CHAPTER SIX (KILLIAN'S POV)

Elara left a couple of hours ago and Killian was left alone in his office. He sat on the edge of his desk staring out unto the city through his floor to ceiling windows in his office. The sun has started to set, casting the office in its warm red glow, it seemed peaceful but his mind was anything but peaceful.

He needed to act fast.

He picked up his phone and scrolled through his contacts until he got to a man's name, Mason Thorne. He was the best public affairs manager in the city— he was discreet, ruthless and very effective.

Killian had used his services a couple of times to take down competitors so he trusted in the man's abilities.

He dialed the number and Mason picked up on the first ring.

“Killian.” Mason said in greeting in a smooth and confident tone. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“You know the drill. I need news to spread quickly.” Killian said ,his voice slow and deliberate. He may be in haste on the inside but he would never let it show outside. “You're going to announce my engagement to Elara Beckett.”

Silence.

The line was silent for a moment so Killian pulled the phone away from his ear to check if the call had disconnected but it was still connected. Finally, Mason chuckled. “Engaged? Wow, never in all my eyes did I see this coming.”

Killian ignored his statement and carried on with his instructions. “I want it live within twelve hours. I want it on every front page in the city and beyond— business magazines, beauty, fitness, health, everything. Also, make sure you make it look as legitimate as possible— add some deep history, passionate romance. I want all the details.”

“Understood.” Mason said. “I'll make it happen. No one will suspect a thing.”

“And one more thing.” Killian added. “Make sure Ivy Beckett and her lapdog, Aiden, are the first to hear it.”

There was a brief pause then Mason spoke, his voice more serious than before. “Consider it done.”

“Good.” Killian said. “Your payment will arrive by dawn.”

With that he cut the call without waiting for Mason's response.

He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly, his thoughts all over the place. Everything he had been planning was finally falling into place.

He clenched his hands into a fist as he remembered the smirk Ivy wore on her face the day she ruined everything he had worked for. Her betrayal cut deep and was merciless.

Years ago, when Killian had newly begun to step into the business world. He had made the worst decision he could have ever made by allowing Ivy into his life. He was about to sign a deal that would change his life completely and make his business skyrocket then Ivy's father, Lucian Beckett, his biggest competitor at the time swooped in and stole it.

He had been confused by the sudden attack..no one knew about the business deal except one person, Ivy.  She had wormed her way into his life under the disguise of being the perfect woman for him and he had foolishly fallen for her lies. By the time he saw her true colors it was already too late. She had sabotaged him and left him with nothing but crumbs to pick up and humiliation.

Over the years she has managed to capture the attention of the world and win their hearts. They say her as nothing more than a sweet, angelic heiress who “worked hard” to get to where she was and had a lot of money and influence. But Killian knew better.

She was a wolf who hid her true nature behind designer clothes and a sweet smile. He had spent every waking moment since the day of her betrayal, building his company from scratch and plotting his revenge to take her down.

And now, the perfect weapon to use against her practically fell into his laps.

Elara Beckett.

He remembered hearing some things about her engagement a few years back but he never paid any attention to the internet's gossip. But seeing her at the charity even made him realize that she was a force to be reckoned with and she proved it. From the moment she walked into the room her aura filled every inch of it, drawing everyone's attention to her like a moth drawn to flame.

She had left Ivy and Aiden unsettled and that drew his attention. It was perfect. He could tell that Elara was a strong woman who had been shaped by the hardships she faced in life, yet there was something more— something a bit dangerous about her.

The brief time he had spent with her had made him feel things he hadn't felt in a long time, things he thought he had buried. She was strikingly beautiful, yes but it was the fire in her that drew him in. Her determination, the courage to bring anyone who stepped in her path down without a single ounce of hesitation.

Focus. He told himself as he shook his head to snap out of it. 

This was about revenge— that was his sole priority. It wasn't the time to get distracted by emotion as that would be a major liability that he couldn't afford.

His phone buzzed pulling him out of his thoughts. He picked it up and saw a text from mason.

“The news is out. Expect a reaction soon.”

A slow smile spread across his face. His plan was in motion, he knew Ivy and there was one thing that would vee change about her, her impulsiveness. All he had to do now was wait for her to retaliate.

She loved and breathed control, the idea of him and Elara being engaged is something out of her control. A chip in her perfect plan and it would drive her insane.

He got up from his desk and walked to the window with his hands clasped behind his back feeling satisfied. The city below was slowly winding down as people began to close from work as he watched them.

His mind drifted back to her.

Now that he had seen her, it was alike she had placed her stamp on him making it impossible for him to stop thinking about her.