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4 | Clara Saint

"𝐢 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢 𝐠𝐨 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤..."

𝐚𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞

𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝟏 | 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝟎

I stepped out of the car, the crimson silk of my dress rustling softly as I walked onto the black carpet. My parents had arrived well before me; my tardiness was due to my frantic search for a particular necklace that had momentarily eluded me.

The security guard courteously held the door open for me, and I rewarded him with a small smile as I made my way inside.

As I ventured deeper into the venue, I picked up a glass of red wine from one of the tables. Amid the mingling guests, my thoughts drifted until a sudden, strong yank on my arm forced me into a room, muffling my protests with a large hand covering my mouth.

The red wine long gone.

I looked up to find Vincent Kovak, his imposing presence crowding the confines of the janitor's closet.

"You told him about the fucking contract?"  I attempted to wrestle free from his grip, our eyes locking in a tense standoff. He eventually removed his hand from my mouth, allowing me to speak.

"I didn't know he was unaware of the contract," I confessed, making another futile attempt to push him away. Vincent, however, remained resolute, his intense brown eyes fixed on mine as he demanded answers.

"Do you even know your role in the contract?" His voice carried a demanding tone, and his gaze bore into mine, awaiting my response.

"To marry him-"

"To fuck him and have his kids, to be an obeying wife who never questions his motives. That's your fucking job. Stick to it. You may be marrying my brother, but you'll answering to me- I'm the head of house Clara." He grabs my jaw and forces me to look at him, his thumb brushing over my lips. "So don't make me an enemy off me."

"I fucking hate you." I growl, "you disrespectful egoistic piece of shit."

"Didn't hate me when my cock was down your throat did you?"

"That is the biggest regret in my life." I shoot out.

"Not the only biggest thing in your life." My eyes widen, he exits the janitors room.

I pushed open the janitor's closet door and stepped out, my heart still pounding from the encounter with Vincent Kovak. Anger coursed through me as I reflected on his audacity. Who did this fucking man think he was, speaking to me in such a manner?

After a few minutes to collect myself, I left the room and headed toward the casino area where our allies had been invited to partake in the games. My father hosted this event annually to ensure our relationships remained strong and to bolster our business ventures. As I entered, all eyes turned toward me, marking the first time I was formally introduced by my father as his daughter.

I made my way to my parents, who stood beside Roman and Vincent. Adjusting my dress, I greeted my father with a polite smile. "What took you so long?"

"Nothing important," I replied, keeping my encounter with Vincent to myself.

Roman offered me a drink, and I accepted. "Red, please," I requested. He nodded and turned to fetch the wine, leaving with my father.

My mother and I exchanged pleasantries while we waited, but I couldn't help but feel Vincent's gaze on me, his dark eyes scrutinizing my every move.