Kiss the Serpent's Fangs

Chapter 3 The Woman He Could Never Forget

"Hold on, don't get violent," Theo said with a smirk, raising his hands in mock surrender. "We're on the same side, remember? I'd hate to leave here tonight with a few new injuries."

Willow stepped out onto the balcony, only to find Theo wasn't alone. Another figure lingered in the shadows behind him. Her voice was sharp as she demanded, "Why are you here?"

Theo stepped closer, his eyes gleaming with mockery. "What's the matter? Afraid your sugar daddy might find out about your little mercenary stint at the border? Or maybe about the whole 'avenging your family's death' thing?" His taunt hung in the air as he retreated, his expression smug.

Willow didn't rise to the bait. Instead, she retorted, her tone cutting, "Maybe you should focus more on your own problems, Theo. Like how your company's been sabotaged from the inside. North District, wasn't it?"

Theo laughed, stepping back into the light. "Fair point. Still, I'm a bit hurt. After all, I went to all that trouble faking your identity so you could get close to Julian Lennox, and then you ghost me the moment you worm your way in. I figured I'd drop by to see what you've been up to."

"Julian Lennox is cautious," Willow replied coolly. "If I'd contacted you right after getting close to him, it would've blown the whole operation. Surely, you're smart enough to understand that."

Theo arched an eyebrow, amusement flickering across his face. "And yet, here I am, standing on your balcony. How exactly are you planning to explain to me if the security footage comes up?"

Willow's lips curled into a slow, sardonic smile. "If I couldn't handle something as minor as that, our partnership really would be over. Don't you think, Mr. Beaumont?"

Satisfied with her answer, Theo gave a playful shrug. "Your resourcefulness never disappoints."

"I'm here to help you, Willow," Theo said, his voice dropping into a mock-serious tone. "It's about time you got Julian to fall for you completely. Just don't forget your promises when you succeed."

Willow leaned against the balcony railing, arching an eyebrow. "Go on."

"Turns out, Julian has a type," Theo said with a knowing grin. "There's someone he could never forget, someone you just so happen to resemble."

Willow frowned slightly, skepticism creeping into her voice. "The woman he could never forget? My intel says Julian's never been in a serious relationship."

Theo chuckled. "Your intel's solid, I'll give you that. But some things never make it onto paper. Let me fill in the gaps."

"I'm all ears."

Theo took a step closer, his tone turning conspiratorial. "You know the basics—Julian started as the illegitimate child in a family where connections and alliances were everything. In our world, kids like him were tools for political pleasantries, nothing more. Throw in his heterochromia, and he became the perfect target for bullying."

Willow listened intently as Theo continued.

"But there was one girl who wasn't like the rest of us. I don't remember her first name, but her last name was Colburn. She was sick, terminally so, and no one expected her to live past twenty. She wasn't part of the games we played—being the sole heir to her family meant we had to treat her with respect."

Theo smirked as he leaned against the railing. "One day, Julian fought back against his bullies and got ambushed for it. She stepped in, patched him up, and took him under her wing. After that, she left to get treatment abroad. Fast forward to now: Julian has systematically crushed every family that wronged him—except hers. Not even a slap on the wrist for them."

Willow tilted her head, her expression unreadable. Theo's voice softened, almost as if he were letting her in on a secret.

"Julian's had everything thrown at him since becoming the family head: houses, cars, money, and more women than you could count. He took none of it. Well, not until one night, at a party, he helped out a girl who looked like her—a striking resemblance. It didn't take a genius to connect the dots. After that, every woman sent his way had some resemblance to Colburn. He kept them around, but only for a little while."

*****

When Theo finished, Willow broke her silence. "Where is she now? Can you take me to her?"

Theo gave a careless shrug, his grin as infuriatingly smug as ever. "Who knows? She went abroad for treatment ages ago. Could be alive, could be dead. She's not exactly someone you can just look up in a directory."

Pushing off the railing, Theo stepped forward and took Willow's hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. "That's all for tonight, my lovely. Sweet dreams."

With a final flourish, he and his companion disappeared over the balcony.

*****

Alone, Willow turned Theo's words over in her mind. If she wanted to secure her place in Julian's life, finding Colburn—or at least exploiting her memory—was the key.

Sleep was no longer an option. Restless, she made her way downstairs to the grand piano in the living room. As she sat on the bench, her fingers danced across the keys, filling the silence with a hauntingly beautiful melody.

She had moved the piano down from the third floor herself. It was part of her plan: to ensure Julian would "accidentally" overhear her playing, discovering her hidden talent. Every move she made, every note she struck, was part of a larger game—one she fully intended to win.