Chapter Seven - Planning My Revenge

Killian

I glared at her, a wave of deep-seated hatred radiating from my heart for the enemy’s daughter. But it was nothing compared to the intense desire that spiraled from my core. The contrasting emotions confused me, while my body reacted to the nearness. With our bodies fused, all logic fled my brain, and I continued to stare at her. Her mesmerizing green eyes had me under her spell. My co*k swelled against her soft curves, as we stayed locked up in that position for minutes, staring at one another.

“Why are you helping me when you hate me so much? Please give me my luggage.” She thrashed to get free, bringing me out of my daze.

How could I lose my mind over her? How did I forget how her father had destroyed my family? No, I would never cave in to my desires. This was the perfect opportunity to plan my revenge. It seemed she had no idea I wasn’t helping her at all. I was planning to use her to break her family, just as they had broken mine. It was the only way, and she had to pay. How could I let her go?

“No. Get some rest. We’re going to Cape Town in the morning.” I knew what I would do. I would whisk her away to my next destination - the Doolhof Adventure Camp, almost 50 minutes from Cape Town. A month there would drive her father crazy. Of course, I wouldn’t stop at that. It was just the start of my revenge.

“Cape Town? Why? I’m not going anywhere with you.” She tried to shove me off, but without success.

I had to applaud her courage. At twenty-one, she was a bombshell indeed. But I would love to break her. “You have no choice. It’s the only way to get the cops off your ass. In one month, things would die down here and we could return.” I eased off her and walked away to the kitchen to adjust my pants. I couldn’t fight my urges with an erection.

But she followed me, ready for a fight. Thankfully, I wasn’t facing her.

“But why Cape Town? It’s so far away.” She sounded apprehensive, and it was understandable. We were strangers, after all.

“I’m going to an adventure camp there. It’s the last place your father will look in.”

She chewed her lips and nodded after a minute. I felt relieved she accepted my plan, unaware of what was in store for her. “Okay. How much do I pay you for booking a slot for me in the camp?”

“Nothing if we share. Save the money in case your dad blocks your bank accounts.”

She gasped with shock and stormed to the bedroom to check her phone. Knowing her dad, it was the first step he would take to compel her to return. It was simple logic. I calmed myself down and returned to the bedroom to see the devastated look on her face.

“What happened?” I lay down on my bed, but she didn’t budge even an inch.

She still sat on her bed, staring at her phone. “He has blocked all my accounts, Killian. How could I have been so stupid? I should have withdrawn my money at night.”

“Go to sleep. We’ll figure it out in the morning.” I turned away from her and closed my eyes. It was the only way to get some sleep. Seeing her would only make me crave her all night. How did I become so pathetic? I had never lost my mind over a woman in the past. Then what changed now? Why didn’t I feel repulsed by Sydney Bardot? After all, she was the daughter of Philippe Bardot, my worst enemy, alive.

“There’s nothing to figure out. I can’t go to a foreign land with nothing in my pockets. Please give me my luggage. I won’t burden you anymore.” Her soft, tearful voice penetrated my thoughts, and I saw red.

Couldn’t she get it? I wouldn’t let her leave. I turned to face her, my body flushed with fury. She sat in the same place, in the same position, looking so vulnerable, I pitied her. She didn’t deserve such a hateful father.

“Don’t be stupid, Sydney. Where will you go? It doesn’t matter if you have no money. You’ll be sharing with me. You can pay for the flight tickets later.” I fumed with fury when she shook her head. I was desperate to convince her to stick by my side. How else would I carry out my revenge? I couldn’t let go of the opportunity.

“No, I don’t need you pity, Killian.” She rose to snatch the keys from under my pillow. I grabbed her wrist and twisted it behind her, my eyes searing into hers. She winced and gave me a wide-eyed look. “I don’t need your hatred, too. I’ll escape at the first chance.”

I gaped at her, realizing how serious she was. No, I had to change my tactics if I wanted her to submit to me. Only then could I use her as a pawn against her father. Anger and hatred wouldn’t take me anywhere with her.

I released her with a sigh. “I don’t pity you, Sydney.”

She rubbed her wrist where my fingers had left their mark. “Then why are you helping me?”

I considered her innocent question. How could I tell her my real motive?

No, that would make her run for the hills. “I’m the only one who can help you right now, right? You can pay me back someday.” I softened, watching her hesitate. I was angry, but not with her.

She chewed her lips and lay down, glancing at me hopefully. “I can work for you in return.”

I had no answer to that. My mind plotted of ways I could make her pay me back in kind. She could please me in bed every night in return. That would be enough for me. I blinked those twisted thoughts out of my head. No, I had to stop reacting to her. It would complicate things between us.

“I can do any work you give me, Killian. I refuse to be a charity case.” She still stared at me hopefully, waiting for my reply.

Wasn’t she the only daughter of a twisted, evil billionaire? How could she be so sweet? All my life, I had found out everything about my enemy. I knew he had a daughter he protected, but never had I expected her to be so innocent and sweet.

“You didn’t answer me, Killian. I’ll go with you only if you let me work for you. Will you let me work for you?”

I sighed and closed my eyes. “Hmm.”

There was no response from her, and I opened my eyes to see her fast asleep. How could such an angel be Philippe Bardot’s daughter? The man was evil, and I could never forgive him.

I still remember the two most disastrous days of my life when I lost everything – my parents and the family business.

Fifteen years ago, Philippe Bardot and my father, William Barlowe, owned a profitable commercial real estate business, B. B. Properties. When it was at its peak, Philippe Bardot confiscated the business through unfair means and renamed it the Bardot Group. My dad couldn’t bear to see his dream go and died of a cardiac arrest. My mom, Stephanie Barlowe, was shattered and locked herself in. The next day, she gave up her life, leaving me orphaned and bankrupt. I was just fourteen, and my world had already ended. 

It was my best friend, Knox Cromwell, and his grandpa, Vincent Cromwell, who supported my education and later funded my business, Cosmos Adventures. 

With sheer hard work, I succeeded in life, but swore to seek my revenge one day. I became an orphan with only a house to call my own. But I couldn’t live there anymore as images of my parents’ deaths haunted me. I sold it off and bought a penthouse instead near my office.

For years, I waited for a chance to strike back, but Philippe Bardot was a shrewd man. It was impossible to reach out to him or the business that was rightfully mine as well.

Now that I found the chance, how could I let go?

Yet the sight of the innocent young woman lying beside me made me hesitate. Despite her equation with her family, Sydney wouldn’t harm her family. I would have to plan this well. But first, I would want her to trust me.

I closed my eyes at last, but there was no satisfaction in my heart. Why couldn’t I feel happy to get what I wanted? My parents would get justice, right? They didn’t deserve to die. Yet a strange guilt clutched at my heart as an innocent face kept disturbing me in my fitful sleep. It was Sydney’s.

But I couldn’t back off from my plan. She had to be the pawn. There was no other way.