003

NORMANI.

God. If sin had a face, it would be on this man.

Tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in dark navy like he was born into power. His hair slicked back, jawline carved by the gods themselves. His eyes were sharp, daring, like he had seen blood and didn’t flinch. And he walked like a man who had won every fight he ever entered. He was heading toward me and no one stopped him. I felt like no one could dare it.

I straightened.

“How did you get into my office?” I asked

He smiled, slow and cocky.

“I should be asking you that. A woman like you should be ruling kingdoms, not hiding in boardrooms.” He looked around my office like it meant nothing.

I narrowed my eyes.

“I don’t recall asking for flattery. State your business and reason for coming into my office” I tried to maintain myself. Yes, he was handsome, but I had gotten my fair share of handsome men. They are very dangerous.

“Feisty.” He dragged the lone chair in front of my desk and sat, completely unbothered. “I heard you are trying to purchase a particular bitcoin company.”

My heart skipped, just for a second, but my face remained cold. “So?”

“I can help you get it.”

I tilted my head.

“And who the hell are you?”

He smirked. “Shawn. That is all you need to know… for now.”

The way he said his name, deep and husky, sent a tingle down my spine. No, Normani. Focus.

“If you’re done playing spy, get out. I wasn't even sure how you entered. I have been strict with security lately.”

He stood, slowly. Walked closer. Too close. I could smell danger on his skin; danger and expensive cologne. “I know about George. About his boss. And I know what they did to you. You want revenge, and I am offering to help you get the revenge.” His teeth were perfectly white and aligned. Who the hell was this man and why was he so hot?

My body tensed.

He reached into his coat and dropped a sleek black card on my desk. “Call me. If you want the company. Or if you just want to see him burn.”

He turned and was about to walk out when he turned to me. “By the way, your security is top-notch, it was really hard getting in.” With this, he walked out the door; the same way he came in.

I blinked.

What the hell just happened?

I rushed to the intercom as soon as I got back to myself.

“Follow him. I want everything. His name. His address. His goddamn blood type.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the guard responded and I hung up.

But hours later, when I called to check what they had gotten, I got only silence.

“Ma’am,” the guard finally said, hesitantly.

“He is gone. We trailed him out the gate but somehow, he disappeared. It is like… he vanished.”

I stared at my phone.

“Strange indeed.” He was strangely handsome too.

I picked up the card he left. It was flatter than it looked. No logo. Just a name and a number. I dismissed the guard, knowing fully well it wasn't his fault. This man had come in here with a dark and strange aura, I felt it myself.

He is not someone who will be easy to track.

Then, the door burst open, just a few seconds after the guards left. It was Estella and she wore a suit pant which looked absolutely stunning on her. Just before I could hide the card in my hand, she saw it. She snatched it from me and then turned her back on me to go through it.

“Shawn.” Her voice dropped.

“How did you get his card?” She asked, without waiting for answers she continued

“He can help us. That man has access to more underground doors than anyone in this city. He is interested in company deals.” She turned to me.

“You know him?” I finally spoke up

“No. But you know I love attending business meetings and events? Yeah, I heard rumors about him and how he is connected to the city through one of the events. He is like the underground wiring, and this is the connection we need. Have you called him? How did you get this? You too spoke?” She asked.

I shrugged, arranging my desk - a habit I formed to ignore the confusion in my mind.

“No, I don't need his help. He seems arrogant and devious. I could call my father—”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to involve him? That this revenge was yours alone? Why did you want to involve him now?”

She was right. I did not want to involve my father because he would finish all these off with one click of his finger. He would think I am unable to get my revenge and do it for me. That I did not want.

I want to make them pay me

“Call him,” Estella said. “Becky is already trying to purchase it. Tomorrow is the final offer day. If we don’t act now, she will win with the connection she has in the Bitcoin industry. We need this connection to win!” Estella was practically pleading with me.

So I called.

And he answered after one ring as if he had been expecting my call.

“You ready to talk, Miss Normani?” His voice was thick and sounded soothing to the ear. It sounded like he was drinking.

“Yes”

“Club Inferno. Meet me there by 8:30pm.” The phone was on speaker hence Estella heard it all. Before I dropped the call, she was already calling her designer to get me a nice gown. Then she called my driver to take me home, but I disagreed

“Yes, you are taking the rest of today off to prepare for the meeting.” She frowned. I sighed, giving in to her.

I was home when the clothes arrived. Estella was with me and while I got dressed, she prepared me with the necessary files.

Then she practically shoved me out the door. “Go!”

CLUB INFERNO.

The place was drenched in red light, music pulsing like a second heartbeat in my ears. I wasn't used to this sort of place. I stepped in and looked around for him at the vip section. Soon, I found him at the bar. He was wearing a black shirt with a few buttons open at the top. He was wearing a Rolex Daytona Ref 6239 silver wrist watch. You know rich men by their wrist watch and this man was killing it for me.

I walked over to him and god, he looked tall and untouchable.

“You’re late,” he said with a smirk turning to me like he saw me walk in.

“I came. Isn’t that what matters?”

He didn’t answer. He held out a hand instead. “Before we talk, dance with me.”

“No. I don’t dance.”

“Then you will lose the company.” He leaned closer, and the smell of his sweet cologne penetrated my nostrils. “Your choice.”

Bastard. He knew how to make people do what he wanted and damn, he smelled so good and fresh.

I sighed. “Fine.”

He led me to the center of the floor and pulled me against him. One hand on my lower back, the other clasping mine. I hated how warm he felt. How safe I felt.

The music wrapped around us, seductive and slow. I tried to focus, to keep my mind on the deal, on the bitcoin company—but damn it, his hands on my waist…

“Not bad, huh?” he murmured, his breath brushing my ear. His breath was freaking fresh like mint. Oh damn. Why did he have to be so perfect?

My voice caught.

“You are annoying.”

“But handsome.”

“Arrogant!” I spat, that was very much true about him.

“Still dancing with me.”

And God help me, I didn’t want to stop.

His fingers grazed my back and it felt like fire licking down my spine. I hated the flutter in my chest. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I wasn’t supposed to feel anything. But… maybe dancing with this handsome devil wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Moreover, It's been a while since I've done this.

Then I heard a feminine voice, one I hated so much.

Becky!

“Didn’t I tell you your ex-wife is a slut?” Her high-pitched snarl cut through the music.

Shawn’s arm tightened around me.

I turned and saw them—George and Becky, dressed like royalty they didn’t deserve to wear

Becky’s sneer was venomous. “See who she is dancing with? Like she has been pretending to be loyal all this time but a slut will always be a slut!”

That was it. All I could think about, staring at her, was the betrayal. The sacrifice that I made and the way they made a fool out of me turned into a ricocheting anger that wouldn't ease off. It was as if calling me a slut ripped the bandage off. This bitch took my husband and now calls me a slut while acting innocent. No, I wasn't going to take it.

I stepped out of Shawn’s arms and stepped closer to her.

Then, without thinking I struck a slap on Becky’s cheek. It was so hard the music seemed to stop. I glared at her, ready to strike another slap on her face. The anger in me was like a burning fire and the mere sight of her was fueling it.

“Bitch!” She growled, holding her now burning cheek. Hell, I wanted her cheek to catch fire!