Chapter Three

Thora's POV

If only I knew

I was scrolling through my phone in the dimly lit room as the midnight clock ticked by.

A new DM popped up from the same unknown account that has been messaging and disturbing me all these while, Luke.

“You’re more than your headlines, Thora. Let’s meet. Face to face.”

Hmm. What does he really want with me? He should better know that if he's trying to make advances, I see him and I'm not interested.

However, I'll give him a chance. I'd like to hear about this business… of his.

“Friday night.” I replied.

Quentin on the other hand was not resting. He endlessly tormented my life with annoying messages and endless threats.

I just ignored it, but it was getting out of hand. However, the long awaited Friday night came.

I appeared stunning, not too much, just enough for a business discussion.

When I spotted someone coming, I knew it was him. Tall, dazzling eyes, well dressed.

But to be honest, he looks nothing like the cold billionaire I imagined.

He approached with a confident smile.

“You must be Thora. I’ve been waiting for this moment longer than I care to admit.” He admitted.

Flatter. He didn't know me well then.

“Flattery won’t get you far with me.”

I looked away and sipped my wine.

He just laughed calmly and pulled out an envelope from his suit and handed it over to me.

“What's this?” I raised an eyebrow.

“A proposal. Not just for your heart, but for your revenge.” I looked into those golden eyes of his, observing his every movement.

I opened it up and saw the devious plan he had carefully outlined to take out Quentin.

I don't understand why he's offering to help me, it doesn't sit well with me. Why would someone I just met would want to go this far to bring down Quentin for me for nothing in return.

“Why are you helping me?”

I snapped. The whole thing was getting suspicious.

“Nothing in particular. The thing is, Quentin is a man with lots of enemies, and I happen to be one of them…”

Okay then.

He proposed we had a fake date…

“What? No. Hell no!”

That alone turned me off. This was a mistake. I rose up to go, but his soft hands pulled me back.

I still didn't want to listen, but something, I don't know, it just pulled me back.

“Chill. It's all good. We just act, nothing more than that.”

My stern eyes were fixed on him as he outlined strategies on how we'll dismantle Quentin’s empire publicly and personally.

I still don't like the idea.

“You will destroy him in the press, I’ll handle the business fallout. We split the wins.”

Interesting, but I don't completely trust him…

However, it's worth a try. I'll do anything to get back at him. Imagine he had the guts to break into my house. I'll teach him a little lesson.

Not too much, as usual, just enough.

“Deal. Sounds perfect then.” I rose again to shake hands with him, he just wasn't ready.

I need to get away from him fast, Quentin has eyes and ears around me, seeing me with Luke might be misinterpreted.

“Wait. We're not done yet. Sit…”

He smiled and adjusted my chair for me.

“For this to work, it requires trust and good acting skills.”

That's true. One mistake and this whole thing would fail.

But we can still make it work. Although, there's something he wants to say that he's holding back. There's something he wants he's not saying.

“What's in it for you?”

He smiled, sipped in some wine and looked into my eyes, he wanted his words to go straight to my mind.

“Let’s say… I have a score to settle too.

Okay then. I smiled and extended my hand again for a hand shake.

Thankfully, he agreed.

“Deal. Let’s burn his world down.” I smirked.

Our first strike was at a charity gala where Quentin was present.

I arrived in Luke's arms, all eyes on us, as usual.

I saw him and he immediately whispered to his colleague.

I know he must be asking who's with me. Well, let's start this party.

Luke leaned in with a whisper.

“Ready to make him jealous?”

“Born ready.”

We danced together in the center, next to Quentin.

Later, when Luke had left me to greet some people, Quentin confronted mez his voice was furious, just what I wanted. That jealousy, let him feel it, it needs to burn in his skin.

“You’re using me. Don’t pretend you’re not.” He warned.

“I’m the one playing you, Quentin.”

“Don't push too far. You wouldn't like the outcome.”

“What would be the outcome? I'd like to know…”

I pushed his shoulder and left, but he held me back.

“This is just a game to you right?”

It's a game I enjoy playing, but it's more.

“It’s survival.”

To anger him the more, we faked a kiss on the dance floor again, slowly, allowing him to feel the effect.

This is going too far. This is more than just a game. That's why I never liked the idea of this whole thing.

The heat, it's real. I felt it.

It wasn't supposed to mean anything. It wasn't supposed to leave me breathless, but it did.

After pulling back, his expression softened and he leaned in closer with a low voice and dropped a question that rang louder than the disco.

“If you want him destroyed, you need to tell me the truth about the baby you're carrying”

What?! I knew it. He wanted something, all these while, he's been hiding it.

How did he even know?

My mind flashed back to the day I told Quentin I was pregnant, the shock on his face, the silence, the doubts.

Damn! It was just a little mistake.

“...Quentin, it’s yours. I’m not hiding it.”

Oh my God.

The silly bastard came prepared. He took me outside, back to his car and pulled out a DNA test kit from his boot.

“Let’s end the lies tonight…”

My breath caught in my throat. No… No!

Why now?!