He Canceled Our Wedding Ninety-Nine Times, So I Joined His Enemy novel · Chapter 9 of 24

Chapter 9: The Sit-Down

Renata's POV

The Hotel Meridian had a private dining room on its top floor, with a round table big enough for four families and windows that looked out over the water.

I walked in at noon with Gabriele a half step behind my shoulder.

Every head turned.

The oldest Don, the one who had not clapped, nodded to me before he nodded to anyone else.

Massimo sat across the table with his back to the windows.

Paola sat at his left in a cream dress, her pearls at her throat.

He stood when he saw me.

I think he had meant to stay seated.

"Renata," he said. "You came."

"You said you'd come to me if I didn't."

His eyes went to Gabriele and tightened.

"Gentlemen," Massimo said, turning to the table, "this is a family matter, and I'll keep it short. My former secretary has taken a seat with the Lombardi family while she was under my protection. She holds five years of my records. I ask the table to order her to return to my house."

A murmur ran around the room.

"I wasn't under your protection," I said. "I was under your whip."

The murmur stopped.

"A family dispute, over a mistake," Massimo said smoothly. "She was punished according to our rules."

"Which rule says punish first, prove it afterward?"

"Renata."

"The rule you wrote says guilt is confirmed before a single lash. Nobody confirmed anything."

I looked at the old Don, and he gave a very small nod.

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