Chapter 4

*Ring Ring*

“No!!!” I mumbled, turning on my bed. I didn’t want to get up. Not when I had managed to finally fall asleep by five am.

The bed was soft, really really soft, like marshmallows. And the room was really really cool and cosy. Everything was just right except the ringing of my darn phone.

*Ring Ring*

“Ugh!” I groaned and sat up. My sons were snuggled to my sides, so I leaned and picked up my phone from the side table, gently not to wake them up.

The caller ID showed Alice, and I sighed.

‘I should have known. The gossip queen wants gossip.’

“Hello.”

“I called you like a trillion times. Why weren’t you picking up your call?” She said, voice all bright and preppy. I always wondered how she was always bouncy early in the morning.

“Isn’t it too early? It’s after seven, Alice. After seven!” I sighed, pushing away the strands of my chestnut hair from my face.

“I know, but I’m too excited. I could barely sleep last night. Tell me everything. Every single deets. I want to know everything.”

“Well…”

I broke down everything that happened last night, from Dante knocking at my door to our talk in his office.

Alice, being Alice, squealed when I narrated the almost steamy—I mean, almost intense—moments I was forced to share with him, aka him getting into my personal bubble.

“That’s so hot. I swear, Olly, if you don’t hook up with this man, I will unfriend you for ever. You will no longer be my best friend. I will tear all of our pictures together.”

“Eww!” I scrunched my face. “Why would I want to do that?”

“Because he’s Dante f.u.cking Romero.” I could almost imagine her duh face. “He’s super rich and sexy. Like panties-turn-wet-at-his-presence sexy. Have you seen the man? He’s the finest piece of male specimen to grace this earth.”

I rolled my eyes so hard that I feared they would fall.

“I’ve seen the man because I now live with him. Fine face, unpleasant character. The Ice King title fits him perfectly.”

“Making him even more desirable. Just imagine being pinned to his bed and screaming his name while he pounded his long ha–“

“That’s enough, Alice!” I squeaked, blushing.

“Don’t be such a prude.” She clicked her tongue.

“I’m not, but I’m leaving with his man. I don’t want any dirty thoughts filling my head when I’m around him.” I stood up from the bed and walked to the curtains.

“That’s what I want for you. Maybe if you have those dirty thoughts then you would actually make a move. It’s not like you don’t have the body. Mini skirts for your thick thighs, tight dresses to flaunt your curves, and a whole lot of cleavage for those big boobies of yours. Two weeks tops, and Dante Romero would be in your sheets and eating from your hands.”

“Thanks but no thanks. I don’t want to be his mistress. Being his baby mama is already hard enough.” I pulled the curtains open, letting the sun ray fill the room.

“Come on, Olly, don’t f.u.ck this up. Do you know how many ladies would kill to be in your shoes? Life has finally given you something good after being unfair to you for so long. You deserve this opportunity.”

“Thanks for the advice, Alice, but I don’t want anything more to do with Dante.” I said, feeling a little tinge of guilt at disappointing her.

Alice was a very good friend and has always wanted the best for me, but this idea was over the top.

Me seducing Dante?! Absolutely not!

I wanted him as far away from me as possible.

“Foolish girl, your choice your loss.” Alice’s preppy voice was damp with disappointment. “What about your apartment? You’ve already paid the rent.”

That’s true. I hadn’t even had time to think about it.

“I don’t know yet. But I think I’ll ask Dante if I can go there to pick up some stuff. And about the job you got me…”

“Yes…”

“I’ve to quit.”

“Quit?!” She screeched. “Why the hell would you do that? Do you know how hard it took me to get you that job?!”

My fingers rubbed my forehead, trying to soothe my forging headache. I knew she would be mad, but I never expected her to be this mad.

“Sorry, but Dante’s already offered me another job,” I sighed.

“One that involves his bed, I hope?”

I faked gagged and she giggled.

“No. A job as a chef. He said he was going to test me tomorrow or next.”

“And you really think you would pass?”

The corner of my lips curled downward.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“No offence, but it’s true. Do you really think you can impress a man used to eating five-star meals? Your cooking is great and all, but compared to all the food he has eaten, it will probably taste like hot cr.ap.”

Alice’s words and mirthful laughter dragged my small bit of confidence into the mud. But… she was right.

What had I been thinking when I agreed to his proposal?

Dante has probably eaten the best of the best food in the world. Mine will taste like garbage to–

“Mama?” A small, groggy voice interrupted my thoughts. I turned to see Nathan sitting on the bed, his blue eyes filled with confusion as they looked around. “Where are we?”

“Alice I need to go, I’ll chat with you later.”

“Sure, but think about what I said.”

The call ended with a beep. I dropped the phone and sighed.

‘Guess I’m going to quit another job before starting it.’

~

“We rode in his car—not a small car, but one like the one we saw on tv. Very long like a cayapillar.”

Leon said, stretching his arms far apart for emphasis.

“Really?” Nathan said, listening to his brother with rapt attention.

“Uh-huh.” Michael nodded and shoved his waffles into his mouth.

“I ehven aite bihg yuugorht.”

“No talking with your mouth full, Michael,” I said, taking a bite of my waffles.

They were so good—probably the best I’ve ever tasted. Warm, fluffy, not too sweet, not too bland—just a perfect blend of flavour. If he ate a basic meal of waffle this good, I couldn’t imagine how the cuisine he ate tasted. Like heaven I supposed.

What was I thinking by agreeing right off the bat? I’m going to screw up in a terrible way. What is he going to think of me then? Why di–

*Snap Snap*

“Olivia.”

“Uh?!” I blinked, waking up from my thoughts, and turned to see who owned the hand that had snapped in my face.

Sheep!

“Dante?!” I squeaked and almost fell from my chair. My elbow hit my glass cup, and I caught it before the citrus content spilled over the dining table.

“You seem rather jumpy this morning. Didn’t you get a good night’s rest?” Dante said, taking a seat beside me.

Is he seriously asking me that? After literally threatening and borderline sexually harassing me, is he going to pretend that last night didn’t happen? The nerves this man has.

“I did.” I mumbled, discreetly moving my seat a little bit away from him.

He eyed me, noticing my movement, but said nothing.

“Are you really our father?” Nathan stared at Dante.

“Yes,” he replied. A maid dropped a cup of coffee before him.

“Really really?” Nathan’s voice still had a speck of doubt in it.

“Really really.” Dante said, sipping his coffee.

Nathan turned to his brothers and smiled at them. Michael mouthed what seemed to be like an ‘I told you.’

Nathan turned to Dante, still smiling.

“I always wanted a father.”

My heart clenched at his words.