Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
‘He was a wonderful person who did the best he could.’
‘He always fought for what was right.’
‘Your father was a kind man who loved us very much.’
But the truth was a cold creature, one who loomed over us. I wasn’t a child any longer. We both knew that though my father was a good man, but he was also a liar, one who did bad things because he was good at it—the same kind of man I now loved.
I had spent a lifetime trying to crawl out from under my father’s mistakes, though I loved my father, all his flaws included.
So why did her words feel like she had just ripped my heart out?
Why did I feel like I could only hate the part of that man she saw within me?
Self-loathing erupted out of my every pore, and I leveled a fierce glare at my mother, ready to explode like a volcano as I lashed out with a harsh, “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” Mom looked alarmed at me. “I just meant I wish you would think about keeping yourself safe instead of going after some silly revenge plot. I begged your father to do the same thing, and I just don’t want you to—”
“End up like him, right?” I snapped.
Her mouth snapped shut at a loss for words and there was a hint of regret in her eyes, but I couldn’t stand looking at her at that moment, afraid I might say something I couldn’t take back.
“I can’t do this right now, Mom,” I said instead. “It’s my life and I’m doing what I think is right. Dad… I’m not him. I’m my own person, and I have the right to control my own life. I’ll text you later.”
“Caterina, don’t. I’m sorry.” Mom pleaded with a soft look, but I just shook my head.
“I have to meet Elio anyway. See you later,” I mumbled, walking away feeling like shit.
I nodded to Lauren in the kitchen as I passed and left the apartment. I breathed out, shutting my eyes for a moment once I was alone in the hallway, and then I made my way up to my own place.
I was still in a bad mood when I entered the apartment, nearly missing the note posted on the door. It was in Elio’s handwriting with a simple request.
‘Look in the closet.’
Confused but slightly excited, I headed straight for the closet in our bedroom, and right as I opened the door, I gasped in sheer awe.
Hanging there in a plastic sheeting was a gorgeous red dress, and pinned to the top was another note with familiar handwriting.
‘I can’t wait to see you in this tonight.’
*Caterina*
“Fuck!” I muttered, throwing down my tube of mascara as I poked myself in the eye yet again. I was way too excited for my date with Elio, and it was making it difficult to focus on my makeup.
I took a deep breath and tried to look objectively at myself in the mirror. Other than the smudged mascara under my right eye, I looked good. The dress that Elio had picked out for me was gorgeous, the neckline cut into a sweetheart style that I knew made me look enticing without being too revealing. I paired it with a simple diamond necklace that I knew would sparkle beautifully all evening, drawing his eyes exactly where I wanted them to go.
I had thought that my lust for Elio might eventually cool as our relationship deepened, but instead I found that the more I fell in love with him, the more I wanted him physically, and at this point, I could not get enough.
My phone went off and I pulled it out to see that Elio had texted to say he was on his way. I sighed at my appearance, realizing I only had enough time to clean off the mascara smudge. I would just have to go without eye makeup for the evening.
Luckily, I’d had the time to put my hair up into an elegant French twist, which reduced the “half done” effect that my lack of eye makeup had on my overall appearance. I knew Elio wouldn’t care either way.
Life was chaos, but Elio was constant. He was one I could always rely on to treat me with kindness and respect, and he didn’t give a shit about how I looked, not really, which was exactly why I loved dressing up for him.
I heard the elevator doors open and quickly made my way over to our bedroom door, leaning against the frame in a way that I knew would have Elio wanting to rip my dress right back off me. As soon as I caught his eye, he couldn’t stop looking me up and down. It felt like I was a cool glass of water and he was a parched man out in the desert, desperate to get to me.
He stalked over to me, his eyes nearly black with desire. A shiver ran up my spine at the possessive look on his face, the one that screamed that I was his, all his.
“You look beautiful,” he said, his voice low as he wrapped his hands around my waist and leaned in to kiss the curve of my neck.
I placed my hands on his face and brought his lips to mine, just a hint of my perfume lingering on his skin. As always, his taste drove me wild. There was something about kissing Elio that just made me want more every time.
But just as I was reconsidering how much I really wanted to go to dinner, my stomach growled. With a low chuckle, Elio pulled away.
“Come on, baby. Let’s not miss our dinner this time.” He took my hand and led me to the elevator, hitting the up button instead of down.
I looked at him questioningly, but he just smiled. The man loved to surprise me, at this point, I had learned to just go along with it. It was more fun that way.
The elevator dinged and the doors opened to reveal a rooftop patio that I hadn’t even known was there. A small table and two chairs were placed near the edge of the rooftop with nothing but a glass partition between it and the sky. People dressed in catering uniforms bustled around lighting candles that circled the entire patio, adding a gentle glow to the area.
I turned to Elio, my mouth open in shock. He smiled at me, his eyes crinkling in that way they only did when he was particularly pleased with himself.
“Do you love it?” he asked.
“Elio, this is amazing!” I gushed.
In the far corner, a string quartet began playing. I stared at them, wondering if I’d ever seen an actual live string quartet in my entire life. I was pretty sure I hadn’t.
One of the caterers walked up to us and began to lead us to our table.
“Good evening,” she said, “We have a five-course meal planned for you. We have used all local ingredients to create an eclectic menu meant to take you around the world with flavor fusions. I will start you off with a plate of appetizers.”
She walked away to get our food. I couldn’t stop staring at everything that was set up around me. Our table had a small candle that lit Elio’s face beautifully, showing just how well he’d aged over the years. His strong jaw and smile lines made me want to smother him in kisses.
“This is amazing,” I said again, really unable to find any other words.
“Cat, you are amazing. You deserve all the best things in life. I want you to always get the best of everything.” He reached out and took my hand in his, rubbing his thumb gently over my knuckles.
“You make me feel like a princess,” I admitted, blushing slightly. I wasn’t used to letting him see my vulnerable side, but I knew I could trust him with all of me.
“I love you. I’ll always do my best to make you feel that way.”
“Sometimes it just doesn’t feel real, you know… what we have, I mean,” I said.
It was a concern that I hated even voicing, but if we were going to make it, I needed him to know just how scared I felt sometimes.
“This is real, Cat. I want you to know that. Everything between us is real. I would never have asked you to move in here if it wasn’t. I’m not some guy who plays fast and loose with people’s hearts, especially not the woman I love.”
I nodded, unable to speak past the lump of emotion that had welled up in my throat. I had never felt so safe before. Even though Elio had really been looking after me most of my life, I hadn’t ever known just how safe I was with him.
Not only would he keep me physically safe, but he worried about my emotional safety as well. I could trust him with my heart in a way that I’d never been able to do with anyone before.
“And here is your first course—miniature baked brie smothered in homemade spiced apricot jam with sourdough toastlets for dipping. We also have a pot of specially imported balsamic glaze that really brings out the pop of flavor in the apricot jam,” our waitress said as she settled a gorgeous platter in front of us.
As I took a bite of the appetizers, I understood exactly what the waitress had meant when she described the food as eclectic. Every single flavor burst on my tongue at once and brought to mind dozens of memories, from eating toast with jam as a child to sharing a fancy plate of charcuterie with Anna, and now, to eating this incredible dish with Elio.