The CEO's Forbidden Desire

Chapter 3

|Serena's POV|

The champagne bubbles fizz on my tongue, but they do nothing to dull the fire spreading beneath my skin as I stand in line for the Nicholas Farrera show that Donovan forced me into doing, wearing nothing but a scanty ensemble of lace and feathers and gossamer that Nicholas wants to pass off as 'fashion'.

"You're up in fifteen." Katrina, Nicholas' assistant and show coordinator lets me know as she basically snatches the champagne flute out of my hands and I nod my head, knowing well enough that this show is simply going to ruin my career— at the very least for the rest of this year.

"Hey, babe!" I hear Donovan's voice as he comes up beside me and brushes his lips against my neck in an almost lewd manner that makes me shudder and yet, there is not much I can do about it, "you look stunning," he whispers in my ear, his hand squeezing the side of my bare waist as his gaze takes in the sight of my barely covered breasts.

"Ah ah ah!" Nicholas' nauseating voice flitters to me as he appears in front of us and pats Donovan's hands away from my body, "no touching the goods before the show, she's my showstopper after all!" He coos adjusting the elaborate boa around my body, brushing his fingers against my skin like he's having a field day touching me.

"Step away from me before I kick you in the nuts, Farrera." I hiss at him, my scowl evident on my lips as I narrow my eyes in the infamous Ice Queen b***h stare.

It has the desired effect as Nicholas' eyes widen and he raises his hands in surrender, "oh, no no, darling, I was not talking about you, I was talking about this gorgeous dress that I made for you!" He gestures to the poor excuse of a dress that I am wearing as he has to crane his neck to meet my eyes. The stupid grin is nothing if not provoking me to basically punch him in the face.

"Shut it. I'm doing you a favour as it is. I don't wanna hear your stupid voice too." I snap looking away as I step away from both the men now gaping at me.

Nicholas scoffs, "wow, you really are a b***h! Guess who's never getting to walk in one of my shows again, slut!"

That's it!

I grab the nearest glass of champagne in this make-shift vanity set-up backstage before throwing the liquid in his face before he can even defend himself.

His resounding gasp is music to my ears as I walk out of the space and take my position behind the blinds in the queue of models waiting for their turn to walk.

Spot boys and makeup artists fuss over the ladies who all look at me with varying degrees of envy, awe, and hatred while I roll my eyes and dissuade any of their attempts to fix my makeup for the hundredth time.

From where I am standing, I can see a row of the attendees for this show, most of them being new money trying to pretend that the show they're attending is fashionable or luxurious in any manner until my eyes catch the sight of the one person who should not be found in the middle of this torrid affair.

Gryphon Vance.

Sitting smack in the middle of the front row, in conversation with a Parisienne designer who should also not be sitting here in the first place.

What the f**k is he doing here?

His presence at the charity ball last week and the way he interrupted Donovan on that balcony has been the starrer of all my dreams and nightmares for the last five days and no matter what I busy myself in, I still cannot help thinking about Gryphon Vance.

My mother's marriage to his father is in three days and I am still not even a little close to finding out why the f**k my mother is even marrying Eduardo Vance in the first place. We have all the money we could possibly need, she has a good social standing in the high societies and yet, she needs something from Eduardo that I haven't been able to figure out yet.

"You really shouldn't have done that, dear," Donovan's speaks from beside me once again and I roll my eyes before meeting his displeased face.

I give him a small grin, "why not? He was crossing boundaries and had to put him in place. How else am I going to take care of my reputation?"

His eyes darken slightly as he stares at me, completely unamused by it all. "You really should remember your place, sweetheart," his voice lowers as he stares down at me, his dull brown eyes filling up with a threat that he has always held over my head. "Now go out on that ramp and make sure that every bit of my favour to Nicholas has been paid off. If I hear him b***h and moan about it one more time then I will make you pay, Serena. And you will definitely not enjoy it."

I don't let the noose of fear at his words tighten around my neck, instead, I give him a small smile as I stare into his eyes that promise nothing but malice and give him a slow smile, "whatever you say, my love. Your wish is my command," I whisper lowly, leaning towards him to bring my lips against his jaw right as I lick his skin in a manner that makes him squirm.

"What. The. Hell. Are. You. Doing. Here?"

A surprised shiver skates down my spine at that icy cold voice as I snap my head to my side and my gaze clashes with the enigmatic gray eyes of none other than Gryphon Vance, currently staring at Donovan and me like we're rocks stuck in his shoe.

"Vance, what a pleasure seeing you here!" Donovan announces but Gryphon's gaze is only and only on me, his eyes enraged while the scowl on his lips is enough to summon tsunamis.

"I am asking again, what are you doing here?" Gryphon hisses, stepping closer towards me and inadvertently pushing Donovan aside as his gaze travels down my body and I swear more of his rage appears unbridled on his face, "and what the f**k are you wearing?"

I stare down at my scantily clad body in a monstrosity of fabrics and cuts that only bring out the most vulgar imagery and look at Gryphon with an indifferent stare, "what about it? I am supposed to be the showstopper of this fabulous ramp." I shrug, looking to my side where I see that only two more models have to walk before it is my time.

Gryphon takes another step towards me so our chests are almost touching and I can feel his breath on my face as I crane my neck to look into his eyes, "do not tell me that you are thinking of walking for the buffoon!" He growls, his cheeks reddening because of the anger as he snaps his gaze at Donovan, "are you making her do this?" ...and he now has Donovan's collar in his grip.

"Oh, for f**k's sake!" I throw my hands in the air before reaching out to part the two of them, "no one is making me do anything." I snap at Gryphon and push Donovan away when he tries to step up to my future step brother. "What do you want?" I ask Gryphon roughly knowing well enough that I have to be out there on the ramp in two minutes and I cannot deal with this right now.

"I want you to tell me that you are not going to be walking down that ramp." Gryphon stares down at me, towering well over 6'5" to my own 5'11" frame as I clench my jaw.

The audacity of men at times.

"I am going to be walking down that ramp," I turn my head to the side where I see Nicholas' assistant waving me over hurriedly, "and now it is my time, so I'm gonna see you boys after the show."

Donovan smirks but before I can walk away, Gryphon grabs hold of my elbow, "like hell you are! Do you even know what this will do to my reputation? To my family's reputation? I told you last week itself, Serena, you are about to become a Vance, so f*****g act like it!"

Oh, this man could not have been more infuriating, "listen here, d**k—"

"Woah, woah, woah!" Nicholas interrupts us to come and tug on my other arm as I snap my gaze at him with a heated glare, "what the hell is going on here? They're announcing your name, you're supposed to be out there!" He attempts to drag me away and before I can do anything about it, Gryphon is the one who reaches out and grabs Nicholas by the collar and pushes him away.

"She is NOT going out there!" He growls at her with such intensity that a shiver— of fear, of course— runs down my spine. "Go find another model!"

"Excuse me?" Nicholas gapes openly, his head snapping between Donovan and Gryphon, "what the hell, Young? I need your pretty little girlfriend on the ramp right now!" His assistant too approaches us with an air of urgency as the announcements start to go off for my appearance outside, followed by the sounds of the crowds going crazy with awe and surprise at my name.

"Listen, Vance, you do not want to get in between this! Serena will walk the ramp, you can't just barge in here and spoil everything!" Donovan chides pushing Gryphon backwards by his shoulders but Gryphon doesn't budge, at all. Donovan gapes at the glare that Gryphon throws his way while my mind is running wild over everything that is happening.

"Gryphon, you can't..." I mutter out, my voice barely above a whisper which doesn't seem to be caught by either of the men fighting in front of me as I take in the crazed look on Donovan's face and I know what comes next after this.

"Look man, I don't care about your reputation but I owe Nicholas this show and Serena is the price for it. Get. The. f**k. Out. Of. Here." Donovan hisses in Gryphon's face while Nicholas tries to claw the Vance heir's hand off of his collar.

"Do I look like I give two f***s about whatever it is that you owe anyone, Young?" Gryphon barks without even removing his gaze from Nicholas.

"Gryphon, stop!" I snap, louder this time, and when he still doesn't listen to me, I reach out and grab hold of his forearm and his angered gaze finally meets my own, "listen, I don't understand what it means to be a bloody Vance yet, but please, just let me do this. I need to pay this off." I hate the way vulnerability has slithered in my tone and I have to clench my fists to stop my hands from shaking.

I can't let Gryphon ruin this for me. Donovan would do much worse than whatever those reporters out there would have to say about me performing in this damn show.

Gryphon is about to respond in his rage but then his face stutters into a blank mask as he stares at me as though he sees something in my expression that he doesn't quite understand.

"Please..." I whisper, knowing how much men love to hear that word out of a girl's mouth.

Pathetic, the lot of them.

Gryphon narrows his eyes at me for a moment before finally letting Nicholas go as he proceeds to take something out of his pocket, "is that so? You gotta pay off a debt for your boy toy, huh?"

I look away from his judgemental stare right as I hear the clicking of his pen and furrow my brows the moment he starts to scribble something and that is when I notice that he is scribbling on a chequebook encased in a leather slip right as he tears off the cheque and my eyes widen when he pushes it against Nicholas' chest.

"There, your debt is paid off, and this fashion label is mine." He snaps at Nicholas who lets out a startled sound and Donovan too steps forward.

"Hey, man, this label is not about the money. It is about my art, my talent, my—" and then he looks down at the check in his hands, "Holy Moses, that is a LOT!" His exclaim surprises me as I look between the two of them dumbfounded as Nicholas' face turns into a giant grin, "sure man, all debts paid off. The label is yours. What do you want me to do next for you?"

Gryphon grins, "hmm, let's see," he flicks his gaze towards me with that grin still intact on his face, "you're fired. But first, you're going to get out on that ramp with me and announce to the world that you're retiring from the industry and I am the new owner of this label. Yes?"

The intimidation of his voice and demeanour is so potent that Nicholas has no other choice but to comply as he nods his head and the two of them walk out to the ramp without Gryphon sparing me a single glance.

I am still staring at Gryphon's retreating back when Donovan is all up in my face as he grabs me by my arm and glares at me, "your sweet new step bro might have stopped you from walking out there, but it is my deal that he has screwed up with. Get ready to pay for that, little bird."

And with that, he walks away leaving my throat clogging up with fear and panic while I try to not let it show on my face.