POV: Victoria
“You need to understand that Raphael has enemies at every turn and he needs to be twice as smart and powerful to deal with them. Out there he will be bullied and infuriated by so many people. They will bring out the beast in him and make him fight back to stay alive and keep the company.
You must stand by him through it all, I need you to stay by his side until he establishes his dominance and takes full control of everything. Can you do that for me, will you promise to protect my grandson and be his lifeline?” Gramps asks me, making me promise to stay with Raphael and be his support.
I couldn’t stop thinking about it, His words kept ringing in my head as we had dinner before the cocktail party. I should never have agreed to his request when I knew in my heart that I wanted to seduce Raphael. Now he’ll know I’m up to no good, and one day, he might slip and divulge my plans to Ralph and he would hate me forever for trying to trick him.
Now he knows I’m interested in his grandson, soon Raphael would find out too. I have to try harder to get past the cold ice around Raphael’s heart, I have to get him to love me or at least care about me the way he does for Charlotte.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked me, startling me out of my thoughts. He’s sitting next to me on a round table. Gramps sat next to him and his uncles sat next to their father, Gramps at the same table with us. Nathan, Ethan, and the two bitches sat right next to us on another round table. Mrs. Hawkins isn’t here, I haven’t seen her since she got scolded by Grandpa this morning.
I feel bad for her absence, I feel like it’s all my fault. If there was something I could do to make him forgive her, I would do it without thinking twice. If I’m going to be with her son, I need her to like me. Next time, I’ll play nice and get her to like me. Who knows, we could actually sit in the garden and chat like real besties without faking it.
“I’m thinking about you, about last night,” I whispered back to him. He was sipping from his glass of champagne when I told him that I was thinking about it. He almost choked on his drink when I told him that, but he covered it up with a soft cough, smirking as he turned to gaze at me. He looked at me for a few seconds, then he turned away, looking the other way.
“Why don’t we try it without the drugs someday. I think it will be much fun!” I whispered once more, bringing my palm to his thighs, and caressing him. I smiled brightly when his palm came down and covered mine on his thighs. He caressed the back of my palm while he chatted with his father.
I thought he held my hand to caress me, but it seemed he just held me down to stop me from caressing his thighs. I tried to pull my hand away, but he held me firmly, stopping me from making a move.
“Excuse us, everyone, I need a private moment with my fiancee,” he told his family with a smile as he held my hand firmly and pulled me away, dragging me out of the event hall to a private room. The moment we were alone, I threw myself at him, kissing him on the lips as I closed the gap between us.
“Damn it, Victoria!
Get a hold of yourself and get your hands off me!” He yelled furiously. He broke it off and pulled me away, holding me against the wall with my hands held above my head. I tried to kiss him one more time, but he wouldn’t let me. He just held me at bay and glared furiously at me.
“I know what you are doing, Victoria. But trust me, it’s not going to work. I don’t find you attractive, and I’m certainly not going to fall for a cheap whore like you!” he lets out firmly, pushing me away.
“It’s just a harmless kiss, Raphael. There is no need to get all worked up for nothing. We’ve been intimate before, so what the hell?” I replied to him, leaning up to kiss him. He turned away from my kiss, but I kissed him anyway. I kissed him on his neck, making sure he had stains from my lipstick on his neck and shirt collar.
“We had a deal, Victoria!
Stick to it, else I’m ending it right here and now.” He threatened angrily, pushing me away as he walked back to the party without me. I followed after him, getting back to the party. Just as I walked towards our seat, I noticed everyone was staring at me and I wondered what was wrong until I saw Charlotte, Cindy, and some other ladies standing on the podium, looking so beautiful and stylish in their cute outfits.
“Will Her Majesty please honor us with her presence on the podium?” Cindy lets out in an icy tone that relays her deep hatred for me. I didn’t even know they were waiting for me until she said so. It annoys her to be waiting on me after being treated like the special daughter all her life. I turned to look at Raphael, and he nodded gently, urging me to go ahead and join the other girls.
“Damn, they look so beautiful.” I thought within me as I sauntered toward the podium and took my place in their midst. If I wasn’t here a few minutes ago, I would think that this was some kind of a modeling job interview or something. I turned to where the guys were seated and I smiled when I couldn’t find them on their seat. It seems they decided to use the girls as a distraction while they go to the treasury to steal the diamonds.
“Now girls, you know the drill. Today, you all have the rare opportunity to be amongst the world’s wealthiest billionaires. You will each have a chance to dazzle Grandpa Hawkins with your dancing skills and stand a chance to win one of his dazzling Diamond necklaces. May the best candidate win,” the speaker lets out excitedly, making the girls go wild with excitement.
“Let’s see how you win the old man’s heart with your wild dancing skills you picked up from being an escort.” Cindy told me mockingly, smiling proudly. She knows I never had the chance to attend evening parties like she did. Dad never loved being around us, even when we lived today family. He prefers spending his time away from home, letting us live without him.
Our company hosts many parties and we are always invited to balls and other parties that we should have attended as a family. But Dad never let us tag along, not even Mom was allowed to follow him around to parties. It was as if he has always been ashamed of us, I guess that is why he is so proud to announce that I am not his daughter.
“I may not win the diamonds, Cindy. But trust me, you won’t get it either. I know you think you stand a good chance because you’ve been to these parties so many times and you are familiar with the dances. But you forget that I’ve seen you dancing at proms in school.
And girl?
You are such a terrible dancer. I bet he wouldn’t even spend one minute dancing with you. Five seconds maxima, and you’ll be kicked out of that dance floor.” I mocked, ruining her confidence.