Page 3 of Eternal

I glance over at him, “Not this time. Serena wanted someone to go with her, and who better than your successor?”

“We shall see if you’ll even make it as my successor, though I’m highly doubtful.” My father gives me a side-eyed glare. “You’re about to meet someone very important. Be on your best behavior. No snarky comments, no-”

“Be a submissive woman. Got it.” I deadpan.

My father shoots one more glare at me.

It’s true. All these men clad in the fanciest tuxes can’t handle a woman in charge or even one that’s not submissive. Women are to be seen, not heard. Submissive, soft, and quiet. Fuck that.

His hard expression softens when a man approaches us who I assume is Luca.

"Frank! Good to see you again. Happy anniversary to your company and cause. I wish you nothing but success, my friend." The man firmly grips my father's hand in a handshake.

Okay, not Luca.

"It's good to see you too Matteo. I heard about your daughter. I'm sorry to hear about her disappearing." The man's expression falls into a sullen, hollowed-out look. "I just want you to know I'm doing everything in my power to help find her. I hope you can be reunited with her very soon," My father murmurs.

Matteo clears his throat, "Well, thank you, Frank. That means a lot."

My father pats the side of his arm before striding off, leaving me to play catch up.

"What happened to his daughter?" I ask my father when we are out of earshot.

"That's Matteo Silva. His family runs the largest drug cartel between North and South America. His daughter was kidnapped a month ago, and rumored to be sold to human traffickers in Europe."

I struggle to keep my face expressionless. Trafficking is taboo in this world. Sure, it exists in other circles, but in ours? Our hidden society has murdered entire families for it. Despite their hatred for women in power, selling humans is an absolute no-go.

My father snaps me out of my thoughts when he starts talking again. "Now, enough with the questions. This is Luca here." My father approaches a lanky man with dark hair, and eyes that claw at my deepest, darkest secrets. “Freya, this is Luca Astor. He’s a long-time business friend of mine.”

A shiver runs down my spine, as I take in Luca's dark presence. He sticks his hand out to shake mine, and I hesitate knowing mine are clammy from my nerves. Except he turns my hand over and presses a kiss to my knuckles.

“It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you, Freya.” His voice is edging on flirtatious.

It takes everything in my body not to vomit right here. I haven’t decided if it’s because a guy old enough to be my dad is flirting with me or if it’s from the repulsion from a man touching me. Or perhaps it’s both.

I manage a small, polite smile, “It’s nice to meet you too.”

“Your father tells me you live in Seattle.” Luca tries to make small talk as my father excuses himself to get drinks.

“I didn’t realize I allowed my father to speak about my personal life.” I shot back but regretted it immediately.

“He cares about you. Of course, he is going to tell me about you.” Luca retorts, irritated.

I nearly spit my drink out as I scoff.

“That’s comical. He didn’t care when I needed him the most.”

My father reappears behind him, holding out a drink for Luca.

“What does she mean, Frank?” Luca asks as he plucks the drink from my father’s hand.

My father visibly gulps as he’s trying to figure out what I was telling Luca. What secret have I uncovered? My father looks at me as he responds, “Um-- uh. I don’t know.”

His face turns red, as Luca questions him more. This Frank is so much different than the one just a little earlier. What about Luca makes him stand at attention?

I sip my drink, trying to hide my smile as my father is questioned a million times over by Luca. I choose to tune them out and focus on the bartender pouring a drink for the menacing presence in front of him.

The man pulls his wallet out, and hands him a crisp $100 bill, before turning his attention to me.

---