"Text me the details here. My secretary will take care of the money," he said in a deep, husky baritone voice as he got up from the bed, naked, without even bothering to cover himself. He handed me his calling card.
We had just shared a long, passionate, and intimate night, and four hours ago, we had been at the elite gala. I was glad masks were required, and I was even more surprised when the powerful businessman Nathaniel De Silva approached me. I had planned to get close to him, but fate made it easier.
Nathaniel was well known in elite society as a hotel and resort magnate of the already established De Silva Corporation, and he had made it even more powerful and recognized worldwide. His presence alone commanded attention, and I felt it pressing against me even before I spoke.
I am Danara De Luca, the only heir of the De Luca clan, a name synonymous with wealth, influence, and legacy in the world of high society. Everything I do is scrutinized, and every move carries weight beyond what most could understand. Nathaniel may not have known me personally, but he knew my family, and through him, I could finally take the steps I had planned.
This man knew me as his brother's wife. Despite never meeting in person, I still needed to cover my eyes with the lace mask during the night, and Nathaniel was fine with it, although he tried several times to remove the mask. Each time, I felt a surge of heat rush through me, both from anger and from the thrill of his scrutiny.
I didn't answer him. I got up from the bed and went straight to the bathroom, listening to the soft click of the heels on the marble floor. I wasn't surprised when I came out and saw that he was still in the hotel room while other men might have disappeared after a night with a woman.
He was sitting gorgeously in the Cleopatra chair, the leather cool beneath him, his hair still messy, and he blew the cigarette smoke upward as soon as he saw me come out of the shower. The faint smell of tobacco mixed with the lingering scent of expensive cologne, filling the room with a heady tension.
"I want your number, your home address, and everything," he said in a commanding tone, throwing his phone onto the bed when he thought I didn't care about the little paper he had given me. He had been wanting my contact ever since we landed in the hotel room. His eyes never left mine, sharp and deliberate, as if he could see right through me.
I twisted my lips and broke into a smile, and then I removed my robe confidently, letting the fabric fall to the floor with a soft whisper.
Nathaniel De Silva's eyes followed my body and every move, filled with desire and hunger. I felt his gaze crawl over me, and for a moment, I allowed a flicker of satisfaction to settle in my chest.
"I'm afraid I cannot give you my number," I said as I slid into my mini black dress, the fabric tight and sleek against my skin.
"Why not?" His Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke. "I can give you everything you want—money, house, car, anything."
"Anything?" I paused while pulling on my stockings, letting my fingers brush my skin just enough to show control, then I raised my eyebrows and scoffed quietly, knowing that I didn't need to play with him before getting what I wanted.
"Name your price," he said in a dangerous tone, and I could feel the tension in the room thicken. He had never wanted a woman for more than just one night, but this time, his body wanted more, and I knew it.
"But unfortunately, I already have the things you just mentioned—house, cars, etc.," I countered while putting on red lipstick. I could still feel his gaze, unwavering and intense. "I want something different," I added, raising my eyebrows and locking eyes with him as I slid the lipstick back into my clutch. "Only if you can afford it," I challenged him with my gaze, letting the words linger.
He raised his eyebrows. "And what is it?"
"Can you…" I paused again after putting on my four-inch heels and crossing my legs deliberately, letting him see the movement. "Can you withdraw your investment from Alegrea Corp?" I said, looking straight at him. I had never met him in person as my husband's wife because Nathaniel had never attended any family events.
Kael, my ex-husband, hated him because their father had given Nathaniel most of the inheritance and full control of the multi-billion company. The thought of Kael's jealousy made a small smirk tug at my lips, even as my pulse quickened.
I realized the truth after I saw a clip where my ex-husband admitted he had only married me for his own gain. Kael's jealousy toward the man in front of me was palpable, and he had even planned to take over after Alegrea Corp and De Luca Hotels and Casino merged—then leave me afterward, and marry my stepsister.
But too bad for them, because I already knew their plan.
"What is this? Who are you?" he stared at me, locked in, his face a mixture of surprise and anger. "You knew me before I came to you?"
I didn't answer him. I stood up, grabbed my clutch, opened it, pulled out a calling card with fake names and an email address, and dropped it in the ashtray, right on top of his cigarette. The cigarette slowly burned the little paper, sending up a curl of smoke, and I watched it drift toward the ceiling while Nathaniel's eyes stayed on my face in disbelief.
"Here are my details. If you make up your mind, email me," I said as I walked to the door. I didn't wait for his answer and closed it behind me. The click of the lock echoed like finality.
I threw myself into my car when I got to the parking lot, the leather seat cold against my back, and I checked my phone to see about thirty-two missed calls and eighteen messages from Kael. I put it back in my bag because it had been almost a week since I left our home.
I had just sold my soul to the devil tonight, whether he accepted it or not, and I had done it only to gain the leverage I needed against these people who believed they could manipulate me.
I leaned back, closed my eyes, and let the night air wash over me. I remembered their conversation two weeks ago, humiliating me while I had been out of their pictures, and I felt a cold satisfaction knowing that I had finally seen the truth and that I had the power to act.