Never Dare a Tycoon (2 page)

“I’m sorry to interrupt all of you,” she said to the three men taking their seats again. “Please continue,” she said, picking up her menu as she looked at each of the three men.

Her eyes immediately snapped back to the man opposite her. He was absolutely gorgeous! An electric jolt shot through her system when she felt his eyes on her. She tried looking at the menu, out the window, or anywhere else as the men discussed some business deal they were currently working on. But each time she glanced across the table her eyes were captured by the darkest, most devilish brown eyes she’d ever seen in her life. And they were owned by a man with broad shoulders, dark blond hair, and a spectacular physique.

Well, what she could see of it anyway. She could tell that the suit he wore didn’t have padding in the shoulders. And the white cotton shirt couldn’t hide the muscles that rippled on his stomach as he resumed his seat.

It was a shock but this man more than rivaled Sal in looks! Normally, when Sal was in a room, women fought to get his attention, but not this time, Antonia thought distractedly. Whoever he was, he was currently staring at her as if she’d said or done something extremely funny.

Did she have something on her face? A smudge perhaps? No, Jeffrey would have said something to her before bringing her over. What then?

After a moment, she looked down at the menu and tried to concentrate. Who was this man sitting across from her? She tried to relax, but she knew he was still staring at her even though the rest of them were all deciding on what to have for lunch.

When the waiter arrived to take their order, she requested a chef’s salad, despite the fact that she really craved a big, juicy burger.

The menus were taken away and Antonia was forced to sit through the lunch while the three men discussed business. Sitting quietly, she bit her tongue when Sal mentioned a financing option for a project in Florida. She’d just read in the paper this morning about proposed changes to Florida’s finance laws that would add significant costs to their proposal and make it more expensive than other options, but she kept her mouth closed, knowing that any interference by a mere woman wouldn’t be appreciated.

Antonia refused to look at the man sitting across from her. She knew every time his eyes settled on her because her body temperature rose several degrees. She couldn’t meet his gaze though. She prayed that her face wasn’t betraying her emotions. For some reason, this man scared her more than Sal ever had. It was as if he had some sort of control over her soul.

Antonia continued to keep her mouth shut during the interminably long lunch. It was almost three thirty when the man across from her, she forgot his name because she had been too busy looking at him during the introductions, and Scott stood up. Sal also stood, but explained that he was staying to talk with his sister for a while.

The stranger turned to Antonia and picked up her hand, taking it to his lips in an old-fashioned kiss. “I’m thrilled we were able to meet this afternoon. It was a pleasure,” he said, his deep voice gliding along her skin, making her nerves tingle and her heartbeat accelerate.

Scott, much more awkward after the stranger’s departure, cleared his throat and only shook Antonia’s hand with a simple goodbye. As he left, the look on his face clearly showed his irritation at being completely outclassed by the taller man.

Antonia sat back down once they were alone again. her skin still burning from the man’s touch. It was ridiculous, but she couldn’t deny it. She avoided her brother’s eyes when he resumed his seat, knowing he wasn’t happy.

“You look beautiful, Antonia,” Sal said to start the conversation.

“Thank you,” she replied softly, smiling brightly. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad after all. Maybe he just wanted to catch up. Although she was at his house each Sunday after church, there were so many people there, it was hard to sit down and talk with one person.

“How have you been lately? I haven’t seen you in a while,” he said, leaning forward on the white linen tablecloth, pyramiding his hands.

“I’ve been fine. How about you?” she asked, starting to relax slightly. Could she dare suspect that Sal might be treating her like an adult instead of a recalcitrant child? Might she even be so brave as to voice her opinion on some of the topics discussed over lunch?

“I’ve been worried about you. Are you eating well?”

Antonia’s smile faltered slightly. So much for being treated as an adult. “No, I eat only candy. It sometimes sticks in my braces,” she teased, “but that doesn’t matter. With modern technology, they can pull it out when I go to the orthodontist,” she began, then sensed Sal’s frustration. Shaking her head, she said, “Yes, I’ve been eating well, I guess. I don’t really know because I generally buy the same groceries each week.
his concern.
sometimes.
But they’re mostly fruits and vegetables,” she said, giving in and easing

He was only showing his love for her, even if it was overbearing She decided to have a heart to heart talk with her older brother. “Sal, will there ever be a time when you might treat me as a responsible adult? I can take care of myself. You don’t need to worry about me,” she explained, hoping he might listen this time.

“How is your apartment?” he asked, ignoring her comment about his treatment of her.

 

Antonia bit her lip. This was dangerous territory. She quickly glanced at his eyes, trying to gauge his question. Did he know something?

But his face was relaxed. Antonia suspected he was trapping her, but that could just be her paranoia. When one lived a lie, it seemed that even the most innocent questions were an interrogation.

“It’s fine,” she said. “No floods, no robberies,” she joked.

 

“Why won’t you invite anyone there?” he asked.

 

Antonia looked anywhere but at Sal, not sure she could hold her tongue with her frustration over his inability to treat her as anything other than his little sister.

 

“My apartment burned down so I’m living in a homeless shelter. This was the only outfit I was able to salvage. And you know why I don’t invite anyone there.”

 

“Tell me again,” he said, clenching his jaw in reaction to her sarcasm.

Crossing her arms over her chest, she looked over at the window, not even noticing the beautiful sky and the fluffy clouds. “Because if I invite one, everyone will show up. And it isn’t big enough. So why bother?” she said, resigning herself to the conversation.

She couldn’t begrudge him his worries. He was head of the family now and he only had one role model to work off of. And her father had been much worse. Instead of inviting her to a nice restaurant, her father would order her to dinner in their house, then yell and scream until they were both furious with each other. Eventually, Antonia would give in, concerned about his health and loving him too much to cause him worry.

It was the same with Sal. He had so much responsibility. He didn’t need an irritating little sister. So she relented.

Putting a hand on his arm, she said, “I’m eating well. Thank you for your concern. Thanks to grandmother and grandfather, I don’t have to worry about anything like starving,” she said. It wasn’t completely inaccurate. She had an extremely large trust fund at her disposal from her grandparents. Antonia just preferred to live on her own income instead of her inheritance.

Sal sighed and shook his head. “I want you to move back into the house. Its only me now so you won’t have mom and dad looking over your shoulder, which is what I suspect you didn’t like, not all the reasons you gave us at the time.”

Antonia panicked. “Why? I don’t want to move back into the house. My reasons back then were relevant then as well as now.” Trying to calm down because she knew she could argue more effectively when she wasn’t emotional, she said, “I’m not moving back into the house with you, Sal,” she said, taking a deep breath. Coming right to the real issue, she said, “I’m not Sophia. It won’t happen to me.”

A flash of pain streaked across his face, but he didn’t respond to her reference to their sister. “I think you should consider it,” he said softly, then pulled out a piece of paper from his inside, suit pocket. “You aren’t using the money grandmother and grandfather left to you. So please explain how you are paying the rent and buying food. Where are you working?” he demanded, his anger and disappointment evident on his face.

Antonia took the piece of paper with shaking fingers, dreading what it might say. But she already knew what it would show.

Slowly unfolding it, she read the first line. Sure enough, it was a letter from the bank asking what Sal wanted them to do with all the interest the account was earning. The bank manager had tried to contact Antonia, but she hadn’t responded. So, as the executor of their parents’ will and their grandparents’ trust, Sal was being asked to make a decision.

Antonia looked up at Sal, licking her suddenly dry lips. “I can explain,” she said, hiding her shaking hands in her lap. But they wouldn’t stay still.

 

“Please do,” Sal replied, leaning back and crossing his arms over his chest.

But Antonia couldn’t explain. Nervously, she fiddled with her pearls, trying to come up with some explanation that wouldn’t be a complete lie. She hated lying to Sal. She hated lying to all her brothers but she would if push came to shove.

“Antonia?” he prompted.

 

Antonia pushed her hair back from her face, trying to come up with some explanation for the letter. “Sal…” she started, only to be interrupted by her brother. “How about the truth this time,” he said quietly, and Antonia could tell that he was furious.

Breaking down, she told him a most of the truth. “I’m working as a waitress. I make enough money to pay my rent, put food in the refrigerator and do the things I want to do as well as put some money aside for the future,” she said defensively, her chin going up a notch as she saw the look in Sal’s eyes.

“You’re working where?” he asked, livid. “As a what?” Sal never shouted, he never even raised his voice. But when he was angry, his fury was almost palpable.

Her chin went up another notch. “I didn’t tell you where. I just said I was a waitress,” she said.

Sighing, he pushed his hands through his hair, messing it slightly. Antonia knew how furious he was with her if he was messing up his hair. Placing his hands flat on the table as if he had to work to gain some patience, he turned to her and said, “Antonia, please tell me where you work. I just want to check it out so I can assure myself that you’re going to be safe. I don’t want you traveling home at night at who knows what time if the area isn’t safe.”

Antonia shook her head. “No. I’ve been working there for four years now. It isn’t safe anywhere in the city, so why worry about it?” After a moment, she said, “Besides, if I tell you where I work, you’ll arrange to have me fired. I’m not going to allow that. Dad did that to me as his way of protecting me. But I have my own life to live and I’m not going to let you interfere.”

He stared at her defiant eyes, shaking his head at her challenge. Deciding to move on to another subject, he asked, “Where are you living?” he asked, changing the subject.

“You know my address,” she said, looking away. him in the eye when she lied to him.

 

She wasn’t able to look

 

“No, I don’t. I went to the address you gave me. you. You don’t live in the building you showed me.” They’ve never heard of

He’d been a busy boy, she thought. Unfortunately, she was caught in another trap. She’d always knew he’d find out about her sooner or later. She just wished it had been later, once she was established with her own source of income.

“Well, then, I guess you have two mysteries on your hands. Have you seen the new exhibit at the National Gallery? It sounds wonderful,” she said, trying to change the subject and fight back the tears that were brimming on her eyes.

“No, I haven’t seen it. And don’t change the subject,” he demanded harshly.

Antonia had never seen him so angry. Actually, she’d never seen him show any emotion other than mild irritation. But she wasn’t backing down. Putting her napkin on the table, she stood up. “Sal, I love you. You’re a wonderful brother. But I have my own life now. I wish you could be a part of it, but you worry too much. So the less you know, the better.”

She was turning around when Sal spoke softly. “You don’t want to challenge me, Antonia. I’m responsible for your welfare. I
will
worry about you. We all do. I need you to move back into the house with me where I know you’re safe.”

Turning back, she smiled at him, refusing to let the tears fall. “No. That’s not possible.”

 

“Antonia!” he said as she started walking away.

 

Antonia’s whole body jerked at the anger in his voice. She turned back to look at him. A move she shouldn’t have done in retrospect.

 

“I’m asking you one more time, move back into the house,” he said.

 

Trembling, she could only shake her head. Now she understood why his employees avoided incurring his wrath. It was formidable.

 

Antonia forced her feet to move. Slowly, with as much dignity as possible, she walked out of the elegant restaurant.

She made it all the way to the street before she caved in to the desire to cry. She’d just declared war with her oldest brother. And in doing so, all the others would follow. Especially once they found out she had been lying to them all along.

She walked around the corner with her head held high. But as soon as the building hid her from view, she leaned against the concrete wall and bowed her head.

None of her brothers would allow her to keep her job. Even if it had been a regular waitressing job, they wouldn’t have been pleased. But when they found out
where
she worked, they would be livid. Somehow, some way, Sal would force her to be fired. She didn’t know how, but he had powerful friends everywhere.

She had made it down the street and was leaning against her motorcycle when a strong, gentle arm came by and pulled her close. She couldn’t see through the tears but she assumed it was Sal. She let him put her into a car, then closed the door for her.

She heard the driver’s side door close, then took the proffered handkerchief. “Thank you,” she said. She wiped her eyes and tried to pull herself together.