CHAPTER 5

CALEB'S POV

Victoria's heels struck the hardwood floor in quick succession as she hurried toward us, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"Augustus!" she exclaimed, grabbing his forearm. "What on earth are you doing?"

The pressure on my wrists disappeared. I immediately lowered my arms and took two careful steps back, rubbing the soreness from my shoulders. My heartbeat was still pounding from the sudden fight.

Victoria looked from me to Augustus and back again.

"Caleb," she demanded. "Why were you fighting Augustus?"

"I wasn't trying to fight him," I answered, still catching my breath. "He pointed a gun at me."

"I thought he was an intruder... your lover" Augustus replied evenly, though his sharp gray eyes never left me. "He turned around and attacked before I could identify him... plus why is he walking half-dressed in your house Victoria?"

"I attacked because someone put a gun to my head, am I supposed to just gonna wait for you to pull the trigger?" I shot back.

For a brief second, silence settled over the hallway. Victoria closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "This is one ridiculous misunderstanding."

Augustus frowned. "Who exactly is he?"

Victoria cleared her throat before answering. "Caleb is my stepson." His brows knitted together. "The son of my late husband," she clarified. "He has lived here since before we met."

Augustus slowly looked at me again. "I was under the impression you only had two daughters."

"I..." Victoria forced a laugh that sounded painfully artificial. " I really have two daughters of my own but they were studying abroad. There never seemed to be an appropriate time to mention Caleb."

I almost laughed. No. There were plenty of opportunities... She simply never wanted to.

"Enough of this," Victoria said briskly. "Caleb, go put on your suit."

She turned toward Augustus, slipping her hand around his arm as though nothing unusual had happened. "And you my love," she said with a practiced smile, "come downstairs. I'll explain everything."

I nodded without another word. There was nothing left to say. As I walked back toward the basement, I couldn't shake the strange feeling that someone was watching me.

Was it Victoria? Or was it Augustus? I never looked back.

Ten minutes later, I climbed the stairs again reluctantly. The charcoal suit Victoria had bought actually fit surprisingly well. The tailor had done an excellent job. Too bad it still felt like I was wearing someone else's life.

When I entered the living room, I almost stopped walking. Victoria was practically glued to Augustus's side, her fingers intertwined with his arm while she leaned against his shoulder. She laughed at something he'd said.

If someone had walked into the room without context, they would have assumed they'd been happily together for years. Like her husband didn't die a couple of months ago and the fact that she is now dating the man who swallowed my father's company whole.

"There you are," Victoria said brightly. She looked at me. "Much better." How pretentious.

I simply nodded.

"Augustus is taking me to dinner at Le Céleste tonight." Her smile widened. "So you can retire for the evening."

I blinked. A few minutes ago she'd been rushing me into the suit because she insisted I meet Augustus. Now she wanted me to disappear, the irony wasn't lost on me.

"I understand," I replied quietly. I turned toward the hallway.

"Actually..." Augustus's voice stopped me. I looked back. "I'd like Caleb to join us."

Victoria's smile stiffened. "But tonight was supposed to be..." She laughed softly. "...our evening."

"We can have another evening." His tone remained calm. "I'd like to get to know him."

He glanced toward me. "If we're going to be part of the same extended family, I'd rather understand the people important to you." Then he added, "I also want to know whether he'll get along with Evander and Lysander."

I nearly snorted... Get along? Those two had made sport of ruining my life.

"I don't think that will be a problem," I lied.

Victoria looked less enthusiastic, but she quickly recovered.

"Of course." She smiled sweetly. "The more the merrier."

Somehow, I doubted she meant that. The limousine was so quiet that every movement seemed louder than it should have.

Victoria never once let go of Augustus's arm. She happily admired the diamond bracelet around her wrist. "I still can't believe you bought this for me."

"If you like it, that's enough." Augustus said lazily.

"Oh, I love it." She leaned against him again. "It's beautiful."

I stared out the opposite window. The city lights blurred together as we drove deeper into the financial district. I had never felt more like an outsider.

Le Céleste occupied the top floor of one of the tallest skyscrapers in the city, floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking the skyline, crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead.

A pianist played softly in the distance. Victoria's eyes practically glowed. "It's magnificent."

A hostess greeted us with a polite smile. "Mr. Devereux, your table is ready."

She led us toward a secluded corner. Then she stopped, I noticed it immediately.

The reservation had only been prepared for two guests. This is my opportunity to escape seeing their lovey-dovey moments all night. Augustus looked at the hostess. "We'll need another—"

"That's not necessary," I interrupted politely.

Both of them looked at me. "I'd rather not intrude." I smiled faintly. "You two should enjoy your evening."

Victoria glanced at me before quickly nodding. "That's thoughtful of you."

"I noticed an observation deck earlier," I continued. "I'd like to look around."

Augustus studied me for several seconds before giving a small nod. "If you need anything, tell the staff."

"I will." I said with a smile.

"Enjoy yourself." Victoria said pretentiously.

"I'll try." I answered back.

I walked away before Victoria could change her mind.

The viewing deck overlooked the entire city. From this height, everything seemed... smaller. The traffic, the buildings.

Even the problems I'd been carrying all day. I accepted a glass of bourbon from the bar and leaned against the railing. Cool night air brushed across my face.

For thirty peaceful minutes... I simply existed. No Victoria, no Devereux brothers and no expectations... just silence. Maybe this was what peace felt like.

Eventually, my glass emptied. I returned to the bar for another. When I glanced toward the restaurant, the table where Augustus and Victoria had been seated was empty.

As if on cue, I heard Victoria's unmistakable laugh drifting from the direction of the elevators, the doors slid shut before I could see them.

I sighed... Dad hasn't even been gone a full year... And she's already planning another future. I wasn't sure what hurt more... that she'd moved on or that she seemed eager to erase every trace of him.

I settled onto a stool. "Another bourbon," I said.

The bartender nodded.

As the fresh glass was placed before me, familiar laughter echoed from one of the private VIP rooms.

Arrogant.

Confident.

Annoyingly recognizable.

Evander.

Lysander.

I looked over just in time to see the brothers step inside with a lively group of women... Amelia wasn't among them. I lowered my eyes, some things never changed. I picked up my drink and headed back toward the viewing deck.

"Well, look who wandered in." Evander's voice boomed.

Fuck, they noticed me. I kept walking.

"A nobody like Caleb Dawson can actually afford this place? How many months of your waiter salary you use? Or did you finally say yes to an offer to sell your body?"Lysander's mocking remarks sounded.

"Oh my god, he's selling his body for cash?" one women murmured.

"Well he's an alpha after all, but how does his kind stoop that low? It's kind of disgusting." Another one chimed in.

More laughter followed, I pretended not to hear. I walked towards the viewing deck again.

Behind me, a chair scraped sharply across the floor. Someone muttered a curse, heavy footsteps approached then stopped.

A hand suddenly seized the front of my suit, forcing me to turn. Evander's icy blue eyes met mine. "No one," he said coldly, "ignores Evander Devereux."