CHAPTER FOUR

Elise's pov

We returned to the table separately after that.

My eyes drifted to the couple of the year, Marcus eyes were already on me making me look away.

“Lucian, I am a bit offended that you never told us that Sebastian Deluca is your son.” My father said, “After all our years of friendship, you sly dog.”

Mr Grey chuckled but it sounded strained. “I didn't mean to but… it's a bit complicated. Do accept my apologies, Mark.”

My father clamped his hand on his shoulder. “It’s fine, my friend. So, why is he back here after all these years?”

Mr Grey exchanged a look with his wife then said, “Sebastian is here because he wants to open a branch of his company in New York.”

“What?” Marcus exploded, shooting to his feet. “Why am I just hearing about this? And I never agreed to this.”

“Calm down son.”

“Don't tell me to calm down!” He snapped. “New York is my territory, London is his. We all had an agreement to never cross paths so what the fuck is going on?”

“Enough!” Mr Grey snapped.

A low chuckle came from Sebastian, making Marcus shoot him a glare. “Come on, baby brother. Territory? Are we five.” Sebastian said, amused. “This is all business and times have changed.”

“Shut it.” Marcus snapped.

The relaxed aura from Sebastian turned to something deadly that made the hairs on my arm stand. “Careful, Marcus.”

I saw Marcus swallow and look away briefly. What was that?

Then suddenly it clicked in my head why Sebastian’s name was so familiar. I couldn't believe that I hadn't noticed it initially.

Sebastian Deluca was the CEO of freedom tech.

The third Largest tech company in the entire world. He was on every article in Forbes, business insider, New York times and the entire tech world has been raving about him for years.

“The prodigy of England’s tech revolution.” “The man who rivaled Silicon Valley before thirty.”

And yet I… I had mistaken him for a staff.

Somebody kill me now. My face turned red in embarrassment as my mind replayed our discussion and even how I had gone as far as telling him not to sneak into “higher up” residence.

Who dug this pit for me? I was about to fall inside. I just wanted to vanish because the humiliation was eating me up.

I managed to sneak a peak and he was already looking at me.

No, fuck. Big mistake.

He shot me a wink and his smirk widened.

Something about that combo was lethal and made my stomach flip so I looked away and focused on Marcus instead.

“New York is mine, Deluca.” Marcus spat. “My life, my company, my client, my people. You can't just swoop in here and plant your flag like you belong.”

“Belong?” Sebastian said the word like it was foreign, an amused look on his face. “It seems you have forgotten that I am Sebastian Deluca, brother. Whether you like it or not, I belong wherever I decide to be and there's nothing you can do about that.”

I sucked in a sharp breath. I have known Marcus for years and if there's one thing he hates it's things being out of his control. A new piece was on the cheeseboard that he didn't approve of, it was unraveling him.

“Don't fucking test me.” Marcus said through gritted teeth, pointing a finger at Sebastian. “You've been out of this family for years, remember your place and don't think you can crawl back now and play king in my city.”

Sebastian laughed. A deep belly laugh like Marcus had just cracked the joke of the century. “You know I am not doing this for your precious little inheritance or family name.”

Yup, there was something deep about this family that I didn't know about.

“If you were actually half the CEO you pretend to be then you won't be afraid of a little competition. Or can't you stand against me without father's influence?”

Even the air went still.

Victoria, who always looked smug, shifted uncomfortably in her chair. I noticed Mr and Mrs Grey exchange a tense look. My family and I simply sat back and watched something dangerous unfold.

That's when it hit me

This wasn’t just rivalry. This wasn’t just about New York.

This was a family war.

A memory suddenly crept in. I was eight at the time and had slept over at the Greys’ mansion. I couldn't sleep for some reason so I wandered down the hall barefoot looking for only God knows what.

Then I heard hushed voices from Mr Grey's study.

Curious, I paused to listen.

“…he’s disgraced us enough. He’s no longer part of this family.”

“…he’ll ruin everything if we let him stay…”

“…our other son will carry the legacy. The right son.”

Back then I didn't understand what or who they were talking about because Marcus was the only son I knew. I chalked it off as me mishearing them or maybe I had just dreamt about it.

But now, sitting in the middle of the tension between this family, I realized that it was a dream and the son they had spoken about was real.

Sebastian was that son. The one they had erased and now he was back.

Why had Sebastian been erased in the first place? Why keep him hidden all these years? And more importantly, why come back now?

Marcus’ voice snapped me back to the present. “Stay out of my way, Sebastian. I’m warning you.”

Sebastian leaned forward, eyes locked on Marcus. “Try and stop me.”

A chill ran down my spine.

Mr. Grey coughed awkwardly. Mrs. Grey plastered on a fake smile, trying to steer the dinner back on track, but it was useless. The storm had already been unleashed.

If Sebastian was this powerful and successful, then why had he stayed in the shadows for so long? Why New York, of all places? Why now, at the exact moment Marcus decided to propose to Victoria?

There were too many questions and secrets.

Marcus threw his napkin down and stormed away from the table, Victoria immediately getting up and following at his heels with a huff.

The tension reduced slightly but it was still there.

Then Sebastian turned to me and I felt my heart stop. He slowly leaned close to me, my heart started again and raced wildly.

What's he doing? Stop, damnit! I wanted to scream but my tongue felt heavy like lead.

“I'll be in touch.” He whispered.

I blinked. “What?”

He rose from his chair, stretching lazily. His lips tilted into that maddening smirk again. “When I need you. You’ll know.”

And just like that, he walked away.

As I watched the mysterious, tattoo covered man walk away I couldn't shake off the feeling that from here on out, things were going to be different.

I just didn't know whether it was going to be good or bad yet.