Page 187 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8
The whole premise of this was uncomplicated—and she was going ahead and complicating it in a way he really resented.
‘Let me ask you this. How can you be sure your father is being honest?’
She furrowed her brow.
‘You clearly don’t like the guy. And he obviously hasn’t had your best interests at heart all this time. So why do you think the whole “get married and I’ll give you the business thing” is for real?’
‘It wasn’t my father who told me about the clause; it was his lawyers.’
Dante shrugged. ‘So?’
‘They’re not going to risk their licences by lying to me.’
‘I cannot think of any company that would have marriage as a prerequisite to ownership.’
‘It’s a very old company.’
He shook his head, dismissing that. Something about this wasn’t adding up, and Dante didn’t like things that didn’t make sense.
‘Look, Dante, I need to know you won’t say anything.’
His nostrils flared with indignation. Did she take him for a gossip? ‘I’ve already given you my word.’
She lifted one hand placatingly.
‘My father—that is to say, my biological father—is,’ she glanced around, making sure no one was close. ‘Aristotle Papandreo.’
He shook his head in a natural reaction to that. Aristotle Papandreo was Charlotte’s father?
‘I see you’ve heard of him.’
Who hadn’t?
‘I’ve met his son,’ Dante said, slowly, connecting the dots then nodding once. ‘In fact, I’ve met your father, too.’
Charlotte lookedhurt. Wounded. Like an animal being hunted. She covered it quickly, but not before he saw the look of betrayal in her eyes.
She shrugged though, like it didn’t matter.
‘Are you telling me you can take control of the Papandreo Group just by getting married?’
She bit into her lower lip. ‘Getting marriedbeforeZeus Papandreo does.’
Aristotle’s brows shot upwards. ‘Well, that shouldn’t be a problem. The man’s hardly known for his interest in commitment.’
‘But he’s obsessed with that company. He’ll do whatever it takes to keep hold of it.’
Dante grunted. It was a lot to take in—the kind of curve ball he could have had no way of predicting.
Before Jamie, he might have tried to help Charlotte. In fact, he knew he would have. Before Jamie, he’d been a completely different person. But now, Dante knew better than to even start trying to fix things.
‘I’m sorry, Charlotte,’ he said, and he really meant it. ‘There is one thing I know for absolute certain. I’m never getting married again.’
He stood up, ignoring the dull, twisting of regret deep in his core, because this was—and had to be—the end for them. It had just been sex—easily replaceable, in theory—yet he didn’t relish the idea of never seeing her again. Which was all the more reason to get the hell out of there.
He reached down and tilted her chin, meeting her eyes. ‘Good luck,cara. I hope you find what you’re looking for.’
And then, he walked out, because it was the right—and only—thing he could do.
