HECTOR
I mastered the ability to control my emotions to perfection at the age of fifteen. I can proudly say today that no one can provoke me into losing my cool.
However, right now, as I stare at Hunter Dragonmir's arm wrapped around Athena's shoulders, everything I worked so hard to teach myself at that young age threatens to dive right out the window.
Jealousy like I've never known before burns through my veins, almost consuming me. It takes an overdose of self-control to keep myself from punching his perfect face into smithereens.
"Are you two here together?" I ask coldly.
Zara appears by my side and interlinks her arms with mine.
"Of course they are. They're obviously a couple!"
I wait and wait for Athena to deny it, but she doesn't. To make things worse, Hunter pulls her tighter against his side and she doesn't protest. She doesn't cringe away or try to escape like she does whenever I try to touch her.
The anger in my veins gradually morph into deadly fury.
You have no idea what you've just done, princess. You have no fucking idea.
Now, I'll only try harder to make you so helpless, you'd have no choice to become mine and mine alone.
***
ATHENA
My heart churns with a bitterness I do not like as I watch Zara fawn all over Hector. She's literally inches away from disappearing inside his body.
I'm well aware that she's trying to stamp her ownership without uttering a single word. Every single act of hers, down to the way she looks at him, screams "he's mine!"
I'm shocked to see them here and I know they fully expect me to falter, but I lift my chin and level them with a stare.
"Zara. Hector. What an unpleasant surprise. I never expected to see you both here." I'm never one to mince words and I definitely won't start today.
"Oh, Athena. How rude!" Zara says with her sing-song voice. "You never used to be this rude. What happened to you?"
I can feel Hector's burning gaze on my skin but I pointedly ignore him.
"I guess that's what hardship and betrayal does to people. It changes them."
That definitely shuts her up for a few seconds.
Unfortunately, five seconds later, she's back to her plastic, chirpy self.
"Who's the man by your side? Introduce us."
I know that Zara definitely knows who Hunter is. I saw the way she eyed him when she first saw him. I saw the shock and jealousy in her expression when she realised that he was with me.
She hasn't changed at all. A jealous, manipulative bitch till the end.
I look up at Hunter and give him my biggest, warmest smile.
"Well, I don't believe I owe you both an introduction but anyways, this is Hunter Dragonmir. He's a fashion designer just like I am… and he's my boyfriend."
"Fiancé, actually." Hunter says as he gives them a slight bow.
My head snaps so fast in his direction, it almost falls off my neck.
Fiancé?
"Did you forget, baby?" Hunter asks, looking straight into my eyes with a very diabolical level of sincerity.
Somebody give this man an Oscar! I'm impressed.
"Um… of course not." I smile again. "How could I ever forget?"
I clear my throat and turn to Zara and Hector once again.
"Sorry, I meant that he's my fiancé."
Something dangerous fizzles in the air as I confirm Hunter's statement.
Hector's dark, furious gaze almost burns straight through my skin but I force myself to stand my ground.
"Congratulations." He mutters coldly. "Where's your ring?"
I blink in confusion.
"Uh…"
"I popped the question rather unexpectedly during our date last night." Hunter to the rescue once again.
"I didn't have a ring but my beautiful girl understood. Of course we'll be going to choose one today."
I don't know how I feel about Hunter calling me "his beautiful girl" but I clamp my mouth shut and go with the flow.
"Oh, that's wonderful! Congratulations!" Zara squeals. "And Mr. Hunter, I'm a great fan of your work. My wedding dress was designed by your brand."
Those words are like a suckerpunch to my stomach. Wedding dress? Did they really get married?
My eyes meet Hector's once more but no matter how hard I try to read him, his expression remains cold and impassive.
"Congratulations to both of you." I force myself to say.
I can barely breathe properly with Hector's eyes drilling into my skin. Thankfully, Hunter takes my arm and steers me towards the main hall.
"If you'd excuse us. My fiancé and I would love to dance."
I breathe a sigh of relief as he whisks me away.
"Wow. That was intense." Hunter says, breaking the horrible silence between us.
"Tell me about it." I pause. "I wonder what they're both doing here."
"Oh, didn't I tell you? This party is organised in honour of Hector's older sister's engagement. The Golden Gates is one of Hector's numerous hotels in New York."
I freeze.
"Wait, no you didn't. Why didn't you tell me?"
Hunter looks guilty.
"I'm really sorry, Athena. I just thought it would be the perfect time and place to kick off our plans…"
***
After recovering from the shock of finding out that we're on enemy territory, I become more self conscious.
If this is Hector's sister's engagement, it only means that a lot of people from the Night Hunters Pack will be in attendance. And I might end up running into that prick, Hector, every once in a while.
A beautiful middle aged woman suddenly pauses in front of us;
"Mr. Dragonmir. What a lovely surprise. Would you be a dear and grant me an interview? We haven't seen you in New York in ages."
"Hello, Esmé." Hunter greets, exchanging air kisses with her. "It's lovely to see you, too. You look wonderful as always."
The woman blushes to the roots of her hair.
"Why, thank you."
Finally, her attention falls on me.
"Wait. Athena? Athena Montgomery?"
I give her a small smile. Ever since my business blew up last year and I started designing for a few small town celebrities, my name has been in the media more than once.
I usually do not expect anyone to recognize me but when they do, it always comes as a surprise.
"Hello, how do you do?" I ask quietly.
She gives my dress an appreciative once over.
"How do you do, too? That dress is just marvellous. You almost out dressed the bride-to-be if I say so myself."
Her joke is a bit obscene but I force myself to cough out a laugh. A lot of eyes have been on me ever since I walked in here, both male and female. I guess it's the dress.
"Thank you."
"So please, pray tell, what are two fashion icons like yourselves doing here? Don't tell me you… came here together." She asks in low tones.
Her eyes are literally gleaming with the need for gossip.
Hunter and I exchange glances, then he pulls me closer against his side and smiles.
"You're absolutely right, Esmé. We came here together. Infact, Athena and I have been dating for awhile now."
Esmé's lips form a small "o" and her eyes widen in surprise.
"Really? That's wonderful! I always knew…"
"Esmé? We need you to interview the bride and groom immediately."
I look up sharply when I hear Hector's deep voice. He looks… upset.
He doesn't even spare us a glance, focusing instead on Esmé alone.
"Uh, Mr. Kensington, right now? I'm conducting an interview over here."
Hector's jaw ticks.
"I did not invite you here to fish for gossip, Miss Esmé. Please do your job."
Esmé gives us a small, uncomfortable nod and walks away.
Hector is about to leave when Hunter says to me;
"Someone sounds jealous, darling. Don't you think so?"
Hector comes to a stop, his shoulders stiffening in response.
My stomach tightens with dread as he slowly turns in our direction. His eyes are already bright and burning with annoyance.
The tension in the air is so thick, it could be sliced with a knife.
"What did you just say to me…?"