2. Emma

Present

September 2016

Freezing in my tracks wasn't good, but I had turned to stone when I realized that Luc was not only in front of me, but he looked impeccable, radiating a mature beauty that his face had acquired over the years.

It had been seven years since the last time we saw each other.

It had been seven years since we said "I love you" for the last time.

It had been seven years since he lied to my face before leaving without looking back.

"Are you okay, Emma?" Alice asked when she noticed my condition.

That snapped me out of my stupor, and I nodded, forcing a smile in an attempt not to show how much it was affecting me. "You have to stay focused," I told myself to give the right impression.

"You're as beautiful as Rocco told us,” One of the brothers commented, and I smiled with enthusiasm. "I'm Adib, the eldest. These are my brothers Haid and Yusuf, and this gentleman is none other than Luciano Basciano, the CEO of the Basciano conglomerate."

I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows in surprise. It was impossible that Luc, the guy who came to the town with nothing, claiming to be an orphan, was the mysterious owner.

"Wow, it's a pleasure," Alice said politely.

Then Luc flirtatiously smiled at her, and at that moment, I lost it. The years of anger clouded my mind enough that I wanted to spit in his face. However, I had to restrain myself from doing something stupid, or Rocco himself would kill me, so I decided to pretend I didn't know him. Ignoring him was the best thing I could do.

"Do you know each other?" Haid asked.

So, I took the golden opportunity to completely deny knowing him.

"This is the first time I've had the honor of meeting the gentleman."

The reaction of all of them, except Luc, was laughter.

"The gentleman next to you could be said to own half the country."

I smiled very forcedly, incredulous because such a thing was unthinkable. It had to be a complete joke.

"In reality, my family is wealthy. I just work for them, looking after their assets."

Hearing his voice almost made me tremble; it was like remembering when it was just the two of us in a room, which was a damn problem.

"Don't be so modest, Luciano."

The fact that they addressed him as Luciano and not just Luc made my brain want to explode. The realization of that was causing me to have a damn breakdown.

One that I concealed as soon as the introductions were over, we sat down to eat, and I forced a smile while trying to engage in conversation as if I were on autopilot. I didn't want to be there; I just wanted to get away to digest the fact that the guy to whom I had given my heart was a damn billionaire who had played with me.

"Are you okay?" Alice asked me in a murmur, and I nodded.

Her look told me she wasn't entirely convinced.

"What kind of services do you offer?" Luc asked her without taking his eyes off me.

I took it as a personal affront, so I replied with a touch of venom, "We fulfill all kinds of fantasies."

"That must be... interesting."

"With that slogan, who wouldn't buy a service like that?"

Everyone laughed tentatively at the well-phrased remark by one of the brothers to ease the tense atmosphere that had developed.

"Is it heavy on the pocket?" Luc asked arrogantly.

His curiosity was nothing but provocation, so I had to control the urge to smash the wine glass I was holding into his face.

"It depends on what they request; it can range from four to five figures," my friend replied politely.

"A somewhat expensive company."

"We make every penny worth it," I replied boldly. He was being an idiot, looking at me as if I were an entirely amusing exhibition, so to highlight his cynicism, I took the glass.

"Then... let's raise a toast to the best of companies."

Everyone clinked their glasses, and I couldn't help but engage in a silent duel of gazes with him.

His gray eyes called to me, but my anger just wanted everything to burn.

I felt like I did seven years ago when I discovered that his hands had an effervescent effect on his body, where every part of my skin pulsed for his touch, his kisses, for each and every one of his caresses. It was a damn problem he read easily.

"Would you mind if I take this doll away from you?" Luc proposed so suddenly that I almost choked on my damn drink.

What the hell does he intend? I thought, on the brink of losing my patience.

"Do you want to take the fun away from us?" Haid asked as if nothing had happened. "Offer."

Alice looked at me, trying to understand what was going on, but I couldn't take my eyes off Luc.

"You can keep fifteen percent of the agreed increase, without paying the exemption for delivery, and the lovely redhead, you know, to seal the deal," Luc replied with a shameless smile, pointing to Alice before winking at me.

"May I ask what you're doing?" she asked cautiously. "Negotiating, honey. Mr. Basciano wants to spend the night with her."

Damn bastard, I thought with anger.

It had to be a damn joke, and I was going to cut it off at the root.

"Sorry, but my night is already booked with you guys," I said coquettishly. "You know the procedure, it's always by appointment and with our boss's approval, and the offer must be higher than the first one," I explained confidently.

In a crude attempt to insult him, one that I didn't expect would bite me in the ass a second later, he responded.

"Then I offer three times the agreed price for your service, and we can notify your boss without any problems. I don't think he'll refuse when he can make a nice profit off someone like me," he said confidently, and I hated it.

It was a clear challenge that, one way or another, he was going to end up in bed with me.

A part of me wanted to cry, another part of me wanted to challenge him, while my ambition told me to take the money because it would help me with my plans in the women's shelter.

"For us, don't bother, I don't think this fiery beauty will refuse a good game for double the amount," the youngest brother affirmed.

"So, it being that way, we'll take our leave, and I want a fiery blonde to fulfill my fantasies," Luc immediately got up, circled the table, and extended his hand to me.

I couldn't help but think he was insane, but I knew very well that if I didn't go with him, Rocco would be a pain in my ass. I concealed a sigh and looked at Alice, who was watching me with concern.

"I'll text you later," I told her and winked at her to reassure her. "Tell Lilly that I'll be fine. Enjoy the evening."

The others nodded politely, one that Luc didn't seem to appreciate because he immediately took me by the arm to get me out of there. It was almost impossible because everyone wanted to talk to the great man of the night, and many women in the room were looking at me with absolute interest.

"Please, let go of me, you're holding me too tight," I said carefully, and he turned to look at me.

"Don't even think for a second that I'm going to let you go, Emma." The way he said it, the tone, was my damn downfall.

He gestured to the security men, and after loosening his grip, he led me out of the room. That's when I realized that security had cleared the hallway leading to the marble staircase that led to the entrance.

"Where are we going?"

"We're going to a private and secure place."

I furrowed my brow because for me, there was no more practical place for him than the hotel. However, I understood the implications of the prodigal son of the city being seen with an escort, so I laughed.

I couldn't help but laugh in his face. "What's so funny?"

"Don't make me say it..."

"Tell me what's so funny, Emma."

"That not only are you a first-rate liar, but you're probably looking for a way to shut me up so I don't spill your tragic past from seven years ago, right?" I retorted, breaking free from his grip. "It's obvious that this is just a crude attempt to keep me from opening my mouth."

"Is that what you think of me?"

"No, the truth is, no..."

I gracefully descended the stairs, adjusting my red dress a bit, but he immediately followed me and took my wrists, turning me to face him. His expression could have won an Oscar. The pain in it wasn't normal, it was as if it added more years to his angular features, painting his hair with a caramel color and a few strands of sacrifice.

"What do you think of me?"

"It's easy to say, Luciano Basciano: you're a jerk."

At that very moment, one of his security personnel interrupted us.

"The limousine is ready, sir, you can leave now."

Luc let go of me and took my hand as if I hadn't insulted him, as if it were a trifle, and he knew that if he let go, he would have more than just problems. So, he led me outside and opened the car door.

"Get in."

"Where are we going?"

"I just told you, to a safe place, trust me."

"That's the problem, Luciano Basciano, you assume and don't think beyond your own nose. Tell me, how could I trust a liar like you?"