Rivals In Love

CHAPTER 10

Cassian above...
___________________________________________

He sighed. He turned around to walk off when his eyes trailed back to Cassian as he walked onto the stage. His facial expression was so serious Rainier couldn't believe he could smile the way he always does whenever he around him trying so hard to ask him out. He had questions and he wanted them answered. He had to win Cassian at that auction at all costs.

He walked over to Markov, the body guard his father always brought with him and said a few words in Russian to make sure no one understood what he wanted to say then moved away from there. As the auction for Cassian D'Angelo was proceeding, he went over to talk to the event organizer who stood a little off to the side of the podium. After exchanging a few words and she nodded in fear more than understanding, he turned away to head back to the crowd when he heard a word that made him freeze.

"SOLD!" The auctioneer yelled as he slammed his little mallet on the podium. Rainier turned around just into time to see who had brought him. "...to the young man in a black suit at the back. Please raise your number for people to see," the auctioneer was all smiles. So was Rainier. Cassian, not so much. If anything, he looked extremely pissed, if looks could kill, Rainier was sure that Markov would be dead and buried. He sighed. He turned back to see Cassian walking back into the crowd, some ladies tried to chat him up but he was not giving them the time of day. He turned towards Markov, whispered in his ear then left.

Rainier stood to the side as he saw Cassian approach Markov and turned all smiles like he was used to seeing him. He clenched his jaw. Was it all a façade? What did he want from him? What was he hoping to achieve by approaching him? He was angry. Why had he thought he would be any different from the people that had approached him with ulterior motives? He laughed at irony of the thought. He had already told Markov what to do so he didn't need to keep an eye on him. He would meet up with him later.

"I'm sorry ladies, I know most of you had been waiting for this opportunity but it seems that Mr. Rainier Romanoff will not be participating."

The auctioneer said into the microphone. A collection of groans and disappointed chatter followed his announcement.

Rainier pushed himself off the wall and headed over to his parents. He threw one last look at Markov who met his eyes and he nodded. Rainier turned back just in time to catch himself from bumping into someone. It was a lady dressed in a skimpy black dress that was way too short for attending a high society charity gala in. He groaned internally assuming she was probably one of the sugar babies that tagged along as eye candy. Question was why she was left unchecked and what she wanted from him. He raised an eyebrow at her question gaze. It made his skin crawl with how she was not even trying to hide the lust in her eyes.

"Can I help you with anything?" He asked impatiently. She smiled and reached her hand to feel his chest. He held his breath. He was a short breath away from actually ripping her body off him.

"You're that Romanoff kid, right?" She smiled. He raised an eyebrow. What did that have to do with anything? He sighed.

"Yes, and I have important things to do than standing around to chit chat, I'm sorry-" he left it as a question.

"Virginia," she smiled. She probably thought he was showing interest in her. She couldn't possibly be any more wrong.

"Okay, it's nice to meet you, Ms. Virginia. But I have to leave," he gave her a small nod and a smile to be polite. As he was walking past her to go to his mother who was looking at him excitedly, he felt a hand hold onto his wrist. He turned and looked at her but she looked equally as confused. Because he was met with electric grey eyes that seemed to be carrying a storm within them. Rainier felt his heart stop. This was not the plan! He thought angrily, yet he was still scared. He didn't know why but he didn't feel the same anger he thought he would feel. He had wanted to torture Cassian for killing his best friend! Not meet him like this... He didn't want to see the storm of emotional turmoil that was plaguing him as they finally got to meet as the natural born rivals they were supposed to be.

"It's really you," Cassian breathed out as he let go of Rainier's wrist. He tried to give a smile but it was awkward. He was not the usual confident Cassian he knew. And he was also not the flirty Cassian D'Angelo he had seen earlier either. He wanted to laugh at the turn of events. Who would have thought that the both of them would not be in their element once they finally met?

"Um... What are you doing here? I-I mean... Uh... Why..." Cassian finally noticed Virginia standing next to him. He gave her a curt nod. "Who did you come here with?" Cassian asked Rainier with baited breath.

He noticed immediately. Cassian's whole mood had changed. He was a little cold when he asked him that question. Almost like if he didn't answer like he wanted to be answered, that would be the end of the small bond they had formed.

"I came with my family," he said as he regarded Cassian's facial expressions. They were guarded. He couldn't get a read except for the emotion of interest he had on his face. But Rainier knew it was fake because of the body language. He was too stiff to be interested in that tiny detail of who Rainier had come with. He just wanted know who the young lady next to them was. He intentionally gave a vague answer to see how Cassian would react.

"Oh? And this is..." He turned to Virginia and his face turned icy. Virginia gave a small laugh as she took a step back.

"I was just leaving Mr. D'Angelo," she said softly and turned away scurrying back to where she had come from.

"So......D'Angelo is your last name?" Rainier growled in his ear. Cassian's whole body froze as he felt the chills run down his spine.