Chapter 1

I heard everyone chat about the sales on the market, the possible increase of dollars on the fuel business and how it affects the economy and all the other things I usually hear on the world I grew up.

Business.

And I wondered, always, if these little chats were real or were they just waiting in the dark to seep the blood of one another.

These little hypocrites deceiving one another are really disgusting. I rolled my eyes discreetly as I walk away to the table I was once seated with my father when the party started.

Two days ago, an invitation was delivered on our house by the secretary of Lord Empire inviting us on the party they were going to throw to welcome the heir of their heritage. My father of course accepted it without second thoughts. The hosts were well-respected, well-known and rumored to be devils on the business world. They were powerful.

Larkin Lord was putting his little devil son on the throne as his successor. I hadn’t had my unfortunate encounter with the popular heir after he left for Harvard but I did know him personally and I was not sure if we’ll meet, I’d still do.

“Smile sweetheart”, I heard the aged voice of my father on my right side when I took my seat. He was on his majestic aura that demands respect and authority.

I curved my lips upward following his command but it did not reached anything pleasant on my senses.

Moments passed and still the little devil’s son was nowhere near on sight.

What was so special on him to keep the guests waiting? He never changed. That bastard. My annoyance started to surface.

As if on cue, mr. Larkin Lord spoke from the microphone gathering the attention of every person in attendance.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I deeply apologize for the long wait. And now, the moment we have been waiting for has finally come. Everyone, please welcome, my son, Sebastian Lord”, out of my trance, I heard the loud applause around me. And there, I saw him looking more striking than the last time I saw him.

Time did justice on him.

“Thank you, Father. I would like to welcome every one of you to one of our lovely hotels and thank all of you for being here tonight”. He wore black shirt underneath his dark grey coat and black pants looking sinfully gorgeous with his messy ebony hair as he spoke on the stage.

“ I hope all of you are having a pleasant evening and I am very pleased to work with you on the coming days when I finally took over my father’s position as the CEO of the Lord Empire”, his voice was somewhat full of authority matching his stern feature. He appeared wintry but when his eyes finally landed on mine, it was more than that. Colder but a fire burned beyond.

They held recognition of a past that should’ve been forgotten.

“Thank you again and let us enjoy the party”, he stepped down the stage and greeted by countless businessmen.

He walked on the opposite side of the room and started a conversation to the others where from where I was seated looked like they were having a deal about something. My eyes darted to his father who was also talking with the others. The resemblance was evident. Same face, same attitude and I bet same personality.

“I’m going to talk to someone on the phone. Stay here, I’ll be back”, before I could answer, my father already stood up and made his way on the dim lighted balcony. I was left alone on my table so I decided to grab a wine from the waiter who does rounds on the party. I slowly sipped my wine and through my lashes I saw him looking at me.

He was on the other end but I clearly saw him. His pale blue eyes held mine in an icy demeanor. Discreetly, I looked behind me just to make sure I am not imagining him throwing cold stares at me. And yes, no one was behind me.

I put back my gaze on him and he was not looking anymore. But before I look away I saw him look again and smirked devilishly. He alone annoys the hell out of me.

And … scared.

I don’t know where fear is coming from but I have this feeling that any time of the day, he will come knocking at my door like death coming for me.

And I’m wondering why. Why?

I did him a favor that time.

A long forgotten pain slowly crept into my being. Deep.

After a minute or so, my father returned to my side and asked me to accompany him to the Lords. Even if I surely did not want to go, he gave me no choice. I placed my hand on the crook of his arms and he led the way to the devils.

“Good evening gentlemen”, Lords turned their heads to us when my old man spoke. Identical smiles crept over to their faces but the younger one had it much scarier and wicked.

“Mr. Aycliffe. What a pleasant surprise!”, the older Lord acknowledged our presence with amusement on his tone.

“And may I know the lady with you?”, both of them eyed me curiously but again the younger one had it much more intense.

“Ah. This is my only daughter, Trisha”, he proudly introduced me to the men in front of us. And I thought I saw eyes darkening radiating unfamiliar and unreadable expression.

“Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Aycliffe. Such a beauty like your mother”, I tensed slightly when Mr. Lord mentioned my mother. I did not miss the change of atmosphere between us as my old man tightened his hold on my arm.

“The pleasure is mine,Sir. That was a flattering thing to say. Thank you for the compliment. You don’t need to be such a flatterer, Mr. Lord”, I gave my sweetest smile on him and did my best to change the tension.

The old man laughed and father begun to relax his features. I sighed at the back of my mind.

“Oh! And this is my son, Sebastian”, my eyes once again found his. He held out his hand which I unwillingly held and he brought it to his lips kissing the knuckles.

“Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Aycliffe. May I call you, Trish?”, it did not sound like a question but a statement. That annoyed me. He seemed to notice it because he smirked which added my annoyance a hundred times more. His act as if we’re strangers was perfect at least for them. For the people who did not know our past.

“Yes, you may call me Trish”, then, tugged my hand gently away from his. If he can act, well then, I can surely do, too.

“Princess like you must be a true treasure. What interests you Trish?”,I sensed sarcasm on him.

Before I could answer, my father interrupted. “She manages one of our branches in Chicago and she is my very own secretary whom wills soon to whom I’ll leave my position to”.

“Oh? She must be good handling all those responsibilities, considering that she’s a girl?”, he emphasized the word girl like he was disgusted with that fact. Whatever did I do to him to make him hate me handling business matters?

I narrowed my eyes on him. He was testing me. And for God’s sake, I am not a girl I am already a woman! Damn him!

“Oh?”, I mocked him,” You should visit our hotels so that I can show you we are doing just fine”.

A cynical smile painted his face.

“Maybe I should and maybe I could give you favorable advice to make you more effective considering what happened last time. We don’t want that to happen again, now, do we?”, I felt the rush of blood to my cheeks and my lips were on its thin line.

He was laughing at me.

Just last month, a survey showed that our hotels gave one of the poorest services in the estate. It happened because of some anonymous gossip maker saying that we had bad services and staffs that disrespect our guests. That news spread in a flash and sales of ours affected the same.

Now, we were greatly suffering from the recovery and just two weeks ago, one of our plantations which produce very good wines was destroyed by a fire. The police officers came up with treason and the suspect was still unknown.

“I assure you, Mr. Lord that we can make it through though it was really nice of you to offer. Don’t worry Sir, in time I’m not gonna forget you did the recommendation and I also hope that when that time comes, may it will be still open for negotiations”, I managed to match his tone but I knew it just ignited his enjoyment more.

“Believe me, love, the offer will never cease to be forgotten”.

I’ve never missed the way he worded the “love” part of his speech. I just wanted to throw a good slap on his hard face and saw it red with my handprint.

Our fathers may have noticed our exchange of words and they did cough at the same time.

“ Let us not open up with the unpleasant happenings with our lives ‘cause it ruins our night, don’t you agree, son?”, the older Lord had this awkward pitch on his words.

“Yeah, I’m sorry, Ms. Aycliffe. My apologies”, his masculine flat murmur lacked the sincerity of his language.

Still sarcastic.

Does he really think that every woman on his world was on his feet and was begging for his attention?

Well, maybe. I was once like that but not anymore. I know where to place myself.

Does he really think that I do not deserve respect?

Whatever I’ve done to this man?

He really lived up to his title. DEVIL.

Cold.

Heartless.

Arrogant.

Self-conceited.

Overconfident.

Harsh.

Rude.

And wickedly gorgeous. Wait, did I just say gorgeous? I am taking that one back.

I felt a tug on my arm and was back on the track of lifeless conversation. My father was urging me to accept the hypocritical regret of this imp.

If I lose my temper here, he’ll win. He’ll make fun of me. He’ll enjoy tormenting me more.

“It was not a thing for forgiveness, believe me. Those things are truth and there is nothing wrong that you offer us help”, I faked a laugh.

Fire burned his eyes on to mine. It was the last thing I saw before he turned away after making lame excuses to greet the other guests.

And the night just ended to my satisfaction.