Acquaintance?

Kimberley's intervention had been so swift, so seamless, that few had even registered what had happened. Kathryn was genuinely impressed.

"Bitch, you'll regret this," Richards spat, his face contorted with pain as he limped away.

"We'll see about that," Kimberley murmured to herself, a playful smile gracing her lips.

Turning her attention to Kathryn, Kimberley's eyes widened with open admiration. Up close, Kathryn was even more striking than she'd initially realized. A luscious red hair styled in a bun, and few strands framed a face with high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a pair of hazel eyes that seemed to see right through her.

Catching Kathryn's gaze, Kimberley flashed a dazzling smile. "What? Is there something on my face?"

"Just admiring my saviour" Kathryn replied cheekily. It felt surprisingly good, a refreshing change from her usual guarded interactions.

Kimberley threw her head back and laughed, a bright, infectious sound that drew attention from across the room. "Smooth, Ms. Blackwood. I like it. Very much."

It really is refreshing to interact with a lady other than Rebecca.

And what's more, she was subtling flirting with me, Kathryn mused.

"Well, I hope you like what you see," Kimberley replied, wiggling her eyebrows with playful mischief. This time, Kathryn couldn't help but laugh, charmed by Kimberley's unabashed flirtation.

"You're gorgeous; I'll give you that," Kathryn conceded, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.

Kimberley gasped dramatically, clutching at her chest. "Have you seen yourself in a mirror? Girl, you're practically stopping traffic."

"Not only are you aesthetically pleasing, but you practically knocked my brother off his porch. It's giving 'beauty with brains' and then some" Kimberley declared, her voice earnest as she handed her empty champagne flute to a passing waiter.

Turning her attention to the buffet,she grabbed a plate and began to pile it high with an assortment of delicacies.

Pretending not to know who she meant by 'her brother' Kathryn feigned ignorance, hoping to avoid coming across as a stalker. "Your brother is…?"

"Davin, of course," Kimberley replied, giving Kathryn a look that clearly telegraphed, 'Isn't it obvious, duh?'

"Oh. Right," Kathryn said, adding a generous helping of cheese to her plate.

A few seconds of comfortable silence passed as they both focused on their respective plates. Then, curiosity got the better of Kathryn. "So… I never caught your name?"

"Kimberley Banks. You can call me Kim," she said with a wink. "And you are Kathryn, it is a pleasure"

"Well, thank you again for earlier, Kimberley," Kathryn said, turning to leave. "But I should get back—"

"Nonsense, I'm coming with you," Kimberley interrupted, looping her arm through Kathryn's and steering her towards a secluded corner of the room. "Let's camp out over there."

Kathryn smiled, shaking her head in amusement as Kimberley practically dragged her across the ballroom.

Catching Arthur's eye, Kathryn saw him raise an eyebrow, silently mouthing, "What's up?" She simply shrugged, gesturing towards Kimberley with a bemused expression before allowing herself to be led away.

They had barely settled into their seats and taken a bite of their food when a deep, resonant voice cut through the murmur of the crowd, so commanding, so undeniably masculine, that it drew every eye in the room.

Kathryn, along with everyone else, looked up. There, standing near the center of the ballroom, was Davin Banks, the epitome of effortless elegance.

"I hope you're all enjoying yourselves this evening, ladies and gentlemen," he said, his voice a smooth, intoxicating blend of power and charm.

"Please, do indulge in the refreshments and have a wonderful night." With a nod, he turned and casually strolled back towards his table.

Kathryn couldn't help but study the woman across from her, who hadn't lifted her head from her plate since they'd sat down.

Why was Kimberley choosing to spend her time with me, a complete stranger, instead of with her own family? Was I simply projecting my insecurities? Kathryn mused

Suppressing a chuckle, she asked, "Are you that hungry?"

The question finally drew her attention. With a deliberate grace, she set down her silverware, took a long sip of water, delicately dabbed her lips with a napkin, and flashed me her signature megawatt smile.

Watching her movements, Kathryn was struck by their effortless elegance, the kind of refined poise that spoke of a lifetime of careful instruction. It triggered a sudden, unexpected wave of nostalgia, a vivid memory of my late parents, their voices echoing in my mind…

"Kathryn, no talking while you're eating."

"Kathryn, stop moving so much; you'll give yourself indigestion."

"Kathryn, eat like a lady."

"Kathryn, wipe your mouth after eating."

Before Carlos, my life had been filled with love and laughter, a comfortable, happy existence. We weren't wealthy, but we had everything we needed. And then, in a single, brutal act of violence, everything had been stolen from me, leaving me scarred and broken.. she reminisced the painful memories.

Without warning, her hands began to tremble, palms slick with cold sweat. A wave of nausea churned in her stomach, threatening to overwhelm her.

"Kathryn? Kathryn, are you alright?" Kimberley's voice cut through the fog of her memories, concern etched on her face. She hadn't even realized she'd moved closer, her warm hand now clasped tightly around Kathryn's.

Kathryn managed a shaky nod, unable to speak and at that moment couldn't trust herself to form a coherent sentence.

"You're sweating," Kimberley persisted, her brow furrowed with worry. "Are you sure you're okay?" She reached out, gently touching Kathryn's forehead.

Feeling her soft, warm hand on her skin, witnessing the genuine concern in her luminous green eyes, a strange, unfamiliar sensation washed over Kathryn – a fragile warmth blooming in the icy wasteland of my heart.

Taking a deep breath, she fought to regain control, pushing back the tide of painful memories. "I'm okay now," she managed to say, her voice barely a whisper. "Thank you."

Her gaze remained fixed on Kathryn, scrutinizing and unconvinced.

"Are you sure? I can call our family doctor. He's just a phone call away," Kimberley offered, her voice filled with genuine concern.

"I'm serious, Kim. I'm fine. Really. Thank you," kathryn insisted, genuinely grateful for her unexpected kindness.

"What are friends for?" she replied, a playful smile returning to her lips as she leaned back in her chair and savored a sip of her wine.

Friend. It was a word I rarely used, a concept I had only ever truly applied to Arthur and Rebecca. Could I really extend that trust, that connection, to someone I had just met? Kathryn mused.

As the evening wore on, both ladies talked, easily and effortlessly, about a dizzying array of subjects – fashion, mental health, hospital management, even the complexities of quantum physics.

Everything she learned about Kimberley, both from her words and from my own observations, revealed a woman of remarkable intelligence, depth, and versatility.

She possessed a rare gift – the ability to truly read a room, to sense the unspoken emotions simmering beneath the surface. She deftly avoided any topics that might trigger me pain, steering clear of anything even remotely sensitive. Kathryn was inwardly impressed.

For the first time in years, she felt myself relax, letting down her guard, even if just for a few precious moments. It was a welcome respite from the constant calculations, the relentless planning, the suffocating weight of my her vengeance.

It felt like six centuries later when Rebecca finally joined them.

"Kimberley," she said, her voice filled with genuine warmth, "may I introduce my sister, Rebecca. Rebecca, this is my new…acquaintance, Kimberley Banks."

Kimberley rolled her eyes, a playful gesture that only added to her undeniable charm.

"How can you call me an acquaintance after we've bonded over your sudden aversion to gravity?" she teased, folding her arms across her chest and pouting prettily. Oh, she was ridiculously cute.

Rebecca raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, glancing at kathryn with a mixture of amusement and thinly veiled curiosity. It was clear she was enjoying Kimberley's refreshingly informal behavior.

Suppressing the urge to roll her eyes at Kimberley's theatrics, kathryn gave in with a sigh. "Okay, my friend," she conceded, watching a wide, genuine smile light up Kimberley's face.

"That's more like it," she declared, her eyes sparkling with delight.

"It's lovely to meet you, Kimberley. Kathryn's… friend," Rebecca said, deliberately emphasizing the word "friend," sending Kimberley into another fit of giggles.

The ladies chatted for a while longer, the easy camaraderie making her feel surprisingly relaxed. Eventually, Kimberley excused herself, promising to catch up with them later as she made her way back to her family.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Arthur sauntered over, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.

"Seems like someone had a good night," he teased, taking a sip of his champagne.

"How was it?" Kathryn asked, cutting straight to the chase, the playful façade instantly dropping away. Her face hardened, my eyes turning cold and distant.

Seeing the shift in my demeanor, Arthur's expression sobered. He understood, without needing any further explanation, what she was truly asking. "It was… better than expected. We'll discuss the details when we get home."

"And that man" kathryn said, gesturing at Richard who sat far away from them.." I want him dealt with, so severely he'd wish he wasn't born" Kathryn said, her voice utterly devoid of emotion.

"I think that might be a problem," Arthur replied, hesitating slightly.

"Why?" Kathryn demanded, her eyebrow arching dangerously.

"He's Davin's cousin… or rather, a distant cousin. His father is a board member at Zetrov. I'll fill you in on all the details later. But if you still want him taught a lesson, I'll give the order," Arthur said.

She paused, weighing the consequences. Making an enemy of Zetrov, even indirectly, could complicate things. For now, she decided to let it slide. Just this once. Next time, there would be no mercy.

"I need to visit the ladie's room" kathryn said, reaching for her purse. "When I get back, let's leave." With a curt nod, she turned and walked away.

Inside the restroom, after making use of the bathroom she washed her hands over the faucet, reapplied my lipstick, and dusted a light coating of powder over my skin. Offering herself a tight, mirthless smile as she examined her reflection in the mirror.

Thinking about Kimberley, about how she had so effortlessly charmed her, a softer smile touched her lips.

I genuinely like her. And that was precisely why I needed to keep her at arm's length, to protect her from the darkness that surrounded me. she thought

As soon as she turned to leave, a hand snaked out, yanking her roughly into a nearby alcove. slamming her against the cold, tiled wall, the air whooshing from my lungs.

Richard. Again.

Rage, cold and visceral, flooded her veins. That he dared to touch her again, after everything, was an unforgivable offense. The look in his eyes, fueled by alcohol and entitlement, made her stomach churn.

"Where do you think you're going, sweetheart?" he slurred, his fetid breath washing over her face.

She felt a wave of nausea, a primal urge to scrub the filth from my skin. Without a moment's hesitation, she raised my knee, aiming for his groin with deadly precision.

He gasped, a high-pitched whimper escaping his lips, as he stumbled backward, clutching himself in agony as he fell on his back on the cold tile.

"I'm gonna kill you, you bitch," he spat, his voice thick with pain and fury.

Grabbing a handful of his hair, kathryn yanked his head back and delivered a sharp, stinging slap, twice across his face. The force of the blow sent a spray of blood and saliva splattering across the pristine white tiles.

"That's for touching me inappropriately," she said, her voice dangerously low.

Turning to retrieve my purse, which had fallen to the floor during the struggle, she heard Richards cry out from behind. She turned and witnessed something that stopped her cold.

Davin Banks stood beside the whimpering Richards, his hands casually thrust into his pockets, his expression unreadable. Behind him, a phalanx of men in black suits stood like silent sentinels.

Looking closer, she noticed that Davin's foot was resting lightly on Richard's outstretched hand, the sole of his expensive leather shoe pressing down on his fingers.

"I warned you, didn't I?" Davin asked, his voice deceptively calm, a chilling counterpoint to the fury bubbling beneath the surface. The calmer he sounded, the more dangerous he seemed.

"Take him away," he commanded, his voice a low, almost casual drawl. His men moved swiftly and silently, whisking the drunken, groaning Richard away before she could even blink.