Page 14 of Meet Me in Montreal

The torturous thoughts of the pleasure he could give were abruptly chased out of her head when his lawyer said, “…. trust fund. So, if the divorce goes through, Mr. Donahue is willing to continue maintenance for two years at the sum of $5,000 permonth, upon which time we can revisit their respective salaries and life circumstances.”

Genesis gave him a look. “Oh, we most definitely will be in touch when Mr. Donahue’s trust fund vests upon his turning thirty-five. But what do you meanifit goes through? He’s going to sign now, right? Isn’t that why we’re here today?”

Oscar cleared his throat. “Mr. Donahue has one final request before he’s willing to sign. He’d like a moment alone with Ms. Watson. You and I can wait outside.”

Any trace of lust bubbling inside her was instantly overtaken by that alarm. Vanessa tapped the tabletop with the pointed tip of her wine-painted fingernail. “We agreed. We only negotiate with our attorneys present.”

From the stubborn set of his jaw, Santino wasn’t budging, his brow furrowed into a dark blond line.

Genesis put a restraining hand on her arm, still facing Oscar. “My client’s stipulation was very clear. We stay. He signs,” she interjected, placing her other small hand firmly on the document in front of her.

Santino murmured in his lawyer’s ear, who then turned back to Genesis.

“Mr. Donahue is ready to sign if she hears him out.”

In turn, Genesis’s gaze on the other attorney had gone from flirty to flinty. “Before we go down the road to coercion, I’m going to stop you right here and let you know without equivocation that he has to sign. There is nothing he can say that would cause my client to suddenly change her mind. It’s been three years. It’s time.”

Suddenly, the urge to laugh overtook Vanessa. The three of them stared at her while giggles poured out of her mouth. Then she wiped her face, the tears of laughter becoming tears of anger.

“You know what? I don’t care anymore. I’m done.” Vanessa stood up and walked out without a backward glance or another word.

She was about to enter the elevator when Santino caught up to her. There was a man and a woman already inside, young, both well-dressed in dark suits with expensive shoes, who glanced at her with open disdain when he charged in after her.

“Vanessa, will you just listen to me for a change? It’s important,” he uttered.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, rounding on him with her chest heaving. “Don’t you have someone waiting for you in Aruba or maybe some new chick you’ve rescued? Why don’t you just let this go so you can move on and be happy?”

“Who says I’m not happy? I’m the happiest motherfucker out here,” he said. “But there are some things you don’t know that you should.”

The man made a sound of disgust. “Excuse me, but that gutter language isn’t appropriate for –"

“Did anybody ask what you thought about my language? Fuck off, Brad,” Santino said, not even turning to look at the other man as his eyes were fixed on Vanessa. “No more game playing, Vanessa. It’s about that guy —”

Her eyes widened. “What guy?” she asked.

Santino’s eyebrow quirked. “Scott Malone? The guy who’s been trying to fuck you for the last four months?”

“This is what happens when you let trash into the building,” the man murmured to his companion.

“Excuse you?” Vanessa rounded on him. and the man rolled his eyes at her.

“Like I said,” the man sneered.

This time Santino turned around fully and glared at the pale man until the latter looked down with suddenly wide eyes.

“You better be real careful what you say to her next, Brad, ‘cause it’s a long way down to the lobby. I’ve got time,” Santino said. He stared down at the suddenly quiet man while the other edged backward.

“We’re getting off here,” the woman said quickly and punched the button for the twenty-third floor. She and “Brad” raced out while Vanessa stood glaring at Santino. The elevator door closed as they continued their descent.

She’d seen Santino knock out other men for insults like that, so the guy got off lucky considering. That was Santino. He was loving and good-hearted, but cross him or someone he cared about, and it wouldn’t take much for that tiger inside him to come roaring out. It was always ready, straining right under his ripped surface.

A muscle was jumping in his taut jaw. In the past, like petting her own personal beast, she’d soothed that tic away with kisses until the tiger was practically purring under her stroking hands. But she was done trying to tame him.

Hands on her hips, she said slowly, “Santino, I don’t know how you know my business, but I am warning you. My lawyer has been itching to go nuclear on your ass and take allyourbusiness straight to the judge, but I’ve been holding her back because I thought we could finally come to an agreement like adults. But if you don’t sign those fucking papers —”

Santino suddenly reached out and hit the red button that stopped the elevator’s descent with a lurch. A bell began to ring. Shocked, she could only stare up at him as he crowded her against the wall, trapped her with a hand on either side of her head, and leaned in. Cold fire burned in his slate-blue gaze.

“Why should I sign those papers?” he murmured in a low voice. “Why do you needyourfreedom so bad? So you can marry a fucking gangbanger in a fancy suit who only pretends to be a decent guy?”

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