Chapter 13

Laura's POV

The restaurant was the definition of extravagance, dim lighting, plush velvet chairs, and a soft symphony of violin music humming in the background. A breathtaking view of the New York skyline stretched across the floor-to-ceiling windows, but I barely noticed any of it.

Because I was seated across from him.

His fingers idly toyed with the stem of his wine glass, swirling the dark red liquid inside with an elegance that almost distracted me from the man himself. He looked like a picturesque depiction of a vampire.

I was beginning to think that my obsession for dark romance, vampires and Greek gods had led me to this life.

In a way, I thought of myself as being like Persephone. Only that there was nothing in between us but business.

I forced myself to sit still, even though every fiber of my being screamed at me to flee.

"You look tense," he murmured, his voice smooth, deep, effortlessly laced with authority.

I bristled but kept my expression neutral. "That's because you practically dragged me out of work in the middle of the day."

His lips twitched, barely containing a smirk. "Dragged? I merely exercised my right. You did sign the contract, after all."

Bastard.

My fingers curled into fists beneath the table, hidden from view. "What do you want?"

I knew his presence couldn't be just as simple as wanting to have lunch with me.

He leaned forward slightly, dark eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. "My father wants to see you."

My stomach twisted.

"Your father?" I repeated, my voice sounding barely audible to my own ears.

His gaze didn't waver. "Yes. He wishes to meet his daughter-in-law."

Panic flared inside me, my breath hitching. "I—I'm not ready for that," I blurted out before I could stop myself.

His eyes gleamed with something unreadable, as if he had been expecting my reaction. "It’s not a request, wife."

Before I could snap back, a presence loomed beside our table.

My blood ran cold.

A white-haired man stood there, his sharp, piercing gaze settling on me with an intensity that felt suffocating. His aura commanded attention, the weight of his presence sending a ripple of silence across the room.

I knew who he was before he even spoke.

"Hello, daughter-in-law," he greeted, his deep voice holding the quiet authority of a man who was used to being obeyed.

I swallowed hard, my pulse roaring in my ears.

This was the father of the man I had foolishly married.

And something told me that my life was about to get much, much worse.

I swallowed hard, forcing my legs to steady as I pushed back my chair and stood.

"Sir," I greeted, my voice even despite the unease curling in my stomach.

His sharp gaze studied me, assessing, before the corners of his mouth lifted into a faint smile, calculated, controlled.

"Sit, daughter-in-law," he said smoothly, gesturing toward my chair. "No need for formalities."

I obeyed, sinking back into my seat, my fingers pressing lightly against my lap to stop them from fidgeting.

His attention didn’t waver as he took the seat beside his son, mirroring his poised demeanor. The resemblance between them was striking, both exuding an air of authority, both dangerous in their own way.

"So," he began, his fingers lacing together on the table. "How is work treating you?"

I kept my posture straight. "Work is fine, sir. Busy, but manageable."

"Good." He nodded slightly. "And before all of this? Before my son brought you into our family?"

The question sent a ripple of tension through me. I don't know what I had expected , something sharper, something more invasive? But his voice, while firm, held the practiced ease of a man who was used to steering conversations exactly where he wanted.

"It was… different," I said carefully. "But I’ve always been independent, so adapting hasn't been difficult."

His expression remained unreadable, though I caught the subtle glint of approval in his eyes.

"Independence is a valuable trait," he remarked. "One that many lose when they marry into power."

I nodded, unsure if he meant it as a compliment or a warning. By the way was any of that necessary for something temporarily existing.

As the conversation continued, his questions flowed smoothly, from my work to my ambitions, to whether I was adjusting well. At first, I answered stiffly, maintaining a professional tone, but as time passed, I found myself easing into it.

Despite his intimidating presence, he had a way of making the conversation engaging, as if drawing me into a game I hadn’t realized I was playing.

But I wasn’t naive.

Men like him…like both of them, never spoke without purpose.

And I had no doubt that this meeting, this conversation, was a test of some sort.

Kelvin sat there in silence, his posture relaxed but his expression unreadable. He swirled his wine lazily, his focus seemingly on the deep red liquid rather than the conversation unfolding beside him. It was as if he had checked out of the moment entirely, disinterested in the exchange between his father and me.

And for once, I was grateful for it.

Right now, his father was the lesser evil.

At least with him, I knew where I stood. He was calculating, powerful, and undoubtedly dangerous, but he wasn’t hiding behind pretense. He was assessing me, testing me, and I could handle that.

Kelvin, on the other hand, was an enigma I hadn’t yet figured out.

My gaze flickered to him briefly, but he didn’t acknowledge me. It was as if he had faded into the background, deliberately avoiding any involvement in the conversation.

His father, however, was very much present.

"You seem comfortable in my presence now," he observed, watching me closely.

I tensed slightly, realizing too late how I had let my guard down.

"Your questions are easy to answer," I replied smoothly, hoping to regain some control over myself. "I expected something… more difficult."

He chuckled, low and deep. "You expected me to interrogate you, perhaps?"

"Something like that."

His eyes glinted with amusement, but there was an edge to it. "I don’t need to interrogate you, Laura. I simply needed to see for myself what kind of woman my son had chosen."

The way he said it, like I was a specimen under a microscope, made me uneasy.

I glanced at Kelvin again, but he still didn’t react. No protest, no defense, nothing.

Of course not.

Because this marriage wasn’t real.

I lifted my chin slightly. "And have you formed an opinion, sir?"

His smile deepened, though it held no real warmth. "I have." He leaned back, folding his hands over his lap. "You’re not what I expected."

I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but I had a feeling I’d find out soon enough.

“Thank you sir.”

I responded, bowing slightly. One thing I've come to understand about dangerous people was that they appreciated honesty and hated being played for a fool by people who think they are smart. I knew better than to pretend here under his hawk-like eyes.

The older man studied me for a moment longer, then nodded as if he had gathered all he needed from our brief conversation. Without another word, he stood, smoothing out his tailored suit with a practiced grace.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Laura." His tone was polite, but there was a knife behind his words, like a warning wrapped in civility.

I gave a small nod. "Likewise, sir."

His gaze flickered to Kelvin, who had remained eerily silent throughout the exchange. "Walk me out."

Kelvin finally moved, setting his wine glass down with deliberate slowness. His expression remained unreadable as he pushed back his chair and stood.

For a second, I expected him to say something to me, maybe a half-hearted remark or even a sarcastic statement, but he didn’t spare me a glance. Instead, he walked past me, his steps unhurried as he followed his father out of the restaurant.

I exhaled quietly, feeling the tension leave my shoulders now that the weight of his father’s presence was gone. But I wasn’t foolish enough to think that meant I was safe.

A few minutes later, Kelvin returned. He didn’t sit back down. Instead, he reached for his phone just as it buzzed, glanced at the screen, and answered.

His expression changed almost instantly.

A slow, rare smile spread across his lips—not the cold, taunting smirks he usually threw my way, but something real.

Something that made my stomach twist in a way I didn't like.

Whatever or whoever was on the other end of that call had the power to pull a reaction out of him.

I didn’t know why that unsettled me.

Kelvin said something low into the phone before slipping it back into his pocket. Then, without a word, he turned on his heel and strode toward the exit, leaving me sitting there with my unanswered questions.

The guards approached immediately after, and I knew it was time to leave.

As the car pulled up to the entrance of the apartment Kelvin had placed me in, I finally had it in me to breathe easy. I survived todày.

One of the guards opened the door for me, and I stepped inside.

I barely had time to take a breath before someone lunged at me.

My heart leaped to my throat, but before I could react, strong arms wrapped around me in a tight hug.

I stiffened.

Then I heard the voice, breathless, girly, and unfamiliar.

"Oh my God, Kelvin! Finally!"

I blinked, frozen in shock, before I slowly turned my head to see who it was.

And when I did, my blood ran cold.

I barely had time to process what was happening before my face was smothered by something soft…too soft.

Breasts.

Huge, overwhelming, in-my-face breasts.

I sputtered, trying to breathe, my hands instinctively pushing at the body crushing me. But the woman clung tighter, her grip like a desperate octopus refusing to let go.

"Kelvin!" she squealed again, her voice shrill with excitement.

I shoved harder, gasping for air. "Get off!"

The moment I spoke, she jolted as if electrocuted and practically launched herself away from me, landing a few feet back like I'd just revealed myself as a demon.

"Who the hell are you?!" she screeched, her wide, dramatic eyes scanning me from head to toe like I was a cockroach in her expensive shoes.

I blinked, still catching my breath. "I should be asking you that," I shot back, my voice sharper than I intended.

She was gorgeous with long, silky strawberry blonde hair cascading down her back, a designer dress that screamed wealth, and a face so perfectly sculpted it had to cost a fortune. Her curves looked like they had been sculpted by the gods themselves.

But right now, none of that mattered.

Because she was in my space.

And judging by the way she was looking at me, I had just ruined her day. Well, cool, she's ruined mine as well.

I lifted my chin. “Who are you?”

She scoffed, shifting her weight onto one hip. “I should be asking you that.” Her perfectly manicured fingers tapped against her arm as she gave me a slow, judgmental once-over. “What are you doing here?”

I matched her energy, my voice flat. “I live here.”

She let out a short, incredulous laugh. “You? Live here?” She shook her head, still laughing. “That’s funny.”

I didn’t flinch. “Glad you think so. Now, are you going to tell me who you are, or should I call security?”

Her amusement vanished, replaced by something colder. She stepped forward, her voice dropping to a silky threat. “Security?” She let out a quiet chuckle, her eyes gleaming. “Honey, you have no right to question me. You’re the one who doesn’t belong here.”

My fingers twitched, but I kept them locked against my sides. I wasn’t stupid. This wasn’t just some random woman throwing a tantrum. There was something in the way she spoke, the way she carried herself, like she was untouchable.

Like she had a reason to believe she belonged here more than I did.

I turned to the guards standing near the entrance. “Where’s Kelvin?”

They hesitated.

It was quick, a brief exchange of glances, but I caught it. One of them shifted his weight, as if debating whether to answer, but in the end, none of them spoke.

That hesitation told me everything I needed to know.

Whoever this woman was, she wasn’t just anybody.

She had enough weight here that even Kelvin’s guards, men who had no problem dragging me from work in the middle of the day, weren’t sure how to respond to me in her presence.

I exhaled slowly, my heart beating a little faster.