FORBIDDEN: CRAVING DADDY TOUCH

015

I look past her, following her gaze. Sitting at the table, a glass of white wine in front of her, is a woman dressed in a sharp black blazer and silk blouse. She looks older, but the makeup is expertly applied, hiding the wrinkles. Her hair is styled in expensive waves, cascading over her shoulders.

My breath hitches in my throat. The room spins.

Valeria.

She looks up from her menu, her eyes locking onto mine. A small, knowing smile curves her red lips.

"Hello, Anastasia," she says smoothly, her voice like polished glass. "Please, sit down. I've ordered the wine."

My eyes dart to Lila, who looks apologetic, silently pleading with me not to make a scene. I don't say a word. I just turn and walk out, my boots echoing against the polished floor, the sound too loud in the quiet room. Lila follows, grabbing my arm.

"Ana, please—"

I yank my arm away, but she grabs me again, her fingers digging in. "Ana, please listen to me."

I stop, turning my face away, staring at a poster on the wall. "Go ahead. I know what I did just now is wrong, but it was for your own good," Lila stammers, her voice rushing. "I can't watch you looking miserable all your life. And moreover, she is your mother—"

"Don't you ever call her my mom again." I point a finger at her, my voice shaking with a rage I didn't know I still had.

Lila raises her hands in surrender, stepping back slightly. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, okay?"

I stop struggling to leave, the fight draining out of me, and she lets go. We stand in front of the restaurant, the city noise filling the silence between us.

"I'm sorry," she repeats, softer this time.

I nod, not trusting my voice. Lila giggles, a nervous sound that breaks the tension. "You know, you look cute when you're mad. Like a pissed-off kitten trying to hiss but just sneezing instead."

I snort, then a laugh bursts out of me, surprising us both. Lila grins. "That's my Anna right there."

She steps closer, her voice turning serious. "I'm sorry. But staying with that woman will change your life. You should be able to stand on your own. And hey—if she tries anything, just remind her that her husband's got a wandering eye. I hear he's got a thing for waitresses at that diner on 5th."

I shake my head, a reluctant smile tugging at my lips. "You're impossible."

"Impossibly right," she says, looping her arm through mine. "Now come on. Let's go show her you're not the little girl she left behind."

We walk back inside. Valeria is still sitting in the same position, her wine glass in hand. She glares up at us as we approach, her eyes cool and assessing. I slide into the seat across from her, facing away, my body angled toward Lila, creating a barrier.

Valeria leans closer, her voice low and sharp. "Can you stop being a child, Anna? You're 22."

I turn my head just enough to meet her eyes, my gaze hard. "You can't tell me what to do."

She raises a hand, leaning back, a dismissive gesture. "Fine. Do whatever you want."

Silence stretches between us, thick and uncomfortable. Valeria looks at me over the rim of her wineglass, swirling the liquid. "Anna, there's one more thing I need you to know."

I say nothing. I lift my wine and take a slow sip, the acidity sharp on my tongue.

Valeria leans back, crossing her legs. "It concerns my husband. Your stepfather."

My eyes narrow.

She gives a small, knowing smile. "Let’s just say… there are things we need to secure before anything changes."

I stare at her for a moment, processing the audacity. Then I burst out laughing, leaning into Lila, who has been silent the whole time. "I knew it," I say, wiping a tear from my eye. "I knew you weren't here for that alone. You're sure a stingy woman, Valeria. What do you need from an innocent man again? After you ruined my father's life? Is it your job to destroy men's lives?"

I groan, trying to hold myself back from saying something too stupid, the alcohol in my system making my tongue loose. Lila rubs my thigh under the table, a silent plea to calm down.

Valeria sets her wine down with a sharp clink. "Okay. I know you're going to love this. The deal is not coming for free. You're going to have your own share out of it."

She grabs her bag and pulls out a stack of papers—a contract—and slides it across the table to me. Then she slides another one to Lila.

Lila and I exchange a glance, then look down. The numbers on the page make my head spin. Lila gasps, her hand flying to her mouth. It's a fortune.

Valeria continues, her voice smooth as silk. "All you need to do is be a good daughter and follow everything I say. After it's done, we share the money and go our separate ways." She turns to Lila. "And for you, your contract is to keep your mouth shut. I'll send the money to your account now. I won't hear any of this from anyone."

I stare at the paper in my hands. Why is she doing this? I need to get to the bottom of it. I pick up the pen on the table and sign my name, the ink bleeding slightly into the paper. I slide it back to Valeria, who cross-checks it with a nod.

"Good. First thing tomorrow morning, 10am. Be ready. We're leaving for Italy."

I don't say anything else. I stand up and walk away, Lila scrambling to follow.

"Ana—"

"I just want to be alone," I say, my voice flat. "I'm fine."

I step off the curb and hail a taxi. The door closes behind me, and the city blurs past the window. My hands are shaking. I look down at them, at the ink still fresh on my fingers.

Valeria thinks she's won. She thinks I'm her puppet.

She has no idea what I'm planning.