Filed to story: Falling for My Ex's Mafia Dad Novel Free PDF (Fay Alden & Kent Lippert)
She hurries back over to the pile of dresses she set aside for me. “For you,” she says, “I think, this one.” Her voice is reverent as she holds up a gorgeous velvet gown, midnight blue with gauzy fabric trailing from the shoulders to create a diaphanous train.
I gasp when I see it, unable to help myself as I move forward to touch the material. As I turn it over in my hands, I catch a view of the price tag. I blanche and drop the fabric.
“What?” she says, peering at me. “I thought you liked it? With that red hair you’ll be a masterpiece.”
“Fiona,” I say, laughing a little, “that dress is the same price as a car, and not even a cheap car.”
She shrugs. “So?”
“It’s just…it’s too extravagant for me!” I say, shaking my head.
“Baby,” she says, coming forward and taking my chin in her hand, a little good-natured pity in her eyes. “This isn’t extravagant enough for you.”
I blink at her and she turns to hold the dress up so that I can see it against my body in the mirror. “This is the stuff that Kent lets me wear, Fay. And I’m just the goomah the lady on the side,” she says, winking at me. I can tell she doesn’t feel any shame.
“You though,” she says. “Baby, you’re royalty in this world. You’re a princess.”
I stare at myself in the mirror, suddenly worried. I’m no princess not in any world I’m a just a psych major
But as I stare at myself in the mirror, with that dress pressed against me, I have to admit…I look, just a little bit, like royalty.
“You’ve gotta get used to the luxe life,” she says quietly. “Kent told me to dress you in these tonight, but a girl like you should be wearing couture. To make up for it, though,” her face lights up with excitement, “Kent says I get to pick you out some jewels!”
She squeals, clapping her hands. I laugh as well, unable to help myself she’s so infectious.
Ten minutes later, when I see myself in the dress with sapphires draped around around my neck, I shake my head a little in disbelief.
“There she is,” Fiona says, her voice awed. “The future wife of the most powerful heir in the city. Ladies and Gentlemen,” she says, giving a little bow, “may I present your future Queen.”
My heart sinks as I look at myself. Who even am I anymore?
The party is, above all, impressive. Drinks are flowing, a whole twelve-piece band is at the back of the room playing hits from the fifties and sixties. Everyone is having a good time and, thank god, mostly ignoring me.
Even though it’s technically my party, everyone’s too caught up in their own business to do much more than send me a curious glance.
I’m grateful for Daniel, who sticks close by my side. Even though he was raised in this environment, I can tell he’s more comfortable with me, sneaking sips of his champagne and making wry comments that only I can hear.
I can’t help but laugh at the things he says. He’s right we always did get along.
Fiona sweeps around the room, looking almost indecently sexy in her black Versace gown. Looking around, though, I can see that she has competition for her daring choice of clothes. This group of mob bosses and wives do tend towards the sexy.
There are lot of women’s bodies on display around me, many of them enhanced with plumped lips, breasts, asses. Whatever they felt was lacking.
In comparison, I look demure in my sweeping blue gown. But Fiona picked well if she had put me in something that showed a lot of skin, she knew I’d feel shy. As it is, the blue velvet gown makes me feel regal.
“You do look amazing,” Daniel says, smiling down at me. “I mean, you were always pretty, Fay. But wow.”
I smile up at him, pleased by his compliment. I knew he wouldn’t say it unless he meant it.
We both watch as Fiona greets new guests, directing servants to take their fur coats and ensuring that they have drinks in their hands within half a minute.
“She’s really the hostess here,” I say, fascinated. “What would your dad do without her?”
“Yeah,” Daniel says, studying her. “She’s definitely taken up that wifey sort of roll.” He shrugs. “But who knows, my dad is fickle. One wrong move and she could be out the door.”
I look up at him, wondering if that’s why he keeps his distance from her, emotionally. How many mother figures has Daniel had in his life who have disappeared in the night, never to be seen again?
Beyond that, where is his real mom? I frown, making a mental note to ask some other time.
Daniel gives me a smile and then clinks my empty champagne glass with his. “Refill?” he asks.
I give him a nod and he heads off to the bar. I tap my foot to the music, enjoying it while I look around at all of the guests. Is my father here yet? Will I even recognize him when he arrives?
A voice rumbles, shockingly close to my ear. “If you like the music,” it says, sending shivers down my spine, “why don’t you dance?”
I turn to see Kent standing behind me, his hands clasped casually behind my back.
He stares baldly down into my face, his own only inches away. My heartbeat ratchets up.
“Um,” I say, working to calm myself. God, why does he always get me so worked up, just by standing next to me? “I’m not much of a dancer.”
He smirks, his eyes traveling over my body, taking in the way I look in this too-gorgeous gown. “Shame,” he says. “That dress was made for dancing. You should let them see you in it.”
I blush. That was breathlessly close to a compliment for Kent Lippert.
“Do you know,” he continues, leaning even closer to murmur a secret in my ear. “I met your mother once, at a party like this.”
I spin to look up at him. “You you knew my mother?”
“Not well,” he says. “But I remember that she was very beautiful. She had hair much like yours,” he says, his voice wandering with memory as he raises a hand to curl a tendril around his finger. “And she was not afraid to dance.”
I blink at him, suddenly terribly sad to have never seen her like that.
He presses his lips together, studying me. Then he clears his throat and pulls his gaze away, scanning the crowd. “I have word from your father’s people,” he says. “He’ll be here very soon.”
My eyes widen. I mean, of course it was the whole point of the evening, but now that it’s close?
I’m terrified.
Kent clenches his jaw as he observes my reaction. “Chin up, girl,” he says, his voice steady, giving me strength. “Meet him with pride.”
I swallow and nod, trying to embody that. But inside I’m quailing.
Daniel walks back over to me, his steps slowing and his face growing worried when he sees who I’m talking to. When Kent catches sight of him, he nods. “Good,” Kent says, beckoning Daniel closer.
As Daniel hands my glass of champagne to me, his father holds out a black velvet box to him. Frowning with confusion, Daniel takes and opens it. His face falls slack as he sees what’s inside.
My own jaw drops when I see the size of the diamond sitting on the little velvet pillow. At least ten carats, emerald cut, set in an art deco style.
“It would be appropriate,” Kent says, his voice commanding, “for Fay to wear your family’s ring tonight, since you are engaged.”