Fatal Attraction

A Glimpse of Him

~~Anna's House~~

The house looked peaceful from the outside.

Inside, the soft whir of a juicer filled the modest, modern living room while Anna sat among her grown children, a glass of juice in her hand. Everything appeared ordinary—comfortable, even—but the tension in the room suggested otherwise.

Anna glanced toward the hallway, her expression hardening.

"That pudding-head girl isn't back yet?"

"No, I called her already," Amber replied.

"Where do you think she spent the night last night?" Anna asked.

"Theodore's?" Cassandra asked.

"Theo? Never! She dares not. Theo only sees her as a sister. She's the one foolishly in love with him—she doesn't know her place," Amanda replied.

Not long after, Rielle entered the house.

"Good afternoon, Aunt Anna."

Anna turned her gaze toward Rielle but chose to ignore her.

Rielle was used to it. Amanda looked at her with contempt, while Rielle simply nodded at Amber. Amber returned her greeting with a small, polite smile.

Rielle then made her way to her room.

A few minutes after she entered her room, she heard a knock on the door. She got up to open it, and there stood Amber.

"Amber? What are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.

Amber shushed her and glanced around before pushing her back into the room and locking the door.

"What are you doing here?" Rielle whispered.

Amber brought out a purple sundress.

"For you," she said.

Rielle's eyes widened in shock.

"For me?" she asked, still stunned.

"Yeah."

"OMG, thank you!"

She hugged Amber.

"Don't tell anyone," Amber warned.

"Sure. Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Amber hurriedly left the room.

As soon as Amber left, Rielle changed into the dress. She spun around happily, admiring how it looked on her.

Amber had always been the only one nice to her in the entire family.

The lovely moment reminded her of the Christmas when Anna hadn't gotten her a present.

Rielle had been sitting in her room, silently crying, when she heard a knock on the door. She quickly wiped her tears and sniffled as she walked toward it.

"Who's there?"

"It's me, Amber," she whispered.

Rielle opened the door. Amber glanced around before bringing out a box of chocolates. Rielle's eyes widened.

"Take it. Don't tell anyone I gave it to you," she warned.

"I won't," Rielle sniffled.

"Thank you, Amber."

"You're welcome."

Amber quickly ran off before anyone could catch her.

"Thank you for always being there, Amber."

Rielle smiled as she stared at herself in the dress with admiration.

~~D'AVERON'S EMPIRE~~

Kyren walked into the conference room for the board meeting, his assistant, Anson, matching his pace with a notepad professionally placed in his hand.

As soon as Kyren entered, the room, which had been filled with murmurs, went silent. You could hear a pin drop.

He took his seat at the head of the table, while his assistant sat to his right.

"You can start," he declared.

A cold silence settled over the room. Everyone took a moment to weigh their words carefully before speaking.

Finally, one of the board members, Mr. Griffin, spoke up.

"The Mac Corporation scandal has done a little damage to the company's stock."

"Is that so?" Kyren asked.

"Yes, sir."

"Then figure out a way to clear the mess."

Mr. Griffin nodded.

"Anything else?" Kyren asked.

The room went silent again, and the board members glanced at one another.

"It has come to my attention that even before the Mac Corporation scandal, the stock had already dropped. What do you have to say about that?"

Mr. Griffin trembled in his seat as cold sweat formed on his forehead.

"I'm listening."

No one dared to speak.

"By the next meeting, I want the stocks back up there. No excuses."

He stood up to leave, and Anson trailed behind him.

"You have a meeting with Theodore Meret at Myrane Corporation at 2 PM."

Kyren nodded and walked into his office.

~~MYRANE CORPORATION~~

Rielle stood outside Myrane Corporation, contemplating whether she should go in or not. Finally, she made up her mind and entered.

She wore the sundress Amber had gifted her.

"Hello," she greeted the receptionist at the front desk.

"Hi," the receptionist replied.

"I'm here to see Mr. Meret," Rielle said.

"Mr. Meret?" the receptionist asked.

"Yes," Rielle replied, blushing slightly.

"He should be in his office."

"Thank you."

She smiled and made her way to the elevator that would take her to Theodore's office.

When she arrived, she met his secretary.

"Hello, Miss Belle," she said with a smile.

"Hello, Rie," Belle replied with a smile.

"Mr. Meret is in a meeting. Could you please wait for him?"

"Sure."

Rielle smiled and sat down.

~~MEETING~~

Theodore sat across from Kyren. He had brown hair and brown eyes, and he exuded a warm, charming aura that was deeply contrasted with Kyren's cold presence.

Another CEO sat with them. He appeared to be in his fifties.

"Mr. Avril, this is the contract offered by Myrane Corporation. We hope it meets your standards."

Mark, Theodore's assistant, passed the contract to the man's assistant, who handed it to him.

Mr. Avril read through the contract, a glimpse of approval appearing on his face.

It was time for Kyren's proposal.

"Mr. Avril, this is the proposal offered by D'Averon Empire."

He passed the proposal to the man's assistant.

Mr. Avril read through it and had a satisfied look on his face.

"Both proposals are really good, and it's hard to decide. By next week, I'd like both of you to be present at Deluxe Corporation, where the proposal will be finalized."

"Okay," Theodore replied.

Kyren simply nodded.

Mr. Avril stretched out his hand to shake Kyren's. Kyren took it, then he shook hands with Theodore before leaving the room.

"Mr. D'Averon, are you confident in your proposal?" Theodore asked.

Kyren glanced at him.

"Are you?" he asked.

Theodore had a playful smile on his face.

"What if you lose?" Theodore asked.

"Impossible."

"Let's make a bet."

"Okay."

"Let's wait until then."

Kyren left the meeting room with Anson.

Rielle kept glancing around as she waited for Theodore. She repeatedly checked her appearance, then eventually decided to walk around. She was bored from sitting in one place for so long.

As she walked, her phone buzzed.

She looked down to check it.

Then she bumped into a hard chest.

"I'm so sorry," she apologized.

She looked up, and her gaze locked with Kyren's.

His dark-blue eyes were mesmerizing, yet frightening at the same time. There was something about his gaze that made her feel as though he could see right through her.

Rielle trembled and quickly looked down.

"I'm sorry," she apologized again.

"Rie!"

Theodore called out to her.

She hurriedly went to meet him as he ruffled her hair affectionately.

His eyes locked with Kyren's.

Theodore gave Kyren a small smile.

Kyren looked away, a cold smile playing on his lips.