Sweet Hatred
Chapter 38: Family matters.

Chapter 38: Family matters.

The party was already in full swing by the time I arrived. The villa, an obscene display of wealth, shimmered under the soft golden glow of chandeliers, and the hum of laughter and conversation filled the air. I wasn’t interested.

I adjusted my cufflinks as I stepped out of the car, barely acknowledging the valet. Niko walked beside me, his phone already in hand. "I’ll inform Miss Aria of the business proposal," he said, his tone crisp and efficient.

The ghost of a smirk curved the edge of my lips at the mention of her name. It was time she proved her worth to me other than being an outlet for my urges and I wanted to see how she could handle herself.

"Send her the details through email. A call, too. Make sure she understands the weight of this."

"Yes, sir."

Inside, the scent of aged whiskey and expensive perfume was suffocating. My father and his wife stood at the center of it all, smiling, performing. The hosts of the evening. The moment I entered, I caught the subtle shift—the brief whispers, the glance from a bodyguard to my father. He knew I was here.

My father turned, smile widening, arms open as if we were family in the truest sense. "Kael," he greeted. "You made it."

His wife, Sabrina, ever the actress, placed a hand on his arm, her eyes gleaming with something I had no interest in deciphering.

"Spare me the theatrics," I said smoothly, my voice devoid of warmth. "Why did you ask me to come?"

His smile faltered just slightly before he composed himself. And then a dark chuckle. "Just like you, always straight to business." The amusement on his face lessened. "I wanted you to meet an old friend." He gestured, and a man stepped forward.

"Kael," the man said, extending a hand. "It’s been years.

I recognized him immediately. Mr. Stanley. An old business partner of my father’s. He had seen me as a child, back when I still played the role of the obedient son, his beady grey eyes always prowling like a predator looking for who to devour next.

"You’ve grown," he continued, a nostalgic smile on his face. "I remember when you used to hide behind your father. Quiet, shy. A stark contrast to now."

I shook his hand, brief and firm. "People change."

"Indeed. You’re just like your father now." He chuckled but my gaze hardened. My father exchanged a knowing glance at him. Then his gaze shifted. "I heard about your time in the military. Lieutenant Colonel, wasn’t it? A fine rank. One of my cousin’s served years ago—"

"I’m sure he did," I cut in, my tone leaving no room for further discussion. "If that’s all—"

"Actually," Stanley interjected, "I was hoping you’d meet my daughter. Ash. Though unfortunately she couldn’t make it today because of a project she’s overseeing at Kazakhstan. But we were hoping to visit you at your office soon."

My father’s eyes glinted. "Ah! Yes I was just about to say—you two would make a fine match and you can get to know her Twin, Sylas."

I acted as if I hadn’t heard him. "Regretfully, I must take my leave," I said instead, turning on my heel. I murmured over my shoulder. "Enjoy the evening,"

As I walked away, I exhaled a quiet breath of amusement. Was that old geezer’s plan? To hook me up with a nepo brat? Touché

"You should stay," my father called after me. "Andrew will be here soon."

I halted for half a second before slowly turning my head. My father knew exactly what he was doing. Andrew and I had never seen eye to eye, and he relished any opportunity to throw us into the same space, knowing full well the outcome.

My silence was answer enough. I walked away.

As I stepped outside, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, eyes narrowing slightly at the screen. A missed call from Aria.

The corner of my lips twitched, barely noticeable.

Reminding me of her punishment? Or testing her limits?

Interesting.

The flight back to New York was long, but I spent most of it working, my mind occupied with numbers, projections, and the unreadable expressions of men who thought they were better at this game than I was.

By the time we landed, the city was already draped in midnight shadows, the skyline glittering like a promise only fools believed in.

I leaned back in the car, phone in hand, as the driver navigated through the quiet streets. A smirk tugged at my lips as I scrolled through my notifications.

Niko had sent confirmation that Aria received her assignment. No questions, no complaints. For now.

I dialed her number.

The phone rang twice before she picked up. "You must be really amusing to yourself Sir." Her voice was clipped, professional. Amused, I let the silence stretch just long enough to make her squirm.

"You’re still at the office."

She let out a breath, and I could picture her adjusting in her seat, frustration simmering beneath that carefully composed exterior. "Whose fault is that?"

I chuckled. Low, deliberate. "I thought you wanted work, Firefly. To climb your way up to the top like an ant."

"You dumped a whole project on me with no warning," she shot back, exasperation bleeding through. "What was I supposed to do, ignore it?"

"Now, that wouldn’t be very responsible of you." I shifted, my voice dropping just a fraction. "You want to prove yourself, don’t you?"

Silence. A charged pause. I could almost hear the way she clenched her jaw.

"...Of course I do," she muttered.

"Then don’t complain. This is another chance."

She made a frustrated sound, and I bit back another smirk. "Did you call to get on my nerves... Sir?"

There it was. That fire I enjoyed too much.

"Didn’t you call me first? Besides that I wanted to hear your voice." My words were smooth, effortless, a confession without vulnerability. I didn’t need to see her to know she was flustered. "And to tell you to stay pretty for me."

She huffed, pretending not to be affected. "Goodnight, sir."

I chuckled again, dark and knowing. "See you soon, Firefly."

The line went dead.

***

I stepped into the building of HQ, my stride unhurried but commanding, the weight of my presence shifting the air. The dim lighting of the lobby cast long shadows, but my gaze cut through the dimness like a blade. And then I saw it.

From across the space, Aria. Not alone.

A man had his hand on her wrist—firm, possessive. Too familiar. He leaned in slightly, speaking low, something she didn’t seem to like. Her body was stiff, her expression unreadable, but I saw the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers curled as if resisting the urge to rip the skin on his face off.

I didn’t move. Not yet.

I wanted to see what she would do.

Then it happened. Her eyes flickered, catching sight of me through the open space. A split second of recognition, of calculation. And then, as if my presence had ignited something within her, she reacted.

With a sudden, fluid motion, she tore her wrist free from the man’s grasp, her expression shifting from contained irritation to something sharper, something more lethal. And then she did the last thing he—or I—expected.

She walked straight to me.

Not hesitated. Not wavered. She closed the distance between us with an effortless confidence, and before I could utter a word, her hands framed my jaw, and her lips crashed onto mine. For the first time.

The kiss was something.

Bold, demanding, reckless. A statement more than an act of passion. The sharp inhale of the man behind her barely registered because my focus had narrowed to the heat of her mouth, the way her body pressed against mine in complete, unshaken certainty.

I let her have control for half a second before I took it back.

My hand moved, gripping the curve of her waist, fingers pressing just enough to make her aware of my hold. I deepened the kiss slightly, deliberately, just enough to feel her shiver against me before I pulled back. Slowly. Deliberately.

Aria’s voice broke out first in a hushed tone. Her eyes glistened with fury and something else—desire. "Get rid of him."

My gaze narrowed for second, soaking in the sight of her. Then I spoke, my voice was cool, edged with amusement that didn’t quite reach my eyes.

"I hope you weren’t expecting her to greet you the same way."

Silence.

The man—whoever the hell he was—although looked familiar—stood frozen, his expression caught somewhere between disbelief and something closer to humiliation.

Aria remained still against me, her breathing slightly uneven, though her expression was already smoothing into something unreadable. Smart girl.

I kept my hand where it was, keeping her close, making my claim clear without a single word. My gaze remained locked on the man, waiting, watching, daring him to test the waters.

He didn’t.