Chapter Five: She's Different

I had long despised Illyra Bennet, the con artist that caused a rift between me and Andrei years ago. The girl who made my brother weak and vulnerable. All this time, I had kept track of her, waiting for her to go back to her old ways, but she didn't.

It came as a shock to me when I realized that she might have changed after all these years. I knew her failed engagement with Andrei had everything to do with it.

I had sent several private investigators to watch when she would start gambling again, but she didn't.

She had also blatantly refused to let Lyra marry me to get the land, and she could go to hell for that. When I realized none of my plans were working, I decided to try another way.

Lyra herself.

Until we had met at the restaurant a few days ago, all I knew about her were from a private investigator with a grainy photograph. Illyra had always made a great effort to keep her away from me. They moved to different cities once they suspected they were being watched. It was a smart move but not enough to stop me.

When I finally found Lyra, I had to test if she was like her sister. I didn't trust the Bennet's especially since their father raised them to be heartless, manipulating girls.

Six months ago in Seattle, the investigator tested her by dropping a wallet full of cash outside a grocery store in front of her. She had run two blocks after his car to give him back the wallet, untouched breathlessly.

Illyra wouldn't have ever done that. She would have kept the wallet and used the money for shopping.

"Girl's so honest, and it's crazy. I can't believe she is Illyra's sister." The investigator had told me. She was nothing like Illyra, and I knew she was the perfect person for my plans.

She was young and naive. Unlike Illyra, she was full of love and compassion. She knew nothing about tricking me for their money or gambling.

Knowing that my brother was recovering from a recent car racing injury in Oahu with a private poker game in Hale Ka'nani, I bribed the resort's general manager to hire the sisters as housekeepers.

I knew they would quickly accept the job offer because they were desperate. And I was right.

I'd hoped that Andrei would run into Illyra and they would cause a humiliating and terrible scene.

Knowing how their relationship ended, I perceived they would have a heated argument. And I would utilize that time to speak to Lyra directly about the marriage proposal.

But when the couple failed to see each other for days and I was running out of time, I decided to find a way to speak to Lyra.

I shouldn't have been surprised when she flung her soda at me and ran away from the restaurant. I didn't know why I had expected anything else from her. Illyra must have fed her buckets of lies about me.

But somewhere at the back of my mind, I held onto the hope that she was as greedy as her sister. That her eyes would sparkle with desire when she learned about how much I could pay for the land. But she didn't.

Or that, according to the report I had gotten from Matthew McConaughey, not only had there been no heated argument between Andrei and Illyra, they'd apparently fallen into each other's arms at the poker game.

She had won back the entire amount of Lyra's wager but accepted Andrei's offer to a single card draw between them-a million dollars versus possession of Illyra. That was the deal that ruined my entire plan.

Andrei won her during the game and she was forced to go back with him.

Reintroducing the formerly engaged couple to happiness wasn't my plan. I was definitely not hoping to make the couple happy again. For the past day and a half, I had been grinding my teeth in fury.

I had been too busy thinking about how my recent plans to humiliate my brother had blown up in my face. How all my efforts to destroy only backfired on me.

I'd spent the previous night dancing at a club, women hitting on me right and left until even that began to irritate me, and I had gone home early and alone.

Then like a miracle, I'd woken from sleep with the news that Lyra Bennet was here and wished to marry me after all. And now, here she was. I had her. She had changed my whole world forever.

"I hired a private investigator to track you down," I said, hoping she would buy it. "It shows how desperate I was to marry you—and get my hands on your land."

Her chin turned a darker shade of red. I turned away, walking to the bar.

"Viktor?"

I froze. Had she somehow guessed my plans? Was it possible that her big brown eyes had seen through my heartless soul? Hands clenched by my side, body stiff, I turned to face her.

Her eyes were shining, and her expression was bright like a new penny. "What did you mean by the plans you had?" I exhaled, feeling greatly happy that I was wrong. "Maybe a wedding cake?"

This time, I couldn't help it, and I laughed. "You want a cake?"

"I do love a wedding cake with buttercream frosting roses." She said, beaming. "I had always dreamed of my wedding and even though, this is not a real one, I would love a cake."

"Then, your wish is my command, my lady."

"But I'd better not have a cake." She said, her expression drooping.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't tell me you're on a diet, are you?"

"Do I look like I watch my weight?" She snapped, then flushed grumpily. "I'm sorry that I am a bit grumpy. My flight ran out of my food when they reached my aisle, and I hadn't eaten for the past twelve hours. I would have gotten something at the airport, but I only have three dollars and.."

Her voice trailed off. I returned to the bar and pressed the intercom button.

"Sir?"

"Send up a breakfast plate."

"Two, your highness?"

"Just one, but make it full and quick." I glanced back at Lyra. "Anything special you would like to eat?"

She gaped at me with her mouth wide open. I turned back to the intercom. "Just send everything you've got."

"Yes, sir."

"You were saying?" I asked, stepping away from the bar. She was staring at me, apparently mesmerized, like I had done something more shocking by simply ordering breakfast for her.

"I was?"

"Wedding cake. Why don't you want it anymore?"

"Right." She mustered. "This is just a business arrangement, so there is no need for a wedding cake. Or a wedding dress. I think it's best for us-" She looked at me sideways, not quite meeting my eyes. "To keep our marriage on a strictly professional basis."

"As you wish," I said. "You're the bride. You're the boss."

She swallowed, turning her head nervously to me. "I am?"

I smiled. "I know that much about how a wedding works."

"Oh," Her face was the color of roses and cream as she chewed on her full, pink bottom lip. "You're being, umm..very.." her voice faltered. "Nice to me."

"Will you stop saying that?" My smile twisted.

"But it's true."

"I'm being strictly professional, just as you said. Courtesy is part of the business."

"Oh," she nodded. "In that case..."

"I'm glad you agree." I wondered if she would still accuse me of kindness if she knew the truth about what I intended to do with her or exactly why she was the answer to my prayer.

She was nothing like her sister. Illyra would see through my plans immediately. She was cunning, smart, and vicious. She was the sort of woman you wouldn't want to mess with.

She was a force that blew up everything in her way.