Page 272 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

‘Don’t take me for a fool, De Luca. I saw you with her in Milan. I believe the event is called the Ballo del Sforza?’

Enzo cursed forcefully in his head.

Some small part of him was still hoping this was a case of a simple misunderstanding. He’d had spoken to numerous people last night. It was possible Kim could mean one of them and not the only woman who had held Enzo’s attention.

‘It’s a big event. You’ll need to refresh my memory.’

‘This isn’t a game, De Luca. I saw her with you on the balcony.’

Blood rushed in Enzo’s ears. His grip tightened on the phone as he tried to control his anger—anger, initially, at the fact that despite the strict rules of conduct at the ball, someone had still snapped a picture of them, and secondly, and perhaps more painfully, at the fact that Celeste Park was not who she claimed. He had been played for years! A red haze coloured Enzo’s vision. His hand curled into a fist that he very nearly drew back to throw into the wall. But he couldn’t because that would give up the game to Kim. So he fought to summon all the control he possessed.

‘Your daughter is an adult, Kim. If she wants to enjoy Milan with me, there’s nothing you can really do about it, is there?’

‘I’m telling you now, De Luca, return Charlotte to me or you won’t like what happens. I’m not a man to cross.’

‘Is that a threat?’ Enzo asked, voice smooth as silk, the smile on his face clear in his slow, deliberate speech. White-hot heat was coursing through him. He had been underestimated by his brother, by Gia and now by Celeste, but he would not be underestimated by a man like Gordon Kim.

‘And what if it is?’

Then, Kim would see what Enzo was truly like when he was unleashed.

‘I don’t take well to threats, Kim, so for your own sake, I suggest you stop now, or you will regret it. And unlike you, I don’t make threats. I make promises and I keep them.’

‘Am I supposed to be afraid of you?’

‘I don’t care what you fear,’ Enzo said calmly. ‘And I especially won’t care when I stand on your ruins. So heed my suggestion. Your daughter will decide if and when she returns to you. I don’t want to hear from you again. If you decide to be stupid and not obey my very polite request, know that I have the power to ensure that no bank backs any of your developments in the future.’

‘You’re lying.’

‘Try me.’ Enzo hung up. Gently he placed his phone on the table. Heat radiated from every pore. His hands were trembling. Running them roughly through his hair, he cursed and tried to take a breath.

It was no use.

He swore loudly, giving into the rage that he couldn’t control.

Celeste. Charlotte.

She had lied about everything!

For two years she had had access to all. Two years she had dealt with his business. Hisfamily’sbusiness. Two years of late nights and overseas meetings, all the while pretending to be someone else.

Enzo felt ill. He was pacing now, too agitated to remain still. Too far gone into his rage to even attempt control.

He had confided in her. Had wanted to hold on to her, and all this time he’d had no idea who she was. What did she want?

What about De Luca and Co? Had she been planted in his company?

Betrayed. Again!

Enzo was beyond reason. People kept proving over and over that they couldn’t be trusted. But this—this hurt even more than Gia and Emilio’s betrayal. Maybe it was because he should have known. He had hardened himself so much to the world, worked so hard to keep anyone from getting behind his barriers, but he’dwantedfor Celeste—Charlotte—to be different.

Thinking back to the terrace, it felt like the knife in his chest was twisting. Wringing out every last drop of agony. He thought he had become smarter, but maybe this was the final lesson he needed to learn.

The pieces were finally falling into place. How she seemed like two different people. The glasses she wore but didn’t need. Her clothes, her manner that made her so inconspicuous in the office. It wasn’t that she was shy or lacking confidence. She had been hiding. But for what reason?

Enzo stopped pacing and turned to face the closed bedroom door. Celeste or Charlotte, whoever she was, was about to find out why Enzo wasn’t a man to cross. He needed answers and, want to or not, she was about to give them to him.

Charlotte burrowed deeper in the duvet. She tried to move closer to the warm body beside her, but cold met her bare skin. Slowly opening her eyes, she realised that Enzo wasn’t there and the sheets were cool to the touch. Goose bumps prickled her arms.