THE BILLIONAIRE'S RECLAIMED BRIDE

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER 3

SANTIAGO

A sense of satisfaction settles deep within me as I watch the dress burn. The white fabric turning into a pile of ash.

Ethan Plimpton. He isn't even Italian. For some reason, the fact that she was actually going to get married to another man makes me angry. Fortunately, they hadn't gotten to the part where they exchanged rings or I'd have had to destroy the ring too.

"Everything is set " Lucas's voice interrupts my train of thoughts as he comes to stand beside me. His gaze drifts to the partially burnt dress -it's barely recognizable now- and he turns to look at me with amusement " Ah, I see you've been busy "

Ignoring his remark, I spin on my heels and walk back into the house. He continues, following right behind me "I still don't think it is wise for you to meet with Sebastian alone"

"I'm not going alone."

"A driver doesn't count Santiago" I turn to face him "What? You don't think I can handle him?"

"I don't think you can handle Sebastian and his men " he corrects. "You took his daughter. Now you are going to threaten him and force his hand. what makes you think he'll hesitate to put a bullet in your head? "

"I don't. But his reputation and the fate of his daughter are in my hands. He might be the scum of the Earth, but he's not an i***t. He knows when the odds are against him."

"Besides, I need you here to keep an eye on Isabelle," I say last minute, just before I get into the waiting car.

"I will. You just be careful" his tone has turned dead serious. Lucas has been working for me since Sicily and has saved my life on multiple occasions even while we worked for Don Emilio. We've both been through a lot and have lived dangerous lives, his concern is not unwarranted.

I give him a silent nod. One he returns as the car drives off.

*******

Sebastian sits across the table from me. He sits up straight in his chair, trying to appear confident but really he looks like he's seen a ghost. Now I can't wait to see his reaction when he hears what I have to say.

The office is just like I remember it. Memories of my father and I coming here flash through my mind. I remember excusing myself from the meetings often, hoping to catch glimpses of Isabelle. The marriage agreement had been signed right here in this office, it's only fair that it be revised here too.

"What have you done to my daughter?" he finally finds his voice.

I produce the file with me and push it towards him "Isabelle is fine, worry about yourself."

He lowers his eyes to the material "What is this?". His tone falters when he pulls out the pictures. Dropping them immediately as if burned by them.

During the investigation of my father's murder, the police report indicated that Sebastian was out of the city on business. These pictures prove otherwise.

"Come on, keep looking ". He does. The next picture is of him and another man, Drazen. A wanted man rumoured to be associated with the Russian Bratva. Sebastian prides himself on being a philanthropist. A perfect father with the perfect image. If these pictures got out...

"I must admit, you did a good job of covering your tracks. Imagine my surprise when the police closed the investigation of my father's death for lack of substantial evidence. While you basked in the benefits of his death. "

"How dare you?! Your Father and I were partners. He was my friend!" his palms slap against the office desk in anger.

"Exactly! And you betrayed him." I rise to my feet, towering over him. I quell the urge to reach across the table and snuff the life out of him with my bare hands "You know, if you had just stopped there, maybe I wouldn't have figured it out. But you had to send your people after my mother and me too. " I lower my face to his, and look him dead in the eye "That was your mistake"

"What do you want ?" he grits out.

I chuckle in disbelief. The sound, mocking. "What do I want?" I straighten but keep standing. My eyes flitting around the room for a moment "Oh, I want a lot of things Sebastian..." I pause for a second. I pick up a pen from the pen holder and take my time to twirl it between my fingers. "But most of all, I want to see you fall. And before that, I'm going to take back what you stole. I'll make you suffer just like I and my mother did when you took everything from us." my voice drops to a whisper "I'm going to be your worst nightmare "

"But first, I want you to sign this" I place another file in front of him. "It's the initial marriage agreement made between our families. Revised of course " I don't believe he'll sign it without reading through it first, but I add the last part out of goodwill.

"This agreement is void. Isabelle is married"

I scoff "Almost..."

"what do you mean 'almost' ?" he looks at me like I've grown a second head. "She has been engaged to Ethan for over two years. How do you want me to explain this to the Plimptons?"

"I don't care if you have to cut off an arm and a leg to explain anything to them, Sebastian." I really don't care. Besides, Isabelle belonged to me first. "That's your problem, not mine"

He scans the paper, eyes going wide on the newly added clause "Thirty-five percent shares?"

"A little wedding present if you wish "

"B...but that's almost half of my shares in the company. It would put my position as CEO in jeopardy! "

"It's still less than what you stole from my Father. I'm being generous."

Giving him the pen in my hand "Please sign on the dotted lines"

His shaky hands reach out to take the pen and he slowly brings it down to the paper. Desperate eyes lift to mine one last time, "Isabelle is innocent in all of this. She shouldn't have to suffer" his voice is pleading.

His words strike something in me. Making me clench my teeth in anger. "I was innocent too. And so were my parents" snatching up the paper, I storm out of the office before I snap.