Bound by the Italian's Contract(73)
Caprice had done everything they’d agreed to. She’d established her premier program at his lodge, and she’d thankfully incited his brother’s interest in life again.
The renovation he’d begun at her lodge in Colorado paled in comparison. She deserved much more.
He would see she received a hefty settlement so she would never want for money. So she could move forward with her life without financial worry. So he couldn’t hurt her more. Then he would never trouble her again.
His driver was waiting below and made a quick twenty-minute drive to Mario’s firm across the city. With instructions to his driver to wait, Luc exited his luxury Mercedes and marched into the Godolphin building Mario had designed and built from the ground up.
The express elevator sped him to the thirty-fifth floor and a modicum of steps took him to Mario’s outer office. “Signor Duchelini!” Mario’s PA said, shooting to her feet. “Is Mario expecting you?”
“No,” he said, storming past her. “It is a surprise visit.”
He twisted the knob and entered his old friend’s lair, slamming the door in the PA’s face and twisting the lock, ensuring privacy. “Cancel your press conference.”
Mario lounged in his chair and laced his fingers over his flat stomach, a sly grin touching his hard mouth. “A man must defend his honor.”
“Don’t speak to me about honor. You have none.”
Mario sat up, sobering. “So you take the word of a woman and take legal measures to nullify Godolphin contracts with all la Duchi holdings.”
“She told me what happened. Why did you do it?” Luc asked, desperate to know what had corrupted Mario’s mind.
Mario leaped to his feet, dark eyes slitted and sweat dotting his upper lip. “You’ve got this all wrong. Caprice came to me. She asked for it.”
He barely restrained himself from driving his fist into his old friend’s face. “Enough lies! I’ll never forgive myself for tossing her out of my life, leaving her vulnerable for a shark like you. I won’t make that mistake again.”
Mario had the gall to laugh. “Don’t play martyr or gallant over a woman you hold no affection toward.”
That remark was sharper than a knife that sank deep, drawing emotional blood. “I’m not leaving myself blameless, but I was your friend. You used an innocent girl!”
“How interesting that young girl is now your mistress. I’ve never known you to defend one before. Hell, you wouldn’t do that for your wife.”
“Don’t ever speak ill of either woman again,” he said, jabbing a finger at the man he now considered his enemy. “I know you raped Caprice. Why, Mario? Why did you do it?”
Mario sneered and his eyes went jet black. “You’re a rich boy with a family legacy on the slopes and everything you wanted at your fingertips. Not once did you or your family hide the fact I was the charity cause you took on. The ‘friend’ most saw as a hanger-on. No matter how I tried, you always won the top medals, secured the richest business deals and toyed with the most beautiful women. But I finally bested you. I had your sweet little American first.”
Luc lunged across the desk, grabbed him by the collar and jerked him back across the desk, holding him so close that the red streaks in Mario’s eyes stood out in bold relief. “If I ever catch you on any Duchelini holding or if you dare make any of our conversation public, I will come after you with enough legal guns to destroy you.”