𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐃𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐘

𝐈𝐈𝐈 ━ 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔡𝔦𝔫𝔫𝔢𝔯

chapter three
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"So, (Y/N)," Devon started after he and the other two women sat down for dinner, interrupting the silence proliferated with the sounds of the cooking silverware. "I heard your birthday is coming up soon from Katherine. How old will you be, then?"

"Eighteen," (Y/N) answered with a smile.

"That's a very important date," he smiled, glancing at Katherine who returned the look. "Do you have any big plans?"

"Mm... not particularly."

"Really?" He blinked. "I'm surprised. I know a lot of teenagers have large eighteenth birthday parties."

"Yeah, but I'm an introvert," she chuckled as she picked up her glass and took a sip of the cool water, relishing the way it felt down her throat, cooling down her face that was becoming a bit warm with all of the attention. "I also only have a couple friends that are really close to me. I might invite them over to hangout, but I'm still debating."

"Alright," Devon nodded. "I mean, if you wanted to, I'd be happy to book a nice restaurant for dinner if you wanted a more quiet night. Just you, your mother, and me."

"That... would be great," (Y/N) smiled, looking a bit shocked he would even offer such a thing. "Yeah, thanks, Devon."

"It's not problem," he waved away her words.

Why would it be a problem?

He had no qualms about showering both Katherine and her daughter in anything they so desired, wishing to spoil them with his wealth until they were bordering on tired of it. But by then, they'd be so accustomed to such a good, easy life that they'd never want to leave what he provided for them in the first place. In hindsight, he saw nothing wrong with this sort of thinking at all, instead merely seeing to it as an investment in his future.

Katherine set her hand on his own, giving him a light squeeze, allowing him to know that he had made the right decision in speaking.

Please, please, please.

It should only be natural he try to please.

After all, to charm people, to gain their trust, and to get them to like him was something he had always been able to accomplish so easily. His handsome face was, of course, the most obvious factor, and he pitied those who were not born with good genes. Glancing over Katherine, and then (Y/N), his gaze lingering longer than strictly necessary, he could see that both possessed very beautiful features. It was something he appreciated. However, beauty wasn't a guaranteed factor to have people practically drop to his feet in droves, no. It was how eloquently the words dripped from his tongue in a charming manner that snatched them before sinking them hook, line, and sinker.

As always, it was a pleasurable sight.

All in all, to be pleased, he in turn would have to please other people.

And he did it very well.

"So, um... what do you do, Devon?" (Y/N) asked after a moment more of silence, looking up at him through her lashes as she took a bite, curiosity brimming within those (E/C) eyes of hers.

He found the sight rather endearing.

"I'm the CEO of Desray Corporations," Devon answered as he wiped his lips with his napkin, having finished his meal only a moment earlier. "I do a variety of things in such a position. I communicate with the board of directors and shareholders of the company, I make decisions that affect the course of the company as a whole, including financial budgets, among other things."

(Y/N) almost choked on her food as soon as the word CEO slipped past his lips. Though she didn't catch it, the corners of his lips did twitch upwards into a small, indiscernible smile that stemmed from high pride and ego. Coughing to clear her throat, having already taken a guess that he was in a wealthy position due to his suit and his car, she swallowed and tried to regain her bearings. Katherine almost moved to stand up to help her daughter, worry creasing her brows, but with one hand raised to showcase she was fine, she hesitantly sat down.

"Sorry about that," (Y/N) uttered sheepishly with an awkward scratch of her arm, looking anywhere but Devon who merely chuckled.

"A normal reaction," he hummed with a tilt of his head. "You're quite alright."

"So... how did you meet my mom in such a high position of power?" She asked after another stretch of silence, not realizing how much Devon found himself enjoying her curiosity in him. "I mean... I don't know if you frequent the places we frequent, so..."

"My company did business with Desray," Katherine answered. "We met through that connection."

"Yes, she was on the team who met with me and the rest of the board to communicate what we wanted from our partnership through both channels," Devon continued, thinking back to that day in his mind, realizing that nothing about Katherine stood out to him until he met with her over and over again to gauge her personality. "But even after our deal was closed and completed, I still met up with your mother for a cup of coffee now and then since we became friendly during our meetings. That allowed for the flourish of our relationship."

"That's right," Katherine nodded, smiling.

Devon returned her smile.

"That sounds nice," (Y/N) spoke in a slight wistful tone, alerting Devon to the fact that she, as a teenage girl, might also want a relationship.

He already didn't like the thought.

Were those his fatherly instincts?

So soon?

He had only just met (Y/N), however the more he thought about it, the more he deemed it accurate he was already worrying about her future in general. After all, if she was to be tied to his name like he was going to ensure, he needed to make sure at all costs that she would be protected. After all, once he holds onto something, it is a very difficult procedure for him to try and ever let go.

So, little by little, he sank his claws deep into the (L/N) family to reiterate their newfound connection.

A never ending connection.

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To be continued...