Chapter 8 - THE UNEXPECTED GUESTThree months later.
The summer sun shone brightly over the grand gardens of the Reyes Estate in Long Island. White roses bloomed across thirty acres of sprawling green lawns sloping down to the private docks of the Atlantic Ocean.
In the glass conservatory, Elise sat at a white marble desk, managing the master financial portfolio of the newly restructured Reyes Global Foundation—a multi-billion-dollar philanthropic empire dedicated to historic preservation and public housing.
The glass doors slid open.
Mateo stepped inside, wearing a crisp white linen shirt, holding two glasses of iced tea.
He walked over, setting a glass on her desk, and wrapped his broad arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder.
"You've been working for five hours, mia cara," Mateo murmured, kissing her neck. "The foundation can survive without you for an afternoon."
Elise smiled, leaning back against his chest. "I was just reviewing the construction plans for the new Caldwell Municipal Library in Brooklyn."
"Your father would be proud," Mateo said gently.
Elise turned in his arms, taking a small sealed envelope from her desk drawer.
"Mateo... there's one entry in the ledger we never discussed," Elise whispered. "Page 204. Written twenty-four years ago."
Mateo raised an eyebrow. "What entry?"
Elise opened the envelope, pulling out an old birth registry document from New York Municipal Hospital.
CHILD NAME: ELISE CALDWELL. BIOLOGICAL MOTHER: ELENA CALDWELL. BIOLOGICAL FATHER: DON ANTONIO REYES.
Mateo froze. His hazel eyes widened in horror as he scanned the document.
"What..." Mateo gasped, his breath catching. "My father... was your biological father?!"
Elise let out a soft, amused laugh, shaking her head. "Keep reading the bottom line, Mateo."
Mateo looked down at the fine print at the bottom of the certificate:
FORGERY NOTICE: DON ANTONIO REYES ATTEMPTED TO CLAIM PATERNITY TO SEIZE CALDWELL ESTATE. DNA TESTING CONFIRMS MARCUS CALDWELL IS 100% BIOLOGICAL FATHER.
Mateo let out a massive, explosive sigh of relief, dropping the paper onto the desk and pulling Elise tight against his chest!
"You almost gave me a heart attack, woman!" Mateo growled, laughing deeply as he peppered her face with kisses.
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"I wanted to see the great Don Mateo Reyes sweat for once," Elise giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"You are evil," Mateo purred, dipping her low over the desk, his hands possessive and warm against her waist. "Utterly evil."
