Fall For My Ex's Mafia Father novel Chapter 19

She shrugs, beckoning me over to her. “Personal shoppers, mostly. Kent likes to look good, but he doesn’t like to go to stores.” I join her at a velvet settee in front of a trifold mirror. “The rest,” she says, “are…gifts. Donations.”

I cock my head at her, confused.

She gives me a wink. “You know. From people who owe him big but don’t have the cash.” She wrinkles her nose and smiles. “That’s how he got me my Porsche.”

“Oh,” I say, my eyes going wide.

“Oh, little baby Fay,” she laughs, putting an arm around my shoulders. “You’re so cute with your little blushes. It’s nice to have someone so fresh around.”

I smile at her, biting my lip as she moves over to a pile of silk and satin that she has draped over a chair.

“Now,” she says, “I picked these out for you, but if you see anything else you like, just tell me.” She starts to hold up dresses for me.

“Um,” I say, hesitating. “Picked them out…for what?”

“For the party!” she says, beaming. “Did no one tell you? Tonight! The party so you can meet your father!”

Fiona smiles at me like I’m the luckiest girl in the world but I feel my face go as white as a sheet. Seeing the change in my demeanor, Fiona puts down the dresses and comes over. “Aw baby,” she says soothingly. “Too much? Too soon?”

I take a deep breath. “Yeah, I guess. I’ve never met this man – didn’t know he was my father until yesterday. It’s all just a shock.”

She gives my shoulders a quick squeeze. “Well, nothing’s going to make you feel more confident than looking absolutely fabulous.”

She hurries back over to the pile of dresses she set aside for me. “For you,” she says, “I think, this one.” Her voice is reverent as she holds up a gorgeous velvet gown, midnight blue with gauzy fabric trailing from the shoulders to create a diaphanous train.

I gasp when I see it, unable to help myself as I move forward to touch the material. As I turn it over in my hands, I catch a view of the price tag. I blanche and drop the fabric.