4. A DEAL.

CASPIAN

“We meet again, Raven.”

A smile curved my lips as I stared at her doe eyes which were staring at me like I was the last thing she had expected. Her body flushed against mine, warm and soft, I could have her there forever. For a moment, I allowed myself to get distracted by her delicate features and admired her face.

She looked ten times hotter than what I remembered, and whoever told her to wear this dress must have wanted to torture me all night, because how the fuck is someone allowed to be this hot?

My gaze fell on her flushed lips as they parted, and the only thought that crossed my mind was to close the distance and kiss her until I was all she was worried about.

“For someone who actively informs the world that she hates me, you sure look like you are having the best moment of your time in my arms,” I said, brushing my thoughts aside.

Teasing Celeste is one thing I enjoyed doing the most, and the way she fell for it every damn time, shooting me a murderous look always made it worth it. I didn’t think anyone had mentioned how cute she looked when she was mad.

She pushed me away so quickly that one would think she had been caught red-handed. Her face flickered with different emotions before a frown settled on her face, and I couldn’t hold back my chuckle.’

“What? Are you going to pretend you didn’t trip just for me to catch you?”

She clenched her teeth, staring at me like I was unbelievable. 

“Get the hell out of my face, Caspian.”

She tried to shove me away when I noticed the tears that blurred her vision. Was she going to cry? My stomach twisted as I straightened.

“What happened? Who hurt you?” 

A tear slipped down her cheeks, and I caught it before she could wipe it off. Her body froze from my touch, and it took me a moment to realise what had just happened.

We were supposed to be enemies. At least, that was what she thought. I’d never hate a beautiful woman who always sparks amusement in me every time we see each other, but for the sake of her stupid crush for a thick skull like Declan, I’d like to make her think the feeling was mutual.

“Who the hell made you angry, Raven?” I asked through gritted teeth, ready to deal with whoever it was, even if it was that dickhead husband of hers.

“Don’t pretend as if you are not enjoying this, Caspian. Leave me the fuck alone!”

“You are going to regret choosing that bastard, and when you do, I’d be there to laugh at your face and remind you that I told you so.” 

Those were my last words to her one year ago. I had said it out of spite when I heard she was really going to marry Declan. I even left the city because I couldn’t stand watching her marry someone else… not that bastard, because I knew she was too good for him, but she had been too blind to see it.

She brushed her shoulder against mine as she fled.

“I want to know everything that happened to her while I was away. Who made her cry tonight, and where that useless husband of hers is,” I said to my beta before storming off to the party.

The room went still the moment I entered. Every head turned to look at me, but the only thing on my mind was Celeste. This wasn’t my scene. Attending parties, staying in the same gathering with this bunch of leeches that’d do anything to gain your favour, but I needed them tonight. 

I have to take charge of all my father’s company, or those idiots he called sons would ruin his heritage and everything single thing he left behind.

“Alpha Caspian!” Two girls rushed to my side like some cheerleader in high school. They had a flirtatious smile plastered on their faces, as they greeted me.

“We didn’t know you were back in town,’ one of them muttered.

“Because it is none of your business,” I shoved them away, walking to my table, and the attention everyone was giving me was starting to feel sickening.

“Alpha,” Jason, my beta, called, as he stood behind my ear to whisper. “It turns out Miss Celeste recently divorced her husband and some girls tried to rub it on her face earlier.”

My hands curled tightly beside me from the news.

How dare he break her heart?

“Did you know why?” I asked, barely containing my rage.

“He cheated on her with…” Jason trailed off. My eyes followed him, and I couldn’t help the disgust that crawled in the pit of my stomach. “Her.”

My jaw ticked as I glared at Declan who had just stepped in with his side piece. She looked too eager, clinging onto him like he was the air she breathed, fighting to feel seen. I had always known Declan was a selfish bastard who acted all righteous to get the world to love him, but this? 

He’ll pay for it.

His gaze shifted to meet mine, and for a moment we had what he might have considered a staring competition. He lost a real gem while pursuing that… thing? He made one hell of a mistake and it’s about time I showed him how foolish he was.

I went to search for Celeste and found her sitting alone at the back of the room.

“I didn’t take you to be a coward,” I said, staring at her.

She turned back to face me and when I met her with a teary gaze, something broke inside me. 

“And I didn’t think you’d be so nosy,” she shot back.

“Listen to me, you can stay here all night, hiding from the world while that bastard plays the hero out there with his side piece, or you can decide to change your own story tonight,” I said. “Either way, every media will have your name glued to their mouth at sunrise.”

“And why would you care?”

“I don’t,” I shrugged, lying through a straight face. “But it’d be a shame to let him win like that.”

“Games. That is what everything is to you,” she said, shaking her head. She grabbed her heels on the granite floor, rising to her feet. “I don’t care about Declan anymore so you are wasting your time with the wrong person.”

Her shoulder fell as she walked away, and I could tell that the bastard had broken her spirit. That wasn’t the woman I loved. That sure didn't look like the woman whose mouth alone was more entertaining than someone’s entire personality.

“Raven!’ I called, quickening my steps. “Why don’t you make a deal with me?”

She looked at me like I had gone mad, and I probably have.

“You are here tonight to win the investors over, right?” I added quickly, and her eyes flickered as if she had completely forgotten about it. Of course, that was why she was here. This wasn’t her scene and I could tell she wasn’t having it.

“No one would be willing to work with you like this,” I muttered. “You might have your father, but they only respected you because you had two powerful men backing you before. Now that it has been reduced to one, you’re just a daddy’s girl.”

She flinched at my words.

“Go on,” she said, turning her full attention to me. “Tell me how worthless I have become. I am all ears.”

My eyes scanned her body, and fuck. I wanted to hold her so badly. I don’t know what that bastard did to lower her esteem like this, but I can’t have my Raven broken. Her fierceness is what I admire most about her,

“We both know it is the truth,” I continued. “But we can change that truth tonight.”

I stepped closer, and gods! Her smell is intoxicating.

“Be my girlfriend, Raven… and I’ll make sure the same people who laughed at you tonight beg for your attention by morning.”