Hidden Desire, My Mafia Stepdaddy

4

King Salvatore.

I have lost count of how many times Lumen has lied in order to get sympathy, s*x, money and pity from me. Despite being married to her, I’m not attracted to her in any way. I did not get married to her to fulfill any s****l appetite and I have never crossed the conditions of the boundary that I set twelve years ago.

Cancer.

The Oncologist of the hospital that I privately own in Lead City called himself to relay the news to me. Twelve years ago, I did a little digging on Lumen and I found out that she divorced her husband and left her little daughter. Her ex-husband, Paul Light, owned a leather shop and her daughter, Lilas is a student in the same college as my own daughter.

I reached out to Lilas because I believed it was the right thing to do. She needed to know that her only remaining parent had received threatening news as such and from the kindness of my heart, I decided to pay the creditors of her father’s debt and sponsor the rest of her schooling.

“Dad!” Ciara, my daughter who is quite the same age as Lilas yells, walking towards me as I head out of my office which I just left Lumen and her daughter.

“Hey, honey!” I say, giving her a hug as I tuck my phone into my pocket.

“You’re leaving the house but I just got back home…you are always busy. Let’s have dinner tonight, together!” Ciara says, whining as usual and I look up to see Lilas, coming toward me.

There is a stern expression on her face that is a bedrock of temptation. After the magnetic-like force that happened between us in my office, I know for a fact that I’m not the only one who felt that s****l force. It is a bewitching thing and I ought to stay far away from her.

It is an abomination that one should not even utter.

“Excuse me, Mr Salvatore?” Lilas says and Ciara turns to look at her.

“Dad? Who is she?” Ciara asks, folding her hands and staring at Lilas who seems to be both confrontational and innocent.

“Ciara, this is my daughter that I have always told you about. Her name is Lilas.” Lumen, who catches up to her daughter, says and Ciara’s eyes brighten.

“Excuse me, Mr Salvatore but I did not ask you to pay my debts or offer me a scholarship.” Lilas says, staring at me with those sets of glacial blue eyes.

“I think you misunderstand me. It’s not a problem and I’m not expecting you to pay any penny of it back. It’s a simple kind gesture from the bottom of my heart.” I say, hoping she would just accept it and stop being stubborn.

How is it that she is a complete opposite of her own mother, Lumen? Is Lilas really rejecting my money? Her mother is still as greedy as she was years ago but Lilas is something different.

“I didn’t ask! It was my responsibility to take care of my father’s debt. You don’t have any right or permission to take care of it.” Lilas replies and there is silence in between due to the tone of her voice.

“Lilas, he is your step father…he just wants to take care of…” Lumen tries to help her understand.

“I’m not related to him in any way and I don’t accept help from strangers. Mr Salvatore, I will pay you every penny back and I will take care of the tuition myself.” She says.

I subtly chuckle. She has a quiet strength that may catch others by surprise, as her innocent face doesn't immediately reveal the unwavering determination that lies within.

“Fine. Do you have a job? How do you intend to pay me back?” I ask, and her lips become firm.

She looks at her mother for a second before replying. If she had a job, she wouldn't have hesitated to tell me.

“I will get a part time job somewhere.” Lilas says and I walk towards her.

“I paid a debt of over $200,000 for your father. Do you think $10 per hour would help you pay it off? I went through your academic records, you are a smart girl…you should know better.” I say and she arches her brow, she is probably wondering what else I know about her.

“Honey, don’t take her seriously. Lilas will not even have the time to squeeze in part time with college. She has always been ambitious since she was just a little girl.” Lumen says, sticking to her daughter like glue and smiling mischievously.

“No, I can handle it.” Lilas says and from what I’ve seen in their interaction, she has not called Lumen ‘mom’ yet.

“Dad, come on now! Don’t act stubborn too. She is my step sister, why don’t you just give her a job at Lead Stones?” Ciara says, and Lumen excitedly smiles.

“Yes, good idea, Ciara! Honey, Lilas has always been a jewelry fanatic since she was young. If you give her a job in Lead Stones designing team, she will earn more and will pay you even faster.” Lumen says and Lilas shakes her head in disapproval.

It looks like she doesn’t want anything from me. Thus, before she can open her mouth and say anything to object…I speak.

“Fine! You will start tomorrow. There are two things that I do not accept. Late coming and tardiness!” I say and she stares at me, my height is elevated above hers.

“Come on, Lilas. I am Ciara, your new step sister! I will take you to your room.” My daughter says to Lilas and I immediately walk away from the scene feeling an ache in my groin region.