Chapter 6: The Deal

SEVASTIAN

The door clicked shut behind Celestina, her scent lingering faintly in the air, a mix of sweetness and fire that matched her perfectly. 

I stood there for a moment, my hand instinctively brushing through my hair in frustration.

What the hell just happened?

She had pushed me, teased me, toyed with me,and somehow walked out of here like she was the one in control. 

Most people wouldn’t dare to breathe the wrong way around me, let alone pull half the stunts like she just did. Yet, Celestina didn’t flinch, not once.

And for some reasons I couldn’t fully explain, I found myself smiling.

She’s different, I thought, almost amused. 

Bold, defiant and reckless. She wasn’t afraid of me, not in the slightest and it was damn infuriating, thrilling and maybe a little dangerous.

As my mind churned over her parting words, the door swung open abruptly, jolting me from my thoughts. 

I straightened, my expression immediately shifting to its usual cold mask.

My father, Emilio, strode into the room, his sharp eyes scanning me like he already knew I wasn’t entirely pleased. 

Carson followed closely behind, his grin as wide as a fool. Their men filtered back into the room, taking their positions near the walls, silent but alert.

Carson’s smile irked me more than I cared to admit. 

The man reeked of greed and arrogance, as if he believed this entire arrangement was his victory.

“Sevastian,” my father greeted, his tone brisk. 

He glanced at me briefly before turning his attention to the table. “I assume everything is settled?”

I didn’t answer immediately, my gaze locked on Carson. He was practically beaming, his posture relaxed like he was already counting the spoils of this deal.

Carson chuckled, rubbing his hands together. “Your wife has quite the spirit, doesn’t she? Just like her old man.”

I resisted the urge to scoff. 

Spirit? No, what Celestina had was a fire no one, not even Carson could tame.

“She does,” I replied, my tone measured, giving nothing away. 

My eyes never left his, and his grin faltered slightly under the weight of my stare.

Carson might think he was winning, but he didn’t know who he was dealing with. 

Celestina had made it clear she wasn’t just her father’s pawn, and I was beginning to see that she was far more than the weapon Carson had intended to hand over.

“What terms have you agreed upon?” Emilio asked, his tone sharp as always.

I glanced at the contract on the table, my mind already working through Celestina’s words. 

She wanted me to play along with Carson’s greed, to give him just enough to think he’d won while keeping control firmly in my hands.

Carson leaned back in his chair, his smirk irritatingly wide as he tapped a finger against the paper.

"As I said I want thirty percent of El Marino," he said firmly, his voice echoing in the quiet room. "If you can't give me that, then consider this marriage null. I'll find another man for Celestina, someone who knows her worth."

The words hit harder than they should have, and I felt my temper flare. My fists clenched at my sides, the veins in my arms taut. 

The thought of Celestina with another man made my jaw tighten, a surge of possessiveness rushing through me.

Carson noticed my sudden reaction. 

His grin widened, his tone smug. "See, Sevastian? My daughter is a rare one. Men would kill to have her."

I locked eyes with him, my fury simmering just below the surface. 

"Twenty-five percent," I said coldly, my tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Whether you like it or not, that’s the only thing you’ll get. If you’re unhappy, take her back and sell her to another family. I don’t care."

The smirk on Carson’s face faltered slightly, but I wasn’t done.

"In fact," I continued, my voice laced with sarcasm, "I doubt anyone would dare to marry her. You see, Valeztina, everyone in this city bow down to me. Even the ones who think they don’t."

The room fell silent, the weight of my words sinking in. Carson’s expression darkened, his arrogance melting into something more serious. 

His fingers twitched on the table as if he wanted to lash out, but he held himself back.

I leaned forward, my gaze sharp. "So, if you’re done playing games, let’s settle this like men. Twenty-five percent. Final offer."

Carson’s nostrils flared, his greed warring with his pride. 

He knew there was no better family than the Ortega’s, no better deal than what I was offering.

Finally, he exhaled sharply and leaned back in his chair, his expression hard. 

"Fine," he bit out, his tone curt. "But I want free access to the El Marino shipments. Consider it a gesture of good faith."

I let a small smile creep onto my face, though it didn’t reach my eyes. "Done."

I raised my hand, signaling one of my men. Within moments, a freshly drafted contract was brought into the room. 

It was placed in front of Carson, who scanned the document greedily before picking up the pen.

As he signed, his smile returned, full of avarice and self-satisfaction. He passed the contract to me, and I signed it with a calm that masked the storm inside.

The moment the papers were exchanged, Carson’s chuckle filled the room. He held his copy tightly, his eyes gleaming with triumph as if he’d just won a prize.

But he hadn’t.

I leaned back in my chair, watching him with a smirk of my own. He thought he’d played me, but the real game had only just begun and as I always vow, I’d never lose.

As I watched Carson enjoy his small victory, my mind had already wandered. 

Celestina…

Her blazing eyes, the way she walked out with the last word, and the feeling of her rebelliousness still clinging to me — it all came flooding back.

And then her voice echoed in my mind, I hate waiting, Sevastian.

I stood abruptly, straightening my coat with a sharp tug. 

No more time to waste. She had dared me to act, and I had no intention of letting her wait a moment longer.

Emilio, my father, raised a brow as I pushed my chair back. “Where are you going, Sevastian?”

“Business,” I said shortly, adjusting the cuffs of my sleeves without looking at him.

I was halfway to the door when I heard the scrape of his chair and the sound of his heavy footsteps following me.

“Business?” My father repeated, his tone both questioning and suspicious.

I didn’t bother to explain. 

My mind was focused solely on the woman waiting somewhere within the confines of this mansion.

If I knew her well enough and I was learning quickly she wouldn’t be twiddling her thumbs idly. 

No, Celestina would be plotting her next move, preparing to push me even further.

Good. Because I have more reason to see her ruined face. 

As I reached the doorway, my father’s voice stopped me again. “Is this about that woman?”

I paused, my hand gripping the doorknob tightly. 

Slowly, I turned my head just enough to meet his gaze.

“That woman is my wife,” I said coldly, my tone making it clear the conversation was over.

Without waiting for his response, I stepped out of the room, my steps purposeful. Behind me, my father followed, his silence a clear indication he was trying to piece together whatever game I was playing.

But this wasn’t a game he could understand. This was between Celestina and me, a battlefield neither Carson nor Emilio had any business stepping onto.

And I intended to claim victory, starting now.