Chapter Thirty-three: A Dangerous Deal
[Flashback – Days before Francesca's unexpected visit]
Nathaniel stood on the balcony of his penthouse, his phone pressed tightly to his ear, jaw clenched.
“Meet her. Fourge Restaurant. Be nice,” his father said curtly from the other line, voice as sharp as ever.
“No,” Nathaniel snapped. “I’m not doing this. I’m not meeting her. I’m not going to entertain this arranged marriage like some obedient puppet.”
There was silence for a moment. Then came his father’s voice—calm, cold, calculated.
“I warned you, son. You keep playing house with that secretary of yours, and I will ruin her. She’ll lose her job, her apartment. Her name will be dragged through the mud. You think she’s safe just because you love her? You think I won’t touch her?”
Nathaniel’
