Chapter 10

Fiona placed the paper bag on Vivianne's thigh before leaving her alone. Despite what Fiona said to her, she wasn't offended. If anyone cared deeply about Beckett, she knew it was Fiona.

She's his manager, after all.

But Fiona's last sentence made the hairs on her neck stand up in confusion and fear at the same time. It felt like Fiona knew something about her… something that scared her.

The hours quickly passed, and she didn't realize it was already time to go home. It was Thursday, and her father wanted her presence at the mansion. She wished she didn't have to go, but she knew she had no choice.

She had power... but she felt powerless.

She went back to the dorm to freshen up. Vivianne wore a black sleeveless Saint Laurent dress, paired with Gucci black high heels. The bag she used was from Dior, and even the earrings she wore.

Today, she wasn't Vivianne Allamino, a mere dress stylist at a small company... but the sole heir of the Allamino Empire, along with its other subsidiaries.

Vivianne was accompanied by one of her father's guards, Kaizer, as they went to the Allamino mansion. The whole place was filled with flowers and trees, but despite that, every time she was here, she felt nauseous.

"Where's Dad?" Vivianne asked Kaizer, and he pointed the way to the living room. "Alright. Thanks."

Vivianne walked toward the living room with her straight posture and confident expression, but when she saw Alfred and the man beside him, her jaw dropped.

"Vianne." Alfred stood up and greeted her. He even asked her to kiss him on the cheek, which she obliged after rolling her eyes.

"I told you to stop calling me Vianne, didn't I?" Vivianne whispered to her father with a fake smile on her lips. "It's disgusting."

"Behave yourself. Don't embarrass me." Alfred tightened his grip on Vivianne's arm, causing her to wince slightly. His gaze was fixed on the man next to him. "This is Beckett Clainfer. Soon-to-be one of my business partners, and your fiance."

Vivianne raised an eyebrow at her father's words, mirroring the smirk on Beckett's face. They looked like a couple because of their attire.

Beckett was wearing a black Kilton K-50 suit worth around sixty thousand dollars. As always, he looked handsome and charismatic, but all of that was overshadowed by the anger she felt at the moment.

Vivianne felt betrayed. She felt like Beckett had played with her. Her fists clenched, and she bit her lower lip.

Strangely, Beckett didn't feel any fear from Vivianne's reaction.

Instead, his lust and desire intensified, especially as his gaze followed Vivianne's every move, fixated on her lips.

"It's nice to meet you, Vivianne Kaye Allamino," Beckett greeted, extending his hand towards Vivianne.

"Not the same thing, Beckett Hernandez Clainfer," Vivianne retorted before taking Beckett's hand and squeezing it tightly.

Her whole sanity depended on it. She was afraid that once she let go, her rage would explode. Beckett sensed it, looking surprised that Vivianne knew his middle name.

"Let's eat, shall we?" Alfred invited the two of them, and they nodded.

The dinner was fantastic, as expected with the Allamino family's hospitality. Just like Beckett's reputation, the Allamino family also had a good reputation among the masses. They had won numerous charity awards over the years, and Alfred himself as a CEO.

Beckett had investigated the Allamino Corporation several times, but they were clean. There were no illegal activities in their business, and he couldn't find any loopholes in their operations.

It was too good to be true, just like him. So, he wanted to investigate personally.

"So, what can you say about him, Vianne?" Alfred asked, breaking the silence. "I thought he only had an interest in modeling, but he approached me and showed interest in business. Don't you like an ambitious man like him?"

"Like you?" Vivianne raised an eyebrow, slicing through her steak. "I'd prefer to stay single for the rest of my life, then—"

Vivianne didn't finish her sentence as a knife flew in her direction, which she swiftly dodged. The sound of a shattered vase echoed behind her, indicating where the knife had struck.

Beckett's eyes filled with amusement and curiosity. He didn't expect to see this side of Vivianne today, and he liked it. He knew that this was the real Vivianne, hidden beneath her facade around other people.

Vivianne's entire presence screamed elegance and dominance... and it was something that made his cock throb even more and his lust intensifying.

"I'm done eating." Vivianne grabbed a face towel and covered her mouth with it. "He can be your business partner, but I'm not interested in being his wife..." She looked sharply at Beckett. "Over my dead body."

After uttering those words, Vivianne left the place.

"She has a nasty temper, doesn't she?" Beckett chuckled, causing Alfred to laugh slightly... but Beckett sensed anger in his laughter.

Alfred nodded and forced a smile. "I'll review your application, and I'll get back to you. It's just a formality since I already know your capabilities."

"Thank you, Sir." Beckett smiled and bowed his head.

"I'm sorry if things are a little messy. My daughter is rebellious, after all." Alfred stood up and had the remaining food cleared away by the staff. "Roam around the place and talk to Vianne too. I need to rest for a while."

"Yes, Sir."

Once Alfred left, Beckett's fake smile vanished. He imprinted every detail of the house into his mind, not overlooking anything.

He did the same as he explored the mansion, until he reached the terrace where Vivianne was. She was gazing at the sky, lost in deep thoughts.

The Allamino family didn't have astounding net worth or generational wealth. And somehow, that strange news led him here.

To dominate the entire business industry, someone needed rich experience... or a strong backing. Beckett wondered which method Alfred used between the two to raise the Allamino family from rags to riches.

And not just that. He also needed to know what Ylona Hernandez, his mother, did at the Allamino Corporation back then. It was the only news he had about his mother, and he wanted to dig for more.

"At first, I was really curious why you suddenly hired me," Vivianne said, standing in front of Beckett now. "So, this is the reason? Because you know who I am?"

Beckett didn't answer.

He knew it wasn't the time to admire the girl, but he was impressed by how smooth her skin looked. Her white porcelain skin, appearing smooth and silky, almost drove him insane.

He wondered if he was lacking sex again because he was starting to feel sexually deprived.

"If I were you, I would run far away. I would run away from this family until they never see me again," Vivianne said, causing Beckett to raise an eyebrow. "Stop messing with my family. You don't know what you're getting yourself into."

Beckett took a step forward, and Vivianne stepped backward... until she felt the wall behind her. She let out a curse realizing she had nowhere else to retreat.

"Then, tell me. Why should I stop messing with your family—if you call my interest in your business 'messing'?" asked Beckett in a low, dangerous, yet seductive tone.

Vivianne closed her eyes and nervously licked her lower lip. She wanted to answer that question.

His father was a sick psycho who knew how to conceal his emotions and manipulate everyone he wanted to use. Vivianne was afraid that Beckett would also fall prey in Alfred’s arms, just like her.

But not a single word escaped her lips. Beckett didn't press her either, as he saw the fear in her eyes. He started to walk away, about to leave Vivianne alone, but she spoke.

"I don't know what you're up to, but I know you're not as perfect as they say." Vivianne grinned before adjusting her posture. "Be careful, you might end up lifeless one day."

Lifeless.

That single word brought a surge of memories onto Beckett’s mind… especially the day when his parents were murdered. He remained silent as the pain lingered inside his chest, his veins until it traveled toward his body.

If the person in front of him was another girl or jerk who wanted to piss him off, he might have beaten them to death.

But it's Vivianne. The woman who does nothing but disrupt his whole system. That's why he retaliated in the same manner.

"You have such a dirty mouth, little girl," Beckett said before he grabbed Vivianne by the arm and pulled her closer to him. "Might as well use it for other purposes."

In one swift, Beckett’s lips crashed onto hers, making Vivianne gasp in shock.