Shoot his leg?
Nathan’s brow creased as the guard delivered Cassius’s message.
“This is Dylan’s father doing, isn’t it?” Nathan asked Tatiana.
“You should stay. I’d love to see you lose your leg. That would be a lovely scene,” Tatiana responded calmly. She was glad Cassius had taken this action; she was about to throw up because of Nathan’s presence.
This man irritated her to the core. She wondered how stupid she had been years ago.
“Well, sadly I came unprepared. If I had known you were coming, I would have come better equipped,” Nathan said gently. His mind drifted to the stranger at the school-the man who took down the whole school just because Nathan approached Dylan.
He was definitely someone dangerous, but Nathan still wouldn’t back down.
“Mister,” the guard called out and reached for the gun in his pocket.
“Alright, alright, I’m leaving. Tell your boss to chill the fuck out,” Nathan stood with a dirty smirk. He looked back at Tatiana. “I’ll see you around, darling.”
Tatiana clenched her jaw. That nickname, “darling,” was what Nathan used to call her when they were together. Now, it sounded like a reminder of her past.
Her phone beeped, and Cassius’s message flashed on her screen.
*You okay, Little Rebel?*
Tatiana looked up at him and smiled. She nodded, and his lips curled up slightly, though it was hard to notice.
The host began announcing the award winners. Indigo won the best model award. Her fans cheered and screamed beneath her. Tatiana couldn’t help but clap with a bright smile on her face.
Indigo gave a short speech, acknowledging Cassius and others who had helped her. Her fame was skyrocketing. It was unexpected for her to take the top position.
For a moment, Tatiana remembered herself winning the best actress award years ago. The chant of her name and that amazing feeling of being on top of the world was priceless.
“Tssk,” a woman scoffed, sitting beside Tatiana with a glass of wine in her hand.
“I never thought she’d actually win that award,” she said, turning to Tatiana, who maintained her calm aura. “What do you think?”
Tatiana gave her a look. The woman looked familiar, like she’d seen her somewhere before, but couldn’t recall.
“What do you mean?” Tatiana asked.
“She is Mr. King’s used and dumped whore, and yet she’s receiving the best model award?” Diana raised a brow, and Tatiana’s expression changed.
“Watch the way you speak. It’ll get you into trouble,” Tatiana warned, her calm voice laced with anger.
“What? Do you think supporting her will make you her friend? She’s full of herself…”
“Who are you?” Tatiana cut in, not sure she could control the anger rising in her.
“Hm. You don’t even know me? I’m fucking famous. No wonder you’re acting strange. Any sane upcoming artist would jump for an autograph. I’m Diana Rock. Haven’t heard of that name, too?”
Diana scoffed.
“I’m afraid not.”
Diana took a deep breath. “Well, what do I expect from you? You’re Tatiana Wallington, quite famous because of your constant scandals. Do you really think you’ll have a place here in the industry if you keep acting like this? Arrogant.”
“The one who is arrogant here is you,” Tatiana replied calmly. She looked unbothered, which only fueled Diana’s anger.
“That’s how people lose opportunities. I thought that if you impressed me, I might have considered talking to Mr. Nathan Redmond for you. The CEO of Stardust Company… the company I’m signed with.”
This time, Tatiana’s eyes flickered with interest. She had been trying to find an artist in Stardust Company to dig up information on.
Her eyes met Diana’s, and she closely observed the woman.
“Are you shocked?” Diana smiled. “You’ve lost the opportunity. See you never,” she said and left.
“Diana Rock,” the name lingered in Tatiana’s mind. She looked back at Cassius and found him gone. He had already left. Just as she was about to text Jolene about Diana, she spotted Indigo approaching.
“Hey, you came,” Indigo smiled.
“Yeah,” Tatiana chuckled as she stood.
Eyes fell upon them, curious gazes wondering when Tatiana and Indigo had gotten to know each other.
“I saw you with Diana just now. She’s a rival of mine. I know she would have said some shit,” Indigo said.
“Yeah, she’s an interesting person,” Tatiana replied, and Indigo chuckled.
“You owe me lunch. You’ll have to fulfill it before I travel back to France.”
“Back to France?” Tatiana frowned slightly.
“Hm… that’s where my parents live. I’m mostly here because of Cassius…” She paused. “Sorry, I’m not-”
“It’s fine. It’s not as if Cassius and I are together.”
“But he likes you.”
Tatiana chuckled. “What?”
“C’mon. You know deep down he likes you, Tatiana,” Indigo smiled.
An hour later, Tatiana was at Cassius’s mansion. She was taken home by one of Cassius’s guards.
“Mom!” Dylan ran to hug her like he used to. Cassius wasn’t home, probably out on business. He’s always busy.
___
Meanwhile, Cassius stepped into a dark room where Zero was tied up, his hands above his head as he hung. Bruises and dried blood covered his face and exposed chest. He was breathing slowly.
“Hey, old friend,” Cassius grabbed a cookie and enjoyed the flavor.
Zero opened his swollen, heavy eyes and looked at him. He let out a small laugh.
“No matter how hard you torture me, Cash, you won’t hear a thing. Not because I’m scared of my client, but because I don’t want to give you what you want.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ll get the answer myself.”
“You won’t.”
“I already did.”
Zero laughed. “Don’t fuck with me.”
Cassius grinned and mentioned a name. Zero’s smirk slowly faded, his eyes widening.
“How the fuck did you know?”
Cassius looked back at the entrance as Zero’s assistant was dragged in by Hudson and some other men. He was even bloodier than Zero.
“Surprise,” Cassius chuckled.
“Motherfucker,” Zero muttered. He had asked his assistant to flee to a place where no one could find him, but it seemed he had underestimated Cassius. A man called King-his surname really suited him.
“I’m sorry, boss,” his assistant pleaded.
Zero returned to his cheeky self. “So what now? Are you going to kill me?” He chuckled.
“Little Rebel will be the one to decide that. Whether you die painfully or slowly… or whether you live and wish you were dead. It’ll be her choice.”
“You mean that woman? Don’t tell me you like her, Cassius. You’re playing with fire,” Zero chuckled. “You know the Wallingtons.”
“She is no longer one of them. And if they cross my path, I’ll deliver what they deserve.”
“I’ll wait for that day. As long as she bears the name Wallington, she is part of the family…”
“Have you run out of ideas? I’m getting bored. Anyway, I’ll be leaving. Do you want some cookies?” Cassius offered the last piece of cookie sarcastically.
Zero’s stomach growled. The last time he ate was three days ago.
“I guess not,” Cassius threw the cookie into his mouth, and Zero growled inwardly.
“Asshole,” Zero muttered as he watched Cassius leave the room. Now, his life depended on that woman.
What punishment is she going to give him?