CHAPTER 6 CONDITIONS

IN DANTE’S OFFICE;

Dante said his voice was low and serious "You have three minutes left June." He did not look up from the screen of his tablet. He was sitting on a leather sofa in a private room at the tech center. His long legs were. His dark hair was a little wet from the rain outside. The smell of his cologne filled the small room and it made my chest feel tight.

"I do not need three minutes Mr. Valenti " I said, stepping closer to the glass wall that looked out over the floor below. My fingers were holding the strap of my handbag tightly. "I need you to explain something to me. A man with your money and power does not just give out wedding rings to people he does not know."

Dante finally looked up at me. His eyes were grey and hard to read, like steel. He turned off his tablet. Set it down on the table. Then he leaned back. Looked at me his eyes on my chin. I was trying not to shake.

"I already explained it to you June " Dante said, his voice smooth. "My grandfather is the person I owe anything to. He is very sick. He wants to see the Valenti family secure before he dies. He wants a woman who can stand next to me without making a fool of herself. He wants stability. You want to be safe from David Jones. It is a deal."

"There is nothing about a fake marriage " I said, turning to face him. I was feeling hot and sweaty. "You want me to just sign my life away for a year because your family is pressuring you? I am the owner of Morriston Tech. I am not some girl looking for a rich man to save me."

Dante stood up slowly. He is a big man and he made the room feel small. He walked over to me. Stopped just a few inches away. I had to look up to see his face. "I know who you are June " he said. "You are a woman who has been hiding and building a business for a time. I have read your computer code. You are very smart. You do not need someone to save you. You do need a partner who can help you."

I felt a little scared. I was trying not to show it. Dante was very close to me. I could feel his warm breath on my skin. I looked at his throat. Saw his pulse beating. He was an intelligent man, not just a rich guy with a lot of money. I felt a warm feeling in my chest but I pushed it away. I could not trust him.

"If I do this " I said, my voice a little shaky. "If I sign that paper it will be on my terms. Completely on my terms Mr. Valenti."

Dante tilted his head a little. Smiled. He did not look angry that I was being stubborn. He looked a little amused. "What do you want, June?" he asked.

I reached into my bag. Pulled out a piece of paper. I had written down what I wanted on the way to the tech center. My hands were shaking a little. I tried to hold the paper steady. "These are my conditions " I said. "Read them."

Dante took the paper from me. Started to read. His voice was flat and even. "You want bedrooms at all times. The marriage is business, no romance or sex." He looked up at me his eyebrows raised. "You think I want to force myself on you June?"

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I do not know what you want Mr. Valenti.. I need boundaries."

Dante. Kept reading. "You want me to leave your son Lian alone. I will not discipline him. Make decisions about his school or routine without your permission." He looked up at me his jaw a little tight. "I agree. Your son is your responsibility. I am not trying to be his father."

I felt a little better. "Read the one " I said.

Dante read the condition. "You do not want me to dig into your past before you came to Maverick City five years ago. Your history is your own." He chuckled a a low rough sound. "You have a lot of secrets, June.. I think we can help each other."

then Dantes phone started ringing. The screen said "Grandfather". Dante did not move to answer it. He just stared at the phone his face getting harder. The phone stopped ringing then started. Dante still did not move.

"He has been calling every ten minutes since I told him I found someone " Dante said, his voice a little tight. "He thinks I am going to be alone. He is an old man, June. If he does not see a signed agreement by midnight he will get on a plane from the capital even if his doctor says he should not."

The phone kept ringing making the room feel tense. I looked at Dante. Saw that he looked trapped. He looked like a man who was trying to protect someone he loved. It was a little surprising because he seemed powerful and in control.

"Where is the pen?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Dante looked up at me his eyes intense. He reached out. Picked up a heavy silver pen from the desk. He held it out to me his hand steady.

I walked over to the desk where the papers were. They looked like a trap waiting to catch me. I remembered the time I signed a contract about marriage. I remembered the white dress, the laughter and the pain. My breath was coming in gasps and the room was spinning.

"June " Dante said, his voice. Firm. He was standing behind me his chest almost touching my back. "If you are going to faint do it after you sign the paper."

I was not going to faint. I was angry. I took the pen. Signed the paper my hand shaking a little. Then I turned around to face Dante.

"It is done " I said, my voice trembling. "Now keep your word, Dante. Keep David Jones away from my son."

Dante looked at the paper then signed his name next to mine. Then his phone buzzed again. It was a text message, from his security team. Dante looked at the screen. His whole body went rigid. His eyes turned black with anger.

*June Dave.*

I said "What is it". I felt a cold dread settling deep into my stomach as I watched Dantes jaw clench.

Dante slowly turned the phone screen toward me. It was a live security feed from the lobby downstairs at Morriston Tech. David Jones was standing by the glass elevators talking frantically to the front desk guards. He was not looking for a business meeting anymore. David Jones was holding a printed photograph in his left hand and he was pointing directly at the security camera with a wild manic grin on his face.

Dante said "He's not here for Morriston Tech, in June" and his voice dropped to an icy whisper as he stared at me. Dante said "He just told my guards he's here to claim his wife.”