His to Claim, His to Ruin

Chapter 16

Salvatore

My private space for leisure was occupied.

With a dimly lit room, a single chandelier hangs above, and it is reflected on the shining polished marble floor. A table stands at the center, along with a bunch of cards and a couple of sets of chips sitting on the surface.

I leaned back in my chair, holding my cards with one hand whilst the other was holding a chip which contained $100,000 to bet.

Across from me is Xavier, my best friend, who keeps getting under my skin. He kept his smirk plastered on his face, the annoying chuckle he does, and the playful jokes he spits just to make sure he gets a reaction.

“Raise,” Xavier affirmed with a provoking stare. “I know you got nothing in your hands, Salvatore.”

With a heavy chest, I threw the cards in the middle, and a chuckle came out from Xavier's lips. He took all the remaining chips at the center along with the cards.

Despite the best way to relieve my stress, Lana keeps running through my mind.

Three days. Three f*****g days she's not calling. Not even a text slide to my notification, and no matter how much I tried to be unbothered by it, I realized I'm still stuck at the thought of her.

“Again,” I muttered as stress ran down my spine.

Xavier gave me a needling stare. “Two million slipped off your bank in the span of less than an hour sitting, and you dare to play more?”

I sneered. “What the f**k is two million?”

Without hesitation, I toggled up the remaining alcohol in my shot glass. The whiskey’s after-shot immediately runs down burning to my throat, but it's not enough to keep me awake.

“I know that style, Salvatore.” Benedict, another close friend and an ally of mine, spoke.

“She's probably thinking about his wife. New wife.” Xavier muttered.

He just doesn't shut his mouth and mind his own business, can't he? I haven't publicized about it yet with the intention to protect Lana at all costs, yet Xavier has his way of messing up everything I do.

Benedict craned his neck a little, and a sly smile crept into his face. “How come you've gotten distracted by a woman?” Oh f**k, he's not just a mere woman. “And a wife? Since when did you get interested in another after the first one?”

Labeling my wife improperly makes me irked. I don't like hearing them call Lana names that don't fit her.

Instead of answering Benedict's question, I heaved a sigh alone and let my silence speak for me.

Xavier won't hold his tongue and speak. “That's what I'm curious about. My man is not the type who gets absent-minded just because he’s bothered. And worse is it's about a girl.”

“Let's try hearing him out. Maybe I can help?”

I snorted at Benedict. “You can't even fix your secret affair with your secretary and you're offering help?”

Instead of being provoked by my statement, Benedict chose to team up with Xavier to get a further reaction from me. I hate it because it's working. I'm reacting.

“So it's true.” It wasn't a question but a statement indicating he already got what I meant.

“Pry on my business again, and you'll see.”

A laugh comes out of Xavier's mouth. And the ironic part is, he's not my best friend if he doesn't annoy the s**t outta me.

Thank God. A momentarily paused crept inside my private study until Xavier broke it.

“Cindy is the closest woman to your family whom you can marry,” he enunciated with curiosity peaking in his voice. “So I was wondering why not her? Cindy has feelings for you, and I know you're not stupid enough not to notice it.”

Benedict was just closely listening, waiting for my retort.

I hoisted my hand as I poured a small amount of liquor into my glass and said, “Cindy is like a little sister to me,” completely debunking the romantic thought between the two of us.

Xavier was right. She likes me, and she expressed it multiple times without using her voice; instead, a loud gesture that wasn't normal for two people of the opposite gender who are close friends.

“Old Mr. Muller has been trying to cage you into a marriage with his daughter. If he finds out you married again, I bet he'd go feral. He has a temper, and you know it.” Benedict’s statement is a hundred percent true. I don't give a damn. I refuse to have my life controlled—let alone the Mullers.

“And to add, Cindy's old man is the reason why your business blew big. Cindy was always there to help you. Bringing various connections, helping without asking in return, and handling something she shouldn't get her hands on. It can be used against you if it happens.”

Their little warning didn't affect me at all. Do they really think I'm scared of the Mullers? A partial aspect as to why I'm successful is because of her family. I'm grateful for their help—but I smell bullshit miles away. My hard work is the reason why I am where I am right now.

My success? All thanks to me because I made sure everything I planned came to life. The Mullers won't take credit for that.

“I'm not indebted to anyone,” I said with a frigid, stern voice enough to express my control. Power. Authority. “Who told you my business relies solely on the Mullers?”

“I mean—”

I cut him off. “No. I completely get what you're trying to say. A marriage with Cindy is a trap, and I would never fall into that. If you think I'm too stupid not to have a plan in mind, then you really don't know me.”

Quitting at the table was the biggest decision I made.

I went straight to my study whilst staring at my phone, secretly hoping for a single message from her to slide in.

Upon realizing I'm what Benedict and Xavier stated, I put the phone inside my drawer to ignore and brush off the thought Lana holds in my mind.

The door swung open, and Owen immediately came.

“You called for me, Don,” he enunciated whilst standing straight.

Lana's safety is my priority. These past few days haven't been going well for me, and I feel like something's about to happen. Instead of sitting around waiting for my wife's life to come crumbling down, I must secure her protection first.

And so I called Owen—to handle it himself.