Chapter 3: A Deal With The Devil

Adrian’s pov

I watched as Scarlett stared at the contract in her hands, her fingers tightening. She was hesitating, and I understood why. She had been betrayed, humiliated, and discarded. But she wasn’t broken. Not yet.

I needed her to sign. Not just because it suited my agenda, but because I had seen something in her back in that boardroom—something raw and dangerous, waiting to be unleashed. Victor Delacroix had made a mistake thinking he could crush her.

And I had every intention of using his mistake against him.

“Do you need more time?” I asked, my voice, measured. I already knew the answer.

Scarlett exhaled slowly, lifting her gaze to meet mine. There was no fear there anymore. Only determination. She took out a pen from her purse, pressed it to the paper, and with one stroke of ink, she sealed her fate.

“Good choice,” I murmured, taking the contract from her and sliding it into my briefcase.

 “It doesn’t feel like a choice.” She said as she let out a shaky breath.

I smirked. 

“It never was.”

She scoffed, crossing her arms. “You say that like you planned this.”

I met her gaze evenly. “I don’t believe in luck, Scarlett. Only strategy.”

 “And I suppose I’m just another piece on your chessboard?” She muttered, her lips pressed into a thin line.

I leaned forward slightly, resting my elbows on my desk. “You’re more than a piece in the game love. You’re the queen.”

***

The press conference was arranged within hours. The news spread fast, and I made sure the Delacroix family received the invitation personally. They had taken everything from Scarlett. Now, I wanted them to watch as I gave it all back to her—on my terms though.

The cameras flashed on us the moment we stepped on the stage. I could feel every reporter’s gaze on us, the anticipation thick in the air. Scarlett stood beside me, poised, composed. But I could sense the tension in her shoulders.

I placed a hand on her waist, grounding her. She stiffened slightly but didn’t walk away.

“Thank you all for coming,” I began, my voice cutting through the noise. “Today, I have an important announcement to make.”

I paused waiting for an effect, letting the silence stretch just long enough to create the exact tension I needed. Then, I turned slightly toward Scarlett. “Scarlett Delacroix and I are engaged.”

The room erupted.

The reporters shouted over one another, the cameras were already flashing wildly. The headlines were already being written. Adrian Voss Engaged to Betrayed Delacroix Heiress—Is It A Power Move or True Love?

I ignored the chaos, keeping my gaze locked onto the only people who mattered. Victor, Celeste, and Damian stood at the back of the room, their expressions frozen in a shock they could barely conceal.

Victor’s mouth pressed into a thin line, his eyes cold and calculating. Good. Think, old man. Think about how badly you underestimated me.

Celeste’s reaction was even more satisfying. She stepped forward, her eyes filled with fury. “This is a joke.” she screamed. 

Scarlett turned to face her, her lips curving into a slow, mocking smile. “Why? Because I was supposed to disappear quietly?”

Celeste let out a sharp laugh, though it lacked any humor. “You think this will give you power? You think Adrian actually cares about you?” She turned to me then, her blue eyes narrowing. “What’s in this for you, Voss? Why are you parading around with my pathetic little sister?”

I didn’t blink. “Because your father made a mistake, Celeste. And I don’t let mistakes go unpunished.”

Celeste’s jaw clenched. “You’re using her.”

I tilted my head to face her. “Just like you did?”

Her nostrils flared, and for a brief second, I thought she might slap Scarlett. But she didn’t. Instead, she turned on her heel and stormed out.

Victor followed her, his expression unreadable, but I saw the tightening of his fists, the barely concealed rage. Damian lingered for a moment, his eyes flickering to Scarlett. There was something there—regret, maybe? It didn’t matter.

Scarlett was no longer his concern.

***

Back at my penthouse, Scarlett stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, staring out at the city. She had been quiet since the press conference, her thoughts unreadable.

I poured a glass of whiskey and took a slow sip before speaking. “You handled that well.”

She turned slightly, her brow arching. “I didn’t have much of a choice, did I?”

 “No. But you still did well.”I smirked.

She exhaled, running a hand through her dark hair. “Celeste won’t back down. Neither will Victor.”

“I know.” I set my glass down and moved toward her. “That’s why we won’t, either.”

She turned fully now, meeting my gaze head-on. There was something different about her. A shift. The doubt was still there, but so was something else.

Something fierce. And I could feel it. 

“I don’t trust you,” she admitted, her voice quieter now. “I don’t trust anyone anymore.”

I stepped closer, close enough to catch the faint scent of her perfume. “Good.”

She frowned. “Good?”

I nodded. “Trust makes people weak. And you can’t afford to be weak, Scarlett. Not anymore.”

A long silence stretched between us, heavy with unspoken words.

“Why do you hate them?” she finally asked, studying me. “Victor. Celeste. You’re not just doing this for fun.”

I considered my words carefully. “Victor destroyed my father’s company. He made sure my family lost everything. And Celeste—” I let out a humorless chuckle. “She was part of it. She knew. She played a role in it.”

Scarlett’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes darkened. “So this is revenge.”

I smiled faintly. “I prefer to call it doing the right thing.”

She didn’t look away. “And I’m just a tool for that?”

I tilted her chin up slightly, forcing her to meet my gaze. “No. You’re the weapon.”

She swallowed hard, and for a moment, I saw the flicker of something dangerous behind her eyes.

Then, just as I turned to walk away, I leaned down, my lips brushing against her ear.

“This is just the beginning,” I murmured. “I want you to burn them to the ground.”

She didn’t flinch. Didn’t pull

away. Instead, she met my gaze, and I saw it.

Anger.