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It’s automatic to meet somewhere and save the interrogation or reprimand of my mother. My brothers all know I date, and while it was torture at first, they’ve mostly come to accept it. As I keep trying to explain to them, I’m not a kid anymore.
Actually, you can pick me up. 7 pm.
I text him the address with a little smile of triumph.
Perhaps everything that’s happened today will clear the way for things to change – for my freedom not to be at the discretion of my family and in my own hands. Only time will tell.
~
Right on time, Antony pulls up in his flame-red Ferrari. His slicked-back hair and crisp suit tell me he’s put in the effort – as he should – and I’m glad I chose the outfit I’m wearing. The midnight blue dress makes my skin glow as well as accentuates the curves I have. I’m waiting for them to kick in a little more and give me the hourglass figure I’d like, but I’m happy with how I look.
He holds the door open for me as I walk down the steps and smile, and, with all the charm he possesses, he takes my hand and plants a kiss on the back of it, helping me into the car.
He’s ridiculously handsome, wealthy, and sweet. He’s not shy, but my brothers would eat him alive. Hell, I’d eat him alive if I had to, but he’s fun. My family doesn’t want me to date a man like them – shady, dangerous, or involved with anything illegal, but they don’t realise that it’s ridiculous to raise me in a family like ours and not expect me to be bored with normal men.
Antony does something with bonds. He works in a financial position in the city and likes to show off his money. He thinks I’m a rich wanna-be trophy wife, and I’m happy for him to keep that image in his mind because it plays to my advantage at the moment. Since the conversation with Abel and the fight we had about moving out, I see that it’s not just Mother I have to persuade to grant my freedom, and a husband to offer the shield of protection might come in handy.
Of course, I don’t need a man or want to marry anyone, and Antony isn’t the man my heart would choose, but this is about my future or the lack of future I have at present. I’m tired of being held captive by my own family. It’s one thing for Lexi and Abel to stand up and take control from Mother, but the fight with Abel made me realise that she’s just one of the barriers I need to overcome.
My club is opening soon, and I’m looking forward to showing just what I’m capable of. It’s not the sort of club Antony would frequent, although we have some of the city’s finance sector ready to join the books. His opinion of what the Cortez family does, if he finds out, might not elicit such romantic gestures as whisking me off for a dinner date.
“So, are you going to tell me where we’re heading?”
“That might ruin the surprise.”
“Not to put a dampener on things, but there aren’t many places in the city where you can take me that I’ve not been.”
He reaches over the console to take my hand. “Who said anything about staying in the city?”
He drives through traffic and picks up the I-10. I had assumed somewhere like Bellini’s would be where he’d choose, but no. “Are we dressed for the occasion?”
“You look perfect.”
“Thank you, Antony.”
He isn’t kidding, we do drive right out of the city, and I’m now intrigued and starving. About an hour from home, we pull off the road and head into a wooded area. The road switches from smooth tarmac to off-road, and I can see the panic on Antony’s face.
“You know where we’re going, right?” I ask.
He’s crawling the Ferrari along. "Yes. They didn’t say anything about the road conditions.” With his minimal clearance, it’s a close call if the date will bomb simply because he scuffed up his shiny toy.
I stay quiet as we inch along, what turns out to be, the driveway. At the end is a charming building which I presume is the restaurant. Not something I’d expect out here – sophisticated and minimalist.
He pulls up to the marble steps, where the valet comes to collect the keys with the biggest grin on his face.
“Be careful with it.” The warning is delivered gently but with intent. If Dante or Abel were issuing a similar instruction, one look is all they’d need to instil the fear of death into them. I keep my soft giggle to myself as I exit the car and look around.
“Well, I’m impressed so far.” I smile.
“Let’s go in. We have the best table in the place.”
He takes my arm and leads me through the small lobby area and into a restaurant, a mix of wood and glass with a spectacular view over a lake. It is stunning. A combination of class and beauty right on the edge of nature.
The maître d’ hovers and ensures we’re seated before filling our water glasses and handing us menus.
“How in the world did you find this place?” I ask. It doesn’t feel like a place Antony would usually visit.
“The owner is a client. It’s only recently opened, but he’s sunk a hefty amount into renovation and development. I thought it would be worth checking out.”
