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“Now, come Let’s eat I had Antonio make your favorite”

“Mama’s stuffed meatballs?” I asked like a little kid

His smile was the only confir roolass of wine before looking to him for approval to fill mine

So around , I’d grown used to it

“I raduation,” I said after he’d taken his first sip

He winced, focusing his attention on the food being brought out rather than me “I explained that Work has been hectic, and I had an opportunity for aI couldn’t pass up”

Not having him there had been hard but expected

He allowed e as a way to check a box—to keep hter Not because he ever intended on hter, urehead—a socialite who sat on charity boards and planned events My role as a woman would be to marry a man ould benefit our company—one chosen by my parents

“Is everything okay?” I asked

I loved our co industry Add in that it was one of my last ties to my mother, and it was no wonder I went to school for business

“Nothing you need to worry about, Verana” The response never changed, and I never pushed the boundaries—until now

With a deep breath, I opened the black file, extracting a thick, cream paper “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that”

I slid the paper across the slick wood and held his questioning stare, h He looked down, and his curiosity shifted to a scowl

“What is this?”

“My resuh I submitted one to HR also”

“You turned in a resume to Dane?” he asked

“Yes” His scoeighed down my confidence, but I pulled raduated with Magna Cum Laude I partook ina new one that has been very succ—”

“Verana,” he interrupted, waving his hand like he would shoo a fly “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I want to work at our company I’m smart—an asset”

“You’re an asset because you will marry a man ill carry this company into the future”

“Someday, you will have a husband to woo—someone to take care of It’s important to have proper table manners to impress your husband”