Chapter 6: "Have we met before?"

Chapter 7:

I watched as Viviana’s hand slowly wrapped around Dante’s arm securely, almost like she was staking a claim, like she was marking her territory, sending a direct warning to me to stay away from her property, something she stole from me.

I gritted my teeth, but maintained a smile.

She leaned close to him with a warm, practiced smile.

I understood it clearly, I understood everything, and if gnawed at my insides.

“I don’t think we’ve met, have we?” she asked, her voice smooth.

I straightened in my seat and cleared my throat, trying to keep my expression calm even though anger was crawling under my skin. My fists tightened under the counter where she couldn’t see them.

“We haven’t, Viviana,” I replied. “At least not officially.”

She gave another smile, a wide but empty smile.

“I’m Viviana,” she said, extending her hand. “Dante’s partner.” She had a malicious grin on her face, the same one she had when she pushed me from the balcony two years ago.

The word partner, the thought that she had not gotten her fair share of pain for what she did to me stung, but I forced my face to stay neutral.

“Oh,” I said, looking at her hand for only a second before choosing not to take it. I kept my own hand firmly on my glass.

Viviana tried to hide her reaction, but she couldn’t stop her smile from stiffening at the edges. Her eyes cooled, and she pulled her hand back slowly, pretending not to mind. But the tension between us grew heavy, thick enough to cut through.

She wasn’t the only one feeling it.

Her gaze swept over me again, slow and assessing, like she was searching for something she couldn't name. I met her eyes without flinching. I wasn’t going to bow my head for her.

My skin crawled with every second she stayed close to me.

Viviana finally turned toward Dante, though she still glanced at me from the corner of her eye.

“Dante, we need to talk to some investors,” she said, her voice suddenly softer, almost pleading.

I took the message, she was already feeling threatened by my presence, good.

Dante nodded, but not before giving me one more look. Then he extended his hand toward me again.

“I hope we get to talk again,” he said.

I placed my hand in his, and the moment our skin touched, a spark shot through me again, just like earlier. A strong, unmistakable spark that threatened to blow my mask off.

I wondered if he felt it too.

When he walked away with Viviana holding onto him so tightly, my chest tightened. Anger rose inside me, sharp and hot.

Look at them, after killing me, they thought they could have their happily ever after.

I grabbed my wine glass, holding it so hard my knuckles turned white. The glass almost cracked in my hand.

I didn’t look away as they left. I didn’t blink.

Let them enjoy this moment.

It would not last, though. I would make sure I took away every shred of happiness they have left, I would tear it away ane lave them in nothing but despair.

I gulped down hard.

“If you hold onto that glass any harder, you may crack it.”

My father’s voice slipped into my thoughts, cool and controlled. I turned slightly as Viktor De Luca appeared beside me, every step of his carrying that quiet authority that made people part like water around him. I had been his daughter for the past six months, but I was still unable to get used to his presence, I still felt like crumbling in front of him.

He sat on the stool next to mine and gently pried the glass from my fingers. Without hesitation, he lifted it and finished the leftover wine in one smooth swallow.

“Your ex-husband has good taste,” he said, setting the empty glass down.

I blinked, taken off guard.

“How do you know?” I asked, turning fully toward him.

His lips curved faintly—his version of a smile.

“Because a queen knows how to strategize,” he said. “And I planted the De Luca spirit in you.”

A small laugh slipped out of me despite the anger still twisting inside my chest. Only Viktor could say something like that and make it sound both comforting and terrifying.

He reached for my hand, his touch firm, grounding me.

“Calm yourself,” he said softly. “The first phase of our plan has already begun.”

I inhaled slowly, letting his words sink in. The rage still burned, but now it had direction. I followed his gaze across the ballroom, where Dante and Viviana were speaking to a group of investors, Viviana still glued to his arm.

A storm built inside me, but this time I didn’t tremble.

One thing j knew for sure at this moment was that things were going my way, I was in control.

I had seen the way Dante had looked at me, I had seen the mixed feeling of uncertainty and curiosity in his eyes, mixed with something else—admiration, maybe.

I knew one thing,I had Dante exactly where I wanted him, and that alone had placed me at the top of the game.