The mansion

The night was winding down. Guests were trickling out of the ballroom, murmuring their goodbyes, some still stealing glances at me as they passed. Some expressions were polite, others intrigued, and a few held thinly veiled judgment. Clearly, the news of Lucas Devereux's fiancée was something unexpected.

I felt like I was moving through a haze, nodding and offering small smiles where necessary and exchanging pleasantries but my mind was still reeling. What the hell was I supposed to do now? Everyone knew or at least believed I was engaged to Lucas. 

Just as I thought I could slip away unnoticed, a warm yet firm hand landed on my arm. I turned to see Lucas' mother Jane standing beside me, her sharp eyes scanning my face with quiet curiosity. Up close, she was even more striking, with a presence that spoke of wealth, power, and something else—something unreadable.

"You're a pretty one, you know," she said with a small, approving smile. "I hope you're here to stay, Lucas has always been a sweet boy."

I blinked with a small smile not knowing how to react to her statement. 

The fake smile must have been obvious on my face because she frowned slightly. "His, you know… issue? shouldn't be a problem as—"

But before she could finish, Zara—Lucas' younger sister, stepped in swiftly. "Mum, let's go. It's getting late."

There was an urgency in her voice, a quiet insistence that made her mother hesitate.

For a moment, Mrs. Devereux just stared at me, as if debating whether to say more. Then, with a soft sigh, she allowed Zara to take her arm. But before leaving, Zara turned back to me, her dark eyes flickering with something unreadable.

"Congratulations," she said, her voice polite but her smile… not quite reaching her eyes.

And just like that, they were gone, leaving me standing there with more anxiety and wondering if this was just a contract marriage or a scheme for Lucas and his mum to force me into a position I wasn't ready for just yet. 

I barely had a second to process the raging anxiety I was starting to have when I felt another presence—one I had grown strangely familiar with in the past days .

Mateo.

He was standing a few feet away, There was something in the way his dark eyes lingered that made my pulse quicken. Unlike the others, he didn't look surprised by the sudden engagement announcement, probably because it was announced to him just yesterday at the company. If anything, he seemed… amused.

Finally, after what felt like forever, he took a slow step toward me, closing the space between us with his signature confidence.

"Just so you know," he said, his eyes locked on mine. "I want you, and whenever I want something, I always get it." His stare was steady, like a predator admiring his prey. 

I paused in place as my skin crawled. I could feel his breath on mine. Heavy and intense. 

Mateo chuckled softly, tilting his head. "Relax, mi reina. You would be better off with me ." he stated, glancing toward where Lucas was standing now glaring at us, then back at me. "Not that lunatic "

I swallowed as his gaze flickered down to my lips before meeting my eyes again, his expression turning downright flirtatious.

I opened my mouth, torn between amusement and curiosity , but before I could even form a response, a shadow loomed over us.

Lucas.

His presence was undeniable, the shift in the air immediate. Gone was the teasing, flirtatious energy Mateo had so effortlessly created between us. In its place was something colder, heavier.

Mateo, of course, didn't flinch. If anything, his smirk deepened as he turned his head slightly toward Lucas, as if he had been expecting him all along.

Lucas' expression was unreadable, his sharp gaze flicking between the two of us before settling on me. "Come on Navi,—let me drop you home." he said, his tone firm but soft, allowing little room for argument.

Mateo let out a low chuckle, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. "Didn't realize she had a chauffeur."

Lucas didn't acknowledge the remark. Instead, he simply reached for my hand, his touch light but unmistakably possessive. "Let's go."

I hesitated, glancing back at Mateo, whose smirk hadn't faltered in the slightest. If anything, he looked entertained.

"Looks like we have to part ways mi reina," Mateo murmured, his voice dripping with amusement as he took a slow step back. "For now."

Lucas turned, guiding me away from Mateo who was still smirking mischievously at the both of us and out of the ballroom.

And just like that, I was caught between two men—one who claimed me, and one who wasn't planning on letting me go so easily.

The car was silent.

Lucas sat beside me at the back seat of his cobalt blue Rolls-Royce Phantom looking out the window with no expression on his face as always, his posture relaxed yet composed. The only sounds were the soft hum of the classic music coming from the speakers and the faint city noise filtering in through the tinted windows. The weight of everything that had just happened pressed down on me—the stares, Mateo, the fact that I was now falsely engaged to a man I barely knew.

I swallowed, gathering the courage to speak. "So what now?" My voice was quieter than I intended, but in the stillness of the car, it sounded loud. "And Why me? Why is this happening so fast?"

Lucas didn't look at me right away. Instead, he exhaled slowly, adjusting the cuffs of his suit like they weren't already perfectly lined. When he finally did speak, his voice was softer than ever, this was the voice he always used when he was with me. 

"I.. I needed to Navi. " he said smoothly. "The CEO of Devexon ventures must have a wife. It keeps the board and my family from breathing down my neck about running the company and dealing with family expectations."

I blinked, my stomach twisting. "So you just… picked me?"

Lucas' gaze flicked to mine, soft and warm . "Yes, you were the best option." 

My breath hitched at how effortlessly he admitted it. Like this wasn't a life changing experience for me.

"It's not anything," he continued, voice now even like he was hiding an emotion. "Just appearances. You'll be paid, remember?."

I turned to face him fully, searching for any trace of warmth or hesitation in his expression—but now, there was Just pure, calculated indifference.

I stared at him, my heart pounding. "And what if I don't want to?"

Lucas' eyes softened again. A look of uttermost desire now painted on his face. 

"I need you, Navi ."

His tone was calm—sincere, even. 

I sat in place now looking out the window. I couldn't bring myself to say no to him. But, I wasn't ready for the publicity, what would my family think? 

Sunlight streamed through the thin curtains, warming my skin as I lay sprawled on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My head was still spinning from this morning —Lucas' needy proposition, the way Mateo had looked at me like a prey, the weight of it all pressing down on my chest like a fever dream I couldn't process.

I had hoped that after taking an afternoon nap, none of it would be real. But the second I stepped out of my room where Petra and River now paused their conversation to stare at me like I was an intruder, I knew better. 

"Gosh Navina! Why didn't you tell us anything?" Petra whined like I had just broken her heart.

I stumbled into the living room, still groggy. "It's really complicated Petra." I yawned sitting on the couch beside them stretching my legs on the coffee table avoiding a scented candle that River had lit up.

"Love is never complicated!" River started now adding an avocado mix to her face which gave me knowledge of why there was the same mixture on Petra's face making them both look like something between Pinterest girlies and aliens. I was happy that they were both getting along after Petra came over to stay for some time. 

"I agree!" Petra now said but before I could try to explain why and how Love was actually very much complicated, the bell rang. 

"I'll get it!" River said, now jogging to the front door like a toddler. 

"OMG!!!" River shrieked, causing Petra to run to the front door to see what was going on and causing me to bolt up from the couch in uttermost curiosity as I walked slowly towards the door. 

River and Petra were standing near the front door, practically bouncing on their toes, their hands dramatically clutching their chest. In front of them , on the small front porch , sat a massive bouquet of deep red roses—lush, elegant, and impossible to ignore. A black envelope peeked out from between the petals.

I blinked at the sight. "Whoa. Who's the lucky girl?"

River and Petra turned to me, still giddy, but the moment our eyes met, they looked at me like I just asked an obvious question "Uh… you,silly!." They said in unison. 

My stomach dropped. "What?"

River plucked the envelope from the bouquet and handed it to me.

My fingers slightly trembled as I stared at what was on the black envelope. In sleek, elegant handwriting, only two words were written:

For Navina.

As I opened the envelope, the words "look outside mi reina" leapt off the page. I turned to the window opening the curtains, and there he was—Mateo—looking effortlessly sexy in a fitted white T-shirt, a sleek leather jacket draped over his broad shoulders, and dark washed loose denim that perfectly complemented his casual charm. Leaning casually against a gleaming silver Aston Martin DB11, his smirk unmistakable.

Caught off guard by his striking presence, I quickly closed the curtains my cheeks burning with embarrassment as I hoped he wouldn't see my messy, sleep-deprived noon look.

After freshening up, I stepped outside, walking up to where Mateo leaned casually against his car. His eyes flickered over me, a smirk tugging at his lips as if he were admiring how I looked in my pink and beige sweater paired with jean shorts.

"How did you know where I live?" I asked, crossing my arms.

His smirk deepened, looking away mischievously "I have my ways."

That wasn't much of an answer, and he knew it. I narrowed my eyes, but before I could push further, he smoothly changed the subject.

"Yoghurt?" he asked.

I hesitated for a second before nodding. "Sure."

Without missing a beat, Mateo opened the car door for me, his movements effortless and confident. I slid inside, and just like that, we were off, driving through the city toward our destination.

The ride was surprisingly comfortable despite the tension still lingering from the nights before. The streets were bathed in soft noon light as Mateo effortlessly maneuvered the sleek Aston Martin through the quiet roads.

I glanced at him from the passenger seat, still trying to process how he had found my place. I have my ways? That wasn't an answer—

Still, I couldn't deny that there was something strangely easy about being around him. 

"So," I said, breaking the silence, "where exactly are we going?"

Mateo smirked but kept his eyes on the road. "Somewhere with the best Yogurt you've ever had."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You make a habit of kidnapping women in the afternoon for yogurt?"

He chuckled, a low, rich sound that sent an unexpected warmth through me. "Only the ones who need a little spoiling."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't fight the small smile tugging at my lips. There was no denying it—Mateo Giordano was trouble. The kind that was impossible to ignore. I wasn't even sure I was supposed to be here, with him. When I am falsely engaged to Lucas.

The cafe was warm and inviting, the rich aroma of sweet flavors filling the air. Mateo and I sat by the window, laughing over something ridiculous he had said, the late afternoon sun casting a golden glow over our table. 

Suddenly, my phone buzzed.

I pulled it out, expecting a text from River or Petra or probably my sister. Instead, an unknown number lit up my screen.

"Navina dear! Please come to the mansion! It's an emergency, I can't find Lucas' pills anywhere!!."

I stared at the message, my stomach flipping as I read the sender's name at the top.

 Jane Devereux, Lucas' mother. 

The world around me seemed to blur for a second.I forgot to give Lucas his pills and now he was having an episode.I panicked, I felt responsible, was I? Yes I was. 

I looked up at Mateo, my eyes wide with terror, —"I… I need to go.. the Devereuxs need me". His curiosity sparked instantly, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

Without missing a beat, he suggested, "Let me take you there."

There was something undeniably irresistible in the way he said it—a promise of intrigue and the unexpected. And despite the whirlwind of emotions, I found myself nodding, letting him lead the way.

As we approached the mansion via the private road—one that was reserved exclusively for family members and a select few like Mateo and recently, me—the imposing black iron gate adorned with the initials "LD " swung open automatically. Beyond it stood a towering white mansion, its white pillars lending an image of grandeur. A water fountain sat in the center of the driveway, placed in it two entwined swans with water flowing gracefully between them. The neatly trimmed hedges framed the mansion perfectly, making the whole place look like something straight out of a billionaire's lifestyle magazine. Then again, these people were billionaires, so it wasn't exactly surprising.

Mateo pulled his Aston Martin right up to the entrance, where three servants were already waiting—an older man wearing a black suit— the butler, along with two maids dressed in black and white uniforms.

"Good day, Sir Giordano— and Madam Sinclair " the butler greeted, bowing his head in a show of respect.

"Fredrick! It's been a while," Mateo responded, his tone carrying a hint of amusement. "How's my best friend?"

Fredrick hesitated, his expression dimming slightly before he answered, "Well… Sir Devereux is having one of his, um…"

"Where is he?!" I said cutting him off before he could utter another word. I wasn't sure if Mateo knew about Lucas' disorder and I wasn't ready to be responsible for any outcome. Mateo, from my knowledge, was in a deep rivalry with Lucas over the CEO position at the company. 

"He's upstairs in his room ma'am" Fredrick responded as I dashed into the mansion leaving Mateo behind. Of course I was worried about Lucas, I cared for him deeply. 

As we stepped into the mansion, that always left me in awe. The first thing that always caught my eye was the grand entrance—two elegantly curved staircases extending in opposite directions yet perfectly in sync. The polished marble floors gleamed under the soft glow of a magnificent chandelier, reflecting our images like a mirror.

Moving forward, past the staircases, we entered a spacious living room exuding timeless elegance. Plush vintage red sofas arranged with precision, antique flower vases holding fresh blooms, and a television so massive it could rival a cinema screen all added to the grandeur. Just beside it sat an old record player, a nostalgic touch, while framed pictures adorned the walls, each telling a story.

One portrait, positioned just above the TV, immediately drew my attention. It depicted an older man, Liam Devereux, seated in the center of a stately vintage chair. To his right was Zara Devereux, and to his left Jane Devereux —Lucas' mother and sister. Standing just behind them, ever composed, was Lucas Devereux himself, his expression as unreadable as ever.

A family of four—simple, poised, and seemingly perfect. Or at least, that's how they appeared.

Jane dashed into the room, with Zara trailing just behind her, both looking terrified. 

"Navina! Thank goodness! He's locked in his room upstairs " Jane exclaimed letting out a relieved sigh.

Then, turning to Mateo who was trailing behind me–with a sharp, questioning look, she asked, "What are you doing here?"

Mateo, unfazed, flashed his signature cocky smile with his eyes now fixated on something else I wasn't sure of "What happened to your arm" he asked quietly in a confused but amused tone ignoring her previous question. 

I turned my attention to Jane's arm which looked like it had been battered and left with red spots all over. Lucas did that. —She was probably trying to calm him down. 

Before Jane could respond, Zara finally spoke, her tone flat. "She fell off the stairs "

"I see." Mateo replied, his gaze locking onto hers. —tension flickering in his eyes, he knew she was lying. But he didn't know the truth, or did he? I wasn't sure. But I wasn't going to risk being the one to tell him. 

Zara, visibly uneasy, looked away.

It was clear they didn't want him here.

"I'll go check on him now." I said now heading towards the curved stairs to the western wing where his room was. After walking through what felt like a long journey of rooms and portraits on the walls of the hallway, I finally reached his door. I knocked softly, my heart racing.

"Lucas?" I started softly wondering what personality had come over him. Lucas had a personality disorder. It was said that it was from childhood trauma, bullying, pressure and neglect. He has had it rough over the years which caused him not to remember who he is.

 One time, he had one of his episodes where he hurt himself. Working at a decent enough hospital as a nurse, I was assigned to take care of him and I grew fond of him and his family. Well, only his mother —as his sister Zara never seemed to like me for a reason I still don't know of. 

I found a key hanging outside the doorknob as I twisted it —now slowly opening the heavyweight door. 

"Lucas…" I started in a hush tone as I used my eyes to search for where he was.