The Broken Crown

Chapter 4 – First Collision

The iron gates of the D'Amelio estate creaked open, letting in the morning light that lit up the huge mansion. The limestone walls shone, the windows were like vigilant eyes, and the marble stairway led to doors that were taller than most men. Elias Veyron got out of a black automobile that had stopped.

He walked with the calmness of a man who had fought his way back from destruction. He was tall and broad-shouldered in a tailored charcoal suit, with slicked-back dark hair and an impenetrable look. His strong jaw and steely gaze made him look harshly beautiful, threatening, and attractive.

Two maids were talking quietly by the fountain.

"That's him," one person said softly. "The heir to the Veyron."

"Disgraced," the other hissed back. "His family lost everything."

Elias heard the words and smiled, but it wasn't a real smile. He said, "Good," beneath his breath. "Let them remember."

Chandeliers lit up the inside. As footmen bowed stiffly, the polished flooring showed how he walked. He was treated with the respect that is given to an outsider who is beneficial.

Serena rested against the rail on the big balcony above, where she was half-hidden by a column. Her crimson silk dress flowed over the marble, and her dark hair fell over one naked shoulder.

She narrowed her eyes. This was the man Vivienne had brought into their lives? She felt uneasy with him in a way she couldn't put into words.

Elias stopped in the middle of a step, as if he could feel her stare. He looked up, and their eyes met with a sickening accuracy.

Neither of them moved for a moment that felt like it would last forever.

The glass walls of the boardroom sparkled, and the long table shone under the weight of contracts and gold pens. The men in suits sat up straight, and their whispers stopped when Vivienne walked in with Elias.

Vivienne said, "Ladies and gentlemen," and her voice was soft as silk over steel. "Mr. Veyron is our new consultant."

There were polite claps that seemed empty and strained. Elias lowered his head a little and looked around the room like a predator looking for food.

Serena, who was sitting at the end, tensed. She asked forcefully, "A consultant?" "Mom, is this another one of your rash decisions?"

Vivienne's smile was like sweet poison. "Strategic choices, darling."

Elias's lips turned up slightly. "I promise you, Miss D'Amelio, my reputation speaks louder than gossip."

Her eyes hurt. "Your reputation is a scandal."

He leaned back in his chair and smirked. "Scandal often hides greatness." But maybe you don't know that language.

The board gasped slightly, and the air was thick with tension. Serena's knuckles were pallid as she curled her fingers around her pen.

Vivienne's laughter cut through. "Please, kids."

Elias's eyes stayed on Serena, dark with something that seemed to be both a taunt and a challenge. He looked at her and shrugged off her queries, as if her voice didn't matter.

There were whispers at the end of the meeting. Serena got up quickly and stormed into the hallway. Marble echoed her heels until another set of steps came along, slow and steady.

"Are you already running?" Elias's voice broke the silence.

She spun around, her eyes gleaming. "You made me look bad in front of the board."

"I told the truth," he responded calmly. "You wear crowns, but you don't have power."

She raised her chin. "You don't know anything about me."

"I can tell when someone is weak."

Her breath caught in anger. "You arrogant—"

He got closer, standing above her, and his cologne smelt like leather and smoke. His voice got lower, like steel wrapped in silk. "You're just another pampered princess."

The words hit her like a punch, and his gaze burned into hers, daring her to break.

The hallway was long and quiet, with sconces of gold-plated bronze lighting the way. The panelled walls were covered in oil paintings representing generations of D'Amelios looking down in arrogant silence. Elias moved carefully, his polished sneakers echoing on the marble floor. His chilly gaze lingered on each face.

He stopped at one in particular. A tall man with broad shoulders wearing a navy suit. Serena's father who died. His austere face, which the artist had softened with brushstrokes, peered back at Elias with a ghostly lack of interest.

Elias's jaw got tight. He put his hands in his pockets, but his shoulders showed that he was tense. He mumbled, "The man who played king," and his brows narrowed. "And left destruction behind."

The sound of fabric against stone behind him disturbed the silence. He didn't move.

Serena leaned a little over the railing on the landing above. Her dress sparkled in the sunshine, and her dark hair fell down her back. She looked at him closely, her eyes full of wonder.

He appeared too calm for a man who was hated by half the city, yet the way his jaw was set showed that he had been hurt before. No one had ever looked at her father's picture with such open disdain before.

"Strange," Serena finally remarked, her voice floating down the hall like silk. "Most people who stop here look at him with respect. You seem like you're going to rip the canvas apart.

Elias turned his head and saw her at the top of the stairs. In the faint light, his eyes shone brightly, but they were unreadable.

He said, "Reverence is for fools," in a calm voice.

Serena's breath caught, but she raised her chin. "And what does that mean for you?"

His lips turned slightly, but there was no warmth in them. "Someone who sees the truth when others worship lies."

The spark of passion in his voice made her uneasy. She stepped down a step, and her heart rate sped up.

Elias looked back at the painting, and his face blended with Serena's father's in the glassy varnish. His voice got quieter and more steel-like.

"Your family ruined mine," he said, and the words sounded like broken glass. "You'll pay for it one day."

Serena stopped at the bottom of the stairs, her face going pale. She had heard every word he said.

"You think I didn't see you listening?" Elias's head tilted a little, but he didn't look at her.

She snapped, "I wasn't listening," but her voice shook.

He turned slowly, and his gaze caught hers like a trap. "Then why are you shaking?"

Serena's hands were clasped at her sides. "You sound angry."

"Crazy?" His laugh was quiet and not funny. "No." Not angry. Be patient. "Patience is needed for revenge."

She started to breathe faster. "Get out of here before your grudges poison this house."

Elias stepped closer, and his shadow merged with the other shadows. "I'm not going anywhere, princess." Your stepmother asked me to come in. And now... He looked at the portrait again with his eyes. "I plan to finish what your father started."

Serena's chest got tight. She had never felt so conflicted before; disdain and interest were fighting inside her so much that she couldn't tell which was stronger.

She thought for the first time that this man might be more deadly to her heart than Adrian ever could be.