The Dance with the Devil
449 Words
The ballroom of the Grand Imperial Hotel was dripping in gold and crystal. Adrian stood at the center of a circle of businessmen, laughing and sipping champagne. He looked every bit the successful billionaire, wearing a suit that cost more than a common man’s life. By his side was Clara, a young socialite draped in diamonds, looking like the new replacement for the "deceased" Seraphina.
Suddenly, the room went silent.
The heavy oak doors swung open, and Seraphina stepped in. She didn't just enter the room; she owned it. In her blood-red dress, she looked like a goddess of war. Every eye was on her, including Adrian’s.
He froze. His glass trembled slightly. There was something about the way she walked, the way she held her head, that felt disturbingly familiar. But this woman was too beautiful, too fierce, to be the shy girl he had pushed off the cliff.
"Who is that?" Clara whispered, her voice laced with jealousy.
Julian stepped up beside Seraphina, playing his role as her powerful mentor. "Allow me to introduce my partner," Julian’s voice boomed. "This is Serene Lance, the new majority stakeholder of the international trade syndicate."
Adrian forced a polite smile and walked toward them, his predatory instincts on high alert. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Lance. I am Adrian, CEO of the Malhotra Group."
He reached out to shake her hand. Seraphina looked at his hand—the same hand that had shoved her into the abyss. Her skin crawled, but her face remained a mask of frozen silk. She placed her hand in his. Her touch was icy.
"Adrian," she said, tasting his name like poison. "I’ve heard so much about your... sudden rise to power. It’s almost like magic how you inherited everything so quickly."
Adrian’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second. "Hard work and a bit of tragic luck, I suppose. You remind me of someone I once knew."
"Do I?" Seraphina tilted her head, a dangerous glint in her eyes. "I hope she was unforgettable. Because I am the kind of woman people never forget—even if they try to kill the memory."
Adrian felt a chill run down his spine. Before he could respond, the music swelled.
"Would you honor me with a dance, Miss Lance?" Adrian asked, his curiosity getting the better of his caution.
"I would love to," she whispered, leaning closer. "After all, every predator loves a good dance before the kill."
As they moved to the dance floor, Julian watched from the shadows, his eyes fixed on Seraphina. The game had officially begun.
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