’t know her,” he replied.

Rael shrugged. “Do you think she’ll stop? Thea is Thea. She’ll ruin your reputation until you go back to her.”

Over his cold, cold dead body! He would never go back to her.

“Dude, that hit you hard. Think it could’ve ended with a near fuck-up if not?” Kiel asked.

“And don’t underestimate her father’s influence, Matthew Shane. Señor Gunzalo Monteverde doesn’t stay quiet after being publicly humiliated. Guaranteed, only lightning will miss revenge there,” Rael warned, concern evident in his voice.

From Rael’s line of work, he knew who his cousin had crossed. Gunzalo’s connections were strong, and his name rarely got involved in illegal dealings.

“Revenge? Did he wait a few years before taking it?” Kiel smirked. “Don’t worry, cousin. We’re not Ricafortes without balls. One fights, we all fight. Want me to take out Gunzalo first?” The bad-boy Ricaforte grinned at handsome Kiel.

“Gunzalo’s no chick. He’s sharp. If hurt, he’ll plan revenge. He’ll strike when you’re confident.”

“And you almost used the kid as bait to get what you want. Good thing you had balls before succeeding,” Kiel said mockingly.

“Yeah, right. And that dick of his buried in some mysterious woman’s pussy. Reason to leave Italy.” Rael and Kiel laughed uproariously, high-fiving each other like fools.

Matthew glared at them. He didn’t want his mother subjected to humiliation—her heart was fragile. Rufus had caused enough pain.

“That’s enough, Kiel. You don’t want him angry,” Rael scolded. “By the way, how’s the property in Batangas you were buying?” He tried to shift the conversation. He knew both cousins would get upset if he brought up the shame caused by the Monteverde father and son.

“I’m still thinking. Looks like there’s a conflict in the hacienda. Don Amado’s only child disagrees with selling the Montecielo hacienda,” Matthew said, face souring.

“Probably a daughter, cousin. That’s not a problem. Soon, she’ll chase you and open the hacienda for you to buy,” Kiel said with a mischievous grin. He knew Rael’s charisma and strategy—no deal, work, business, or woman would escape him.

Rael smirked, looking like he had a devilish plan.

“If you can’t close the deal with the father, do it with the child. No pussy, no opening for you,” Matthew teased.

“Blame the Cardinal’s blood, Ricafortes,” Kiel added. He drank before kissing the woman beside him without hesitation.

“But remember the Cardinal’s Rule, fuckboy: ‘Don’t blow the bomb without a bomb suit.’ Even if you get the hacienda, another Montecielo will inherit it. You’ll still lose to Don Amado’s child if it comes to that.”

Rael just shook his head, laughing. Cardinal’s Rule. That was their rule: Ricaforte men didn’t screw women without a condom. Too risky. They all avoided attachments. But if his two cousins knew Matthew’s plan to acquire Hacienda Montecielo, they would definitely bet millions on it—and Matthew would still come out on top.

Wait and see, Lady in Red.