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“Very well then, Michelle. What about you, though? Are you close to your father?”
I let out a sigh, not sure that I wanted to go down that path. Nico immediately picked up on it, then backtracked what he’d asked by shaking his head.
“No, that’s all right. You probably understand how working for your father can be stressful at times, though.”
“That’s an understatement! My father is a mighty man, and he reminds us of that whenever I step out of line. Luckily that’s only happened a few times.”
“That’s pretty much how it is between my dad and me. There have only been a few mishaps, but he doesn’t hold back when that happens.”
“That’s interesting,” Nico said. I tilted my head at him. “I just assumed that he’d be easier on you.”
I burst out laughing. “Why, because I’m a woman? If anything, he’s harder on me because of my gender and the fact that I’m his daughter. He knows that it’s harder for women in the industry and has trained me to be as cutthroat as him, plus what I say and do affects his reputation. That’s not an easy thing to live up to all the time.”
Nico grimaced, and I wanted to tell him even more. He seemed caring and sweet, the kind of guy who would encourage you to say to him all of your secrets. Not to use it as leverage, but because he understood what it was like to have an overbearing father who set unrealistic expectations. I suddenly wanted to lay it out all there for him, to tell him that my father wants me to marry someone in the industry because it’d be good for his business. I held back, though, reminding myself to keep it as professional as possible.
“You are a beautiful woman, Michelle, and your father should be very proud of you.” All I could do was smile, too afraid that I’d tell him my life story when I wanted to keep it about business. “The meeting today should go very well.”
“Will your father be there by chance? I’m interested in meeting him if only to see if he’s as firm as my father.” Both of us laughed a little bit, and I could see his eyes lighten up. There was more than sexual chemistry between the two of us.
“Today it’s just me, Hugo, you two and the lawyers. He’s interested in meeting you, too, though. I’m sure it will happen eventually. This business deal is going to be huge for our company.”
I focused on my breakfast as Nico continued to talk. He told me about the properties they owned, projects their company was working on, and how big of a deal it was for Affinity Finance to be working with Erect-it. I kept nodding while sipping my coffee, realizing that I had to hold back from developing feelings for Nico and Hugo. My father would never give me a real estate company if he found out that I’d slept with them both.
Nico and Hugo were so alike, yet so different. The way Hugo spoke about protecting his brother made me like him even more, and hearing Nico talk about how proud he was to be a Stepanov had the same effect on me. Both of them were proud and protective of their family. Nico said he didn’t want Hugo to end up like his father, who suffered a heart attack from too much stress.
He also wanted his father to retire soon, and couldn’t wait to run Erect-it Corporation with his brother.
“I’m sure you and Hugo will make your father very proud when that day comes,” I said.
“I’m sure you’ll do the same for your father. From what I hear, you’re the heir to Affinity Finance, correct?” I nodded but didn’t say any more. As much as I enjoyed doing that line of work, my real passion was private real estate. I didn’t want that to get out, though. Once again, I reminded myself to keep it professional with the Stepanov brothers.
