Despite being displeased, the man couldn't speak up, else, he wanted to go bankrupt at that moment.
Rico smiled at him, and the man forced a smile through gritted teeth along with him, trying to stay as calm as possible.
"Dante, I want to have a word with you," said Mr. De Rossi.
Dante nodded at the two men before he departed from the group of wealthy businessmen to have their talk.
"When are you going to get a wife?" His father questioned. That smile, that pretense of being a good father, thrown out the window as soon as his mouth opened. This has always been the way their conversation started for the past three years. "The rumor is getting bigger and bigger every day. Do something about it!"
It happened three years ago. Dante was at another party, having toasts with influential men when the paparazzi suddenly caught an odd angle of him with a man. Everyone began with the illusion that he was gay.
It was the weirdest scandal Dante had ever had about him. However, he didn't put too much thought into it and continued with his life only for pictures of him to be uploaded whenever he went out. It was reported that he was going to meet his boyfriend. It had been the most sickening moment of his life.
Then Rico came out to be gay online which shocked the public, however, it didn't shock him since Rico had always acted feminine in some ways.
Dante sighed. He'd been controlling the internet since then, making sure his team deleted every picture of him that managed to get leaked. The reporters even went as far as to capture his butt and post it for sale.
Remembering that moment caused his mood to sour.
"Well, aren't you going to say anything?" Mr. De Rossi questioned, his white beard trembling.
"I'm trying hard to control it. So far, there's nothing you need to worry about. I've left a warning to the agency," Dante responded.
"Then what about other agencies? Are you also going to warn them? And then what? There will be another scandal about you?"
"I'll deal with it—"
"No you're not," his father snapped. "I've given you enough time to deal with it, and now I'm going to take charge."
He frowned at his father's words.
"You see those men there? They've offered their daughter's hand in marriage. You're pushing thirty-three, Dante. You have to get married and give me an heir. Getting a wife is also the only way you can stop those rumors about you."
Dante was now getting a headache over the conversation.
He'd just arrived, hadn't even taken a seat or grabbed a drink for himself and the old man before him was already talking about marriage.
"I'll be the one to choose the woman I'll marry," he said. Mr. De Rossi was about to retort, but paused his lips. At least Dante wasn't fighting over getting married.
"Do so quickly," he said, and then left.
Dante rubbed his temples in frustration. Now he regretted coming to the party. Other than posing to be a good son to the public, he had no other reason.
"So you're going to get married? That's shocking." He heard a voice from behind him.
"Don't you have someone better to eavesdrop on than me, Milo?" Dante questioned.
Milo came to stand in front of him, raising his head to look at him since he was 6 '2 inches tall and Dante was much taller.
"What can I say? Your conversation with your father always ends up heated. I was waiting for drama but sadly, it didn't come."
Milo was Dante's younger brother. If there was someone Dante needed to be careful about other than his father, then it was Milo. He was like a snake, always waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Their father was the governor of Lexora. He had power, properties, and companies all over the city. If he died one day, then most of all he had would go to Dante as he's the first son.
However, Milo had made it clear from the beginning he wasn't pleased with that kind of arrangement.
"So, you're choosing to get married, I heard. Who's the lucky woman?" He asked.
"None of your business," Dante replied, excusing himself.
Walking past the crowd with men trying to stop him for some conversation, while the women whistled to him, with a wink.
He suddenly remembered Eva trying to pay him off with money.
His jaws clenched.
He took a seat near Rico who was entertaining a man but his face didn't seem impressed with what flew out of the other man's lips.
"Leave," Rico said to the man once he saw Dante.
"You look on edge. Have you had anything to drink?" Rico asked, calling the waiter over to their seats.
"I need to get a wife soon," Dante suddenly said.
Rico, who dropped a drink in front of Dante, already sipping immediately choked on it.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"The gay rumors are getting too much. I need to clear them, getting a wife is the only way. My father wants me to marry one of his businesswoman daughters, but they are just nothing but animals controlled by greed."
"In that case, the only person you can ask for a hand in marriage is Evangeline Montclair," he said.
Dante glared at him. "You've gone mad."
"Hear me out first. You have to marry her, just ask her to be your pretend wife for a while. Then offer something in return." Then Rico suddenly started to giggle. "It's like in those romance novels I've read. What's it called again? Marriage contract? I think so. You should try it. It might work."
Dante's lips thinned. He wasn't going to ask some woman who wanted to pay him off like he was a hooker to be his pretend wife.
His gaze strained behind Rico, landing on the man who'd commented about his sexuality earlier when he arrived. He hadn't responded to his comment yet.
"I'll be right back," Dante suddenly said, leaving his seat before Rico could say anything.