Fall For My Ex's Mafia Dad novel Chapter 124

The next morning, I reach over and grab my cell phone off of the nightstand the moment I wake up, dying to see if Ivan texted me back. It’s not my burner phone, or my old cell phone which Kent took, but instead my Kent-approved cellphone, which I’m sure he monitors. But whatever – let him look. This is all part of his big plan, anyway.

I bite my lip, trying not to smile when I see that I have a message waiting. Eagerly, I click on it.

Ivan: So, has he finally let you out of your cage, Fay? Of course I want to see you. Pick you up at 8.

My smile drops a little as I read this and I sit back on my pillows, wondering why I feel…well, a little disappointed. I stare at Ivan’s text, reading it two and then three more times, sorting through my emotions.

And I realize that I’m disappointed because there’s a third person in this text, quite present if unnamed. Kent. It’s not just me and Ivan’s secret liaison anymore.

I drop my phone into my lap as I lean against my pillows to think. I mean, it’s never really been just me and Ivan, not ever – Kent and my dad were always involved, and Daniel too. But that afternoon at the bar, during that gap in space and time with only the two of us in it, it was…well, it was really nice.

And, quite frankly, I don’t like the idea that this is suddenly a triangle. Kent and Ivan, with me in the middle.

I sigh as I realize, quite suddenly, that I’m being kind of a brat. I’m trying to have my cake and eat it too – to have both Ivan and Kent in my life, but to keep them in completely separate spaces when the reality is that I’m the pawn in their games, not the other way around.

Well.

At least for now.

I smirk to myself just a little and remind myself that I have Janeen in my back pocket, and that she’s had loads of experience playing men against each other to get what she wants. And she told me precisely how to handle something like this. If Ivan’s going to bring Kent into it, then I’m going to double down.

Eagerly, I pick up my phone again and send off a quick reply.

For your date, and then for after.

Be home by midnight. I’ll come and find you.

“Crap,” I murmur, dropping the note, my knees going to jelly. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to lean back on Janeen’s teachings. After all, I knew this was coming – I signed up for it. So why do I want to skitter away like some scared little rabbit?

I steel myself, clenching my teeth. “Come on, Fay,” I murmur to myself, trying to say what Janeen would say. “Be tough.”

I exhale sharply through my nose and get back to business. Because it was business, after all – I did sign a contract.

I open my eyes and lift the first garment out of the box. Despite my tough talk just moments ago, my eyes go wide and my breath catches. It’s a little smoky-grey dress that…well, it’s so skimpy it wouldn’t be out of place in the opening scenes of Pretty Woman.