André hugged Vivienne tightly, his arms locked around her like he was afraid she would disappear. His breath was warm against her neck, and she could feel how fast his heart was beating.
But Vivienne?
She was smirking.
He really believed it.
She had him right where she wanted.
She pressed her cheek against his chest and let herself shake a little, pretending to be overwhelmed by emotion. Then, right on cue, she sniffled. Her eyes filled with fake tears. She bit her bottom lip softly and blinked twice, making it look like she was fighting back pain.
André pulled back gently. His hands were still on her arms as he looked into her face.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly, like he truly cared.
Vivienne tilted her face down, keeping her voice low and broken. "Please, my lord... don't say that."
Her voice trembled like she was about to cry harder.
"How can you say you love me?"
She let a tear roll down her cheek. She was almost impressed with herself. This performance was worthy of an award. She was crying the fakest tears of her life, and at the same time, trying not to laugh in his face.
"I am just a maid," she whispered. "You are a duke. I don't deserve your heart."
André's eyes were full of warmth. No doubt. No suspicion.
He cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing along her cheek.
"No, Vivienne," he said. "You deserve everything. Everything beautiful. Everything pure. You deserve to be loved more than anyone."
Vivienne swallowed the giggle rising in her throat. This was almost too easy.
"I'm sorry, my lord," she said, her voice low. "But I can't. I can't."
She looked away as if in pain.
Then she exhaled deeply. It was time to bring out the heavy lies.
She reached for the widow card.
"Please, I can't," she said, placing her hand over her chest. "I don't want to get hurt again."
She paused, sniffling.
"I already lost my husband. And I promised myself I wouldn't feel that pain again. I can't go through that again. I can't lose someone I love again."
André's arms wrapped around her again, this time tighter.
"I'll never hurt you," he whispered. "I swear to you. I'll do anything for you."
She leaned into him, pretending to be comforted, but inside, she was screaming with victory.
She looked up at him, eyes soft.
"You will?" she asked.
"Anything," he said, nodding. "I'll do anything for you, Vivienne."
He wiped the tears from her cheeks again with his thumb.
"I promise you."
Vivienne gave the smallest nod, lowering her eyes.
Then he stepped away.
He reached for the pearl necklace on the table.
"I want you to have this," he said, walking behind her.
He lifted her hair gently, his fingers brushing the back of her neck. Then he placed the necklace around her throat and clasped it softly.
"You are the most beautiful person I've ever seen."
His voice was calm. Soft. But full of something deeper.
Vivienne turned slowly to face him.
She stared at him for a moment.
God, she thought, this is the dumbest rich man I have ever seen.
This job is going to be easier than stealing candy from a child.
He looked at her like she had just saved his soul. Like she was a goddess standing in front of him.
He really believed every word she said.
Since you're being so sweet, she thought, I'll give you your first kiss.
She leaned in. Her lips brushed his gently.
It was meant to be a soft kiss. Just a light touch.
But then.
Everything changed.
André's hands suddenly grabbed her waist.
He kissed her back. But it wasn't soft. It wasn't innocent.
It was hungry.
It was deep. Fierce. Like he had been holding himself back and couldn't anymore.
His lips moved against hers like he was trying to pour everything he felt into the kiss. He kissed her like he had done it a hundred times before.
Vivienne's eyes flew open. She hadn't expected this.
He wasn't sweet.
He wasn't gentle.
He was kissing her like a starving man. His tongue parted her lips. His kiss was warm. Wet. Desperate. He licked her lips slowly like he wanted to taste every inch of her mouth.
She tried to keep up. But she couldn't.
Her hands grabbed onto his shirt. Her knees started to shake. She couldn't even stand properly. He was making her dizzy.
His kiss was overwhelming. Wild. He was devouring her. Taking control.
Then his hand slid down. Slowly.
He grabbed her leg and lifted it gently. Then the other.
He held her thighs firmly, lifting her off the floor a little, suspending her on his waist.
Her dress moved as his hands slowly pushed upward along her thighs. His fingers slid along her skin.
Vivienne gasped against his lips. She couldn't breathe anymore.
Her body was on fire.
Her legs were weak. Her mind was spinning.
She broke the kiss suddenly, pulling away, gasping for air.
"I... I'm sorry," she whispered breathlessly, her chest rising and falling fast.
She didn't wait for him to say anything. She turned and rushed out of the room like her life depended on it.
André stood there, frozen.
He looked confused. And hurt.
He just watched her leave.
He didn't stop her.
He stood there for a few more seconds, staring at the door like it had just broken his heart.
A knock came a few moments later.
It was the butler.
"Your grace," he said. "The papers concerning the shipments have been prepared. They are in your study."
André didn't speak right away. He just nodded slowly.
Then he walked away without saying anything more.
He went to the study.
A servant was already there, holding out the parchment and a pen.
André sat down quietly. He took the papers and started signing them.
But his hands were shaking.
Then halfway through, he stopped.
He stared at the paper.
He dropped the pen.
Then he smiled.
Then he chuckled.
The servant looked up, confused.
André's shoulders started to shake.
He chuckled again.
Then he laughed.
Louder.
And louder.
It was not a happy laugh.
It was empty. Strange. A laugh that sounded broken. A little too loud. A little too long.
The servant froze.
André leaned forward on the desk, his face full of something twisted.
His eyes had gone glassy. His smile was too wide.
Then he whispered.
"What a fucking fool!"