“Uh-huh. A couple months. Okay, then, I’m curious.” Dad turned to Dakota. “Whatdoyou know about my daughter?”
Dakota glanced down at me. I could see the battle playing out behind his eyes—come clean, or keep the ruse going?
Follow my lead!I begged him with my eyes.
“She’s studying theater at Stanford,” he began uncertainly. “She wants to be an actress.”
“Uh-huh. And did you know she’s a billionaire casino hotel heiress?”
“What the fuck,” Dakota murmured beneath his breath, apparently still coming to terms with that fact. “No, sir. Not until a minute ago.”
“And did she tell you she’s already spoken for?”
“Da~d!” I yelped in protest.
“I did not, sir,” Dakota said, and tried once again to step away from me—but I clung on tighter than ever and refused to let him go.
“I amnotspoken for! My dad’s just trying to scare you off. Don’t fall for it.”
“Tell you what; Dakota, why don’t you go inside and have a drink?” Dad clapped Dakota on the back and sent him into the mansion. “I need to have a talk with my daughter.”
Once Dakota disappeared inside, Dad pulled me into the front courtyard. “What the fuck is really going on here, Ottavia?”
I shrugged. “Nothing. We’re dating, that’s all.”
“Bullshit. I don’t buy it. He looks scared to even stand next to you.”
“Because he’s scared ofyou.” I rolled my eyes. “Why would we lie about dating each other?”
“I know whyhewould lie; because he’s full of shit and he got caught. What I don’t understand is whyyouwould go along with it.”
“I’m not lying.”
“No? Seems like you lied to Dakota about who you really are.”
“Um, yeah, because Ihadto. If he knew my real name, he’d look me up. And then he’d see that not only am I your daughter, but I’m also connected to Leo. That’s enough to sendmostboys running for the hills. What do you think Dakota, who plays for your hockey team, would’ve done?” I pouted. “I really like him, Dad. I don’t want him to run.”
“So you waited to tell him until the very moment he pulls up to our house? Hell of a time to drop something like that on somebody, don’t you think?”
I nodded. “Yes, but I didn’t know what else to do. I kept trying to get out of coming to dinner, but he wouldn’t let me. He said Ihadto come along, or his career would be ruined or something.”
“Hm.” Dad’s gaze bore into me, his eyes reflecting a mix of confusion and disappointment. I could sense his turmoil as he considered what I was telling him. “I don’t even know which is worse—if you’re lying to me, or if you’re telling the truth.”
I tutted. “Daddy, please. I like him. Why is that so bad?”
“Don’t you ‘Daddy’ me,” he said sternly. “A pro hockey player? Really?! Do you haveanyidea what you’re risking here?”
“What risk? We like each other. I don’t see any risk.”
He lowered his voice. “I’m talking about the risk to your future with Leopold.”
I shrugged. “You don’t think Leo sleeps around? Because he does, Dad; I know it for a fact.”
“Is thatwhat this is about? You’re jealous? You think Leo’s spending too much time with the other girls and not enough with you?”
I chuckled. “Jealous? I don’t evenwanthis attention like that. He’s just my friend.”
But Dad wasn’t listening. “I’ll tell you this much: going forward, you’d better be alotmore careful about being out and about with other men. If you’re spotted out in public with a pro athlete, that could be it for you and Leo. And I’m warning you now—that would be very bad. Not just for you, but for the whole family.”
