59. Antonio

“Bom dia,” I say quietly from the doorway in Sonia’s office.

She lifts her eyes from the computer screen and gapes at me from across the desk. It’s been a long time since I showed up here unannounced. Up until yesterday, I couldn’t imagine ever darkening her doorway again.

“Do you have a meeting with the president? I don’t remember seeing your name on his schedule.”

“I came to see you.”

She shuts her eyes. “I’ve been waiting for this.”

Cristiano and Lucas have been handling our joint venture for me, since the day she allowed those pictures to be printed. I didn’t shut down the operation, but I have no doubt she’s been waiting for me to cut her loose.

“It’s not what you think. Come take a walk with me. I’ll buy you a coffee.”

“A walk?”

In the past, she would have said, “You just show up in the middle of the workday, and expect me to jump?”But she’d always come.

“Fifteen minutes. That’s all I need.”

She grabs a coat, has a few words with her secretary, and we head outside toward a coffee shop on the grounds of the presidential palace.

“How’s Daniela?”

Given the text I got this morning from her, I’d say she’s fit to be tied. And she should be. I considered Valentina when I made the plan. I took care of the concrete things—she’d have school, her friends, her horses—but I didn’t spend enough time considering her feelings. I’ll make up for it at some point, but for now, there’s nothing I can do.

“I don’t know how she is. She moved out.”

Sonia stops abruptly and turns toward me. “I didn’t have anything to do with that, if that’s why you’re here.”

“Relax.”

“It’s hard to relax around you these days, Antonio, even under the best of circumstances. What happened?”

Not your business.“I’m here to ask a favor.”

She doesn’t hesitate or hedge. I knew she wouldn’t. “What do you need?”

She’s asked for plenty of favors over the years, and I’m sure she thinks I’m calling one in. I’m not. I granted her the favors because I wanted to, not because I thought there would be a quid pro quo.

“Some companionship.”

She gawks at me with her jaw on the ground.

“One week, if all goes well. Two weeks at most.”

“You want me to find you a—a—a companion?”

I shake my head. “No,” I say with so much indignance, that her brow unfurls.

“You’re going to be my companion. I have dinner plans, tickets to the theatre, and all sorts of other fun stuff planned. You’re going to help me forget about Daniela. And I expect to see our pictures plastered all over the internet.”

“Forget it. If you want to be a huge dick, have at it. But I won’t be involved.” She turns on her heel and heads back toward her office.

She and Daniela have clearly come to some sort of understanding that doesn’t involve me. They’re not friends, but Daniela invited her to come to London with us, and Sonia’s decided that she won’t play games with Daniela. Good for them. But I still need the favor.

I grab Sonia’s arm. “Why not? It’s not that different from what you did last time.”

“Last time was a mistake. I can’t do it. Besides, what will it possibly accomplish? She knows we have absolutely no interest in each other. You made it pretty clear the moment you outed me.”

“I hope you’re not expecting an apology.”

She lifts her chin and glares.

“The fact that she knows is precisely why I’m asking you to help me.” Sonia is a bright woman. She’s trying to figure out what my game is, and I’d tell her, but I can’t. Not the details. “Look. This isn’t me trying to punish Daniela. And I certainly don’t require a jealous wife to make my dick hard. Those are the only two things I can tell you.”

“I don’t know. I don’t like it. Can’t you find someone else to do it?”

My heartburn is back, full force. “I do have someone else. But it’s going to be more painful for Daniela if I go that route.” I want to avoid that at all costs. I was even willing to come to you.

“Is this about avenging your mother’s death?” she asks gently.

“It’s about protecting my family, Sonia. Giving my wife the peace she deserves. The vengeance will be mighty tasty, but this is about a lot more than that.”

She gazes into my eyes and smiles softly. “I never thought I’d live to see the day a woman stole your dark heart. It’s got me all gooey.”

I roll my eyes, even though she’s not wrong. “Are you in?”

“Maybe.”

“What do you need to make it a yes?”

She pauses for a moment. “I’m still upset about the way you treated me in your office that day. But I would have done anything for your mother, Antonio. She held my hand during some of the darkest moments of my life. I realize I did a bad thing with those photos, but you were brutal to me. I expected more of a pass after all these years.”

“You might not appreciate it, but you did get a pass. If it had been anyone else who leaked those photographs to hurt my wife, they wouldn’t have lived to see the next sunrise.”

Sonia pulls her mouth into a grim line and nods. She knows it’s true.

“I’ll do it. But if at any point I feel as though your motives are ugly, and that this is just some sick mind game you’re playing with Daniela, I’m out.”