Chapter 3: Dubious Hatred

Serafina has spent her whole life being alone. 

She cherished the few years of her childhood in which her father was alive and relived them over and over in the form of happy memories. It won't be wrong to say that her childhood ended the morning they found her father dead in his study under the pretext of suicide. She was too young then to understand the concept of suicide, she just knew that her father had gone away because he wasn't happy here.

He also took away her mother.

Ever since her father died her mother put herself into the company, working day and night to solve the crisis without letting it go into the wrong hands. Her father loved his company, and the artists that they had signed. His sole purpose was to bring people solace and a sense of belonging through music and Falcone Entertainment did exactly that, with multiple international subsidiaries managing the biggest artists all over the world. 

While her mother was busy being a Girl Boss and an absolute inspiration, Serafina was slowly slipping into loneliness.

Her life wasn't the same as it used to be, turned upside down due to the tragedy of losing her father. Gone were chaotic breakfasts and school dropoffs with her dad. Gone was the light-hearted banter with her mom, replaced with paper-thin silence that slowly grew into a concrete wall. Gone were the friends she used to rely on because she was sent to her boarding school in Switzerland. Gone were her evening piano lessons with unique-eyed Damien.

Serafina looks at the image illuminated on her laptop screen. The unique-eyed Damien that looks back at her now is nothing more than a stranger, a friend turned enemy. There was a time when he didn't look so big, so untouchable but now as she looks at the pictures of the press conference; they look like they belong from different worlds. Damien looks dark and dangerous wearing his maroon silk shirt and black pants, red snake tattoo, and silver canines glinting. Next to him, she is soft, baby blue clothes and midnight blue eyes. It's as if they took two separate pictures and photoshopped them together. 

Her manager told her to choose a photo she likes of them and send it to her for her Instagram hence why she is browsing through them, but she can't stop agonizing over the fact that she looks bored or mad during the whole press conference. Her eyes trace over Damien's features once more, his threat from the morning ringing in her ears as if it's being whispered to her at the moment. 

Her screen illuminates with a message beside the laptop. She finds a text from her manager in the most recent chats, ignoring Ryan's message about meeting up, she opens Gracie's chat. "Fae, you have a date with Mr. Kyng at noon for the fitting. He will be the one picking you up so be ready on time," Serafina will make sure she makes him wait twice as long as he made her wait at the press. She sends a thumbs-up to her manager before turning off her phone.

Her fingers tap against her glass desk, contemplating before she opens Ryan's conversation. "Fae, why am I reading about you announcing your engagement with Damien Kyng? Pick my calls," he had texted before calling her four times during the evening but she wasn't ready to face him just yet.

The love that she once felt for the boy is nothing but a distant memory, clouded over by years of complexities and confusion. She met Ryan during her freshman year in college, Ryan was a senior then. Fresh out of boarding school and far away from her best friend, she was in desperate need of company which Ryan gave her. He was nice and sweet and helped her settle into city life without trouble. They were friends for one year before Ryan asked her out and she said yes. 

Their relationship wasn't free of problems though, Ryan had his insecurities, and she had responsibilities. 

The biggest of their problems remained constant. 

Damien.

Did she mention Ryan was Damien's classmate and rival?

Speaking of the Devil, her screen illuminates with a text once more. It's from an unknown number but she ends up opening it nonetheless. "Be ready by noon, Angel. You know I suck at patience," she rolls her eyes, putting the screen away once more as she opens another window on her computer. 

Midnight blue eyes watch closely as the screen shows the scene of a front yard. The lights of the modern house are on, curtains pulled away from the large floor-to-ceiling windows. She notices the car on the porch, most probably having parked there moments ago as a chauffeur climbs into the driving seat. She notes the time, frowning over the fact that the occupant was out later than usual today. 

She has half a mind to close the screen, her cursor hovering over the red cross when she notes a moment in the corner of her screen. She stops just for a few moments to catch a glimpse of the owner of the house coming into view thanks to the uncovered windows. He is shirtless, olive skin glowing under the cozy yellow lights as he talks on the phone. 

Delicate fingers tap over the glass desk once more, urging herself to close the window. They end up zooming in to allow a better view of the man from the camera placed on the tree closest to the window. The dragon coiled around his left bicep looks at her threateningly as she bites her lip, and watches him cut the call before his long fingers type on the screen. 

Her phone buzzes beside her, she picks it up absentmindedly, opening the chat once more to see Damien has sent another text message. "If you are thinking about making me wait, I promise you I'll come to your room and drag you out in your night clothes if I have to. Don't test me," she notes the smirk on the man's face as he pockets his phone. 

She doesn't reply, knowing the threat is nothing but empty.

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