“You’re getting married.”
Dad set his coffee cup down on the table.
I knew that gesture by heart.
Usually, whenever Dad put his cup down like that, something I wouldn’t like was coming. A decision. An order. Or news he had carefully thought through before finally delivering it to me.
But this time, I truly had no idea what was about to come out of his mouth.
“To whom?”
Dad didn’t answer right away.
He simply picked up his cup again, took a sip of coffee, and stared out at the sea through the wide windows behind him.
I followed his gaze. There was nothing but the sea. Blue. Calm. But also boring.
The Azimut Star 7 swayed gently with the waves. Our family’s luxury yacht was far too large to be called just a boat. It had three levels above the water, along with several guest cabins. There was also a dining room, a small pool, a meeting room, and everything someone needed to escape the world without actually giving up luxury.
Dad often brought family business onto this yacht. He said the sea made people more willing to talk. But in my opinion, the sea only made it harder for people to escape. Especially when that person was me.
“To whom, Dad?” I asked again.
Dad was still silent.
I leaned back in my chair. The silence was starting to get on my nerves. It was deeply uncomfortable.
I hoped he would say a name, so I could think of him as an enemy I could kill. Yes, I was serious about that sort of thing.
At least enemies were easier to understand. Enemies had a reason to attack. But a prospective husband? I had no idea what category to put him in.
The dining room door opened. Carlo appeared behind it. The Captain of the Azimut Star 7 always looked far too well put together for someone who spent most of his life at sea. White shirt, black pants, polished shoes. Even his hair never looked messy.
He stopped a few steps from our table and bowed respectfully.
“Don Valerio, the guest has arrived.”
Guest? I frowned. Who would come to meet the D’Averrano family in the middle of the sea like this?
I glanced at Dad. Instead, he gave me a faint smile.
Damn.
I knew that smile.
“Come on, Alessa.” Dad rose from his chair. “Let’s meet your prospective husband.”
I fell silent. So that was the reason.
A guest.
A prospective husband. In the middle of the sea. I almost laughed.
Almost.
Dad walked past me. I stayed seated for a few seconds, staring at his back.
There wasn’t the slightest hesitation in his stride.
Of course. He wasn’t the one getting married.
I stood. “I haven’t agreed to anything.”
Dad stopped. Then he turned to look at me.
“I know.”
“Then why are you talking as if everything’s already been decided?”
“Because I know you.” He continued walking. “And I know you won’t say no before you see who the man is.”
I snorted softly. How annoying.
Dad always did that. He assumed he knew me better than I knew myself.
I followed him.
Carlo stepped aside to let us pass.
As I walked by him, I caught a glimpse of his expression. He was trying not to stare at me for too long.
Good.
At least there was still someone who knew how to show me the proper respect.
We left the dining room and headed for the aft deck. The sea breeze greeted me at once. My hair whipped in the wind. I held it down with one hand while staring out at the endless sea.
Not far from the Azimut Star 7, a small boat was approaching.
It looked like an ordinary boat. At least compared with ours. Still, I had a feeling it wasn’t ordinary.
I saw the emblem on its side. Black with silver lines. I had seen that emblem before.
Only once. On a document that should never have made it into my hands.
The Veretti family.
I stared at the boat a little longer.
So... my prospective husband was someone from the Veretti family?
I turned to Dad. “Veretti? You’ve got to be kidding me.”