BACK WITH THE BILLIONAIRE’S ONLY SON

CHAPTER NINE: A PRETENSE MEETING

EVA’S POV

Who on earth sets an official first time meeting for 3pm? And at a private conference hall at that. I looked at my time and it was 2;45pm. I had a meeting by three and I was still at my office, the day had been so long and I had no option or way of excusing myself besides now. I’d tried contacting the secretary of the investor whom I was meeting that I’d be running late but I couldn’t get through to them.

I entered my car, feeling impatient as my driver drove through the traffic. Traffic in Bologna on Tuesday afternoons wasn’t a surprise but today it was painfully annoying. I just wanted to get to the meeting already.

Fifteen minutes later, I was still navigating through the chaotic traffic of the city. I couldn't help but grumble to myself. If only the meeting was set in the morning, I had some free time in the morning that would’ve sufficed. I usually don’t meet investors at private locations but because I needed this investor for a new entity business that I was starting I needed to take all my chances. I was trying to build a name and business so that I can finally dump this Valentino’s and say goodbye to their smelly demanding ass.

Finally, I arrived at the conference hall. It was 3:20 pm, and I was already twenty minutes late. I got down and by bodyguard, Lucas proceeded behind me to follow me inside.

“It’s okay Lucas, I think I’m good for now.” I said. I wanted the investor to feel safe rather than untrusted. “If you don’t hear from me me in the next thirty minutes tho, come looking for me, just make sure your receiver is on, I’ll be sending you my location.”

I’d learnt in business to always share my location with my bodyguards. I’d gotten kidn*pped once by a set of people claiming to be investors.

“Okay ma’am” he replied and entered the car.

As I entered inside the meeting room, I immediately noticed that the person at the head of the table had their chair turned away, I could only see the back of the persons head. I wondered what was up and I soon met the stern gaze of a woman who informed her boss that I was here.

"I'm so sorry for being late," I apologized, trying not not question her boss’s welcoming attitude. The woman gave me a look of pure disdain. Her judgmental eyes gazing through my soul.

“You’re twenty minutes late ma’am”

“I’m very sorry about that,” I tried apologizing. “I tried to call but couldn’t reach you.”

The man whose chair was still turned away gestured his hand in the air. Signaling the woman to leave the room and woman obeyed, bowing her head gently before leaving.

The woman left and the man still didn’t turn the chair.

“Good afternoon Mr Dominos,” I greeted, hoping to get a response but all I got was silence.

“I’m very sorry for keeping you waiting,” I tried again but still got no response.

“Mr dominos?” I tried again, wondering why he wasn’t talking. Was he angry?

Finally he spoke, "You're twenty-five minutes late, Miss Armani. Is this how you conduct your business?" The question was laced with disapproval, and I froze as the man turned his chair around.

“Dante” my lips shot out immediately, my tone laced with a mix of shock and anger.

His lips curled into a sardonic smile. "Yes, it is I."

I couldn't believe my eyes. In that instant, it became clear that this was most likely a setup. I was sure he didn’t plan to invest in my business. While I didn’t know why he called me I knew he was probably up to now good so I instantly reached my hand into my purse and pressed a button to send a signal to my bodyguard. At least I knew he would find me soon.

Anger surged within me, and I stood up immediately to leave, but Dante's words stopped me in my tracks.

"You can't leave, Eva. There are several bodyguards outside. I think it's better that you come back and listen to what I have to say," he ordered, and I realized I was cornered.

"I have nothing to say to you," I spat, anger boiling within me.

"I'm sorry, but I think you do." With those words, Dante slid an envelope across the table. I snatched it from the table and opened it. My eyes scanned the contents of the envelope, and realization struck me like a thunderbolt. It was a DNA test result.

"What! You did this behind my back? Who do you think you are?" I yelled, unable to control my fury. How dare he get a sample from Lorenzo without telling me? Infact, how dare he go near my son.

Dante's voice dripped with great anger. "I’m the father of the child that you’re hiding Eva. The father!” Dante hit his hand on the table. “You have no right, no right whatsoever to hide that boy from me.”

"Right? You have the audacity to talk about rights?" I laughed bitterly, my emotions a chaotic whirlwind. “Where were you all these six years when I was alone struggling to raise the little boy! Tell me where were you?” I glared at him.

Dante looked at me angrily, “stop speaking like a child, did I even know you were pregnant, did you tell me anything? The boy is my son, he’s my responsibility. Thats all I’m saying and I’m willing to take responsibility”

“Responsibility!” I glared at him and stamped my hand on the table. “Oh you amuse me Dante. Don’t you dare tell me about responsibility. Where were you all these years. If you didn’t find out that the boy was your son would you and I ever be in the same room talking?” I rolled my eyes. “No tell me, did it ever cross your mind to apologize for what you did? Did it ever occur to you to wonder how I was doing, how my family was doing after you ruined us?”

Dante sighed, “look Eva, I’m not here for all these back and forth argument. All I want to know is if we can reach an agreement on how I’m going to come into Lorenzo’s life, how I’m going to start being a father to him.”

“Agreement! Are you crazy Dante?” My voice shot up in annoyance. “Charle! It’s like you think I’m a fool, you don’t just sweep in and start talking to me about how you want an arrangement. Are you mad or something?”

I reached into my purse and pressed my distress button again, I needed Lucas to find me and get me out of this room because I was getting too pissed and if I spend another five minutes in this room I was going to slap Dante. I don’t know what’s taking Lucas so long.

“All I want is my son Eva” Dante sole again, his voice calmer this time. “That’s all I want, not all these argument, I only did this because I know you wouldn’t want to speak to me.”

“Yes!” I shouted immediately. “I’m glad you know, at least you can get SOMETHING right! I’m glad you know that I’m not going to speak to you for any REASON” I emphasized so that he could get my message clearly. “You don’t just stroll in telling me you are now ready to be a father. I don’t care if you’re ready to be a father or not, you can go to hell for I care.”

“Eva, I’ll sue you to court if you keep my kid away from me.”

Sue? What did I just hear him say. Before I could respond the door bursted open and I saw my savior, Lucas enter and I immediately sighed out in relief.

“Are you alright ma’am?” He asked immediately he reached my side and helped me get on my feet.

“I’m fine.” I said as I stood up. “And as for you Dante, don’t you dare, don’t you dare try to come after me or my son or I’ll have you charged to court! I don’t care if you’re the most powerful man on earth, I will drag you down.” I glared at him. “How could you! How could you take a sample from my son—you know what Lucas, let’s just leave right now.” I had better things to do than to keep exchanging words with such an i***t.

As I walked towards the car with my bodyguard I was pissed and angry, I wanted to tear off Dante’s head. I breathed in and out, trying to steady myself and calm my racing heart. Immediately I entered the car I called Gabbie on a video call and she immediately picked up.

“What’s upppp” she said very cheerfully till she saw my very gloomy look.

Are you okay?“ she asked concerned.

“Can you imagine what just happened?” I said angrily

“What happened?” She asked.

“That i***t! Dante”

“Oh” Gabbie rolled her eyes, “it’s Dante again?”

“Yes! Imagine, he did a DNA test on Lorenzo”

“DNA TEST?” Gabbie said surprised, “you have to be kidding me.”

“I’m serious Gabbie, he had the guts to show me the results, telling me he’s willing to be a father to Lorenzo. Imagine the audacity, he even set up a meeting pretending to be an investor ‘cuz he knew I wasn’t going to agree to meet with him. Who does he think he is? Does he think he can come into my son’s life just like that?”

“Yo that’s maddd!!! How could he do such?” Gabbie said looking at me as I kept on ranting and ranting.

“Imagine! Just imagine! So because he’s about to be mayor he thinks everything can just go according to his wishes?”

“I understand Eva but I think you need to calm down.”

“You’re right, but listen he even told said that if I Eva Armani refuse to give him space in my son’s life he’s going to sue me to court and I responded that I’d take him to court for harassing and crossing boundaries.”

“Wow! This is crazy. I get you but I think you need to calm down. You can’t let him spoil the rest of your day. You have several other things to do today.”

“You’re right” I replied and tried to breathe in and out. “Thanks Gabbie, you’re the best.”

“Of course I am, I have to go now, we’ll talk better later. I have a presentation at work, unlike you I’m not the CEO of my workplace.”

I rolled my eyes and smiled before ending the call. I felt a bit better, Gabbie was right, I couldn’t afford to allow him ruin the rest of my day.