I've Coveted You Forever

Chapter 2 Troublemaking Player

His gaze was intense, almost predatory, and I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my voice coming out unsteady. "I-It's fine... really."

Finn's lips curved into a lazy smirk, and he closed the last inch of space between us, his high cheekbone brushing lightly against my earlobe.

"You know, Eleanor. You have the softest waist I've ever felt," he murmured, his voice low and husky,

I panicked and pushed him away hard, putting distance between us, my heart racing.

Before I could collect myself, a sharp, mocking voice cut through the quiet of the lounge, dripping with disdain. "Well, look who it is—Eleanor Sterling, the Coston City socialite who just got dumped by Mr. Julian Ashton."

Lyla Morrow, my own cousin, sneered, strolling into the room with a haughty smirk on her face. "Couldn't trap Julian, so you're moving on to Mr. Finn Ashton for a backup plan? How desperate."

I lifted my chin, refusing to let her see how much her words stung. "You sound awfully bitter, Lyla. Jealous that Mr. Finn Ashton is willing to stand by me when no one else would?"

Lyla laughed sharply, rolling her eyes so hard it looked painful. "Jealous? Don't kid yourself. I'm warning you—this guy is nothing but a troublemaker, a player through and through. Get too close, and you'll regret it."

I had to hold back a laugh; the way she'd described him as a reckless, annoying player was surprisingly accurate.

Lyla's gaze flicked between Finn and me, her sneer growing colder. "But I guess you two deserve each other. A desperate girl clinging to any Ashton she can get, and a cast-off adopted son no one wants. Perfect match."

Finn, who'd stayed silent through her taunts, let out a low, amused laugh and clapped his hands slowly. "Hear that, Eleanor? She said we're a perfect pair."

Lyla's face twisted with anger when we didn't rise to her bait, and she stormed out of the lounge without another word, her heels clicking loudly against the marble floor.

"You heard her—she called you a troublemaking player," I said, turning to Finn, my tone dry.

The playful smile dropped from Finn's face instantly, his expression turning cold as he stared after Lyla's retreating figure, his jaw tight with suppressed rage.

"She'll learn exactly what kind of trouble I can be tonight," he whispered, his voice low and menacing.

Once the engagement party finally ended, Finn led the head of the nosy press team to a private conference room down the hall.

I lingered by the door, curious despite myself, and heard his voice carry through the wood.

"Who was the reporter who hounded Eleanor earlier with those cruel questions? Step forward now."

A beat of heavy silence passed before a young, inexperienced reporter stepped forward, his face pale and nervous.

I recognized him immediately as the man who'd fired off the harshest questions at me in the ballroom.

"You have a chance to make this right. Lyla Morrow loves to act like she's the perfect, untouchable socialite. Follow her for the next few days, dig up any dirt you can find, and spin every little flaw into a headline. Make sure the whole city sees her true colors," Finn said, his tone sharp and commanding.

He paused, rolling a small slip of paper between his fingers before tucking it into the reporter's trembling shirt pocket. "Buy the top trending search spots with the headline I wrote down. You'll get one million dollars when it's done."

A knot of anxiety formed in my stomach at the mention of the massive sum.

'What kind of headline is worth one million dollars? Is he planning to ruin me with a scandal, too?

' I thought, my heart racing.

I couldn't stand the suspense any longer, and I pushed the conference room door open.

The reporters scattered immediately, filing out quietly, leaving Finn and me alone in the quiet room.

"We should go," Finn said, turning to me with that familiar lazy smile, as if he hadn't just ordered a tabloid scandal.

"G-Go where?" I stammered, finding myself flustered every time our eyes met, a nervous habit I couldn't shake.

"To find my brother, of course. Where else did you think?" Finn replied, raising an eyebrow playfully.

I didn't respond, too skeptical to trust him but too desperate for answers to refuse. I climbed into the back of his flashy Maybach, my mind racing with doubt.

The car sped down the highway, and the familiar city skyline faded into the distance, replaced by empty fields and dense trees.

A sinking feeling settled in my chest as I realized we were heading far into the remote suburbs.

An hour later, the car pulled to a stop in front of a gated luxury villa complex at the foot of Westbrook Hills.

My throat went dry, and I turned to Finn, my voice tight with suspicion. "Finn, what is this place? Are you sure Julian is here?"

Finn let out a low, amused chuckle, leaning in close to me. "It's my private villa. You really want to find my brother after he left you alone at the engagement party?"

"O-Of course not! I dumped him. We're done!" I replied.

Something about my words seemed to please him, and in the next second, Finn was out of the driver's seat, yanking open my door and lifting me into his arms effortlessly, slinging me over his shoulder before I could fight back.