HER REVENGE

“Diana Tate Patterson, my name is Attorney Frank Edwards, and I will be the one representing you. Now I need you to tell me the entire truth—”

“I didn't kill him,” The words left Diana Tate’s lips in a broken whisper as a cold shiver rocked down her spine.

“Remember, Mrs. Patterson, I am your lawyer, and so I am on your side, so I need you to be very honest with me now and tell me the truth,”

“The truth is, I didn't kill my father,” As the cold feeling reached her chest, she forced herself not to remember that precise moment that changed her entire life.

“Mrs Patterson, I know you're still in shock of everything that happened last night, but I could be able to get you a lighter sentence if you just confessed—”

“For the last time, I didn't kill my father,” Hot tears rolled down her eyes, as her lips trembled against each other. “They did. Antonia Saunders and her daughter, Emily killed my father,”

He leaned back against the chair. “Your sister—”

“Stepsister,” Diana corrected. “My stepmother and her daughter killed my father,”

“Mrs. Patterson, you are aware, you are being charged with firstdegree murder for killing your father and an attempted murder on your stepsister's life,”

Her lips parted in shock as more tears burned her eyes. She swallowed through the pain in her chest, leaning forward.

“I swear I didn't touch her. She tried to kill me, right after they killed my dad, pushing him from the office in his own company.” The memory still burned through her mind. It was as if she was still stuck in that moment where she watched helplessly as Antonia and her daughter pushed him right after he had collapsed.

Diana still couldn't believe it. How one night could change her entire world. Just yesterday her father was alive and happy and excited for the party last night to celebrate Tate Group's anniversary. She didn't know it would only end in his death.

She sniffed as tears rolled down her eyes.

“Please believe me, I could never murder my father. I had no reason to—”

He cut her off. “Maybe because last night, Mr Tate had planned to announce at the party that he was stepping down, leaving the company for your step sister,” He pulled out a document from his bag. “This was the speech he had prepared for last night,”

As he handed the paper to Diana, she read through it and didn't need an expert to know that it was fake.

Her eyes shot back to the lawyer. “This is a fake. Dad wasn't just planning on announcing during last night's party that he was making me the new CEO of Tate Group, he has transferred his entire shares to me. Antonia somehow found out, and—”

“The prosecutor's office has footage of you arriving at the company last night, a few minutes after he did. You abruptly left the party you claimed was to announce your appointment and followed him to the company; why?”

“He left the party in a hurry, I was worried about him. So I followed him,”

“We caught you arguing with him in one of the footage,”

“We never argued. And when I arrived at his office, Antonia and her daughter were already there, they were the ones arguing with him. Didn't you watch the footage,”

“We did Mrs Patterson. Unfortunately, some of the security cameras were down but we did see Antonia and her daughter arrive at the scene after your father's murder. You are the only prime suspect in this case,”

“Those footage have been fabricated. I swear I'm telling you the truth, Antonia and her daughter killed my father,” Diana screamed, banging her hands against the table separating them. “Antonia Saunders killed my father; please, you have to believe me,” She yelled in tears.

“I'm sorry Mrs Patterson, but everything points to you,”

“Why are they stopping my husband from seeing me? I need to speak with Gabe Patterson. Please call him,” She screamed.

“There's no need for that. Mr. Patterson came with me, and he's waiting outside,” Frank Edwards pulled up from his chair and adjusted his suit. “I'll come by again tomorrow,” He said before strolling to the door, and as he pulled it open, she saw her husband, Gabe standing outside the door.

Frank sent a final glance at her before he left. Diana stood up from her chair and ran straight into her husband's arms, tears pouring down her eyes.

“Gabe, Dad…” She broke down in tears. “Dad's dead… He's…” She choked on her sob as she noticed a figure leaning against the doorway. It was Emily. “What the hell is she doing here?” Diana pulled away, her eyes sparking with hate and rage as she shifted it to Gabe, demanding an answer.

“Diana, you need to be calm,”

“Calm? She and Antonia killed my father. And they set me up. I am in here because of them,” Diana yelled as Emily entered the room and locked the door with an evil sneer on her lips.

“Diana—” He started but she cut him off.

“Are you not listening, they are the ones that need to be locked up. You need to believe me, Antonia and Emily killed my father,”

Diana was left frozen in her spot as his words kept echoing in her ears. Antonia and Emily had been poisoning her father. All these years?

A shiver ghosted through her, and slowly, her gaze traveled to Gabe. “You knew? All this time? Why didn't you… How on earth do you know about that?”

“Because I have been doing the same to you for two years now,” His lips stretched into a cold, sinister smile, and for a second, he looked nothing like the sweethearted Gabe she fell in love with in college. He looked a lot like the devil himself.

“What? You've been what?”

“What? You've been what?”

“Poisoning you, and that's not all. I was also responsible for your previous miscarriage and the one before that; I mean, come on, who the fuck do you think you are to have my child,” He pulled up from his chair.

“Gabe?”

“Don't look so shocked yet, sweetheart. You haven't even heard the rest of it,” He strolled over to where Emily had been standing with a dark, satisfied smile on her face. His hands fell on her waist, and her eyes on Diana, and without warning, he kissed her.

A breathless gasp left Diana's lips. Her legs trembled and they staggered a few steps behind, colliding against the table.

Diana couldn't believe what was happening. She could have easily believed anything but what was happening right in front of her.

“This isn't real. This couldn't be real. Two years. We've been married for two years…”

“And those two years have been the worst years of my life,” He pulled a little from Emily. “Gosh, do you know how exhausting it was pretending to love you?”

“Come on, babe, you shouldn't be so hard on her; remember, she just lost her father and is about to spend the rest of her life in jail,” Emily cooed, placing a kiss on his lips before taking a seat.

“How long?” A tear slipped past Diana’s eyes. “How long have you been screwing this whore behind my back—” Before she could complete her words, Gabe's hand collided harshly against her cheek, forcing her neck sideways.

“Don't you ever call Emily a whore, you worthless bitch,”

“Goodness Gabe. I think you just broke her jaw. You shouldn't have hit her so hard. She only asked an innocent question,” Emily frowned, but her eyes flashed evilly. “So let's see. You both met in college and have been married to him for two years, and I have known him longer than that, we were sweethearts in high school. Yup, eight years. Gabe and I have been dating for eight years,”

Diana's eyes widened, and tears burned her vision. “Why? What did I ever do to you to deserve this kind of betrayal, Gabe? I loved you,”

“Do you honestly think I'd leave everything to such a scumbag as yourself? You're nothing, Gabe. Before I met you, you were nothing but a piece of trash, and I swear as soon as I get out of here, I'll ensure every one of you pays for your crimes,”

Emily burst out laughing. “Do you really think you are ever leaving this place? Frank Edwards works for my mother, and in the first trial, he is going to ensure you are convicted for murder and attempted murder in my life. The only way you could ever escape this hellhole is your death, so give up the idea you're ever leaving this place, I'll make sure you rot in here, bitch,”

“I don't know how you'll ever be able to sleep well at night after everything you've done. Dad loved you and treated you as his daughter,”

“Trust me, Diana, I sleep just fine. And don't kid yourself, he meant nothing to me. He was just one of the men my mother married, and he has served his purpose, and besides, if he didn't go poking around, he'd still be around for a while, but he had to find out exactly what he shouldn't, and revise his will leaving mum and me nothing. Come on, even you would be furious. Now sign the damned papers, Gabe and I have a funeral to plan,”

Diana swallowed the hard lump in her throat and picked up the pen on the table. She signed the divorce papers, tossed them on the table, and picked up the second. “If you think I'd sign these, you're insane. I'll get out of this fucking place, and I'll send you both including Antonia to hell, I swear on my life,”

Instantly, Emily was up from her chair, storming to Diana. She gripped Diana's hair hard. “You're going to sign the darn paper, Diana,”

Diana pushed her stepsister off her, slapping Emily, and immediately Gabe grabbed Diana by the neck, slamming her against the wall. Before Diana could recover from the harsh impact against her body, Gabe's fist collided with her face, forcing her to spill out some blood.

“You know what? Fuck these papers, we don't need them if she's dead,” Diana’s eyes widened at Emily's words, and she looked over to Gabe to find him smirking.

“You are right, darling. We don't need her. She's better off dead. Guards!” Gabe yelled from the door, and quickly, some female prison guards rushed in. “You know what to do,”

Diana was dragged to the door by the guards when Emily gripped her chin. “Take a good look at me, Diana, and remember this: you are nothing, and I, Emily Saunders won. I got to keep Gabe and your precious company is now mine. Remember that even while in hell!” Emily's last words weighed in Diana's very soul as she watched them leave.

Diana was beaten up badly and tossed into a cold room. It was completely dark and she had been locked for hours. She had no idea what time it was or how long she'd been down there.

All she could feel was the cold eating through her and the pain in her bones. Diana wished this was a dream she'd wake up from, but it wasn't. Her father was murdered, and she was ruined. Antonia, Emily, and Gabe had everyone in their pockets and even the law was against her.

Diana sobbed against the hard humid ground in silence. From the first time her father had brought Antonia and Emily home, Diana knew they'd end up destroying everything she'd loved. If only their paths never crossed the Saunders then maybe this tragic fate could have been avoided.

Diana was startled by the silent opening of the door, and she looked up to see one of the prison guards at the doorway.

Without saying a word, she was taken out of the cell.

“Where are you taking me to?” Diana's question was met with an uncomfortable silence and soon they reached the single door in an empty hallway. The guard's gaze fell on Diana before she was pushed into a room.

It was dark with no light turned on, but moonlight rays filtered into the room from the window, falling on the chair at a corner of the room.

Diana clutched the sides of my stomach tightly, realizing she wasn't alone. She could see the figure sitting on the chair. A man. But she couldn't see his face.

“Who are you?” Diana fought the urge to take a step backward. She wondered who he was, maybe he was the one Emily had sent to kill her.

“My name is Killian Blackford, and I truly wished we were meeting under different circumstances, Mrs Patterson,” The man spoke; his voice was deep and rich and had a lasting effect on her skin. Strangely, the name sounded so familiar but Diana's brain was too messed up to think.

“It’s Diana Tate now, my divorce is in process,” She remained fixed on her spot.

Diana couldn't see his face clearly but she could almost imagine the smile that touched his lips. “I guess, my congratulations are in order,” He said, leaning forward on the table.

“How do you know me? I don't think we've met before,” She asked and he remained silent for a few seconds before responding.

“It's a long story, but that's for another day. We don't have much time, and we have something important to discuss. I think you should be seated to hear this,” He pointed at the empty chair opposite him.

“What could we possibly discuss about?”

“A mutual enemy,” He said, and Diana raised a confused brow. Before she could say a word, he did. “Antonia Saunders,”

The breath Diana didn't know she had been holding left her lips, and slowly, she strolled closer, settling on the empty chair opposite his.

“How do you know Antonia Saunders?” Diana narrowed her eyes, trying to get a glimpse of his face, but it was impossible in the darkness.

“We don't have much time for that either,”

“Then why —”

He interrupted her. “I believe you, Miss Tate. I believe that Antonia and her daughter, Emily Saunders, together with your husband, Gabe Patterson, schemed and connived to kill your father and framed you up for the murder just so they could get their hands on the Tate empire. And I also know they are going to ensure you rot in here, or even worse, they might get rid of you permanently,”

His words shocked her. He was the only one who believed her so far. “Who are you really?”

“I am someone who can help you get out of here,”

“How?” Diana asked.

“I have my ways, Miss Tate,” His eyes gleamed in the darkness. They were the color of the deep ocean. Calm, yet deadly.

“And what do you hope to get out of this?” There was always something in return.

“You,” His abrupt answer shocked Diana again, but then he chuckled slightly. “I meant I need your help in return, to destroy Antonia Saunders and send her straight to hell. And something tells me that's exactly what you want as well,” He parted his lips to speak when his phone buzzed. He glanced at it and from the light reflecting on his face, she could see the slight frown.

“Is something wrong?”

“No,” He glanced up at her, “But unfortunately, our time is up for today. We'll talk more tomorrow,”

Diana stood up at the urgent knock on the door. She was about to open the door when she paused and turned to the man. “You're right, though, I want the same thing as you. I want to see Antonia and Emily Saunders, along with Gabe Patterson, in hell,” She said before leaving the room.

As Diana stepped out, she found a different female guard standing outside the door. She looked around but couldn't find the guard that brought her there.

The guard grabbed her arm and dragged her away. After a few turns, Diana realized they weren't headed to the cell.

“Why aren't we headed to the cell,” She turned to the guard.

“Because sweetheart, tonight is the day you go to hell,” Her lips curled darkly, and Diana was pushed into another room, and the next thing she felt was a sharp pain piercing through her flesh. “Antonia sends her greetings,”

Diana gasped, looking down at the stab wound in her stomach. The woman pulled out the knife and stabbed Diana repeatedly until she collapsed against the cold floor, soon soaked in a pool of her blood.

Diana could feel her life slowly escape her. She couldn't believe this was how she finally died. All alone, like a worthless criminal.

Diana felt the tears that rolled from her eyes as her entire life flashed before her eyes and she realized everything had been reduced to nothing.

This wasn't fair. She couldn't just end up like this. Antonia, Emily, and Gabe didn't deserve to live happily after everything they'd done. If only she could get a second chance to make them pay for their betrayal and crimes.

She'd make sure they regret the day they crossed paths with Diana Tate. She'd avenge her father's death. She would if she could.

One final tear rolled out from Diana's eyes, and she felt the cold hands of death snatch her away.

“She's pulling through,”

A drone of a few voices invaded Diana's mind. Gosh. They were too loud. She wanted to silence them all. To shut them all. To get some peace in the darkness that promised to give her just that.

Once again, She stopped fighting and she was falling back into the deep, endless pit of darkness.

“We are losing her again!” A voice said. “Stay with me,”

It was begging for the impossible. Diana had lost every strength she had to fight. She just wanted it all to end.

“Diana,” She heard a male voice. It somehow managed to reach her down the pit, stirring the darkness around and calling out to her soul. “Diana, fight,” She could feel the breath of whisper against her ear. “Stay with me. You have to fight back Diana, don't cave into the darkness. I'm right here. I'm with you,”

His voice was like a lifeline tied around Diana's waist, refusing her the freedom of plunging to her death. “I won't let anything happen to you, I swear on my life. Come back to me, Diana. Please,” Those simple words weighed heavily on her. It was as if they held silent promises within them. One Diana wanted to uncover.

She made several attempts to open her eyes, but it was futile.

“We have her!”

“She's coming through,” Another voice sounded, but unfortunately, it wasn't the one she wanted to hear.

Diana mustered enough strength again and her dense black lashes twitched. And then with excruciating effort, she opened her eyes.

The first thing she saw was a blurry vision of a woman in a white lab coat and nurses moving around, tending to her.

After a few seconds, Diana's vision steadied and then she saw him. She knew instantly that it was him. The one that kept her from plunging into the darkness.

And he was a sight to behold. God, he was beautiful.

Who was he? She still couldn't remember.

After a while, the doctor and her nurses left Diana and the handsome stranger alone. She glanced around and realized she was in a private ward in a hospital. She remembered what happened last night, Antonia had tried to kill her.

But how did she get here? And who was this man?

“Miss Diana Tate,” The man called cautiously, staring at her, and instantly, she recognized the voice. It was him. Killian Blackford.

“Killian Blackford,”

A smile formed on his lips, as he finally settled on a chair. “I'm glad you recognized me, I was worried you wouldn't,”

“How did I get here? Antonia tried to kill me last night after our conversation and—” Diana paused, looking at him. He was staring at her in an unusual manner. “What's wrong?”

“I'm also glad you remembered what happened, Diana, but that happened six months ago,”

She froze at his words. “What?”

“You've been in a coma, Diana. It was a miracle my people and I were able to find you just in time that night, otherwise, we wouldn't even be having this conversation,”

“Six months? And the guard who stabbed me, did you find her? Did she confess to everyone that Antonia had sent her?”

Killian remained silent, but Diana knew something was amiss.

“What happened, Killian? I don't see any prison guards around waiting to drag me to prison. Something else happened? Tell me,”

He leaned back into his chair, those piercing iceblue eyes of his boring into her very own gaze. “I'm not sure where to even begin, Diana, because you're in for a lot of shock,”

“Tell me Killian, what the hell happened?”

“You died,” He stated bluntly.

“I know I almost died, I was stabbed—”

“So everyone… the whole world…”

“Thinks you died in that fire six months ago. My people made it possible for a random body of an inmate who also died in the fire to be identified as you with your wedding ring,”

“Oh my God, that also means I died like a criminal. I didn't get to clear my name, the whole world still believes I murdered my own father. Antonia and her daughter as well as that asshole of a husband won,”

“Is that what it looks like?” His eyes sparked with amusement as he stood up from his chair, picked up the small glass mirror on the table, and walked closer to her bed. “What it looks like to me is that the Saunders as well as your husband should better watch out because they would never be able to foresee what's about to hit them, love,”

“What do you mean?”

A small smile played on Killian's lips. “Trust me, Diana. You'll be able to clear your name, and we'll drag the Saunders to hell, along with your exhusband of course, there's no way we'll leave him out of the fun,”

Killian pulled the mirror up and a gasp escaped Diana's lips at the new face staring right back at her in the mirror.

Diana could barely recognize her own body. There was nothing of her old self left in her. Diana had sustained serious burns from the fire. The doctors didn't believe she could survive. But she did, and now with a new face. And now a new identity.

Killian Blackford was right. Diana Tate had really died in the fire that night. And this wasn't just because of the surgery that changed her face and appearance, it was because that was exactly how she felt on the inside. Different.

She may still be the same Diana Tate, but she has definitely changed. Diana wasn't the warm loving woman she used to be, and now the only thing burning in her veins was anger and vengeance. Diana didn't just want retribution for what they had done to her and her father, she wanted to expose their evil deeds and then send them to their very own hell worse than death.

“Diana,” Killian walked into her bedroom dressed in his usual expensive suit.

She knew the first time she had met him in prison he looked so familiar, but she really didn't expect it to be him. The almighty Killian Blackford. A man more powerful than anyone she'd ever known. He ruled the world of the wealthy and affluent and had more connections than Diana could ever possibly access in a lifetime. This man before her owned New York City and much more.

It had been weeks since she woke up from her coma and was brought to one of his mansions on Greek Island. Killian briefed her on everything that had been happening in Antonia, Emily, and Gabe's life and promised to help her with everything she needed for her revenge, but there was one thing Diana still couldn't figure out. Killian’s own goal.

Back in prison, he said they had a mutual enemy, which was Antonia Saunders. But Diana couldn't imagine there was any way Antonia would have messed with someone so powerful as him and survived.

“How are you feeling?”

“Good. I'm well rested and ready to talk now,” Diana stared at the man who had saved her. Killian was the reason she was alive. If she hadn't met him that night, she would have been dead. She knew there was no way she could ever repay him for that, but owed him her life.

“What do you want to know, Diana,” He took a seat, and Diana settled on one opposite his.

“Everything. I'm grateful you are helping me but you had once said we had a mutual enemy. You know my story, so I should know yours. Tell me Killian, what could Antonia ever do to someone like you?” She asked.

“She murdered the woman I loved,” His cold blue eyes stared intensely at Diana, as she froze.

“What? I'm… I'm sorry, I didn't realize you had been married,” There was barely anything public about Killian Blackford. His name alone and reputation could bring grown men to their knees but no one knew more than they should about him.

“Oh my God!” Diana gasped in horror, pushing up from her seat. “Oh Killian, and your niece? What happened to Ava?”

The look in Killian's eyes caused a shudder to run down her spine.

“We'll make her pay for her crimes. Every one of them. I'm truly sorry I didn't meet you before you had to experience Antonia's evil, but there was no way you'd ever believe anything I had to say about the Saunders or worse, your husband,” He said.

“Exhusband, remember,” Diana stepped closer to him. “And let's not talk about the past anymore, it doesn't matter. All that matters is how we're going to get our revenge,”

Antonia, Emily, and Gabe had had their fun for years. And in the name of every life they had ever destroyed, Diana swore she'd make them burn.

It's been over a year now. Nineteen months, to be precise, since Diana had watched her father being murdered by Antonia and her daughter and framed for his murder. Nineteen months after she discovered her beloved husband, Gabe had been having an affair with her stepsister and had married her solely so they could get their hands on the Tate fortune. Her fortune.

Diana had watched them, live their lives like nothing had happened, like they hadn't killed her father or ruined her life and the lives of so many before her. Well, now she was back and was nothing like the Diana Tate they once knew. After a year of settling into her new identity, and making necessary plans needed for her revenge,

she has returned with a new identity and a sole purpose.

She was now Scarlett Johnson, fiancee of the almighty Killian Blackford. Killian and Scarlett announced their engagement a few months ago, but almost no one had any idea who Killian's fiancee was and how she looked.

Killian had done the necessary papers to adopt little Ava as his daughter. And that was something Scarlett wholeheartedly agreed with. Ava had been through a lot; even at an early age, she was not spared from Antonia's evil.

Scarlett kept swimming in the pool. It was at the peak of midnight, and as usual, the pool was quiet and closed for the night. There shouldn't be a single soul around, but yet she could feel the lingering presence that blended with the night.

He'd been there since the second she dived into the pool in nothing but her red bikini swimsuit, and him still being there only meant one thing. She'd caught the interest of her exhusband, Gabe Patterson.

It'd been just a short time, a year and seven months since she'd last been this close to him. Since she discovered his betrayal, so many things have changed. Gabe got what he wanted, he was now the president of the Tate Group, and Emily was the vice president, living their lives like nothing happened.

The only way she could break all of them was from the inside, and Gabe was going to help her.

Nothing had changed between him and Emily, they were still secret lovers and that was surprising because, with the way Gabe had rushed the divorce, she was almost certain they'd be married by now. It was satisfying to find out her husband hadn't changed. He was still a cheating bastard who went after anything wearing a skirt. And that would just be his downfall.

Scarlett had her eyes on him from the second he checked into one of the private suites in Royale hotel, with his whore for the night. It was New York's best hotel and one of the many hotels that belonged to Killian.

Scarlett got out of the pool and was about to pick up her robe when she heard the sound of silent footfalls behind her. She turned around just in time to see the figure step out of the darkness.

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you,” She heard Gabe's familiar voice as he took more steps closer. “I was just taking a midnight walk and then…”

“And then, you decided to spy on me?” Scarlett's voice held a little anger, meeting the eyes of the man who had once meant everything to her.

“No. I didn't. I just saw a beautiful goddess taking a swim, and I couldn't look away. I know it was wrong, but I just couldn't look away… you are very beautiful,” He paused, looking almost flustered for a second, but Scarlett could tell it was just an act.

Scarlett rolled her eyes, fastening her robe on her body. “This part of the pool is closed off for guests at midnight, everyone knows that I suggest you remember that in the future because next time I won't be this forgiving,”

She picked up her phone and a few belongings from the pool chair and turned to leave.

“Once again, I'm sorry. And I really don't want you to have a bad impression of me. So can we forget what just happened and start afresh? I'm Gabe Patterson, owner of Tate Group,” He smiled at her. Scarlett no doubt knew he thought sounded charming as he introduced himself confidently, too confidently, as if expecting her to fall to his feet.

Well, the truth was, any woman would. Tate Group was one of the most powerful leading companies in the corporate world, and everyone knew it.

Scarlett knew exactly what he was expecting, after all, that charming smile and the proclaimed title of the owner of Tate Group was exactly what got women into his bed. Well, except her.

She looked straight into his eyes, raising a brow. “I don't care who you are, Gale Peterson,”

“Gabe Patterson—”

“I still don't care. Do me a favor, and don't appear before me again,”

His lips parted in shock. He probably didn't expect that from any woman. Gabe was an egoistic asshole, and she wondered why she couldn't see that before.

Without waiting for his response, she continued walking away.

“Wait,” He tried to grab her hand, but before he could, a suited man stepped out of the darkness, pulling out a gun and training it on Gabe.

“It's okay Trey. This man lost his way, and now he's walking in the opposite direction, aren't you?” Scarlett said, eyes on Gabe whose shock hadn't vanished from his face.

He glanced at the bodyguard and then at the beautiful woman he'd just met, taking a step back. “As you wish, my goddess,” He muttered with a smile. “I guess I'll just see you around, then,”

Without responding, Scarlett kept walking using one of the private back doors into the hotel.

She knew she'd definitely be seeing him tomorrow night at the exhibition in her new museum. Over the past year, she joined Ford Empire Group and also made a name for herself, being a famous artist.

Everyone who meant anything in the business world would be there. And Gabe and Emily weren't an exception. She was secretly hoping Antonia Saunders would be there as well, even knowing the sly fox was currently in Spain and was in talks for her fourth marriage.

Regardless, neither Gabe nor Emily could ever be prepared for what awaited them tomorrow night. But Scarlett knew one thing for sure, there was no way Gabe would be getting any sleep. At least not without dreaming of her.

Scarlett was right. Gabe Patterson couldn't sleep that night. Gabe returned to his suite to find the random blonde he had met that night at the club and fucked several times on his bed. The whore as he liked to call them was still sleeping naked on his bed. But Gabe couldn't help but wish it was someone else. The woman he'd just met at the pool. She was definitely any man's wet dream with the body of a pornstar.

He'd never seen anyone as beautiful as her. That woman was a goddess. His goddess.

Gabe rolled his eyes, stepping out onto his balcony. He hated thinking of his exwife Diana. Not because he had loved her or missed her, but because he just didn't want to remember someone so insignificant. She was nothing but a means to an end for him and the Saunders. Because of her he had everything he wanted and was so happy when the news had confirmed Diana's death in the prison. She died like the dog she was, and he was glad.

His phone rang out loud, bringing him out of his thoughts. He let out a curse as he saw it was his fiancee Emily. She'd left him with almost thirty missed calls in the last three hours. Emily Saunders didn't fucking own him, but times like this felt she did. And he didn't like that. And that was one of the reasons he still wasn't ready to expose their secret love affair, because then, Emily would want them to get engaged.

Gabe had known Emily since they were old enough in high school to fuck and date. They were partners in mostly everything seeing the kind of things they'd done together, but that didn't mean she was the kind of woman he wanted to marry. She had no brains, no class, no beauty. Unlike her. His goddess.

No woman had ever infiltrated his mind in a matter of minutes as his goddess had. She was perfect for him and he could only imagine how good she'd taste in bed. He had to find her, and soon.

For three years now, even before Gabe became president, he had always sent proposals on behalf of the company to the Ford empire, but it was rejected every time, and the same happened a few months ago.

Gabe could feel it; tomorrow's night exhibition was going to be one he'd never forget. If only he knew, that couldn't be far from the truth.

It was now morning in the Ford's mansion and as usual, Scarlett and little Ava were in the kitchen preparing breakfast. This was something they loved doing together, and Scarlett loved it more because it always made the little one happy.

Everyone could see the change in sixyearold Ava over the past year. The first time Scarlett met Ava as Killian's fiancee, the little angel barely spoke to anyone. The only person she'd occasionally trade words with was Killian, but it was at a minimum. Ava rarely smiled or loved having anyone around. She was like a lost puppy who was always stuck in her own world and was haunted by nightmares from the night she witnessed her parents die.

Scarlett understood the child's pain and made it her mission to always make her happy. Ava was a lovable child, and soon she became so fond of Scarlett and Scarlett loved Ava as though she was her real mother.

Sometimes she wondered how Ava would take it when she and Killian put an end to their fake relationship after their revenge was complete. Regardless, she made a promise to always be by her side.

“How are my angels doing?” The deep timbre of Killian's voice traveled into the large kitchen, and he scooped Ava into his arms the second the little one ran to him.

“We're just preparing breakfast,” Ava said, and Killian's gaze finally traveled to Scarlett. The woman who had snuck her way into his life and into the life of the little girl the world now recognized as his daughter.

Killian didn't know how Scarlett managed to do it, but the second she stepped into the Ford’s mansion everything changed. No, it had changed before that, and he knew it.

The moment he saw her cuffed and confined in that prison cell, everything had changed. The almighty Killian Blackford's heart, which hadn't moved in forever, did for the first time at the sight of a woman he didn't know or hadn't met before.

That night when Killian received a call from the prison warden that Scarlett hadn't returned to her cell and couldn't be found, he couldn't even describe how he felt… all for a woman he barely knew. He didn't even think twice when he rushed back to the prison, risking his life and searching for her even when the prison had caught fire.

At that time, he convinced himself he was doing that for her because she was the only one who could bring the Saunders to their knees along with him.

But all that thought vanished from his mind the several months he watched her fight for her life in a coma. Suddenly, the urge and desire to protect her, to help her, grew strongly within him. Maybe that was when he finally recognized what he felt for her. Something he definitely shouldn't.

Killian couldn't deny it; he wasn't blind; Scarlett was a beauty then as Diana and even more now as Scarlett. And she has helped Ava so much already. His little angel, who barely smiled now, laughed at all times, and this was because of Scarlett. Killian didn't want to imagine what would happen to Ava when their revenge was complete, and he had to unwillingly let go of Scarlett. After all, this was just a fake relationship.

“Last night went well,” Killian said after breakfast as he and Scarlett walked out to the balcony of his office in the Ford's mansion.

“Better than expected,” She smiled, sipping from her cup of coffee. “Gabe hasn't changed. He’s still, well, the same. It makes me so happy Emily will get to experience exactly what I did, seeing the man she loves fall for someone else who isn't her,”

Killian leaned slightly on the railings, studying her. “Seeing your husband last night must have felt different. Do you still love him?”

Scarlett remained silent for a second. “Exhusband,” She corrected. “And yes, it felt different being close to him than it did in the photos and footage, but the only thing I felt for that man was hatred for everything he's done. I'll break him, Killian,” She met Killian's blue eyes. “I'll make him know what it feels like to love someone you shouldn't,”

Killian looked away from her, mainly because her words pierced him in a way he didn't like. She may not know it yet, but he knew exactly what it felt like to love someone he shouldn't.

“Killian,” He felt Scarlett's touch on his arm, as her soft call made him look into those green eyes again. “Are you okay?” Her hand was still on his arm igniting a spark he wished she could also feel. He wanted nothing more than to lean in and kiss her but he also knew that would be a terrible idea.

“I'm good,” He lied beautifully. “You need to get ready for tonight. Everyone will be there,”

“Except Antonia,” Scarlett sighed, leaning against the railing.

“Unfortunately, but tonight will be the first time everyone will be meeting the beautiful woman I'm engaged to. The whole world will be talking about you,”

Scarlett knew he was right. Only a few people knew her as Killian's fiancee, but tonight, the world will be finding out.

“Don't worry, everything will go as planned,” A smile tugged her lips, and she took another sip of her coffee. She couldn't wait.

Gabe Patterson was a little bit nervous; he wasn't sure why exactly, but he was. And the woman next to him didn't make the night any better. Emily was suffocating. He hadn't realized how he didn't notice this before. Tate Group wasn't invited to the exhibition but somehow, they had found a way to get in.

Stylishly, Gabe detached her hand around his arm, walking around to greet a few familiar faces and also to make new connections. The exhibition would probably be the most talked about tonight, and tonight, the hall was full of so many wealthy guests. But he wished he could talk to the most important, Mr Killian Blackford.

The man who was at the top of the hierarchy for the rich and powerful had arrived but before the press could even get a handful of his photos, he excused himself into the VIP lounge. Gabe couldn't just walk in there and demand he needed a few minutes with Mr Blackford in hopes he could talk him into approving the next proposal for the Bardin project he'd been working on for years.

So instead, Gabe mingled with those of his class, and soon the party finally started as the hall grew more with guests.

It was almost an hour into the party and Mr Blackford still hadn't left the VIP lounge. All of a sudden, a loud ruckus was heard just outside the hall. It looked like another guest had arrived, one who was definitely gaining so much attention.

The guests in the hall had started to wonder who the new guest was when the large double doors swung open and a beautiful woman in a red dress walked in, standing at the top entrance of the stairs.

The hall that had more than a hundred guests suddenly became as quiet as a graveyard; only the sound of music filled the hall, and everyone's gaze was on the beautiful woman.

Gabe at once recognized her. How couldn't he, when she had been the only thing he could think about? He tried to ask around the hotel for her, but unfortunately, no one knew her, and he was denied access to check the CCTV footage. But now, here she stood, right in front of him in her dazzling sirenic beauty, placing every male in the hall under her spell.

Slowly she began to descend the stairs, and as she approached the last staircase, Gabe could see almost every man in the room ready to walk to her and offer a hand, helping her down the last staircase as a true gentleman would. And he wanted to be that man. He had to be.

Gabe was already on the move, his eyes never leaving his beautiful goddess and he could tell her eyes were on him too. But before he could give his hand out someone beat him to it. Someone he didn't expect. Someone he didn't realize he could start to hate. The almighty Killian Blackford.

Scarlett's smile deepened as she took a deep inhale, placing her hand on Killian's arms stretched out to her. She could feel the gaze of everyone that was there. Their hushed whispers and confused gazes on her. Only a few knew exactly who she was and that made almost everyone curious. They were dying to find out just who she was to Mr Blackford.

Scarlett ignored them all, her only focus was on Gabe. From the storm of emotions in his eyes, Scarlett could tell he'd been thinking of her. Slowly, her gaze traveled behind and rested on her stepsister's face. Emily was standing right there in the crowd, her face completely void of emotion, but the anger in her eyes was evident as she stared at Gabe.

She ignored them both, moving with Killian to say hello to guests who had honored her invitation. After a brief speech from her, everyone in the museum soon learned she was Killian's fiancee.

Scarlett had just moved on from speaking with one of the wealthy clients interested in her work, she glanced around the room for Killian only to find him in a conversation with some businessmen, but his attention was on her.

Their gaze locked, and she smiled, taking a step in his direction when suddenly she felt the presence behind her and got a whiff of his familiar cologne.

She turned around to meet Gabe's gaze.

“We meet again, Miss Scarlett Johnson,” Gabe said with a smile, one that she was definitely not returning. “If you remember, and I hope you do, I'm Gabe—”

“Peterson,” She finished taking a sip from her champagne but her cold gaze on him.

“It's Patterson,” Gabe's smile never faltered.

“And I remember telling you I do not care,” She held his gaze. “You weren't invited,”

“And that's surprising. My company—” Gabe started and Scarlett fought the urge not to roll her eyes. She couldn't believe Gabe's audacity in calling the company her father worked hard to build, her very own legacy his company. It was infuriating. “is one of the leading successful companies, and yet we weren't invited even though,”

“That tells you what?” She could barely keep her anger away from her voice.

“I'm not quite sure—”

“It means neither me nor Ford Empire Group wishes to do any business with you,”

Her words shocked him and he furrowed his brow, about to speak but she beat him to it.

“Isn't it one of the reasons you are here?” Scarlett raised a brow. “To meet my fiance, in hopes of talking to him regarding the Bardin project?”

Gabe wasn't really surprised how she knew that information. He'd called Richard and asked him to get everything he could on the woman before him. One of the pieces of information he'd learned was she held a high position at Empire group and was part of the board.

He was beyond happy to hear this. He had tried to get Killian Blackford to listen to his proposal in the last hour, but that proved impossible.

“You know about the project?” He knew it was a stupid question but he needed to know how much she knew and how he could play his card right. Maybe, just maybe Scarlett was what he needed to get the contract.

“Of course, I was the one who rejected it thrice in the past year,”

Gabe parted his lips to speak but was interrupted by the woman walking over to them.

“Gabe, I was wondering where you were,” Emily stopped right next to Gabe, her gaze shifting to Scarlett. And she did her best to hide her anger but Scarlett could see through her mask.

Emily was furious. Beyond furious. For the last hour, she'd watched Gabe unable to remove his eyes from this woman before her. She could recognize that look in her lover's eyes. That look of excitement. Gabe was interested in this woman.

Emily carefully scanned the woman before her, before pulling her gaze to meet her, and involuntarily, she felt s familiar sickening feeling in her guts and she froze

Her entire body froze, her eyes unable to move away from those blue eyes of the woman before her. They felt so familiar. Too familiar. It was almost as if she was staring at someone else. Someone who’d been long dead and forgotten. Someone she shouldn't even be thinking about. But here she was thinking about the one and only woman she despised so much, Diana Tate.

“Emily?” Gabe cleared his throat, his gaze flickering from Scarlett to Emily. She was completely frozen, staring at Scarlett almost like she'd seen a ghost. “What the hell is wrong with you? You're staring,” He whispered stylishly in Emily's ear, nudging her slightly.

Emily recovered herself completely, but somehow her eyes couldn't leave Scarlett who stared back coldly.

“I'm sorry, have we met before?” Emily asked, gripping her fingers tightly around the stem of her champagne glass.

“I don't know, have we?” Do I somehow look familiar to you?”

Scarlett smiled coldly, and that alone caused Emily to shiver. She had no idea why she was feeling this way but there was something about this woman, something that reminded her of her stupid dead stepsister, Diana and this was bad. Emily had always been an intuitive woman, whenever she had a feeling about something, she was almost always right about it, and now something in her guts was telling her that Scarlett Johnson was someone they should definitely stay away from.

“Emily?” Gabe made another attempt to pull his partner out of her thoughts. “This is Scarlett Johnson, there's no way you could have possibly met her,” He smiled back at Scarlett.

“Could I have a word with you, alone, Gabe?” Emily shifted a brief glance at Gabe whose gaze was stuck on Scarlett.

“Not now, Emily. Guess what? Miss Scarlett is also part of the board at Ford Empire and she is the one in charge of overseeing our project,”

Scarlett chuckled. “That's the wrong way of putting it. I'm the one that has been rejecting the project. Ford Empire Group has high standards and unfortunately, your project lacks some creativity and originality,”

Emily almost scoffed. “We've been working on that project for years. And every time it is submitted, we always make adjustments to it, the Bardin project has a lot of potential—”

“Who is she again?” Scarlett cut her off, her eyes on Gabe.

“She's my company vice president and—”

“I'm Emily Saunders Tate, daughter of the late Mr Tate and yes, also Co partner to the project on question,”

Scarlett's eyes narrowed on the woman. “That's interesting because I was told the real Miss Tate died not too long ago and—”

“That woman was a criminal—” Emily started, cutting Scarlett off.

“First rule, Saunder, you don't cut me off. When I'm concerned, you only speak when spoken to,” Scarlett said.

Gabe almost shivered from the iciness in her voice as he could feel the literal power radiating off her. This woman definitely has the icy reputation he was told about, and in some twisted way, it turned him on.

Before either of them could speak, Scarlett did. “You wanted me to give another chance to Tate Group, fine, I will. I am leaving for a business trip tomorrow morning by ten, meet me at Royale by 9:30. You'll have just ten minutes to convince me this project is worth giving it a shot,” Scarlett glanced at Emily. “I don't want to see her, just you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have other guests to attend to,” She turned and left.

“Gabe, are you stupid or what? We worked on that project together, why didn't you say anything? I should be there,” Emily said.

“For what Emily? Can't you see you pissed her off?” Gabe was angry. “Remember, we need that project between our company and the Ford Empire Group and Scarlett Johnson is the only one who can make that happen,”

“Just because she's Mr Blackford's fiancee and part of the board, doesn't make the bitch god,”

“Precisely because she's Mr. Blackford's fiancee and literally has control over the company, that alone among many others make her a fucking god. I'm going alone,”

“I don't trust her, Gabe. There's something about her that gives me the creeps. Tell me, those blue eyes of hers, don't they feel familiar?”

“What the hell are you mumbling about?”

Emily sighed, shifting her gaze to where Scarlett was now in the midst of Killian and some wealthy politician who had attended. “She reminds me of her. That stupid woman, Diana Tate,”

“What the fuck is wrong with you? We promised we wouldn't speak about that bitch again. She's fucking dead, Emily. And it's insulting to compare that useless thing to Scarlett Johnson. You seem drunk, I think you should head back home, and rest. I'll stay behind to expand our network,” He walked away without letting her respond.

Even still Emily couldn't take her eyes off the woman in the red dress, and Scarlett felt the heat of her stepsister's gaze follow her throughout the party.

A smile touched Scarlett's lips as she remembered her encounter with Emily. She had always imagined how their first meeting would be and this was by far her best imagination. Emily already hated her and Gabe surprisingly was more smitten by her than the last time they'd met. This was good. Very good.

The party soon ended, and Scarlett and Killian were walking through the underground parking lot to Mercedes while the security team followed behind.

“A penny for the beautiful woman's thoughts,” Killian whispered against her ear, his lips slightly grazing the skin of her ears, sending an electrifying sensation down her spine.

She shivered.

“Cold?” He asked, taking off his jacket and draping it on her, and soon his scent which was always enchanting consumed her.

“Also excited,” She tilted her head sideways, but he was standing so close to her that there was now not a single space between them. They were only a breath apart.

Scarlett wasn't blind, and she definitely was still a woman who appreciated fine gifts of nature, and she knew probably more than half of the women population in the world would have been heartbroken tonight considering Killian had exposed to the world that he was engaged to her. He was more popular than even celebrities with the largest fan base and more handsome too.

“Scar?” He brushed back loose strands of her hair behind her ear, leaving a trail of goosebumps. “What are you thinking about?”

You.

She almost wanted to say, but she stopped herself, shaking her head to clear off the Killian spell his scent had cast on her. “Gabe,” She saw a strange flicker of emotion in his eyes before but it faded quickly. “And Emily,”

Killian's hands pulled up to cup my cheeks. “Don't. Because in my books, tonight was a success. And with the way Gabe Patterson couldn't take his eyes off you tonight, I know it's only a matter of time before they turn on each other, and we'll be here. Watching,”