I’ve signed contracts daily for months. I’ m now the majority owner of all of his businesses as well as Pierre’s. Their combined criminal empire hinges on their sole male heir- me. I sign the paper Dalton Anthony Fontaine. The last piece my mother holds is my surname. When Anthony wins me fulltime I will add Marconi on my name. “Are you sure his proclivity won’t get in the way?” The gray haired man asks my father. I should be annoyed that they’ re talking of me as if I’ m not in the room. I’ve been an inanimate object for two decades, it’s nothing new. I am but a pawn in their life-sized game. “I assure you it is a nonissue. I have trained him to take to a woman. His extracurricular activities are none of your concern. If he has difficulty I have someone that will guarantee results. I know the first time will be difficult for him. After that he will be fine.” He speaks of me with pride to the other man, but he turns his narrowed eyes in my direction saying ‘ don’t disappoint me! ’ “Bianca, sign the paper.” The man says to the young woman. I follow her with my gaze as she pads to the desk and signs her name with a flourish. She smiles bashfully at me . She’ s a tiny girl, she can’t weigh more than a hundred pounds and she barely reaches five feet. Her chestnut hair and warm brown eyes are soothing. I begin to worry when she continues to look at me expectantly and doesn’t leave my side of the desk. I look a question at my father. Tony sorts through his desk drawer ignoring me. He proudly smiles when he finds the official looking stamp- albeit illegal- and presses it to the paper the girl and I ’d signed. “Bruno,” he says into his Bluetooth. “I need this filed immediately.” I look around in confusion when Bruno hurries into the room and takes the paper. He cracks a rare smile my way. “Less than five minutes and it will be official with the government.” He rushes from the room. “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Fontaine, may your marriage be fruitful.” I stare at my father in betrayal. My eyes prickle with unshed tears. “Oh, don’t look at me that way, Dalton. Blame your bitch of a mother - my wife . It was her idea. I ga ve her an ultimatum. Instead of giving me another child she said you would give me a grandchild. Personally I would rather have fucked your mom, but I needed grandkids anyway. It’ s good for business as well. This is Stanton Green of New York. I’m su re you recognize the name. We’ ve been trying to secure his section of the country for a while. Pierre and I thank you, Dalton.” I stare at my lap and wrench my fingers trying to contain my fury. I gasp as I come to terms with the direction my life has went. My soul shatters from the very people who were supposed to protect me. I don’t know if it can get any worse. “We just have one more issue to settle and we can get on with our lives . You need to consummate your marriage with witnesses.” He looks pointedly at the foldaway bed. “NO!” I stand up for myself. I pull my new wife behind me and walk backwards to the door. I have lived through this shit. It’s doubtful she has lived in depravity her entire short life. “Dalton, would you like to know what is next on my list? Your mother refuses to act as my wife. I wouldn’t have hurt her. She could have stayed at her club. I would have done just as you will do with your wife- take her on occasion and lived my life the way I please. I would have had lovers and she could have had her own too. I just required children. Instead I get a gay son who doesn’t have my last name and your mother births a bastard by supposedly stealing her student’s sperm. ” He rolls his eyes and puts air quotes around the word supposedly as he speaks. Yeah, I don’t fucking believe her either. “ I’ m not the bad guy here- well, I am, but you know what I mean. You’ re under some fantasy that I forced your mother in to my bed. She was