Ruthless Vows

Chapter3

Chapter 3

The bar was sleek, polished, and exclusive—the kind where billionaires made deals that decided the fate of companies, cities, and even people. Dim lighting cast a golden glow over the expensive whiskey glasses and whispered conversations. It was a place of quiet power, and tonight, Eva Sinclair had every intention of wielding her own.

She stepped inside, her heels clicking against the marble floor with practiced confidence. Every movement was measured, every breath controlled. She refused to let nerves betray her, not when she was about to face a man like Jasper Kane.

She spotted him instantly.

Jasper was already seated in a private booth near the back, a glass of dark liquor in his hand, his posture one of casual dominance. He wasn’t a man who needed to command attention—power clung to him effortlessly. He exuded wealth, danger, and a ruthless amusement that made her pulse spike. As if he had already won whatever game they were about to play.

His dark eyes met hers, sharp and assessing. A slow smirk tugged at his lips as he leaned back, inviting her into his world with nothing more than a glance.

Eva refused to be rattled.

Lifting her chin, she strode forward and slid into the seat across from him.

“You actually came,” Jasper murmured, swirling the liquid in his glass before taking a slow sip.

“I don’t waste time,” Eva said coolly.

His smirk deepened, as if she had just confirmed something for him. “No, I don’t imagine you do.”

The game had begun.

Eva meets Jasper’s gaze, unwavering. “You want to get under Alec’s skin? There’s no better way than walking into his wedding with me on your arm.”

Jasper chuckles, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “Tempting, but I don’t do charity work. What’s in it for me?”

Eva crosses her legs, keeping her expression cool despite the rapid beat of her pulse. She knew this wouldn’t be easy—Jasper Kane wasn’t a man who played along without leverage.

“You want to take Alec down, don’t you?” she asks. “I’ve been in his life for a decade. I know what makes him tick, what makes him nervous. And I know exactly how to make him crack.”

Jasper raises a brow, intrigued but still unconvinced. “You’re offering me intel?”

“I’m offering you a front-row seat to his downfall. He’ll be so busy watching us, he won’t see what’s coming.”

Jasper studies her, his sharp blue eyes assessing every flicker of emotion on her face. He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table between them. “And what do you get out of this?”

Eva doesn’t hesitate. “Satisfaction.”

A slow, knowing smile tugs at Jasper’s lips. “So, this is revenge.”

She meets his gaze, unwavering. “Let’s call it justice.”

Jasper exhales, watching her with newfound curiosity. She wasn’t just bitter—she was determined. Dangerous. And he liked that.

He lifts his glass in a silent toast. “Alright, Sinclair. You’ve got yourself a date.”

Eva narrowed her eyes, studying Jasper across the dimly lit lounge. His offer had been clear—attend Alec’s wedding with him, make a spectacle of it, and in return, he’d give her the perfect opportunity for revenge. But now, he was revealing there was more to it than that.

“You don’t just want to rattle Alec,” she said, swirling the amber liquid in her glass. “You need something from me.”

Jasper leaned forward, the flickering candlelight casting sharp shadows across his features. “Alec’s company is involved in something... off. The numbers don’t add up, and some of his recent acquisitions? Too clean on paper, too messy underneath.” He studied her reaction. “I need someone who knows how he thinks—his strategies, his blind spots.”

Eva scoffed. “You’re assuming I’d help you.”

Jasper smirked. “You already want to destroy him. I’m just offering you a better way.”

A sharp pang of memory struck her—years spent building Alec up, only to be discarded like she was nothing. If there was even a sliver of truth to Jasper’s claim, it meant Alec wasn’t just ruthless in love. He was dangerous in business, too.

“And what do you get out of this?” she asked.

Jasper’s gaze darkened. “The upper hand.”

Silence stretched between them. Eva set her glass down with a quiet clink.

“You want my insight?” she murmured. “Fine. But let’s be clear—I’m not your pawn.”

Jasper’s lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. “Good. Because I don’t need a pawn. I need a partner “ he concluded.

Eva exhaled slowly, staring at Jasper’s outstretched hand. There was no denying the allure of what he was offering—a chance to make Alec regret everything, to shatter the confidence he wore like armor. But this wasn’t just about revenge anymore.

This was about power.

She reached out, clasping his hand. His grip was firm, his expression unreadable. A deal had been struck, one with stakes neither of them could fully predict.

Jasper’s lips curved into a smirk. “You won’t regret this.”

Eva arched a brow. “I regret a lot of things. We’ll see if this makes the list.”

Jasper chuckled, leaning back. “I’ll be the perfect date—charming, attentive, the very image of a man completely enamored.” His smirk deepened. “It’ll drive Alec insane.”

Eva allowed herself the smallest smile. Alec had always prided himself on being in control, always a step ahead. Seeing her on the arm of his biggest rival, unbothered, radiant—he wouldn’t be able to ignore it.

But beneath the surface of their game, something darker loomed. Jasper wasn’t doing this for her. He had his own agenda, and whatever Alec was hiding, it was big enough to warrant this elaborate charade.

“I’ll help you find out what he’s up to,” she said, voice steady. “But I’m not just playing a role in your little power struggle.”

Jasper studied her for a long moment, then nodded. “Understood.”

Their deal was sealed, but Eva knew this was only the beginning.

She slid out of her seat, the weight of her decision settling over her. As she stepped out into the cool night air, she felt it—that shift in her fate, the quiet crackle of something inevitable.

This wasn’t just about attending a wedding.

This was war.

She pulled her coat tighter around her, a slow smirk curling her lips.

“Let’s crash a wedding.”