he asked me about you.” Dominic did not like where this conservation was going, but he knew his only child had a head on her shoulders. But she got out of a meaningless marriage. And he added, “Simon told me he was going to date you. He better not hurt you, or he has me to deal with.”
Elizabeth looked at her father; he looked like he was ready to fight. He looked furious. She had seen him give Richard a piece of his mind, and it was not a pretty sight. When he grew angry, there was hell to pay. He was very protective of her, and she loved her father for that.
“Oh, Dad.” She sighed loudly, rolling her eyes. “The world’s craziest dad, and I don’t think you have to worry about Simon. He doesn’t want to deal with you.”
“He better not,” he said loudly and changed the subject. “I’d like to retire next year and travel the world. But I want to design a dress for you.”
“That’s great.” She was surprised but thrilled at the same time. He was always working in his studio. “A dress would be nice.”
“Good, come to the studio. George will measure you.” He was sipping his coffee.
George was her dad’s longtime couturier. Their designs were elegant and very expensive. Elizabeth could never afford the dresses her father designed.
“Nichole’s fashion is ranked pretty high. She is catching up to us, and it is our time to step down,” he stated, and she did not know how popular Nichole’s fashion was. She was out of the loop.
“You know that Nikki is no good. She is involved with too crazy people—people who like to party and do drugs. You stay here from now on,” he informed her as he looked at her seriously.
Her father never warned her about Nikki before. He never told her to stay away from Nikki. But if Nikki was on drugs, what kind of drugs? And what kind of people? Elizabeth was too busy to pay attention to Nikki’s life.
“What’s going on with Nikki, Dad?” She wanted to know. Was Nikki in trouble? Or was Nikki causing waves?
“I don’t like her lifestyle,” he informed her. “You on the other hand live a clean lifestyle.”
“Maybe Gabriel will change her lifestyle,” she said honestly. “Or Simon will not stand for it. He has a reputation to uphold.”
“He doesn’t want a reputation with me.” He pointed to himself. “I will tell him when I see him.”
“Okay, Dad, settle down.” She rolled her eyes. She was thirty-five; she could handle herself, or could she?
“Just don’t beat him up.” She had to laugh at him. He was all worked up over Simon.
“Hum.” He flipped his head and walked to her and kissed her on the forehead. “You are my only child. I love you.”
“I know.” She stood up, hugging him. “And I love you, Dad.”
“I need to run some errands. So make yourself at home.” He hugged her back and released her.
He dressed and left to do his errands. He walked into the elevator and saw Simon Lafayette in the car.
“Just the man I want to see,” Dominic said as he entered the elevator. He was frowning.
“Good morning, Mr. Ricc.” Simon looked at the large man. Elizabeth’s father towered over him, and the man was built like an oak tree.
“My daughter told me you kissed her. You hurt my daughter, you will have me to deal with,” Dominic stated loudly, staring Simon down. “You can date her, but if you want more, you give her a ring. I like you, Simon, so do not make me hate you. Like my Italian father would say, ‘Capeesh.’”
This man was angry at Simon. He did not want this rather large man to be angry at him.
“I understand, sir,” Simon said, holding his breath. If Elizabeth were to talk to her father, father and daughter were close. “I will send her flowers, sir.”
“Like I said, work on that ring, Simon. Because I like you,” Dominic said, smiling as the elevator stopped, and he stepped out.
“Yes, sir.” Simon smiled at the idea, and he was planning to do that, but what about Elizabeth? He had to win her over first, and he was going to charm the pants off her. All he had to do was kiss her, and she was butter in his hands. Yes, she had feelings for him like he had for her. He just had to show her, and he was planning to do just that.
“Good. That is settled. Have a nice day, Mr. Lafayette.” Dominic walked out when the elevator door opened; the large man poised himself. He had a reputation to uphold like Simon.
Simon walked out of the elevator knowing what he had to do to win Elizabeth over—give her lots of flowers, and in all colors. He called his secretary, knowing it was Saturday. He would pay her extra for this. She answered, “Yes, Mr. Lafayette.”
“Order four dozens of roses, different colors,” Simon told her as he walked outside. “Black, red, white, yellow. Send them to Mrs. Summerton’s office on Monday with a note that I enjoyed her company, and I will call her. Write my cell phone number on the card.”
“The flower shop is going to love you.” His secretary laughed, and added seriously, “I will call after you hang up. And charge to your personal account.”
“Yes, thank you,” Simon said as he hailed a taxi. He had a car but hated driving in New York. “Have a nice weekend.”
“You do the same, sir.” She hung up.
Simon planned to see Gabriel and talk about this someone else.
*****
The phone ringing woke Nichole up, and she looked at her clock to see it was eleven. Where did the time go? She felt half-stoned when she answered the phone. She heard Gabriel’s voice, and she sat up in a hurry. Oh my god, he was calling her back?
“Hello.” She wished she could get the fog out of her brain so she could talk to him.
“I’d like to go out with you again,” he said loudly. She could hear the street traffic.
If he only knew, but she was not going to tell him what she did last night.
“Oh, yes.” Nichole smiled, making her feel better.
“Good, I will call you,” he said, laughing. “I will see you later.”
“Yes,” Nichole stated happily. Yes! She just landed herself a real man!
*****
Elizabeth was about to leave when Nikki called her.
“Yes, Nikki.” She was wondering what her half sister wanted.
“Gabriel wants to date me!” Nikki sounded happy and excited.
“That’s great news, Nikki,” Elizabeth said with relief, and she was hoping for that. If what her father told her was the truth, Nichole was going to need a strong man in her life.
“What
