Chapter 4 : TANGLED

Luciano could only look at her with a  compressed surprised expression on his face

“So, let's get straight to business,” she said as she carefully settled on the chair whilst caressing her pregnant belly once more. He looked at her, monitoring her every movement till she settled before looking back at her face

“Since your business desperately needs my help, I'm willing to partner with you” she spoke with a cold expression on her face and he cleared his throat to speak

“No! I don't need to hear what you have to say, I've read all the terms and conditions including the profit distribution and I'm okay with everything” she cut in, making him swallow his words. He couldn't believe it was the same Katherine he was once married to who was sitting right in front of him. She pushed the papers close to him and he stared down at it

“I have already signed the agreement so I'm good with everything. You can go through it and decide if you're comfortable with it but on second thought, you're in no position to like or dislike any of the terms and conditions so just get right to it and sign the agreement” she said, staring coldly at her fingernails. The clean and short deep red colored nails she had on could easily be matched to her cold Aura and Luciano was close to being intimidated by her whole demeanor. He took a glance at her and saw that she was paying him absolutely no attention, something he quite wasn't used to. He could vividly remember how she always used to be all over him months back but things had changed and she was no longer the same woman he had previously known her to be. He signed the contract and Katherine only looked back at him after his pen dropped

“Done,” he said and they shook on it. Deep inside of her, Katherine's heart was filled with vengeful thoughts but her face could only portray a smug and mysterious smile. She stood up and grabbed her mini purse

“Looking forward to working with you Mr Salvatore” she said with a cunning smile plastered on her face. She put on her sunglasses once more and then proceeded to make her way out.

………………………………………………………….

“No! I've told you not to engage with any of them, I don't care whether or not they lose their shares but nothing must happen to mine” Raymond yelled into the phone as he stood with a glass of wine in his left hand and the phone in his right. He took a sip while listening to what the other person had to say on the phone and he nodded to what he/she was saying. Beta Diego was on the other hand seated, watching the Alpha give orders to a worker on the phone. He took a sip of his wine and watched Alpha Raymond end the call quietly.

“So, are things going how you want them to?”

“They better! These people don't want to mess with me” he responded and he rested back on the chair

“So Alpha, what has the doctor said so far”

“Ugh, I don't even want to think about that man. He has been asking for an appointment but I've been really busy lately, I'll go meet him whenever I'm ready”

“What? I'll strongly advise you to go as soon as possible”

“Oh don't start with that now, I'll go when I can. Besides, I don't seem to be portraying any symptoms and I feel perfectly fine” Beta Diego didn't say anything further, he just quietly scrutinized Alpha Raymond, giving him his usual “I know what I'm saying” look. Both chuckled for a short while and the ambience soon turned into a serious one almost immediately

“Alpha, when do you plan on telling the Luna about your condition”

“And why should I do that?” Beta Diego contemplated what to say next but only spoke up after being sure what he was saying would go well with his alpha

“I'm just saying, you two are married and she's your Luna, it's only fair that she knows what's going on with you”

“She doesn't need to! You of all people know that we didn't get married based on love, we both have what we each seek so we agreed to come together and that's it. I am not entitled to tell Katherine about my health status and I want to believe this will continue to be between us and just us, Katherine isn't allowed to know about it”

“I'm not allowed to know about what?” Katherine asked while walking in, startling both men. She walked closer to them and Raymond stood up to receive her

“It's nothing you need to know so don't stress your little head” he said, embracing her and planting a kiss on her forehead. They hungrily kissed each other and only stopped when Beta Diego uncomfortably cleared his throat.  He couldn't seem to understand why they just couldn't get themselves a room and just had to choke him with their heaty moments

“Alpha I'll be taking my leave now” he informed, getting up from the chair

“Oh alright, just keep me updated on all we discussed”

“Yes! Goodbye” he said, bowing to his alpha and Luna before leaving

“So, how did your meeting go?”

“Hmm very good, you should have seen his pathetic face” she quickly responded, her ego boosted from the just concluded meeting with alpha Luciano

“He doesn't know what he's up for! I'll make him pay for everything he did to me with everything he has” she said with resentment and Raymond smiled, planting a kiss on her lips. Within no time, both were lost in each other and the whole room was filled with their euphoric moment.

Meanwhile, Alpha Luciano was in his study room with a glass of alcohol in one hand and a cigar in the other as usual. After getting back from the meeting, he needed a quiet space for himself and the first place that went to his mind was his study room. He ordered all the maids to ensure that he was not disturbed even just a little till he was ready to leave the room and they all nodded in obedience. Before making his way in, he instructed one of them to get him a bottle of alcohol, a glass, and a fresh pack of cigarettes which was immediately done. He got into the study, shut himself inside, and proceeded to take his alcohol. He still couldn't properly wrap his head around the whole thing. Katherine? The same Young woman who could lay her life and self-respect for him was now cold, fierce and cunning, and in the business world at that. He had thought that all the people who said Katherine had gotten married to the alpha of the crimson moon pack were all just liars and rumour spreaders but the meeting had further clarified the whole thing for him

“How could she get married to a rival of mine?” He said all of a sudden and a resounding roar followed with his question. No one in the mansion dared to go check on what was happening with him, well, no one except Camilla

“Luciano, Luciano, what's wrong? Open the door please” She knocked on the door heavily but Alpha Luciano only ignored her. He continued thinking whilst sipping his alcohol and smoking but Camilla only persisted, not determined to leave for even a second

There was something about Katherine and her pregnancy that just kept hitting hard on him and the more he tried to figure out what it was, the more restless and empty he felt. Camilla on the other hand just kept banging at his door, anxious for what was bothering the Alpha while the maids stood by the side, fearing what he would do to them especially after he had sternly instructed them not to let any disturbance reach him. After banging on the door for almost two minutes, the door to the study room finally got open and all the maids around took to their heels while Camila stood back smiling. The smile however turned into a scared frown when she saw the funming Luciano with his eyes red and sharp claws out like he had found a prey.

“Get out” he yelled, violently pushing her to the floor and she whimpered in pain as her butt hit the ground with full force. She ran away in fear and Luciano shut the door once more, drinking himself into a stupor and at the same time overthinking everything that had happened. After a while, his phone started ringing and he picked up the call which was from his company's Manager.

“Good afternoon sir, hope you are….”

“Go straight to the point”

“Oh sorry sir, actually I called to inform you that the investors who had requested to pull out their shares have reconsidered their decision and would like to have a meeting with you tomorrow”

“Hmm, alright” he ended the call and placed his phone back on the table, at least something had gone well for the day. He threw the remaining bottle of alcohol on the floor and made his way out to his bedroom

“Hey you, go clean the mess in the study room now” he ordered one of the maids as he made his way towards the bedroom and she immediately went straight to do it.