The Lorenzos sat, basking in the grandeur of the Rivas estate, yet its splendor was still nothing compared to the Lorenzo empire.
Mrs. Lorenzo sat at the right side of the long table, dressed in a light blue silk gown with pearl earrings, her hair pulled into a neat bun. It was simple for such a grand evening. Too simple. Had she worn it because she thought little of them, or because she already considered them family? Aveline had never been given the chance to share something as ordinary as a conversation with her soon-to-be mother-in-law. Mrs. Lorenzo’s expression was hard to engage. Was she inspecting? Suspecting? Was she unimpressed or impressed? Maybe it was a billionaire thing. Trust wasn’t offered, it was earned. They didn’t reach their heights by flashing smiles at everyone who came close. Xavier was just like her. Xavier. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him. What was she doing? He kept glancing at his watch, as though this dinner were a waste of his time. Uninterested or simply waiting for something better? He sat tall, his tanned skin glistening beneath the glow of the golden lights. His hair was dark and lustrous, his clothes plain: a black shirt, black trousers, a watch dangling carelessly at his wrist. Another display of simplicity. She must have looked ridiculous beside them. Aveline’s usual arrogance wavered. Among millionaires, she was a force to be reckoned with, distinguished in politics, economics, history, and every marker of excellence. That was her ground, her pride. But here, among billionaires, she was nothing. She had no place. “You have great taste, Mr Rivas.” She dug into the fine, juicy steak. “Taste. Ah. I'm flattered. Compared to your estate, I must have done quite a lot to catch your eye.” Denzo lied. Aveline him a looked of disbelief. Her mother was responsible for the estate's design. Mrs Lorenzo looked over to the empty seat beside Denzo. “Is there someone we're waiting for, Mr Rivas?" “I don't understand what you mean by that?” He pursed his lips, sealing the tension. “Your wife, Mrs Rivas” “You mean Freya?” Denzo asked. “Yes, Mrs Rivas.” She emphasized. “It's a special occasion for Aveline.” “Freya and I aren't married anymore.” He smiled convincingly, steady and slow. “Oh. I'm sorry, Mr Rivas.” She paused. “It's still an important night for darling Aveline.” “Freya has important engagements with certain agencies. She's a busy woman.” Aveline's eyes twitched at his lies. It was the second one that night. No one knew what Freya was up to. “More important than this?” She sipped from her wine glass. “Freya is rather unusual. She doesn't mean to disrespect the Lorenzos, I assure you, "he added. “It's okay. Our Theo isn't here either.” Mrs smiled frantically. Aveline's gaze shot up, puzzled. “Our eldest son is still bed-ridden for years. A mother may find it hard to process such grief, even while alive." Her smile dropped. Aveline lowered her gaze. She never knew anything about Theo, even when she visited the estate years back. It was depressing but it was also clear the importance of keeping his identity hidden to protect the family's image, but not hidden enough from her father. The late Mr must have trusted her father so much. “My heart goes out to him. He was a sweet boy.” “And you?” Mrs Lorenzo's voice cut through her thoughts. “You're rather quiet this evening.” Denzo shot a glare at her. “She's not exactly the chatty type of person.” “i’m sure Aveline can speak for herself." She forced a smile at him. “Forgive my silence. I beg that you do not mistake it for arrogance.” Aveline smiled, tucking the loose strands of her curls behind her ears, nervously. “Arrogance is a good quality. Silence is a powerful tool. But at the dinner table it's useless now.” She chuckled. “You have nothing to worry about. I have my facts checked. Xander spoke highly of you, sadly before his passing.” Memories of Late Mr Lorenzo was a distant one. Just before she left for Paris to further her education, she visited the Lorenzo's very often. Mr Lorenzo would puzzle her with questions. At thirteen, she had no idea she was being bred to be sold into such a life. “You must be smart.” She held her fork in mid air. “Smart enough for my son of course.” Aveline held her breath, Mrs Lorenzos gaze piercing with scrutiny.Tilly kept quiet, oblivious to the growing tension. Tania looked over to Sonia, hiding her surprise. The group spread across the terrain. Each, out to catch a prey. Most shots were from Xavier followed by Sonia. Aveline steadied her gaze, turning serious. A thrill ran down her spine, brushing the loose strands of her curls behind her ears. She couldn't back down. Aveline walked further away from the group, her boots rustling against the dried Autumn leaves. Minutes flew by quickly. Aveline fired seven shots within a few minutes. She walked with caution that Matteo couldn't help but stare at.Aveline’s eye caught a squirrel scratching near the trunk of a pine tree. She bent low, breath steady, finger brushing the trigger.Bang!The squirrel vanished into the woods and Sonia hit the ground. Her scream broke into the air. Aveline’s body locked. She hadn’t even seen her. Sonia had come out of nowhere. Blood darkened the dirt as Sonia clutched her leg.Aveline threw her rifle to the gr
It was the day of the hunt. Xavier stood by the courtyard fountain, rifle in his hands. She was late. The hunt wasn’t just sport, it was a Lorenzo tradition. A test of composure, instinct, and presence to welcome a new member. And she was late. Tilly, his maternal cousin, leaned against the edge of the fountain, her blonde curls spilling over her shoulder. “I can’t wait to meet her in person,” she teased, spinning her rifle once. “Xavier’s very own fiancée. To his left, Matteo and Sonia, Xaviers's friends, stood waiting. Matteo was restless, tapping his boot on the gravel. Then movement caught his eye. Two figures approaching from the far path out of a car. Aveline. And beside her, a woman he didn’t recognize. Her steps were quick, deliberate, as though she’d been scolded for being late and intended to make up. “Here she comes,” Matteo smirked, placing his arm around Tilly’s shoulder. Xavier folded his arms across his chest, watching every step she took. “You’re late,” he s
Aveline spent days contemplating what gift could possibly suit Xavier. A wristwatch? He probably had an entire gallery. Shirts were too basic. The shoes were stupid. Rings? Too intimate.Guns. The thought excited her for a moment before she discarded it. Xavier had inherited command of the LDS—Lorenzo Defense Systems—a company founded in wartime. No gun could impress him. She slumped back, sweeping her hands roughly through her thick curls.. Denzo inherited her maternal grandfather’s finance company, but her mother had inherited her grandmother’s empire: an art and fashion gallery of different niches. That was the key. A painting. She grabbed her phone off the table, pausing as her thumb hovered over the screen. Her mother hadn’t cared to visit since she came back from Paris. To the world, Freya and Denzo were divorced but behind closed doors, Freya would never let divorce strip her of the ties to her father’s company no matter how reckless she was. That was the only reason they w
Mr Lorenzo went on a deep rant. For a moment, she caught Xavier’s gaze through her peripheral vision. He stared long at her. “Is this some type of play?” Xavier spoke. She couldn't believe her ears. Xavier’s gaze flickered towards her. She looked up, catching his face perfectly since the course of the dinner for the first time. He had a tiny scar across his brow he arched notoriously. If he were someone less important, she would have laughed stupidly. “I don't understand what you mean by that?” She poked her steak with the fork. "You are usually very outspoken. I know quite a lot about you.” He said flatly. “I'm rather surprised, if I'm being honest, Mr Lorenzo. I'm surprised you've taken your time to go through my credentials and political stance.” Aveline shifted in her seat uncomfortably. Fucking set of weirdos. Her life was a public record and easy to dissect. Still, she couldn't help but cling to a small relief that at least they’d found something admirable about her.
The Lorenzos sat, basking in the grandeur of the Rivas estate, yet its splendor was still nothing compared to the Lorenzo empire.Mrs. Lorenzo sat at the right side of the long table, dressed in a light blue silk gown with pearl earrings, her hair pulled into a neat bun. It was simple for such a grand evening. Too simple. Had she worn it because she thought little of them, or because she already considered them family?Aveline had never been given the chance to share something as ordinary as a conversation with her soon-to-be mother-in-law. Mrs. Lorenzo’s expression was hard to engage. Was she inspecting? Suspecting? Was she unimpressed or impressed? Maybe it was a billionaire thing. Trust wasn’t offered, it was earned. They didn’t reach their heights by flashing smiles at everyone who came close. Xavier was just like her.Xavier. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him. What was she doing? He kept glancing at his watch, as though this dinner were a waste of his time. Uninterested o
My Mia, you look rather exceptional tonight.” Mr Denzo’s voice rang through the room, his voice whipped with mischief. Aveline forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes, mocking her father's excitement. “Surely, it's been a while. I wouldn't want Xavier to think less of me.”“Aveline, Xavier is a good man.” He placed an arm over her shoulder, glancing at her reflection in the mirror with a wide smile.“Yeah, good for whatever you have up your sleeve.” She nudged him off, adjusting the strap of her dress. Mr. Denzo’s laughter filled the air “You’ll thank me one day, Mia.”Her lips pursed as she slipped on her earrings. “Or curse you,” she muttered incoherently. He waved her off, pretending not to hear. That was his way of ignoring what didn’t suit him.she couldn’t mess the night with the Lorenzos. With the room full of eyes waiting to judge, not with and certainly not with Xavier himself, the boy turned billionaire, waiting at the other end.“And what's my end of the deal? What do