In Love with the Devil

Linda's POV For three years, I had imagined the moment Alexander would finally put a ring on my finger, and tonight, I was certain I was getting it. I had prepared a secret to reveal after his birthday celebration. It was also the anniversary of the night he had asked me to be his, making tonight more important than any birthday before. Alexander had not called or texted me all day, which was unusual. He was not the most affectionate man, but no matter how demanding his work became, he always found a way to make time for me. For a moment, I wondered if he was upset that I had not wished him, but I pushed the thought aside. I wanted to surprise him, and after spending weeks imagining the look on his face when he saw what I had prepared, sending a simple birthday message felt too ordinary. Loving Alexander had always meant accepting the world that came with him. The meetings, investors, demand on his time, and people who always seemed to need something from him. I had never seen his ambition as something I needed to compete with or worried that another woman could take my place. Somewhere along the way, Alexander had become more than the man I loved. He was the person I had built my future around. With the gift bag in my hand, I left my apartment carrying the hope I had held onto for weeks. The red dress wasn't the most expensive in my wardrobe, but it was Alexander's favorite. I smoothed the fabric over my waist before leaving, remembering how he once told me red looked like it had been made for me. By the time I stepped out of the taxi at Luthor Heights, my excitement hadn't faded. If anything, it grew at the sight of the mansion glowing beneath the night sky. Golden lights lined the driveway, while music and laughter spilled through the open entrance. Luxury sedans, polished SUVs, and sleek sports cars filled the circular drive, most worth more than my apartment. I slowed as I took in the crowd moving in and out of the mansion. A party? Alexander had never liked extravagant birthday celebrations, so I couldn't understand why there were so many guests or why he hadn't told me. The thought that he might be planning a surprise for me came immediately, and I smiled to myself. Maybe this was why he had been so quiet all day. I walked toward the entrance, expecting the welcome I had received for three years. Instead, the two guards stationed at the door stared at me before stepping forward and blocking the entrance. “I'm sorry, Miss Hart. You won't be able to enter tonight.” I blinked. The way he said my surname made my stomach churn. “I'm sorry?” “We've been instructed not to let you inside.” I forced a small laugh, convinced there had to be some kind of mistake. “What do you mean? I'm here all the time.” The second guard lowered his gaze. “Who gave you those instructions?” Neither man answered. I looked past them into the mansion. Guests in tailored tuxedos and elegant gowns moved through the foyer with champagne glasses in their hands, laughing beneath the chandelier. Nothing made sense. “What's happening?” I asked, my voice quieter this time. “Is Alexander here?” The guards exchanged uncomfortable glances. “Please,” I said. “Just tell him I've arrived.” “I'm sorry, ma'am. We've been instructed not to.” My smile disappeared. “Not to what?” The guard swallowed before answering. “Not to tell him you're here.” For a moment, I simply stared at him. Then I looked past him again, searching the crowd for the one person who could explain what was happening. Then I saw him. Alexander. Even from across the foyer, I would have recognized him anywhere. He stood in the middle of the gathering in an immaculate black tuxedo. But he was not alone. The woman beside him was tall and blonde, dressed in a champagne-colored gown. She laughed with Alexander, her hand resting comfortably on his arm. I stared at them, wondering who she was and why I had never seen her before. My smile slowly faded when Alexander looked up and our eyes met. The change in his expression was immediate. The color left his face, and his gaze dropped to the gift bag in my hand. “Shit.” He quickly masked his reaction, gently removed the woman's hand from his arm, and walked toward me as the guards finally stepped aside. “What are you doing here, Linda?” “What kind of a question is that? It's your birthday,” I said, trying to laugh even though something inside me had already begun to twist. “I wanted to surprise you.” His eyes moved over my face, then to the gift bag. He looked less surprised than worried, and that frightened me more than anything he could have said. I waited for him to explain, but his gaze drifted toward the people gathered behind him. Only then did I notice how many were watching us. Before I could ask another question, the sharp click of heels approached from behind him. The blonde woman slipped her arm through Alexander's again. “Alexander, aren't you going to introduce me?” He said nothing. She looked at him for a moment, then turned to me with a polite smile. “I'm Vivian.” I swallowed. “Linda.” “I know.” Her smile remained pleasant. “Please don't stand out here. Come inside. I'd hate for you to miss tonight.” I frowned. “Miss what?” “Vivian.” Alexander's voice was low, carrying a warning. She looked at him, confused. “What? Should I not have invited her in?” She reached up casually and smoothed the front of his jacket. That was when I saw the ring. I knew it. A few weeks ago, I had found it inside a velvet box in Alexander's suit jacket. I had convinced myself it was for me and spent weeks imagining him slipping it onto my finger. I had been wrong. My eyes stayed fixed on the diamond as Vivian noticed where I was looking. Something passed across her expression, too quick for me to understand. Sympathy. Pity. Maybe both. “I'm afraid Alexander hasn't had the chance to tell you,” she said. Her fingers moved over the diamond, turning it slightly so the stone caught the light again. Then she looked at me. “We're celebrating our engagement tonight.”