Dante’S POV

I never walked into a room without knowing exactly how I wanted to leave it. Today was no different.

“Mr. Dante, I’m sure we can put this behind us. She is—”

“The wrong wife you never wanted?” I cut him off, my voice sharp as a blade. I took a deliberate step toward him, holding his gaze.

“And does she even know? That the child she’s raising isn’t hers?”

For a split second, I caught the bewilderment in her eyes, pure, raw confusion. Interesting. Maybe she truly had no idea. And it was more fun that I had to break it to her.

Matteo really thought I had visited him few days ago at the dead of the night simply because that was when I got the chance, but he's a stupid business man.

A shitty one.

“Does she know,” I continued, my tone ice- cold as I could see Tera trembling from the corner of my eyes, “her own baby died and you replaced it with the one her sister gave birth to for you?”

That was the final blow. The color drained from Matteo’s face, his hands tightening into trembling fists. I could practically feel the panic radiating off him.

“I’m unsure if I can do business with a man who hides secrets like these,” I drawled, lips curling into a humorless smile. “Especially when they’re as big as this one. It just puts me off.”

“Mr. Dante,” Matteo finally stammered, sounding like a trapped rat. “Let’s talk this through—”

I cut him off with a dark chuckle as I slid my sunglasses back on, feeling nothing but contempt. “There’s nothing left to say.” My voice was like steel. “Your already crumbling company? Consider my investment gone. I’ll be watching it burn.”

“No, Sir. You can't do that. My relationship with My wife is personal and you can't use it to determine our contracts. That would be —” Matteo was rambling and I shut my eyes briefly.

He just doesn't know when to shut up, does he?

“Oh my bad. You're absolutely right. Says the man who wants me to invest in his company when he's selling the same Web design to both I and a competitor. You really have no shame, Matteo. It's rooted deep into your flesh.” I seethed.

I had gotten info that Matteo was playing reason why I dropped by his house impromptu and with a little snooping, it confirmed what was already known.

He was playing me.

The people I detested the most in business was dupes. I've had enough of them in one life time.

“Let’s go.” I ordered, my tone making it clear there would be no argument.

She still worked for me and she still had a scene to shoot. Her husband might be a dupe and cheat but that doesn't have to affect my business.

Her eyes held a million questions but strangely, she just stood rooted to the spot. Interesting.

Even as her world crumbled around her, I felt her hesitate, as if a part of her actually wanted to disappear..

“Hold on, what? Matteo? Your company is falling?” Someone—Isadora—blurted out in shock.

I hardly acknowledged the noise. My focus was on the trembling woman before me.

Truth had hit her like a freight train.

“What do you mean by I'm raising a child that isn't mine? And how the hell do you know I'm pregnant?” She choked, eyes glistening, remaining locked onto me for longer than she should but I get it. Actually I don't.

I could see she was reeling, so dizzy with the weight of it all that she could hardly stand.

“I should know everything concerning my employees, plus I heard you requesting supplements and a pain killer back at your home yesterday.” I stated and she staggered, almost like she would hit the ground.

“Employer? Who the hell are you? What is going on? Matteo? Aren't you going to say he's lying? Did that really happen?” She yelled. Tears were gushing out of her eyes.

“I’m Dante Baloney. Your boss.”

She suddenly gave a sharp cry, hands flying to her stomach. Her knees buckled, and just as her eyes rolled back, I was already moving.

I caught her before she hit the ground, cradling her in my arms as her body went limp when I saw blood running down her legs.

She's having a miscarriage. Shit!

“Aren't you going to get your wife?” I barked at Matteo who just stood there, perplexed, looking as stupid as ever.

“I'm fine.” She pushed, wiggling out of my hands as she squatted, holding her hands over her stomach as more tears gushed out of her voice.

She reached for her phone as it suddenly buzzed and tapped a few screen before she began laughing hysterically.

It seemed like it was out of pain. Or shock. Or both.

But she looks too emotional and much of an actress now.

“Oh sweet stupid Matteo. Your mum is dead.” She stated, clutching her heart like she was having a heart attack and I ran my hand through my hair.

I hate complicated things.

“What are you aiming at now? Can you stop that? Why are you lying about his mother's health? She's fine! If his mum is dead, why would they contact you first instead of Matteo?” Isadora yelled.

“Tera, you better—”

“Maybe they have, but he could be too easy cheating not to check his phone. And oh, look at that? I don't know if I should derive satisfaction from this or feel way worse but your son is dead too, Isadora. He was involved in the accident.” She snapped with a broken voice as she tossed the phone over to them while I took a quick peek.

It was a photo of Matteo's mum and Isadora's child, in a ghastly car accident.

“And you, Matteo. You killed them! You could have picked them but you chose Isadora. A drunk driver had to take them, you murderer.” She screamed and yelled again, hitting the floor, blood was over her legs and I took a deep breath in.

“Filming is ended for the day. Take her to the car, I'll take her to a hospital.” I offered, signalling one of the guards to pick her up.

Matteo was about taking a step looking like a dejected rabbit but one glare and he was off.

I can't loose her too, not when she hadn't recognized me yet.

I had kept my distance for far too long because she belonged to another but this just gets shittier.

Tera Moretti.

My fucking Firefly.