Dane had raced to his father’s house, but now that he’d arrived and saw his brother’s car in the driveway, he finally took a few breaths to steady his nerves and will some logic into his thoughts. Calling his brothers didn’t reveal any further details. They were already here as was clear when Damien answered the phone. In the background, their father was at full throttle with an emphatic speech. Although Dane wasn’t present for the up close and personal tirade, his father’s volume pitched high enough for him to hear that the source of his rage dealt with Yasmin’s father. Farrokh Mariman was causing his father to pop a blood vessel.

By the time he entered the house, Dane was mentally set to deal with the impending crisis. And this blindside that he lay at Yasmin’s feet was a nuclear explosion with a monumental fallout.

He followed the familiar voices that crashed into each other. Still, the loudest belonged to his father.

“Finally, you’re here to explain what the bloody hell is going on?” Philippe greeted with a booming voice. “What have you done?”

“What exactly am I being accused of?” Dane figured that before he crafted an explanation, he’d better know the specifics of his indictment.

Damien motioned for him to take a seat. “Might as well get comfortable. Need a drink?” His brother sat back on the sofa with his legs crossed, arm tossed over the back of the chair like it was a normal meet up with family.

Dane did take the spot on the other end of the sofa. But he felt nothing close to being relaxed or needing his customary water.

“Farrokh is coming to Monaco,” Philippe stated grimly.

“Your business partner before Laurent Holdings was born,” Dane stated the obvious. “I didn’t invite him here if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“We were partners. Then we went our separate ways.”

“Because of something that you did?” Dane shifted the spotlight from him toward his father.

“Watch your tone with me, boy.”

“I’m not a boy. I’m an officer of this company. Your second-in-command even when you choose to be dismissive of my role.” Dane’s anger bubbled over like a pot on rapid boil. “While we’re on the subject, did you force out Mariman?”

“Forced. No one can force Farrokh to do anything. I bought him out.”

“Why?” Dallon sounded a lot more surprised that Dane felt.

“Personal matters.”

“At this point, there is nothing too personal to discuss when it comes this company.” Dane restrained himself from bringing up Damien’s business. “What did you do?”

Philippe rarely suffered from a loss of words. Standing in front of his sons, he hesitated for a few seconds, then said, “He had a gambling problem. He took money from the banking business to cover his debts. No one knew. Not even his family.”

“Farrokh is a thief?” Damien pointed his question over at Dane.

“No.” Philippe drew himself with his spirited defense. “I betrayed him before he betrayed me.”

Dane’s brain couldn’t take any more revelations about his father. This time, the confession about to come straight from Philippe’s mouth. His head drooped as he waited for him to continue.

“I had an affair with his girlfriend.”

“Yasmin’s mother?” Dane blurted.

“No. It was an arranged marriage. He loved her, but she changed her mind when she came to Monaco.”

“You mean when you changed it for her.” Dallon joined in with the accusatory tone.

“Farrokh did what he did out of anger.”

“But then he was in financial trouble. And he was your friend. A loan would have worked,” Damien said quietly. His gut churned under continual discoveries about his father’s way of doing things.

Philippe continued as if Dane hadn’t spoken, “His home country was in political turmoil. There was no guarantee that when he returned home that I would see him again.”

“More like if you’d get your money.” Damien’s disappointment poured out to mix with the others’ disappointment and anger.

“I’m a businessman.”

“You’re selfish. Some might say a monster.” Dane looked over to Damien. He had so much to apologize for regarding his brother. But now wasn’t the time to add to the wreckage. There were other concerns that needed to be addressed.

“Keep it up and I’ll sock you right in the mouth.” His father huffed indignation that just didn’t have a lot of steam.

Dane tried mentally to step up and be the leader that he’d want to be, especially during a crisis. “What exactly did Mariman say?”

“That he wanted to talk. Seemed to think I knew what it was about when he mentioned his daughter.” his father replied.

“Yasmin.”

His brothers looked at him. Dane avoided their eye contact.

“What?” Philippe didn’t miss the interchange.

Dane braced himself. “I’ve met his daughter.”

“More than met, I’d say,” Damien smirked. “By the way, she’s a lovely lady. And I told her that I’d invite both of you over for board game night. Dallon, you’re included.”

“There’s no us.” Dane may have waffled on his relationship status up to now, but that door was closed and locked.

“Why was she here?” Philippe asked.

“To execute an elaborate plan of retaliation against Laurent Holdings because of how you treated her father.”

“Oh.” Philippe blustered and nervously smoothed back his hair. “And you didn’t think it important enough to tell me.”

“Not until I was pretty sure.” Dane’s anger had a hell of a time switching back and forth from Philippe to Yasmin.

“Sounds like you went beyond pretty sure. Also sounds like you got in over your head. If Farrokh sent his daughter and now he’s coming then whatever she’s been cooking up, they are ready. And if he’s going to make a claim against Laurent Holdings then they’ll have a fight like they’ve never seen. This is my company.” Philippe’s face turned from pink to rosy red. The vein in his neck strained as his voice raised with emotion.

Although Dane agreed with a defensive stance for the company’s sake, he didn’t care for how his father turned into the sole owner. His brothers had all been an integral part of Laurent Holdings, but his father saw them as nothing more than soldiers in his ranks. That realization felt like a knock-out punch.

“What if it’s about grabbing market share rather than getting money from our company?” Damien leaned forward. “Look, I’ve talked to Yasmin. And I had no emotions to cloud my judgment—no offense, Dane—but I think she is about the business. Whatever she may have come to do is probably in the past.”

The cutthroat approach did suit the Yasmin he’d initially met. That false landscape had allowed his imagination to be rife with romance and love to blossom in his heart. He felt foolish.

“One thing we must do is show a united front.” Dane welcomed the cold front moving into his chest freezing over every part of him that had fallen under the seduction.

“Laurent Holdings always.” His father had made himself a drink and raised his glass for the vow.

“Here. Here.” Dallon nodded.

Damien clapped his hands but remained silent.

“What will be clear is that this situation will have an ending, once and for all. I’m not into cliffhangers and there will be no continuing saga with the Mariman and the Laurent families.” Dane meant every word for his personal life too.

Damien leaned over. “I’m still holding out hope for Yasmin.”

“Shut up.” Dane his brother wouldn’t sabotage his intention to send the Mariman family packing. Just because Damien had turned into a raving romantic and mistakenly held out hope for Yasmin, Dane wasn’t entertaining any other option but to salute her departure from Monaco.

He’d already kicked her out of his heart.

 

__________

 

“Stop pacing.”

Yasmin nodded at her father’s order but continued walking back and forth the width of the suite’s outer room.

“So you did this for my honor?”

Omar, her brother, snorted. “You’re gullible where she’s concerned.” He was a carbon copy of their father, except for a more brooding demeanor. His smiles and easy conversation only seemed to be reserved for Sheera.

“Yes, papa. I’d found out that you were squeezed out of the company. That’s unfair and disrespectful to you. Laurent Holdings wouldn’t be what it is without your hard work. And I came to reclaim our losses, one way or the other.”

“And your plan was to orchestrate an invasion and get them to sign over shares to our father? What harebrained strategy is that?” Her brother’s condescension grated Yasmin’s nerves. “On the other hand, that’s not what Ameena has shared. Sounds like your days were wrapped around the youngest heir—Dane.”

“What is he talking about?” Her father asked softly. He didn’t like to see his children bicker, but he listened to Omar speech.

“Nothing. This isn’t about Dane. This about you, papa.” Yasmin tried to steer the conversation in the direction away from matters of her heart.

“Has my little bird has fallen in love?” Farrokh sighed at her silence as her answer.

Her father’s nicknames for her were always so silly, but at this time, when she felt on trial, she welcomed his gentle touch.

“Father, we don’t have time for this,” Omar continued his protest. “They will be here shortly. And all we have is Yasmin’s plan to buy out this Bellaire person.”

“Buyout or partnership.” Yasmin perked up ready to talk business rather her emotions.

“Then … ?” Her father prompted.

“Then we’d have a solid footing in Monaco. From there we can—”

Her brother piped up with his standard smirk in place, “Your continued plan for world domination.”

“You’re not helping, Omar. Give Yasmin a chance.”

“Thank you,” Yasmin couldn’t help a smug smile at Omar’s frustration. “We don’t have to bring Bellaire into the deal before we’ve hashed out scenarios.”

“But it would give us a way into the market through his company.” Her father closed his eyes briefly, then opened them, and said, “Okay, I’m not one hundred percent sure, but I’ll not shut the door on it.”

Omar groaned and held his head as if they had inflicted physical pain. “I cannot believe what I’m hearing. Since when are we in a rush to have business here? And partnering up with a second-rate company?” He stopped his comments when his father was clearly not paying attention to him.

“Enough, Omar.” Farrokh addressed Yasmin, “Back to more important things. Does Dane love you?”

“Oh dad, there’s no such thing as love. Reminder. You and mom fell in love after you were married. Besides, there was no time to fall in love. I’ve only been here for about three weeks. Much too quick for anything.” She did her best to sound like her brothers when they talked about their casual girlfriends. The reality of being cavalier was tougher.

“Love is quick to the heart. Like a good poison. Knocks you out flat. You can’t fight it.” He laughed and opened his arms to embrace her.

She hugged her father. “You are not the person to talk to about my heart.”

“Why? You think that I’m not romantic. I’ve got more children than I can keep track of, with the one woman who still puts up with me.” He smiled and patted Yasmin’s cheek. “Don’t be hard on yourself. Don’t be so serious. You will give and he will take, you will take and he will give. Simple.”

“Why did I come on this trip? We were supposed to keep Yasmin in check,” Omar groused.

“You came as a good son to escort your father. And to see your girlfriend,” Philippe stated as if it was yesterday’s news.

Yasmin and her father laughed as Omar hurried after an embarrassed Sheera who had cupped her hands to her cheeks and ran down the hallway.

Yasmin felt much better. “Thank you, papa.”

“Now, get rid of that moping look. You’re getting me depressed. We are about to have company.”

“Yeah?” Yasmin had a sinking feeling for what he was about to say.

“The Laurent family is on their way over. Sounded confused when I mentioned you. Thought he was aware of your presence in the city. By now, I’m sure he’s talked to his son. And I’m also sure that they will come through that door furious as can be. But we will muddle through this.” He patted her cheek again.

Yasmin felt nauseous. Although this day would have arrived, she still wasn’t prepared to handle the outcome.

“And Dane? Where does he fit in your act of revenge?” Farrokh would let go of the topic.

She shrugged. Thick emotion held her voice still. “I wasn’t expecting to fall for him.”

“You played a dangerous game using your ambition and ego to motivate you.”

“I wasn’t wrong,” she argued.

“You weren’t right. You should have talked to me,” Farrokh said.

“Then it wouldn’t have been a surprise.”

“Because you only saw victory. Always headstrong. Omar is the cautious one and you are the one ready to run with the bulls.” He shook his head. “There is so much you don’t know. And so much you have to learn. I am not worthy of your honorable mission.”

Yasmin waited for him to continue, but he clasped his hands and closed his eyes.

“I’ll go freshen up.” She kissed her father’s cheek and went to her room to get ready. What did one wear to symbolize the shattering of her heart.

 

__________

 

Dane would rather not lead the way to Yasmin’s condo. However, his father and brothers were too literal with giving him the point position for entry into the enemy field. He turned to scold their exaggerated slow pace when the door opened.

“Mr. Laurent, please come in.”

Dane recognized Sheera. Not that they were buds or anything, but there wasn’t this formal politeness between them. But since she was setting the tone, he accepted the prompt and provided himself with a pep talk that this wasn’t a friendly get together.

He entered the home and fought back the memory of his last visit. This wasn’t the time to reminisce about her naked body, their lusty cries in each other arms, and the fulfillment of another round of lovemaking. To keep his feelings in check, he had to think of his current surroundings as hostile territory.

By the time he left here, all ties to Yasmin would be severed and buried into the deep recesses of his soul. Archived with no intention of ever revisiting.

“Dane, so good to see you. Philippe and Dallon, you, too,” Yasmin greeted them like the perfect hostess like nothing dark and vile stood between them.

Damien actually hugged her. Dallon offered a sheepish half hug. At least his father joined him with the frosty greeting.

“Please come in, my father is in the living room.” She motioned toward the large living space.

All Dane could think was that she didn’t have to look so damn good. The black pantsuit didn’t accentuate curves but elevated her into female CEO with impressive credentials. She’d morphed into a businesswoman and abandoned the sexy, brash lover who owned him in the bedroom.

“Philippe, it’s been too long.” Farrokh extended open arms.

Dane’s father didn’t say anything, nor did he approach Yasmin’s father. His expression remained uneasy and noncommittal.

“Please let’s sit. Hors d’oeuvres will be served shortly.” Yasmin stepped in.

“We will have dinner, too,” Farrokh added. His friendly smile never wavered under Philippe’s rudeness.

Dane’s father finally spoke, “We’re only here to discuss certain matters.”

“I insist that the meeting will be conducted over dinner. Consider this a part of the family’s hospitality.” Farrokh spoke with such gentleness that it was easy to think that he could be manipulated. But in his simple invitation, there was a steeliness in his eyes when he addressed Philippe

The waiter appeared with the tray of wrapped hot treats that all smelled delicious. Servers joined in to load plates for each guest. Dane, however, had no appetite and abstained. He noticed that Yasmin didn’t partake of the food, either.

Dane refused to wait any longer for the set time for discussion to begin. “Just so we start on the same page, could you tell me, with witnesses, why you came to Monaco.

“To visit,” Yasmin replied her eyebrow raised with its defiance for whatever Dane thought.

“And…?” Dane prompted.

“And determine how to break into the luxury property market.”

“And…”

“I don’t know— What do you want to know?” She looked at him with defiance. There was no regret in her glare.

“You courted Jean Bellaire for a possible buyout. And then you were planning to come after the Laurents. Handing the gift-wrapped package to your father not out of your need for his approval as you’ve told me but as retribution for what you think we owe you.”

“Owe me? No, not me. My father put in the work here. Your father reaped the reward and shoved him through the doors. Is that how you treat friends, partners, a man who shared in your dream of success?” Her voice shook, but her stance was strong and her eyes blazed with anger.

“Yasmin, my child,” her father interrupted. “I’m proud of a daughter who is so fiercely loyal and headstrong. But—”

Philippe cleared his throat. “No need to bring up the past, my friend. Your daughter is right. I am in your debt. If you’d allow me, I would love a future that involves Marimans alongside the Laurents.”

Dane looked over at Yasmin glad to see that he wasn’t the only one in shock. But while their father attempted to pick up the pieces, he wasn’t ready to pretend that he wasn’t shredded over her no holds barred mentality to get what she wanted.

He scooted back his chair. “On this unexpected note, I’m going to leave now. Seems like not only your daughter has the ability to blindside.”

The room got quiet.

He turned his back on all of it.

“Dane, don’t do it. Don’t throw it away.” Damien grabbed his forearm restraining him.

The attempt failed as Dane pulled away from Damien’s grasp.

Dane reached the door and yanked it open.

“You can be so stubborn,” Dallon said right before Dane closed the door.

They acted as if an apology could solve the betrayal. He had fired the first shot. But he damn well wasn’t sitting around to be the fool pining for his love. And he loved her.

Damn everything to hell, he loved her.

And all he was to her was a business transaction. A means to a vendetta.

He ignored the waiting limo outside the building and continued walking into the night. Without a destination in mind, he stayed on the left side of the road and followed the sidewalk.

A car horn interrupted his thoughts as he crossed the street and resumed walking to nowhere. Dane looked up wondering what was the driver’s problem since he was on the sidewalk and out of traffic’s way.”

“Hey, pigheaded fool.”

And that would be Damien. He ignored his brother.

“Get in the car.”

And that would be Dallon.

He didn’t stop but did slow down with the hope they would leave him alone. “Not getting in the car.”

“You’re about to make the biggest mistake because you’re so damned afraid of being human,” Dallon steered and shouted at him.

“You’re an annoying overachiever but not when it comes to your heart,” Damien accused.

Dane stopped and glared at his brothers who seemed hell bent on intervening in his private life. But they were wasting their time. He refused to let their condemnation weaken his resolve to evict Yasmin out of his life.

“She’s left. Flying out now,” Damien tossed his well-aimed info at him.

Dane swallowed his response. He refused to acknowledge the panic that flared. He refused to acknowledge that the news of her departure didn’t lighten any burdens.

“Good God, man, stop being a brat and act like a man. Your woman is leaving now.” Damien hit him in the head with a coin from his pocket.

The urgency finally hit home. He came to life and jumped into the back seat. He’d barely settled in before his brother whiplashed him into a speedy drive toward the highway. Their plan was to head straight for the airport in Nice.

Maybe he could call and stop or delay her despite his latest action. He breathed a sigh of relief when she answered.

“We need to talk. Please,” he begged.

“Go ahead.”

“Can we meet somewhere? I know you’re on your way to the airport.”

“Why? I can’t take back what I did. Or how I did it.” Yasmin’s voice sucked him in. He heard the hurt and it nestled in him looking for comfort.

“Yeah, but it brought our fathers together. They’re no longer enemies, not that I think they ever were.” He wouldn’t divulge his father’s story. Farrokh would have to share it with his daughter.  “So can we meet and talk?”

“Your brothers know where I am.” She hung up.

Dane stared at the phone and then at his brothers. Damien chuckled and Dallon whistled. “Where are we going?”

“Home,” Dallon remarked.

Sure enough, they were pulling onto his property and to the front door.

There Yasmin stood in her black suit waiting for him. The severe bun holding her hair was gone. Her hair hung in relaxed waves past her shoulders. And she had the widest smile for him.

“Told you we knew how to handle him,” Dallon said to her.

Dane got out the car and hugged Yasmin. “I thought I’d lost you.”

“I did, but thankfully Damien and Dallon saved the day.”

They waved at his brothers’ timely departure.

“I wasn’t going to invade your company,” Yasmin said.

“Yeah, you were.” Dane laughed. “You’re a fighter and you believed in fighting for the underdog.” He kissed the top of her head. “I imagine I would have done the same.”

“I don’t want to go back to Dubai,” she complained. “At least not yet.”

“Monaco is my home. My home is your home.”

She kissed him with such tenderness that he almost lost his mind.

I want you all to myself,” she moaned against his mouth.

Dane scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder. “Let’s go get you naked. Cause I’m all yours.”

Within minutes they were in bed, naked and intertwined with each other.

“You are in there, my love.” She took his hand and placed over her breast.

“And you are in here.” He pointed to his chest.

She grinned. “Now, let’s get you in here.” She pointed down between her thighs.

“We’ll catch up with the world after the next few days.

‘That had better be more than a promise.” Dane whispered before sliding into Yasmin.

Her moan was all the answer he needed.

“Dooset daram, Dane.”

“Je t'aime, Yasmin.”

 

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