The Devil in a Black Suit
1050 Words
Selene hated every second of being there. Everything she did, knowing that it was for the Blackwells, would make her bitter.
She sighed and adjusted the sleeve of her elegant cream-colored dress and glared at the towering building.
"Smile," her mother whispered.
Selene forced a fake smile.
"Does this look convincing enough?"
"Not even a little."
Her mother stared at her and sighed.
"Please don't start a scene today."
"No promises."
Before another lecture could begin, the hotel's grand doors opened.
A group of men in black suits stepped outside.
Among them was the one person she least wanted to see.
Zane Alexander Blackwell.
"Here we go again," she whispered in disgust.
As always, he looked infuriatingly perfect.
His appearance could never deny that he is handsome.
His tailored black suit fit him flawlessly.
His dark hair was neatly styled.
His sharp jawline and piercing eyes gave him the appearance of a man who was used to getting exactly what he wanted.
Yet, in Selene's eyes, he is not the handsome man she ever dreamt of.
For her, he is the Devil in a Black Suit.
Selene immediately looked away.
Unfortunately, he had already seen her.
Their eyes met briefly.
Neither smiled.
Neither greeted the other.
And yet everyone around them could feel the tension.
Zane approached with measured steps and stood beside her.
Selene's mother left them and proceeded to the entrance as soon as she noticed that they needed some time alone.
"You're late," Selene muttered.
"I was actually hoping that this useless thing would be canceled," he coldly replied.
His lips twitched slightly.
Not quite a smile.
Not quite amusement.
Selene hated that even more.
"Let's go," Zane said.
"I'm capable of walking on my own."
"I never said you weren't."
"Then stop acting like my bodyguard."
His gaze darkened for a second.
"If only you knew."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Before she could question him, reporters began gathering near the entrance.
Flashes erupted.
"Mr. Blackwell!"
"Miss Vale!"
"When is the wedding?"
"How did the engagement happen?"
They both ignored their interrogations and went inside the venue.
The luncheon occupied the hotel's largest ballroom.
Business leaders, politicians, celebrities, and investors filled the room.
Everyone wanted a glimpse of the future alliance between the Vale and Blackwell empires.
To them, Selene and Zane looked like the perfect couple.
Halfway through the event, Selene found herself seated beside Zane at the head table.
The situation felt unbearable.
She focused on her food.
Zane focused on his phone.
Neither spoke.
Eventually, Selene broke the silence.
"Are you always this arrogant?"
Without looking up, Zane answered.
"Only around you."
Her eyes narrowed.
"There it is..." she started shaking her head in disbelief.
"There, what is?"
"The personality everyone else is too blind to see."
Now he looked at her.
"And what personality is that?"
"The one where you think you're better than everyone."
A dangerous glint appeared in his eyes.
"You don't know anything about me."
"I heard a lot of things about you, and that's enough," she confidently replied.
"Believe whatever you want."
Something about his response frustrated her even more.
She could not stand the presence of Zane beside her, so she decided to go somewhere else.
"I need air," she slowly stood.
"Sit down."
Selene froze.
"Excuse me?"
She slowly turned toward him.
"What did you just say?"
"I said sit down."
The command instantly ignited her temper.
His jaw tightened.
The people started staring at them.
"You have no idea what's going on."
"Then tell me!"
He remained silent.
Selene pushed her chair back.
"You know what, Blackwell? I don't care."
Then she turned and walked away.
As she walked around the place, she found refuge on one of the hotel's outdoor terraces.
The city stretched endlessly beneath her.
For a moment, she can finally breathe.
In the midst of her deep thoughts, there was a sudden familiar voice from behind her.
"Rough day?"
A smile immediately appeared on her face.
"Ace."
Ace Keifer Lockwood stepped beside her.
Unlike Zane, Ace's presence always felt warm.
Comforting.
Safe.
"I heard the argument."
"Of course you did."
"Half the ballroom heard it."
Selene groaned.
Ace laughed softly.
"I tried to reach you last time, but you rejected my calls," he added.
Then Selene suddenly remembered that moment when she had exactly rejected one of Ace's calls out of her frustration against the arrangement.
Selene sighed, "You had no idea what happened that day. It was really tiring."
"Then, I'm here. You can tell me."
She smiled.
Even though Ace was willing to listen to her, she could never hide the fact that she was regretful about the arrangement itself. Knowing that right now, she was facing the right person she thinks for her.
They talked for nearly twenty minutes.
For the first time all afternoon, Selene felt relaxed.
She forgot about the engagement.
Forgot about her problems.
Forgot about Zane.
From inside the ballroom, Zane watched them through the glass doors.
Watched Ace make her laugh.
Watched Selene smile in a way she never smiled around him.
Then a thought suddenly struck him.
Does she really hate him that much?
Later that evening, after the guests had left, Zane sat alone in his office.
Several security files lay spread across his desk.
One report caught his attention.
His expression immediately darkened.
Another threat.
Another warning.
Another sign that their enemies were getting closer.
A picture stared back at him.
It was Selene.
Taken earlier that week.
Someone had been following her.
Zane clenched his fists.
No matter how much they hated each other, he could never let anything happen to her.
He could never deny the fact that the enemies are getting closer.
That night, Selene lay in bed staring at the ceiling.
Her argument with Zane replayed endlessly in her mind.
She hated him even more that night.
She grabbed her phone.
A notification appeared.
Unknown Number.
Slowly, she opened the message.
Stay away from the Blackwells if you want to live.
Her blood ran cold.
Followed by another message from the same number.
The marriage won't save you.
Fear crawled down her spine.
For the first time since the engagement announcement, the situation felt real.
Dangerously real.
And somewhere in the darkness beyond her bedroom window...
Someone was watching.
- Writer
