Emma opened her mouth but no sound could find the strength to come out. His heart started pounding madly as he continued to stare at her seriously.
She swallowed slowly, batting her eyelashes.
What ? She managed to say after long seconds. You... you want me to find you a wife like me? she asked in a voice she hoped was calm.
A strange sparkle danced in his eyes.
No, I was talking about you Emma...
She stifled an uncontrollable laugh. Multiple emotions began to overwhelm her. Fear, anguish and even joy!
You are not serious after all! You drank ? she asked hoping that was the case.
He moved closer, making the room much darker than it already was. His gaze caught all her senses, she blinked.
No, I'm lucid, it's because you're the opposite of those greedy women you once met...
So what ! Is that a reason to ask me that?
His steely eyes met hers, and once again Emma drowned in them.
Yes, that's a valid reason, I appreciate you...
Emma, panicked, dropped her glass of champagne and left the room before he finished. She walked over, breathing hard before a door in front of her opened, revealing the man.
He hastily stuck it carefully against the wall.
I'm sorry, I did not want to scare you, I should not have told you that. He declared in a tone full of regret.
Emma barely suppressed a start to escape their proximity.
The warm warmth of the man almost made her quiver with a pleasant feeling that she refused to feel at this awkward moment.
What man, intransigent and so powerful in the world would dream of having a pregnant woman in the legs! Monsieur Dantes please stop playing me.
He frowned as if what she had just said was ridiculous and absurd.
I didn't try to play you Emma, I don't know what got into me, let's forget this conversation, okay?
During his speech, his fingertips touched her chin so that she wouldn't lower her head.
She suppressed a sob and nodded silently. He broke the contact of his fingers against his chin, looking horribly apologetic.
In addition Sergio forbade me to make you cry at the risk of spoiling his work. He added with a smile that he had great difficulty in stretching.
Emma was upset, but found the strength to smile.
Let's go now, it's time to go to dinner. He muttered, finding his face closed and dark.
Emma inhaled painfully as he ran his hand over her back to help her down the stairs.
The flute I... broke it I...
Do not worry about that Emma. He cut in an almost silent tone.
When she looked up at him, she saw a vast, deep nothingness fill her gaze.
She should have felt flattered to be so bribed by this horribly handsome and powerful man. She had even imagined waking up next to him every morning, hugged against his broad, drawn body. But as unreal as the proposal was, Emma felt the panic burning in her throat.
The baby she was carrying was his, and beyond any dream, the one he could want from her knowing the truth was totally excluded...
When they were installed, Azzario couldn't hide his annoyance with himself. Aware of having been too fast, he was very angry with himself for having made the young woman completely upset. Because if he had managed to catch up with the situation narrowly, Azzario was still very serious.
So serious that he was furious that she rejected his request in a glass smash. When he turned his head towards her, to glance in her direction, Azzario pursed his mouth in a grin of anger that spilled over his face like a boulder rolling down a hill. She was so shy and disturbing that her charm turned out to be devastating.
The prospect of having her for a wife stirred a surge of desire in him that took him by surprise.
Pregnant or not.
Was he going crazy?
No chance that this is madness, but a well thought out act and thought. His thoughts began to dominate his mind. He saw a vision of her, lying on her bed, her hair fanned out on the pillow...
This time, his desire became so painful that he cleared his throat to regain his ability to dominate in master hand all that could be at his fingertips.
Starting with Emma Brok...
"Put this on your lap. He ordered, unfolding his briefcase.
Instead of giving it to her, he laid her on his lap, brushing her stomach with his knuckles.
At that moment, he remembered those two women who had trapped him and Olivia's total disinterest in her pregnancy, her refusal to take care of her health, to keep a perfect figure, unlike this young woman.
When the meal was served, out of the corner of his eye he saw her wince.
Everything is fine ? You don't like fish.
She looked desperate.
If I love fish...but the baby doesn't like it.
Azzario understood immediately and got up to go to the private kitchens only in service for major events.
When he returned, she hurried uneasily to put her hand on his arm.
No need to bother you for me I'll eat it and ...
He cut her off by grabbing her hand. She was so fine in hers.
Out of seventy guests, about ten don't eat the poison on the menu, that's not a problem Emma.
He squeezed her hand just enough to feel the softness of her skin on his fingers.
When dinner was over, Emma slipped away to the beautiful Christmas tree. The latter was hands down the most she had ever seen.
"Miss Brok?"
At that voice, which she recognized, she turned to greet Rosella.
Good day Mrs.
The latter placed a kiss on his cheek, and enveloped him in a strange look.
"Are you having a pleasant evening?" She asked taking his hand.
This gesture, as unexpected as it was disturbing, embarrassed her.
Yes, it's wonderful, thank you for inviting me.
It's completely normal, I wanted to apologize for my behavior the other day, I should not have been so cold with you.
Emma smiled apologetically.
"I don't blame you, ma'am.
Rosella looked relieved and showed him heaved a long sigh, one hand resting on his heart.
Mother ? Amelia asks for you in the living room. Intervened the deep voice of his son.
Immediately, Emma felt her stomach knot. Because if she was hiding a secret, the man who had just slipped his hand behind her back had made it more difficult by suggesting something she was not about to forget.
Excuse me, I have to withdraw. Rosella Dantes declared as she gracefully walked away.
Being alone with him made her nervous once again. His fingers pressed into her back.
"We're going to dance now. He announced as if it were obvious.
I can not dance, it is better for you to ask someone else.
He didn't take her refusal into account and took her with him in the middle of the mass of dancing guests. Emma swallowed, knowing she didn't belong here. The man's hand took hers.
"Just let yourself be guided," he whispered, putting his arm behind her back, pulling her back to him.
Her little round belly pressed against him. At this moment, Emma wanted to run away, ashamed to get lost in this awful lie. He was there, in front of her, without knowing that he was at this very moment closer to his child. A taste of guilt hurt his throat painfully.
"Why did you move to Italy?" He asked as he started the dance.
She held back a gasp as he tightened his grip further. She felt like she was snuggled up to him.
Oh... I... it's because the woman who took care of the household was Italian, and by dint of talking to me about it, I ended up falling in love with Italy, and then no one kept me in London.
He seemed to be thinking, the barrage of his eyebrows thickening. For a second, she wanted to read his mind.
When she looked up, she found only a completely closed face. But decided to confront him.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
I try to understand you Emma Brok, I try to analyze you. he confided gloomily.
Nervously, she smiled, her eyebrows furrowed.
"And what does your analysis give Mr. Dantes?"
The depth of the steel that ignited his gaze grew darker. He twirled her around with an authoritative movement without taking his eyes off hers.
"Nothing conclusive, miss, you are a mystery to me."
Heart pounding, she looked down at his robust chest, unable to find the words that yet succeeded in his mouth.
Yet your face speaks a lot for you Emma. he whispered in a penetrating voice.
"I know, it's quite embarrassing as it is," she confessed, moving her hand up to his broad shoulder.
He was silent for a moment, then resumed in a more softened voice.
'He spoke for you earlier, when I suggested that you marry me.
Immediately, Emma fixed her eyes in his.
Obviously ! What woman would have remained unmoved by this proposal?
He smiled arrogantly.
'None probably, I imagine they would have hastened to accept.
Emma didn't have the strength to counter attack her assurance, because he was right...no woman would have resisted such a proposal. Becoming the wife of Azzario Dantes was surely one of the hottest fantasies of the year. All you had to do was look in the magazines to figure it out.
"Why not ask Sharon?" Besides, I find that you have neglected it this evening.
You find ? he asked in an amused voice. I think she is tricking me...
He darkened as if walking through the darkness.
Why do you say that ?
"I'm more of a fool, I know how to recognize treacherous women, who only dream of a river of diamonds."
You are a very attractive man, I doubt it is only for a river of diamonds.
He laughed lightly and twirled her around again.
Thank you Miss Brok ... but I know what Sharon is worth, I've been there.
Emma closed her eyes.
'Please Emma, I know that Sergio told you about my past, everyone here knows about it.
"I didn't want you...
He cut her off with a loud exhale, glancing briefly around the room.
Do you know what one can feel after such a lie? Three weeks after saying yes?
The bitterness in his eyes, making him shut up.
I thought I was in love, what a lamentable mistake to have believed in this woman. As for the next...
He laughed bitterly, a hard crease forming on his closed lips.
When she discovered that she was pregnant, I immediately understood that this child was not mine, for the simple and good reason that there was nothing left between us in bed.
He paused and shook his head.
"Yet she persisted in letting me think it was mine, right up to the birth."
He looked back into hers.
"You should have seen the midwife's face three days later when she handed me the baby. A baby with green eyes, blond hair...
"I am sincerely sorry, Mr. Dantes.
Don't be, I don't want pity, I've matured, forced into age, nothing and no one can mislead me anymore, I'm no longer the naive young man of yesteryear.
Emma affirmed her statement with a weak nod of her head and took her eyes off to find that the mass of dancing couples were slowly disappearing.
"But with you, Emma, I aspire to something quite different."
At his words, she felt her heart resonate in her temples. His large hand squeezed the fabric behind his back to enclose it in his fist.
Mr. Dantes, what you are saying makes absolutely no sense...
On the contrary, you are sincere, sensible, gentle...you are the opposite of what is here...
This is not a valid reason to make me this kind of proposal, it's totally crazy.
The man clenched his jaws.
"That's a dutifully thought out statement...believe me if I were crazy, I'd marry Sharon tomorrow morning."
Appalled, Emma felt her heart flutter rapidly as he continued:
I will marry her and I will surely live a life filled with loneliness, I will curse love and then one day... I will think about having a child, if I can have one and of course, she will refuse too worried about her curves and his career.
Emma stopped moving her legs to the beat of the song.
"If you can have some?" She repeated, staring at him.
He lifted his head and only looked down at her.
His wide throat began to swallow.
I'm beginning to wonder if I can actually have one...