Chapter 90 Any Questions
Ari's P.O.V.
"They're slimy, and they're most likely using Aubrey as their attorney to get to you. I don't like their attitude regarding their dad, either. It only makes me think they had something to do with it." She narrows her eyes and watches them as they talk to others across the room.
"I agree with you. I don't like any of it, and I know they knew exactly what they were doing by having Aubrey here. I saw how they watched you last night when we were dancing." Dakota nods and continues looking around the room. Almost everyone here is looking at her.
"Is everyone staring at us because of what families we're from? It felt like this last night when I walked around with your dad." I chuckle, and she turns to look at me.
"No, sweetheart, it's because of you. Have you looked at yourself? You're beautiful, with veins of steel. You don't take crap from anyone, and you're the head of the Kondrati family. They're looking at you because you're more powerful than all of them." I kiss her forehead, and she smiles.
"Well, in that case, let's mingle, shall we? Let's see if anyone has loose lips." I can't stop smiling as I walk with Dakota around the room. She smiles at each person we talk to, but even I can feel the underlying warning in her pleasant demeanor. She has ‘Don't fuck with me’ written all over her. Some people can't even look her in the eye, and it's not because she's the shortest person here. It's because she's that intense.
When we go into the dining room to eat, there are two long tables that seat about fifty people each. Place cards are sitting at each spot. The brothers are sitting together at the head of one table, and they have Dakota and me sitting near them. I look at the place card on my other side and see Aubrey's name. Dakota was right. These assholes knew precisely what they were doing.
"So, Miss Kondrati, I can't imagine your family is too happy that you're mixed up with Mr. Buccheri, not with the history between your two families." Dakota smiles at the man across from us. I don't know his name, but I believe he's part of the twins' family. Dakota smiles sweetly.
"You'd be surprised. My family and Ari's family have been cordial to each other for as long as I can remember. Why shouldn't two of the most powerful families be able to get along? Besides, you can't help who you fall in love with." She has ice in her voice until she says the last sentence. I look around the table and dare anyone to say anything. People from the other table are all quietly eating. I'm sure they're eavesdropping.
"Interesting. From what I heard, some members of your family may not appreciate you taking over as the boss. Women shouldn't be the boss of a family." We both look at the man at the other end of the table. Dakota wipes her mouth with her napkin and takes a sip of her wine.
"What exactly are the qualifications to be the boss?" she asks him. Everyone's heads look like they're on swivels as they look from Dakota to the man. He apparently didn't expect her to answer so calmly, because he’s fumbling his words as he tries to answer her.
"Uh, well, the boss should at least be a man,” he finally says. Dakota laughs lightly.
"That's a pretty weak requirement. I think I'm doing just fine without a penis swinging between my legs. From what I’ve heard, those things can be distracting, anyway." She casually takes a bite of her food while many people try to hide their laughter. The man stands up angrily.
"I will not tolerate being spoken to like that by a little girl like you. Do you have any idea who I am?" he yells. Dakota looks him up and down, unfazed by his attitude.
"Let's see. Short and round with a big mouth, you must be Jacoby Ledford. You come from a small family, and you've almost single-handedly run your family's business into the ground," she answers calmly. I didn't even recognize him, but she's right. How did she know? Everyone goes completely silent.
"I'm leaving. Come on, Penny. You'd better watch your back, little girl, because one day, that mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble." A twenty-something blonde stands up and follows him out.
"Does anyone else have anything to say to me, or can we eat?" Dakota looks around the room, and everyone looks away except the twins. I don't like the look in their eyes. I want to get Dakota out of here as soon as possible.