Amara – Reunion

Author's note: this is from Jonathan's point of view

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I thought that things with Seraphina were going well, but then she went dancing with the Hoffman brat.

I got her back for the next dance.

She moved gracefully like a vision of a perfect woman, and she is all that and so much more.

I must admit I was turned on by her defiance.

Most of the women can't wait to warm my bed, yet there she was, challenging me and I never thought that a woman can be so sexy.

She stirred the hunter inside me. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I was overwhelmed by a desire to catch and tame Seraphina, to make her mine. 

My instinct was telling me to stir away from the woman in front of me because she is the bringer of calamity, but I couldn't. She is impossible to resist.

Seraphina said she is heading to the ladies' room, and I moved into a position so that I can see the entrance to the hallway she took.

When I saw my father going that way, I had a bad feeling. His shoulders were stiff, and he looked angry. Did something happen between him and Aldus Mezzanotte?

I hoped he didn't ruin my chances to get close to Seraphina.

I didn't have a desire to collaborate with Notte Pharmaceuticals. Just two months ago we concluded our discussions about the future of Giantshade Industries and decided to focus on construction and real estate.

I would not be in this situation if Magda didn't try to swindle our father, but now I see this as a good chance to get close to Seraphina. Something good came out of Magda's unreasonable behavior.

Seeing that neither Seraphina nor my father were coming back, I grew restless and went to check it out.

I thought I saw my father moving to attack Seraphina, so I rushed to stop him, but by the time I reached there, I realized that he is staring at her like a love-stricken fool.

No. I must be seeing wrongly.

He even kissed her hand! What the hell? Since when is my father a gentleman?

"I heard Aldus addressing you as Serina. Can I call you by that name?", my father asked Seraphina.

"No.", she rejected him flatly. "That is how closest friends and family call me. You can address me as Miss Mezzanotte."

I smirked. She told me that I can call her Seraphina.

Wait! This is not the time to space out on little things.

Seraphina was curt toward my father, and for someone who looks down on women, he will definitely blow a fuse.

To my surprise, my father chuckled, "Well then… I will do my best to become your close friend. And who knows, maybe even family."

My insides churned. I would imagine that he was implying how I will marry Seraphina but the creepy look he was giving her made me think how he wants Seraphina to be my stepmother.

That's not happening.

"Father! Mind your manners.", I hissed.

"What's wrong with my manners?", he asked innocently and turned to Seraphina. "How are you finding the party so far, Miss Mezzanotte? Are you enjoying it? Would you like something to eat or drink? You look a bit pale."

I looked at Seraphina and noticed that she didn't look good. Did the wine finally catch up to her? 

Even with her pale complexion, she was the most beautiful woman I ever saw.

How is it possible that the more I look at Seraphina, the more I am attracted to her?

I wanted to suggest going to the sofa or to a private room so that she can rest, and I can take care of her, but I guessed that my father will not give us privacy. Considering my father's creepy behavior, I needed to get Seraphina to safety and figure out what got into my father this time. The older he gets, the more difficult he is.

"Do you want me to escort you to your father?", I offered to Seraphina.

"Yes, please."

I was glad that she accepted and irked that my father followed two steps behind us.

I offered her my hand, but Seraphina said that she can handle herself. I was ready to catch her if she stumbles, but she walked steadily which gave me a chance to see my father staring at her back like hypnotized.

Everyone knows that my father is womanizing, but it was always with women who would be at least a decade older than Seraphina. Did he change his preferences?

How can I warn Seraphina about my father's intentions without sounding like a complete jerk?

What if she likes older men?

Ah, what a headache! Out of all possible love rivals, my father had to enter the mix.

No. I still refuse to believe it. He probably just had a few too many to drink, and he will be back to normal after he sleeps it off.

"What did you do to her?", Aldus snapped as soon as we approached him.

I wanted to say that it wasn't me and that she drank too much on her own, but I saw Aldus glaring at my father, so I kept quiet.

Before I could react, Aldus was next to Seraphina and giving her his arm to take for support.

Actually, other than being pale, Seraphina looked normal, so I didn't see why Aldus reacted like that. But then… Aldus and my father were at the same poker table, and who knows what happened there.

"Do you think that I would ever harm such a precious flower?", my father asked Aldus in a creepily submissive voice.

For some unknown reason, I took a step away from Aldus who was glaring at my father.

"Father…", Serina called. "Can we leave now?"

Aldus looked at Serina with concern and gave her a small nod.

"I will expect to see the updated proposal, John.", Serina told me and then she and Aldus walked toward the exit.

"Wait!", my father called after them, and I grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back.

"What are you doing?", I glared at my father, hoping to stop him without causing a scene.

"She is leaving.", he stated the obvious.

"And whose fault is that?", I asked. "Maybe Aldus let you off the hook, but I know that something happened in that hallway."

My father looked at me smugly. "Are you worried that she will fall for me? After all, experience is on my side." He chuckled. "I will send her flowers with a note for quick recovery."

"Father!", I snapped, unable to control my irritation. Who cares about flowers and notes? Is he not seeing that we offended both Aldus and Seraphina Mezzanotte?

"You were with Aldus Mezzanotte at the poker table. Did you say something to upset him?"

My father shrugged. "I only pointed out that men are better in business compared to women and that Seraphina's husband will take over Notte Pharmaceuticals. Of course, he didn't want to accept you as Seraphina's partner, but maybe he will accept me. I should send him a present also…"

I couldn't believe this.

No wonder Aldus was furious. My father was trying to matchmake Aldus's precious daughter and knowing my father, he was not subtle about it. They just met today! How can he mention marriage in the same breath as taking his company away? Did he really think that Aldus will respond with, "Great! Take my daughter AND my company!"?

My father is looking down on women and he shared that openly with a man who dotes on his daughter, like it's a badge of honor. 

And another thing... Did my father admit his intention to pursue Seraphina romantically? What is wrong with him?

Other than working at the company and watching over my unpredictable sister, I've got another problem. My father seems to be losing his mind!

He was always a bit eccentric, but this is too much.

I will need to speed up my plans for taking over the company or my father will run it to the ground either because Magda coerced him to do her bidding, or because he turned senile.

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