Forbidden Deception (Deception)

22

A humourless laugh spills out of me while I watch everyone go crazy over the released sex tape of the current head mayor of London.

He was destined to end up destroyed after he so bluntly threatened my family. All of this mess over a simple breach of contract that wouldn’t happen if he just kept his end of the deal.

Being in my position, material for blackmail is bound to end up in my hands, and every single video ever used for threats, to toy and play with those in power, will always remain hidden from everyone’s eyes. In the safest place on earth for me. In my home, guarded by my highly trained security team, with the best AI technology protecting my safe, and instant combustion technology to burn everything from within the safe the second it is threatened.

While the public may not realise this, I am the most heavily protected person in the country after Remo Cainn, the centre of the Elite society. I am intensely protected out of all the corrupted people that hide their crimes, in attendance tonight, in this ballroom.

They all make me sick.

And they think I will fall for their little games.

They think they can force me to sell my land, to build my hotels where they want, to just follow their instructions.

Abso-fucking-lutely not.

The screen is clear, and the moans of the mayor and the model he is fucking echo through the hall. The funny thing is that the crowd gasped at seeing the video displayed on the widest screen, but then they all turned toward the red-faced mayor, who stands frozen, his champagne glass clasped tightly in his trembling hand.

I hide my smirk behind the glass I tip back, then I scan the crowd until I find Remo standing next to the upcoming prime minister candidate, Vance Hartley. His eyes flit towards me, then dart to the person next to me.

My jaw tics.

Venezia looks scandalised, her eyes wide as she looks anywhere but the video being displayed on the wall behind the crowd.

I didn’t want to bring her, but there was no other option. The previous assistant I fired disappeared after I told him about a party I was attending, even if I never shared any specifics. I told her about this party, and so far, nothing has been leaked. No media showed up. I knew it wouldn’t. Venezia isn’t one to do that. Khyros will back off from her now, too. What better way to protect Venezia than to keep her with me, under my security’s eyes.

Remo looks murderous, his dark eyes hard and boiling.

I wink at him playfully, but he keeps his composure. Of course he does. He can’t walk over to me and just outright threaten me to delete the video of him murdering his wife’s father, because that is just no fun. Ambrose Torre sent the footage to Gustav media, and Remo went feral demanding for me to delete it off the media. I did, but I never said I’d delete it completely.

He probably has something else up his sleeve, and I will figure it out sooner than later.

I tip my empty glass to him and turn away, my eyes on Venezia, who is looking around the arched ballroom, filled with several hundred people.

Celebrities could be invited, but these Elite parties? These secret invitations only extend to the higher ups, to ones desperate to join by spilling blood, and ones that have an invite.

Who distributes the invites?

Remo fucking Cainn.

He knows what goes in and out of the city, just like me. He called me here. He knew I was coming, and he will set records straight about me teasing him about the murder footage.

While he pumps money into the circle and people to get power in return, I take care of the outer side, the media, the public, and the locations. He knows exactly why he can’t erase me or declare some kind of war on me, but it doesn’t mean he won’t retaliate now that he knows I still have the CCTV footage of him killing his father-in-law.

Remo needed someone to protect those aspects of this inner circle, and I heard his soundless plea for help and stepped in over a decade ago. He knew I would be perfect, as did everyone else, and then started the feud of us both being difficult and not agreeing to each other’s terms so easily.

It helps that he is so uptight, and I happen to love having fun with people like him.

The small tug on my sleeve captures my attention. I look down at Venezia to find her eyes on me.

An internal pull keeps me from looking away from her, but I refrain from showing any kind of attachment to anything or anyone yet. Venezia means something to me; small or big, I don’t know, but I don’t want her in the sights of anyone in this room for any reason except that she is my assistant.

“Let’s go. We are done here.” I place a hand on Venezia’s lower back and lead her out.

I move with measured, slow steps towards the entrance, but Remo doesn’t catch up nor do the guards.

I frown, I thought he would be here, saying something at least, but he isn’t.

As soon as we are out of hearing range of everyone, Venezia stops me and turns around, eyes wide and innocent. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought her here, but I didn’t tell her much about this party either.

Her hair falls in waves down her back, the black dress hugs her perfectly, and I don’t know what to make of it. It’s been a couple of weeks, and Venezia has kept her distance, not letting me touch her, but I’ve seen her constantly in a silent battle with herself, so I decided to give her space.

“Are you okay?” I ask, caressing her cheek, hoping to soothe her, because the energy is fucking dark in there.

And to think, this woman thinks I won’t keep her. Her fierceness and confidence are what captivated me and will forever continue to do so. She surprises me in a way no one does. She makes me want her desperately, to hold her like she is mine, to touch her, to swallow every gasp, every moan, every word right out of her. I want all she wants to give me and I want it obsessively.

“Rafael, I want—” She looks behind me, and her eyes widen ever so slightly. Her face morphs into a blank mask, clearing every expression.

I straighten, dropping my hand and turning around to find Remo standing there, hands in his trouser pockets, while darkness envelops him.

“Oh, my favourite person,” I deadpan, turning completely towards him, knowing he is here to warn me. I knew he couldn’t resist me.

“Funny.” Remo tilts his head, his eyes moving to Venezia once more, and dark fury takes over me. He has a wife, so why the fuck is he looking at Venezia like that?

I stay still, watching out for Remo and his silent cues, because he is a man of very few words and big on actions. I learned that when he blew up one of my hotels in London because I didn’t provide him with access to a hotel in Central London.

I’ve learnt my lesson and proved myself when I helped someone blow up his manufacturing plant in Italy.

Tit for tat, I guess.

“I’m positive you have a humiliation kink,” he grumbles, running his finger up his jaw.

“How did you figure it out?” I smile coldly.

From the corner of my eye, I spot Venezia fidget, her eyes flicking between me and Remo.

“Get on with your little threats. I’ve been waiting all night. Did you not like the show?”

“Just because you are within the circle, it doesn’t mean you are untouchable, Rafael. You might not realise it yet, but your downfall is coming far sooner than you expect, and you will be forced to bow before me.”

Hot boiling rage takes over me like never before. I don’t fucking bow to anyone, and I sure won’t start now.

“Give me your worst. Let’s see who will fall first.” My hands clench at my sides, head throbbing with the anger that keeps turning everything rotten.

A smirk paints Remo’s face, one of the few reactions he gives to people. He glances next to me once again, something akin to satisfaction in his eyes before he tips his head at me.

“Pleasure doing business with you. I’ll be there at the new opening of your hotel in Edinburgh.” With that, he turns and leaves.

Part of me wants to destroy the hotel, so he won’t ever step into my city again.

A soft touch on my hand grounds me. I can’t wait to fucking leave this city, but I can’t leave without leaving a present for Remo first.