Sleeping With My Father's Enemy

Chapter No.3

Elara De Luca:

“Elara, bring the Nexus Dynamic project file to my office right now without wasting a minute!”

Valentino ordered in a grumpy tone, and I sighed. Someone has really pissed him off today at the meeting, and whoever it is, he is going down. That’s for sure because one thing I have learned from Valentino Hawksley in the past six months is that you should never be soft-hearted or kind when it comes to business, but you have to be ruthless and merciless, or the sharks in the seas will eat you alive.

“I will bring them right away, Mr. Hawksley,” I said, standing up from my desk. He was about to enter his office but stopped and looked at me over his shoulder with an arched brow.

“Are you trying to burn me with anger over here, Elara? Because, trust me, if I burn, then I will make sure you burn too, but in a different kind.” His voice was dangerous yet sexy. “Now, say that again.”

“I will bring them right away, Valentino.” I corrected. Since day one, he has forbidden me from addressing him as Mr. Hawksley, but whenever he is with some of his business investors or clients, I make sure to address him professionally, and he never fails to give me that dangerous glare.

“That’s better now; bring the file inside, young lady!”

He smirked and stepped inside while I blushed, remembering the day of my interview when he asked me if I wanted him. He wanted an honest answer, so I gave him one, and that honest answer led us to have mind-blowing s*x on the couch. That happened once in the last six months, and we chose to remain professional. I took a deep breath, grabbed the file, and entered the office.

“Here is the project file you have asked me to bring, Valentino,” I said, placing the file on the desk while he was busy on a call with someone. By the smile on his face, I bet he was talking to his daughter. The man is a beast, a devil, but for his daughter, he is an angel, just like my father is towards me. But he never appreciated my hard work, ever like Valentino appreciated his daughter’s.

“Elara, darling, do you have any plans for tonight?” Valentino asked after ending the call with his daughter. He took a seat in his chair behind the desk and opened the file to review. He attached one more piece of paper that he printed, signed, and placed in the file.

“Ummm, no. Why would you ask that?” I asked carefully as he passed me back the signed file. When I opened the file to look at the newly signed paper, I gasped, looked at Valentino, and asked.

“Why would you cancel this project all of a sudden, Valentino? It was going so well; everything was running smoothly, so why would you do that? We weren’t facing any problems with it.”

“You don’t need to know the details about why I cancelled it. Now do I?” he asked with an attitude. “Since you don’t have any plans for tonight, you are coming with me to my place.”

“Huh? At your place, but why?” I asked, shocked. “I…I can’t be at your place alone.” When I said that, he raised his head and looked at me with that sexy smirk and amusement in his eyes that turned darkened into something else, something like lust, as he gulped and spoke in a husky voice.

“And why can’t you, sweetheart?” he asked, getting up from his chair, taking predatory steps towards me while I took steps back, my gaze fixed on his, breathing heavily. Before I could take a step any further, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to his chest. He then leaned down to whisper in my ear before nibbling on it.

“Answer me, sweetheart. Why can’t you be alone at home with me?” he asked in a raspy tone. He kissed my ear while running his hand up and down on my waist. I was this close to melting into his arms, but I couldn’t lose my control. I was not here for this; I was here to learn and make my father proud.

“Valentino, please step back,” I said in a barely audible voice, as it was really hard for me to speak when he was this close to me. This man makes me weak all the time, and I want to be strong and confident, just like my father raised me to be.

“Why? Are you scared that we will end up doing the forbidden once again, and you will love every second of it as you did for the first time six months ago, on that couch?” He murmured against my neck and began to place kisses all over it. I regained my composure and pushed him back.

“Stop it, Valentino. I don’t want it, okay?” I lied, “That one time was a mistake. It can’t happen again. You are my father’s age.”

“But not your father.” He growled, “Why are you resisting so much? I know you want it too, and we both are adults, so what is stopping you?”

“Valentino, I didn’t come over here to become your w***e. For f**k’s sake, I am your daughter’s age.” I yelled, pushing him away. “Sorry, I can’t be at your place. I am just an employee here, so treat me like other employees. No need to give me extra importance. If there is nothing else, can I go now?”

“We won’t be alone. Valentine will be over there, and she asked me to bring you home because she wants to spend time with you. She likes you so much.” Valentino said, taking a step back. “You are just like your father.” He muttered, “You have got his temper in you, and trust me, this is going to ruin you. You will always be alone like your father.”

“What do you mean by that?” I asked, furiously clenching my fist. How dare he talk to me like that?

“I mean, you are a b***h like your father.” He snapped “You have always this guard up that is stopping you from living your life just the way you want; you are living your life the way your father wants. I can see that you are trying to make him proud when you don’t need to.

A father must be proud of his daughter, with or without her achievements. A father should give his daughter the freedom she wants, like I gave one to my daughter. At least my daughter is not afraid of living her own or hell-bent on making me proud because she already knows that I am proud of her.

I don’t hate to say this at all, but your father is an asshole like he had always been and too dumb to see the difference between right and wrong. His stubbornness and temper are what caused us to…fuck, I won’t say anymore since you are not going to listen. Just like him!”

His words hit me right in my heart, and tears welled up in my eyes because what he said was true, but since Mom died, Dad had been this cold-hearted, and I don’t know the reason why. All he wants is revenge on Valentino Hawking and I don’t know why.

“My father is not an asshole, and he is proud of me.” I yelled, “And he is a good father.”

“Then why are there tears in your eyes, huh? They are there because you know that I am telling the truth and I swear to God I really want to punch Ambrose’s face at the moment. He is too blind to see how bright and intelligent his daughter is. I am proud of you already.

In these last six months, I have seen your dedication and your hard work, you have got brains like your father, and yes, that is a compliment because that asshole surely has got brains when it comes to business; when it comes to personal life, he has got none.”

Valentino complimented me, and I don’t know what happened next, but the very next moment, I hugged him tightly and burst out crying, and he hugged me back to comfort me.

“Yo…You are the first ever person who has told me that you are proud of me, while everyone looked down on me. That is why I am hell-bent on proving myself.” I tell him between sobs, “But, my father is not an asshole or anything, he is a great father but a broken person, and I won’t stop until he is mend.”

“Sshh! It’s all right. I know your father is a good man, I am just saying that he is an asshole when it comes to personal matters. He is good only in business; besides that, he is nothing.”

He said with a chuckle, and I smacked on his chest, making him laugh. I raised my head and smiled to find him laughing because he looked so good, and indeed, he was right about being a good father because he has given freedom to his daughter in every sense.

“Valentine will be there?” I asked again “I swear that I will kill you if you are lying.”

“Yes, since the day she met you, she can’t help but keep talking about you, and besides, you both are almost the same age.” He replied, “Now, go and email that bastard Nicholas, telling him that we are withdrawing from the project.”

“But that will cost you the loss of millions of dollars. Why would you do that?” I asked worried for him.

“Trust me, this loss is worth it.” That was all he said. He went back to his seat and engaged himself in work while I headed back to my desk outside of his office and sent Nicholas the email. As I was getting wrapped up with the work to head to Hawksley mansion with Valentine, I received a call from my father and gulped.

“Ciao, padre (Hello Father)” I greeted him after picking up the call.

“Ciao, Principessa (Hello Princess),” my father greeted back. “Come sta la mia bellissima figlia?” (How is my beautiful daughter doing?)” he asked.

“I am doing good, padre. Just heading home from work.” I answered.

“Great, now give me the good news that the bastard has withdrawn from the Nexus Dynamic Project so I can take over on that project, " Dad asked, and I sighed with my eyes closed. Yes, my dad knows that I work for Valentino because he sent me here to spy and make things difficult for Valentino after gaining his trust.

“Yes, padre.” I answered in a guilty voice, “He has withdrawn it.”

“Great! But why do I hear guilt in your voice?” he asked. “Is there something you need to tell me?”

“No, Padre. I am just doing whatever you are asking me to.” I answered, “Padre, answer me one thing. Are you proud of me?” My dad stayed silent on the other line when I asked him that question.

“I love you, princess. Goodbye, and don’t let Valentino find out that you are working under my instructions. That you are a spy.” With that said, he ended the call.

As soon as I placed the phone in my bag and turned around to leave, I bumped into Valentino, who glared at me with clenched fists.

“Is there something you want to tell me, Elara?”

Valentino asked, the exact words my father asked me, keeping me still in my place. I gulped as I felt my heart hammer in my chest with fear of getting caught, but the more that hurt me was breaking his trust in me. I have never cared about anyone in my life except for my father, but today, I feared losing him.

“Is there something that you are hiding from me? Something you want to share?”

“Val…Valentino….what are you doing over here?” I asked, looking everywhere but at him.

“Last I remembered this is my company, and you work here so you don’t’ get to ask what I am doing over here, but what you can do is answer my f*****g question, Elara.” He snaps with gritted teeth.

“ I am going to ask you for one last time is there something you are hiding from me?”