C12 Time to return the devil's favor?

I frowned.

I knew her.

The redhead who bumped into me yesterday in the restaurant. How could I forget the look she gave me?

But what was she doing here?

With a blinding smile plastered on her face, she wrapped her arms around Duncan's neck, pressing herself completely against him.

"Finally found you! I have been trying to meet you but you're always busy! But I'm glad you're here!"

My eyes were glued on them, the way their bodies were pressed.

My fingers tightened on my purse as I pulled my gaze away. And all of a sudden, I felt cold even if it was warm there.

See, it wasn't possible that there wasn't any girl in his life.

"Arianna," Duncan said. Grabbing her arms, he made some distance between them. His voice held displeasure as if warning her.

Her lips formed into a pout. "It's Anna! How many times do I have to tell you? Your calling me with my full name makes you sound like a stranger!"

"Is she bothering you again?"

A smooth voice made me turn to the man walking towards us. With a dimpled grin, his gaze met me for a second. And he winked.

I raised my brow.

I had seen this man with Duncan in some photos on Google when I was doing a bit of stalking. It was the same man who stopped him from beating that man in the club that night.

"I'm not bothering him! He wasn't allowing me to meet him and now he didn't even return my hug!" Arianna complained, crossing her arms over her chest.

Letting out a chuckle, that man put his arm on her shoulder. Their similar features and same hair color told me they were relatives. Maybe siblings.

"You know he doesn't like hugs, Anna. But he sure does mine."

As he tried to move to Duncan with his arms hanging in the air, Duncan pushed at his chest.

"Stay away!" A grunt.

Shrugging, that man's gaze returned to me. "No worries. Let me greet Cassandra then. It's the first time I'm meeting her officially after all!"

He knew me?

But before he could reach me, Duncan stood between us.

"Oliver…" A muscle of his sharp jaw clenched as he threw a deadly look at that man.

"Come on, man! It will be just an innocent hug!"

"I said stay away." Warning laced in his tone.

I frowned. What was wrong with him?

Oh, to hell with his dominance!

Walking around him, I flashed Oliver a smile. "Ignore him. His ass is always on fire, you must know that. Anyways, nice to meet you, Oliver."

Arianna's mouth fell open. So did Oliver's. Glancing at Duncan behind me, a roar of laughter escaped him. With his eyes glistening with tears from his laughter, he shook my hand.

"No one has ever talked to him like that. I must say, I like you!"

"Sandra," Duncan said, stepping close to me. "Language." Deep voice rumbled into my ears.

I could feel his body heat behind me.

Placing his hand on my waist, he squeezed. A sign of warning. But instead of fear, that squeeze sent a shiver down my body.

This was becoming his favorite habit. Squeezing my waist.

While a smirk tugged at Oliver's lips, Arianna's gaze drilled holes on me.

"See, I told you," I said to Oliver.

A chuckle left him. "Anyways, let me introduce myself properly. I'm Oliver Moretti. The one and only best friend of your man."

My eyes widened.

My man?

"He is not…"

"Let's go. The president must be here by now. Enough of introduction." Interrupting, Duncan then wrapped his arm around me before pulling me inside the party.

When I looked back at Oliver, he nodded.

"After you!"

But Arianna was still in her place. Her cat eyes didn't move from me.

This girl was definitely after Duncan.

Once the foreign minister guided us through the crowd of rich and powerful people, he took us to a group of three middle aged men with glasses of champagne in their hands.

"Uh, Mr. De Sylvano! Here you are!" One of them with a shorter height and dark mustache exclaimed. "Welcome to our victory celebration!"

Duncan nodded. His arm was secured around me. And Oliver was right beside us.

"You can welcome me later, Mr. Miller. But I would like to know about the Dubai project first. Did you do what I asked you to do?" Mr. Rude De Sylvano again didn't care to reciprocate greetings.

"Of course, Mr. De Sylvano! Everything is managed just as you ordered. I was just going to inform you about it."

Who were they? Businessmen or politicians?

"They're members of the parliament," Oliver whispered to me. "Puppets in Duncan's pocket. He uses them to reign in foreign markets."

My brows raised. "With money?"

He smirked. "What do you think?"

I shook my head. "The parliament needs to be purified."

He let out a laugh, snatching a giggle out of me.

The hand on my waist tightened and I met those pair of hard icy blue eyes.

Why was he mad now?

"May we know who this gorgeous lady is?" another man among the members of parliament asked. Curiosity was laced on their faces.

Before Duncan or the foreign minister could open their mouths, I stepped in.

"I'm Cassandra Brooks. A model in his company and a close acquaintance of his."

Duncan's glare was heating my skin while Oliver barely held back his chuckle. Even the foreign minister was amused.

"Yeah, I remember you now. You're the same girl who filed a case against the mayor's brother, aren't you? Todd Samuelson?" the shorter man asked.

Duncan tensed beside me.

All of a sudden I felt as if someone threw cold water on my face. A bitter taste formed in my mouth. The memories of that day suddenly flashed across my mind.

Clutching my purse in a death grip, I managed a straight face.

"I must say, you have some guts. Otherwise no one dares to go against the Mayor," he said. The other men nodded. "After all he has connections with mafia leaders…"

"Where is the president, Mr. Lockwood? I thought you said he would be here in a few minutes?" Duncan cut off Mr. Miller. A dark fury swirled around those icy blue irises. A look that could melt iron.

That poor man's eyes widened.

"Uh, he will be here in a minute. The traffic caught him in the way," replied the foreign minister.

What was Mr. Miller going to say about the mayor? Connection with mafia leaders?

I still remembered his hatred filled gaze that day in the court. Beth told me he lost his chair because of the scandal.

Should I be... concerned?

The thumb softly brushing over the skin of my waist made me look at the man beside me. He was engrossed in a conversation with them, more likely throwing orders, as if he wasn't aware of this little gesture of his. His shoulders were tense.

I wonder if he knew about the case?

Clearing my throat, I managed to put a smile on my face. "Excuse me, everyone. I will be back in a minute."

I needed fresh air.

As I went to move, Duncan stopped me.

"Where do you think you're going?"

I rolled my eyes.

Yeah, that's it. Stay normal.

"I'm not a kid who would get lost here. So you don't need to behave like an overprotective father."

His lips pursed. "You're staying here with me. We are leaving soon, so no need to wander around."

Now it was my turn to purse my lips. His gaze followed my mouth.

"You made me come here, I did. Now I will do whatever I want. I need to get away from your boring conversation. So excuse me!" My glare was hard but my tone was low so that others didn't overhear it.

"Sandra…"

"It's alright. I will be with her. Don't worry," Oliver offered, sharing a look with his best friend.

Even after Oliver's reassurance, Duncan didn't let go of me. He was hesitant. His eyes were watching me with emotions I couldn't decipher. But I recognized one. Concern.

Duncan De Sylvano was concerned for me?

With a hesitant nod, he slowly released me. But not before a warning.

"Don't leave her side, Oliver."

Oliver hooked his arm with mine, flashing a grin. "Till my last breath!"

That made me laugh. But Duncan De Sylvano's glare only deepened.

Why was he being so weird all of a sudden?

"Wanna try some food? Because I'm famished!" Oliver asked, taking me away from Duncan. But not away from his lingering gaze. "They have got some amazing chocolates."

My eyes widened. "Chocolate? I'm definitely in!"

And with that, both of us rushed to the table where snacks were arranged. There were a lot of delicious foods on display. And then the plate of cookies caught my gaze.

Cookies with melted chocolate?

My mouth watered.

***

Taking a whale sized bite on my favorite almond cookies covered in melted dark chocolate, I closed my eyes. A moan left me.

"I have never tried it this way before. But it looks like it's gonna be my favorite thing from now on," Oliver said with his mouth full of cookies.

"I know right. It's the best combination!"

It's been ten minutes since we were devouring the chocolates and cookies, away from all the politicians. The president was here and Duncan was busy with him in a corner. Though his stubborn eyes were on me most of the time.

Among these boring people and slow music, luckily I found Oliver and my favorite food. He was fun. I could already see ourselves becoming good buddies. Well, only if his little sister, that cat eyed woman, didn't put her leg in between. Oliver wanted to introduce her to me as we didn't get time to do so earlier. But I declined.

"Your sister doesn't seem to like me." I shrugged when he asked me the reason.

Something flashed across his features as he cleared his throat. "Uh, it's not like that. She takes time to get along with new people. She will come around, I promise."

She won't. Not until I was around Duncan. Well, too bad. I wasn't going anywhere until I got what I wanted.

"I hope so. Anyways, you knew me even before we were introduced. How?"

His hand stilled in the air before he could take a bite. And then he laughed it off. "Oh, I heard about you a lot from Elizabeth. That's how. I even saw your photos from your first photoshoot at Rossa. They were amazing!"

Elizabeth? She talked about me to him? Weird.

"Thanks. I didn't know Elizabeth was that fond of me."

He looked away at the discreet sarcasm in my tone.

"Have you lost it, Oliver?"

A sharp tone took our attention.

Disgust dripped from her gaze as she looked at the mess in our hands. Not only her, some other people also have been giving us looks. But did I care?

No.

Walking closer in her killer heels with her straight red strands flowing in the air, she threw her brother a look of disbelief.

In the meanwhile, I took another cookie.

"You're licking your fingers like a five year old in the middle of a party filled with high profile people?" She hissed in a low voice. "What's wrong with you! You're Oliver Moretti for God's sake! Heir of a billion dollar worth company. Not some low class model!"

My gaze snapped to her. But hers was set on her brother as If I didn't even exist.

I fucking hated disrespect.

"Arianna! Watch what you're saying!" Oliver snapped, his gaze taking a swift glance towards Duncan.

"Well, I don't see much difference between low class people and high profile people. Both are after money and power. The only difference is poor people want them because they don't have them. And rich people want them because they need more," I said, taking a bite while keeping my eyes on her. "But we have got one advantage, you know? We can do whatever we want and you can't. We live life without giving a fuck about others and you can't. Because your mindset is too narrow for that. Such a pity!"

With her fists clenched, she cut me through her cat eyes.

"Did you just call me narrow…"

"Everything is good here?" An arm snaked around my waist. His intoxicating cologne hit my nostrils even before I could look at him. And instantly, I felt much calmer.

With slightly wide eyes, Arianna flashed her pearly white teeth. "Of course, everything is fine here! We were just getting to know each other. Right, Cassandra?"

I didn't say a word, just glared at her. Only because Oliver looked extremely uncomfortable at the situation.

But Duncan seemed to understand the sour ambience as his hard gaze set on Arianna. She looked away.

Turning to me, he glanced down at me. "Are you done with your cookies, cuore mio?"

Before I could respond, he raised his hand and wiped the corner of my lips with his thumb. My breath caught in my throat as he slowly placed his thumb in between his lips and then sucked.

"Hmm, delicious…" That raspy voice of his tugged something in my lower region.

Licking my lip, I whispered, "Umm, no. Why?"

He pulled me closer against his hard body. I could feel a pair of cat eyes on us, but I was too entranced by those intense icy blue eyes to care.

His hot breath fell on my cheek as he murmured, "Because we need to get away from here. It's time for you to return my favor."

"What favor?"

A smirk tugged at his lips. "You owe me something, cuore mio. Remember?"

I frowned. And then realization hit me. My heart stopped in my chest.

A k-kiss?