CHAPTER SIX: COLD RECEPTION

It’s the middle of the week when Rex decides, with that serious glint in his eyes, that we’re going to see his father.

I don’t know what possessed him to suggest it. Maybe he thinks this will somehow fix things, or maybe he’s tired of hiding behind the walls of their house, but either way, my stomach twists at the thought. Rex Patterson, his father, and me? In the same space? It's a terrible mix, like fire and gasoline, waiting to explode.

I grab my jacket and glance at Rex, his expression unreadable as usual. He’s already waiting by the door, his posture tense but controlled. “You okay?” he asks, his voice low, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes—concern? Or is it just the usual pressure from dealing with his father?

“Just don’t expect me to fit in,” I say, trying to keep the bitterness out of my voice. The thought of being in Victor Patterson’s presence again, of feeling that cold weight of judgment on me, sends shivers down my spine.

Rex says nothing as he opens the door. He just looks at me, his gaze hard and unwavering. But his hand brushes against mine as we step out of the house, and I feel the weight of his unspoken words. He doesn’t like it any more than I do, but we have to do this. For the contract. For the money.

The drive to his father's mansion feels long, every mile a reminder of the world I don’t belong to. The walls of the car feel like they’re closing in around me, the air thick with unspoken tension. Rex is silent, but I can feel the storm inside him brewing.

We arrive at the Patterson mansion soon enough. It’s even bigger than the last time I saw it, with towering columns and a sprawling yard that screams wealth and power. I can almost taste the coldness in the air, as if the house itself knows how unwelcome I am.

I follow Rex inside, trying to hold my head high, but I can’t shake the feeling of being an intruder.

Victor Patterson is waiting for us in his usual spot—behind a massive wooden desk, the kind that looks like it was carved from a single piece of dark oak. His eyes flicker to me the moment we enter, and I feel his gaze like a cold slap.

“Rex,” he says, his voice smooth and calm, but I can hear the disapproval underneath. “And... Vanya. What a surprise.”

I don’t respond right away. Instead, I step closer to Rex, feeling the weight of Victor’s gaze on me, pressing me down.

Rex gives a quick nod, his eyes never leaving his father. “We’re here to talk business.”

Victor leans back in his chair, his fingers tapping the edge of his desk. “Business, yes. But I have to say, I’m curious.” His gaze shifts to me again, and this time, the coldness in his expression is more pronounced. “You still haven’t told me why she’s here. This... arrangement you two have. I don’t understand it.”

I feel a sharp pain in my chest, the words cutting deeper than I’d like to admit. But I don’t let it show. I look straight at him, meeting his cold, calculating eyes.

“I’m here because it’s a business arrangement, Victor. Just like you said,” I say, my voice steady but tinged with a hint of bitterness. “I need Rex’s help. And he needs mine.”

Victor raises an eyebrow, as if he doesn’t believe a word I’m saying. “I’m sure you do,” he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “But let’s be clear here. This isn’t a love match. This is a contract. A means to an end.”

I feel a knot tighten in my stomach, and my palms grow sweaty. He’s right, of course. But it stings to hear it out loud. I don’t want to be just a means to an end. But what else am I? The contract is all we have.

I force myself to speak again, my voice calm but resolute. “I’m aware of that, Victor. Believe me. I’m here for as long as the contract says. No more, no less.”

Victor’s lips curl into a slight smile, but it’s not kind. It’s the smile of someone who’s won, even when they haven’t said a word. “How convenient for you,” he says, his voice dripping with disdain. “You’ll be gone once Rex secures the ten-billion-dollar investment, won’t you?”

I hold my breath, the words hanging in the air like a suffocating fog. I don’t have to answer, because the truth is clear enough. The contract is temporary. Once it’s over, I’ll be nothing more than a footnote in their lives.

I stand taller, my hands gripping the back of the chair next to me for support. “I don’t plan on staying any longer than necessary,” I say, my voice low but steady. “And neither does Rex. We’re both here for the business. Not for anything else.”

Victor’s eyes narrow, a look of amusement crossing his face. “You’re bold, I’ll give you that. But don’t fool yourself. This is just a transaction. When the business is done, you’ll be gone. And Rex will move on to something better. Someone better.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, I can’t breathe. I want to yell, to throw something at him, but I know better than to react. I take a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm.

“I don’t need your approval, Victor,” I say quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “And I don’t need anyone’s pity. I’m here to do what I have to do. That’s all.”

Victor lets out a low chuckle, as if my words amuse him. But it’s not a kind laugh. It’s the kind of laugh that makes you feel small, insignificant, like you’re nothing more than a pawn in someone else’s game.

“You don’t belong here, Vanya,” he says, his voice cold and final. “You never will.”

I swallow hard, but I don’t let his words break me. This isn’t about fitting in. It’s about survival. About getting through each day, each moment, without letting them crush me completely.

Rex doesn’t say anything, but I can feel the weight of his gaze on me. His silence is louder than anything his father has said.

I turn to Rex, my heart aching. “Let’s get this over with.”

He nods, his jaw tight, his eyes full of unspoken words. But I don’t want to hear them. I don’t need to hear them.

I came here for one thing—business. And that’s all it will ever be.

As we leave the office, I can feel Victor’s eyes on my back, his disdain pressing against me like a heavy weight. But I walk out with my head held high, because if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that I’m not here to please him. I’m here to survive.

And I’ll survive this.