From Enemies to Something Worse

SIENNA I was seated in a meeting room, pulse racing, fingers drumming against the leather seat, and gaze fixed on him—the devil himself. Theo Sinclair. In his three piece suit, he looked like he just descended from hell to ruin me, crush me, break me. He had his signature arrogant smirk on his lips, leaning against the chair like he had the world beneath him. Like he already won the deal. We'd been battling for hours. To us, it wasn't just snatching a contract, it was a bloody war. I wasn't ready to get shoved aside by his company, and he wasn't ready to step down for me either. "Twenty-four percent growth," he said smoothly. "Double Harper Industries’ projections." My fingers tightened around my pen, my heart racing. "Your numbers are risky, Mr. Sinclair. If we could—” "Your numbers are weak.” Theo cut in, tilting his head as his smirk deepened. “I don't think you understand this whole thing at all, Blake.” Anger surged through my veins. The client skimmed through the document one last time and nodded. "Sinclair Corp’s proposal is stronger.” He commented, and all I saw was red. “But Mr…Mr. Patrick.” I tried to argue, but he got up and gave Theo a handshake. “We’ll move forward with Sinclair corp's. Congratulations, Mr. Sinclair.” Just like that, the deal was gone. I sank my red nails into my flesh as the weight of losing the deal pressed against my chest. It was suffocating, nights of hardwork flushed down the drain like they didn't matter. I felt Theo’s gaze on me, and my eyes burned. When I raised my head to glance at him, his smirk deepened. “Better luck next time, Blake.” God. I hate this bastard! And the fact that we saw each other often was the worst part. As soon as the client left, I stormed out of the office. Heavy footsteps pounded in my ears. I didn't have to turn around to know it was the devil. “You're slipping, Blake.” He mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. Of course we were out of the meeting room, he could drop the whole facade and be his usual self. “Make sure you do your proper homework before coming for a proposal, okay?” goddammit. “My name is Sienna. And it's Miss Blake to you.” I trembled, controlling my anger just so I wouldn't spill my coffee all over his expensive suit. He'd probably sue me for it. Anyone could see he loathed me to the core. And I felt the same way. “I go with whatever I'm good with.” He smirked, stepping into the elevator. And just before the doors slid shut, he nodded at me. “And I'm good with just blake.” I kicked the wall in frustration. Pain shot through my whole body and hot coffee spilled all over my suit, but none of that could compare to the fury rising within me. “That bastard is going to pay for this.” I stared down at my stained suit and stormed out of the company. *** With a failed proposal, my day worsened when my mother forced me to attend her neighbour's gala. It wasn't so bad, but as soon as I met Theo, my mouth ran dry. His mere presence was enough to make my whole being explode. “You look like you're about to kill him.” Lila commented with a small grin, her fingers wrapped around a glass of champagne. “Killing him is an understatement, Lila. I want to paint this whole hall with his blood.” “Careful, Sienna.” She chuckled, taking a small sip of her drink. “He is still the Almighty CEO of Sinclair corp’s, and I still don't understand why you guys loathe each other so much.” “Have you forgotten what happened a few years ago? The gala where we first met?” Lila rolled her eyes, her frustration palpable. “How he embarrassed you and brought out your flaws before your client? I think everyone knows that story.” “That's not the point.” I seethed. “We're competitors, he could have won the deal fair and square, but he chose to push out my flaws before the client. My very first client.” Remembering that he did the same thing today, my soul almost left my body. “I think that's how business men are.” “I know you'll always defend him.” I scowled. “Isn't he your sweetheart? The same man all women in the city are willing to die for?” My eyes travelled towards him and my jaw ticked. “I bet you only feel that way because you've never seen his real attitude.” “How bad can he be?” She smirked. “On a scale of one to ten, I'll give him a hundred.” I grabbed a glass of champagne from a waiter walking around and mouthed a ‘thank you.’ I took a small sip of the drink, and when I raised my head, I was stunned by the ruthless figure standing before me. Theo. I almost choked on the champagne in my mouth. “What are you doing here?” Lila grabbed my arm, whispering in my ears. “He's still the CEO of the largest company in the city, Sienna. Be careful.” I yanked my arm from her grasp, ignoring her words. “Are you here to gloat about the deal you snatched from me?” In his sophisticated black tuxedo, he looked like the prince of the night who was well known for causing people misery. If the legend was indeed true, he'd fit the picture perfectly. His lips curled into a smirk, his fingers loosely wrapped around a transparent glass. “You say it like I stole it from you.” “That's because you did.” I spat. “My boss trusted me enough to ask me to take on that deal, but you—” “Not now, Blake.” His voice turned cold. “Don't cover up your incompetence with petty lies. We both know who rules the business games.” My jaw clenched. “You—” “Sienna” “Blake” Our names were called almost at the same time. Our necks snapped in the same direction, my eyes landing on a blonde woman who approached me. “Mom?” I'd thought I would only get to see her after the whole gala, but she was there again, hooking up with some man. Not just any man. Theo's father. Theo's eyes darkened as he refused to acknowledge the man who had his arms wrapped around my mother's waist. Great. What in the world was going on? “You two seem to be getting along.” My mother commented, planting a kiss on my cheek. She looked at Theo’s father with warmth in her eyes and I frowned in confusion. “We have wonderful news.” She beamed, nodding at Theo's father, who eventually dropped down the bomb. “We're getting married.” Silence. Goddamn silence. Seconds later, Theo's chuckle pierced the air—but it wasn't humorous. “I get that you badly need a woman to hook up with, Dad, but not this one. Not Blake's mother.” “She's going to be your step mother.” Mr. Sinclair spat, his nostrils flared. “She deserves your respect.” “And you two are going to be siblings.” My mother smiled. My breath caught in my throat at the new revelation. “That's never going to happen!” I yelled furiously, but deep down I knew I was trapped in this situation with Theo. It was a closed deal. The devil was going to be my brother.