Vengeful Vows

Professional distance

The following days in the Draven mansion were suffocating.

Eve threw herself into the revenge plan with cold determination. She spent long hours in the guest wing, reviewing documents, coordinating with Marcus through encrypted messages, and avoiding Kael as much as possible. Every time she saw him, the memory of his words sliced through her again.

Last night was fun. The s*x was good. But we got carried away.

She buried the pain under layers of ice. If he wanted strictly professional, she would be the perfect business partner — efficient, detached, and emotionless.

Kael kept his word too. He was polite but distant during their morning strategy meetings. No more lingering touches. No more warm smiles. No more late-night conversations on the balcony. He spoke to her like a colleague, not the woman he had held so tenderly just days before.

One afternoon, they sat across from each other in his office reviewing the latest intelligence on Damien.

“We expose his connection to the offshore accounts at the upcoming board meeting,” Kael said, his voice flat and businesslike. “It’ll create enough doubt to slow his expansion.”

Eve nodded without looking at him. “I’ll prepare the anonymous tip. My contact can leak it through the right channels.”

“Good.” Kael paused, then added, “Make sure there’s no trace back to us.”

There was a heavy silence. Eve finally looked up. His stormy gray eyes met hers for a brief moment before he looked away.

“Is there anything else?” she asked coolly.

“No.” He stood up. “That will be all for today.”

Eve left the office without another word. Back in her room, she closed the door and leaned against it, breathing deeply. The ache in her chest hadn’t faded. She had started falling for him — for the man who made her feel safe, desired, and alive. Now that man felt like a stranger wearing Kael’s face.

That evening, they had to attend a business dinner together for appearances. In the car, the silence was deafening. Kael looked impeccable in his black suit, but his expression was guarded.

When they arrived, he placed a hand on her lower back for the cameras — purely professional. Eve forced a smile as they mingled, playing the role of the devoted wife. But every touch felt hollow now.

During a quiet moment at their table, Kael leaned in slightly. “You’re doing well,” he said quietly. “Keep it up.”

Eve’s heart twisted. “Of course. Strictly business, right?”

Something flickered in his eyes — regret? — but it was gone before she could be sure. “Right.”

The dinner dragged on. Eve excused herself to the restroom at one point, needing air. She stared at her reflection, fighting back the emotions threatening to spill over. She had to stay strong. Revenge was still the goal. Falling for Kael had been a dangerous distraction.

When she returned, Kael was waiting. “Ready to leave?”

She nodded. The ride home was silent again.

Back at the mansion, Kael stopped her before she could retreat to her wing.

“Eve,” he said, his voice low. “This is the right way. For both of us.”

She met his gaze, her heart aching. “If you say so.”

She walked away without waiting for a reply, leaving him standing in the foyer alone.

Later that night, alone in her bed, Eve allowed herself a few quiet tears. She had been falling hard — imagining a future beyond the contract. But Kael had reminded her of her place.

Fine.

She would be the perfect partner in this revenge game.

And when it was over, she would walk away with her heart intact — no matter how much it hurt right now.

But deep down, she wondered if it was already too late to protect herself from Kael Draven.