CHAPTER 007: GAME ON

The penthouse door slammed against the wall as Din stormed in, moving like the wind.

He tore off his tuxedo jacket with both hands, eyes shimmering red, flung it across the room, it landed half on the couch, half on the floor.

His hands grazed aggressively against his tie, yanked it loose and flung like it was after his life. Veins visible on both hands, his jaw tightened. His feet moved hastily towards the minibar.

Elena Moretti entered behind him, calm as ever, bubble gum snapping. She had heard him come in; no one else could have slammed the door that way.

She didn’t flinch at the slam. She crossed to the couch, took up a magazine, and relaxed into the soft couch, back straight, the air tensed enough from Din’s boiling blood.

Din spun on her, eyes blazing, half-filled glass in hand. “Did you know?”

Elena's lip arched, eyes never leaving the magazine. “Know what, darling?”

“That Marie Valenti is pregnant.” His voice came out low, dangerous, every word sharp. “Already eight weeks pregnant with some other man’s child.”

“Yes.” Elena flipped the magazine page, unbothered.

He stared at her, waiting for excuses, explanations, anything. She gave him nothing.

“That’s all you'd say to me about this? Just a miserable.. Yes? Are you serious right now?”

Elena walked to the minibar, a manicured hand resting on Din’s shoulder.

“The merger closes in six weeks. The banks are breathing down our necks, son. If we walk away now, everything collapses. Your grandfather’s company, my company, the houses, the yachts, your trust fund, gone. We’ll be bankrupt by spring. Headlines for years.”

“So I’m supposed to marry a woman who’s carrying another man’s baby? Smile for the cameras and pretend it’s mine? That’s your grand solution Elena Moretti?” Din’s ugly laugh deafening her ears, pain and anger buried deep in his eyes.

“You marry the Valenti fortune,” Elena said, voice cool as steel. “You marry their cash flow and their stock price. The child becomes yours on the birth certificate. No one outside this room ever needs to know the truth. People have done it for centuries.”

“…And no one said you have to love her or be with her forever, even though I saw how you looked at her all night at the dinner.” Elena knew how best to get Din to her side.

He dragged both hands through his dark hair, pacing again, shoes thudding hard. “She didn’t even tell me herself. I had to find out from…”

He cut himself off, jaw clamping shut.

“From whom, exactly?” Elena tilted her head a bit, eyes deep in curiosity.

Din turned away, mouth tight. He couldn’t say Jessie’s name. Not to his mother. Not after everything.

Elena leaned forward slightly, both hands now resting on his shoulders.

“Listen to me, Din. I have spent thirty years holding this family together while your father jets around the world spending money on God-knows-what. This merger is our only lifeline. You will stand at that altar in six weeks. You will smile. You will say the vows. You will sign the papers. And you will save us.”

Din stopped pacing, fists clenched at his sides. “And if I refuse?”

Elena’s smile was small and cold. “Then you’ll watch everything we own disappear. And you’ll do it with empty pockets, because the second you walk out that door, I freeze every account in your name.”

The words hung heavy in the air, thick and suffocating.

Din stared at her for a long moment, chest rising and falling fast, his blood boiling from not knowing what exactly to do with Marie.

Then he grabbed the tumbler again from the bar counter, poured four more fingers of scotch, amber liquid shaking slightly in his grip.

“And I'm not very sure what you're doing with Jessie… Just don't drag my name into the mud!” Elena fired behind Din, grabbing her magazine from the bar counter.

He didn’t look at her again, just strode out to the balcony, one hand undoing more buttons.

He thought about Marie's pregnancy, He could use the baby to remedy his secret, it could save his face, no one had to know, his mother had said.

A few hours ago, his office couldn't contain him, he had wanted to call Marie, to meet up with her, or just get to see those pearly eyes of hers again. His body has been betraying him since the engagement dinner,

His secretary had walked in on him smiling to himself, twirling on his leather seat, only then did he realise how much time he had spent scrolling through her Instagram page, savoring every image of her, zooming in on every curve till it became blurry.

For a moment, he wanted to hear her explain, to hold her soft hands in his, while she broke down, apologising. But how was he going to father another man’s child? Those are the things weak men do. His eyes dimmed like he's been dealt a blow.

“I have my flaws, something deep enough. Yes, I know, but I’m not weak.” He muttered to himself, his eyes moistened a bit, one pain that he had buried deep inside. He'd rather have the World crash than let an ear hear of it. He'd do everything to save the situation.

“No woman deserves love after all” he downs the liquid in the tumbler, “I have to act along, I can’t lose the one lifestyle I’ve known all my life.” A dry smile formed back on his lips, he'd rather live than sulk.

His phone buzzed against his thigh.

He fished it out, thumb swiping across the screen, half hoping it was Marie, maybe some explanation, some apology, something human.

It wasn’t.

A photo loaded slowly.

Jessie.

Completely naked on white sheets, possibly her room, blonde hair across the pillow like gold fire. One arm draped lazily over her breasts, barely covering the nipples.

The other hand lower, fingers teasing between her thighs, her lips parted in that filthy, knowing half-smile she wore right before she made him lose control.

Below the photo, her message glowed:

“Thought you needed a reminder of what’s actually waiting for you. She’s lying to your face, baby. I’d never do that to you.” Filthy smile formed on his face, it’s actually not bad playing along, his thoughts ran wild.

One finger placed on the screen so it didn’t scroll, he looked up like he needed a moment to digest the full meal his eyes just had.

“Come over when you’re done being the good little heir… My body aches real bad for you.” His cock bulged as he read the last part of the text.

Din’s breath left him in a rush. He could feel every drop of blood moving through his veins, six weeks until he owed anyone any faithfulness,

For now, he had to play along, not sure what he was doing, but everything actually seemed to be playing out correctly for him.

Marie's pregnancy, enough to cover his scandalous flaw, until then, he had nothing to lose.