As soon as Kiara stepped out of her sleek black Lamborghini, the paparazzi swarmed around her, cameras flashing and videos rolling. But Kiara didn't flinch, her composure and aura commanding attention. She walked alone on the red carpet, her confident stride and stunning appearance drawing everyone's eye.
The crowd couldn't help but stare at her, mesmerized by her beauty and poise. Her clothes, her car, and her demeanor all screamed that she was no ordinary girl. And then, there were the eyes that seemed to bore into her soul - Elijah's eyes.
Elijah stood up from his seat, his gaze fixed on Kiara as she approached. He walked towards the entrance, his eyes never leaving hers. But when Kiara finally reached him, she didn't even acknowledge his presence. She simply walked past him, her eyes fixed straight ahead, as if he were invisible.
Elijah's eyes narrowed, a smirk spreading across his lips as he watched Kiara walk away. The crowd seemed to fade into the background, and all that was left was the sound of Kiara's heels clicking on the floor, and the burning sensation of Elijah's gaze on her back.
Kiara walked past Elijah, ignoring him completely, and made her way to the host of the party, Stephan Ahuja. Stephan, one of the richest and most influential people in the capital, hurriedly made his way to welcome her. His eagerness to greet her was not lost on the other guests, and it only served to further highlight Kiara's importance.
As Stephan welcomed Kiara, the crowd watched with interest, whispering among themselves about her identity and background. Kiara's confident demeanor and poise only added to the enigma surrounding her.
After exchanging brief pleasantries with Stephan, Kiara made her way to a seat, where she sat down, surveying the room with an air of quiet confidence. Those who knew her attempted to engage her in conversation, but Kiara's responses were brief and guarded, revealing little about herself.
As the evening wore on, Elijah made his way to Kiara's side, sitting down next to her with an air of familiarity. His actions only served to further pique the interest of the other guests, who couldn't help but wonder about the nature of Kiara's relationship with the wealthy and influential Elijah.
As Elijah sat beside her, Kiara didn't even acknowledge his presence, her gaze fixed on some point across the room. The tension between them was palpable, and it only added to the mystery surrounding Kiara's identity and her connection to Elijah.
As Elijah sat beside Kiara, he was trying to think of a way to break the ice when a young master suddenly appeared, sitting down next to Kiara. The young master began to introduce himself, speaking in a flirtatious tone that made Elijah's eyes narrow.
Kiara, however, was unimpressed. She gave the young master a dismissive glance, her expression cold and unyielding. "Get lost," she said, her voice firm and commanding.
The young master chuckled, seemingly amused by Kiara's rebuff. "Oh, beauty, do you even know who I am?" he asked, his voice dripping with arrogance. "Follow me, and I'll give you whatever you want."
Elijah's fists clenched, his knuckles white with tension. He watched, seething with jealousy, as the young master tried to woo Kiara. But Kiara was having none of it.
"I don't give a fuck about who you are, what you do, or who your parents are," she said, her voice icy and dismissive. "Now, you'd better get this right now: if you still value your life, you'll leave me alone."
As Elijah watched Kiara deliver her verbal takedown, a small smile played on his lips. He looked proud, as if thinking, "That's my girl."
The young master, still trying to maintain his arrogance, stood up and said, "Chill, beauty. I was just gonna give you some company. As I could see you're alone." He smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Anyway, don't regret this. You'll see me around." With a wink and a laugh, he turned and walked away.
Kiara watched him leave, her expression unreadable. She then turned her attention back to her wine, sipping it slowly as she scanned the room.
Christopher, her assistant, appeared at her side, whispering something in her ear. Kiara's expression changed, a flicker of concern crossing her face before she quickly masked it.
Elijah, who had been watching from the sidelines, noticed the brief change in Kiara's expression. He sensed that something was wrong, that Christopher's words had troubled her.
Kiara spoke to Christopher in a low voice, her words indistinguishable to Elijah. Christopher nodded and rushed off, leaving Kiara alone once more.
Elijah cleared his throat, getting Kiara's attention. She spared him a brief glance before focusing back on the room, her eyes drifting aimlessly.
Elijah turned to Kiara and asked, "Would you like to have a dance with me?"
Kiara responded, "I'm sorry, Mr. Blackhaven. I'm not that much of a dancer. I'll just sit here. You should go ahead and dance if you feel like it."
Elijah chuckled slightly and said, "Oh, I don't think I want to dance with any other woman in here except you. You'd be my best partner."
Kiara shot him a side-eye and then focused on the dance happening before them.
Elijah persisted, "I'd really like to have a dance with you. If you would allow me, that would be a pleasure."
Kiara looked back at him and said, "I'm not interested in dancing with you. And also, Mr. Blackhaven, please stop trying to act like we are familiar with each other. Because we are not."
Elijah smiled and said, "So, Miss Kiara Blackwood, will you stand up on your own to dance with me, or should I help you with that?"
Kiara looked at him disdainfully and said, "Bro, can you stop bothering me? There are many people in here. Just focus on one of them and leave me alone. I don't wanna fight with you right now. I'm seriously not in the mood."
A small smile appeared on Elijah's face as he noticed that Kiara was starting to get frustrated. But he didn't back down. Rather, he kept persisting, trying to convince her.
Finally, Kiara said, "You know, you're really frustrating, right?"
Elijah smiled and said, "So, would you like a dance?" holding out his hand.
Kiara took his hand, and they stood up, making their way to the dance floor. Many people looked at them, wondering what the relationship was between them. They seemed to have a really good connection, which surprised everyone, as Elijah Blackhaven never danced with people. He always just sat there with a cold face, whenever he attended events like this.
The crowd was shocked to see him dancing with Kiara, and they couldn't help but speculate about their relationship.
As the music started playing, Elijah and Kiara began to dance. However, Kiara seemed to be intentionally stepping on Elijah's feet, causing him pain. Despite this, Elijah kept a straight face, smiling slightly as he tried to maintain the illusion of a perfect dance.
Kiara sarcastically said, "Uh-oh, I'm so sorry, Mr. Blackhaven. As I said before, I'm not that much of a dancer."
Elijah replied, "I don't mind teaching you, Miss Kiara."
As they continued to dance, they seemed to be the perfect couple. Their auras, moves, and even their facial expressions seemed to be in perfect harmony. The crowd watched in awe, mesmerized by the chemistry between Elijah and Kiara.
Despite the tension and animosity between them, they moved in perfect sync, their bodies swaying to the music as if they were meant to be together. The crowd couldn't help but wonder if there was more to their relationship than met the eye.
As the music ended, Kiara tried to step back, but Elijah's grip on her waist remained tight. She disdainfully pushed his hand away, stepping back and walking back to her seat.
Stephan Ahuja took the stage, capturing everyone's attention. He began with a brief speech, thanking everyone for coming. Finally, he looked straight at Elijah and said, "I'd also like to thank Mr Elijah Blackhaven for making time out of his tight schedule to visit my dinner today."
Then, Stephan's gaze shifted to Kiara, and he continued, "And today, I'd also like to thank Miss Kiara Blackwood, who took time off today, putting aside her work to attend my business dinner, which is something she normally doesn't do. So, I'd like to say I'm very thankful to you, and I have prepared a present for you. Please, Miss Blackwood, do not leave without your present. Thank you."
Everyone's eyes widened in shock as they heard her name. Kiara Blackwood was a name known to everyone, although her face was not as well-known. Those who had heard of her name knew the immense power she held. She was one of the richest people in the capital, and she and Elijah stood on the same footing at the top of the social hierarchy.
The crowd's gaze shifted to Kiara, their faces filled with shock and awe. Many people began approaching her, trying to butter her up and get her to work with them. The atmosphere in the room had shifted, with everyone vying for Kiara's attention.
Kiara, however, seemed unfazed by the sudden attention. She sat calmly, sipping her wine, as if she were used to being the center of attention. Elijah, on the other hand, watched her with a mixture of fascination and curiosity, his eyes never leaving her face.
Elijah's gaze remained fixed on Kiara, who suddenly turned to him and said, "You're staring."
Elijah chuckled slightly and replied, "Of course, seeing a masterpiece in front of me, I've got to admire it. It's like being in a museum and seeing a work of art – you can't help but appreciate its beauty."
Kiara raised an eyebrow, her expression unimpressed. "I don't know what your intentions are, Mr. Blackhaven, but don't even think they will work. Don't even think you'll ever win against me."
She glanced at him briefly before focusing on the surrounding crowd.
Elijah smiled and said, "Oh, well, what if I told you I needed a partner?"
Kiara turned to him, her eyes narrowing. "MR. Blackhaven, I don't think I'd appreciate doing any business with you."
Elijah's smile grew wider as he said, "Who said I'm talking about doing business with you? That will come later. I'm looking for a wife."
Kiara paused, taken aback by Elijah's words. She looked at him, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "You really don't know how to make a joke, do you, MR. Blackhaven?"
Elijah's expression turned serious, his eyes locked on Kiara's. "Do I look like I'm joking to you, Miss Blackwood? I do need a wife, and I see that in you."
Kiara chuckled, a soft, melodious sound. "Oh, well, you might just keep on dreaming if that's what you want."
She stood up, her eyes scanning the room as she reached for her phone. "Excuse me, I need to take this call."
Kiara had just stepped away to take a call on the upper floor balcony when someone suddenly appeared behind her. The person stood silently, staring at her. Kiara could feel their gaze on her, and when she turned, she saw a group of guys standing behind her, with the young master she had sent away earlier in the middle.
The young master looked at her with a smirk and said, "Oh, well, who do we have here?" He and his friends burst out laughing.
The young master took a step closer to Kiara and said, "You brought yourself straight to me. I've been waiting for you. I knew you couldn't stay away forever." He turned to his friends and said, "Look, I've brought some company. Now it will be fun for us."
Kiara hung up her phone and looked at the group with a fierce gaze. "What are you fools getting at?" she asked, her voice firm and commanding.
The young masters were enraged by Kiara's words. "Who are you calling fools?" one of them shouted. "Now we will show you who a real wolf is."
One of them pulled out a camera, ready to take a video. Kiara looked straight at him and said, "You better take it from a good angle because I don't intend to let any of you go."
The group of young masters laughed, looking at each other in amusement. One of them sneered at Kiara, "You, a weak woman like you, what would you do to us?" He turned to his friends and said, "Brothers, let's go teach this bit*h a lesson."
The group of young masters charged towards Kiara, but in less than a minute, they were all lying on the ground, beaten and battered. Kiara stood tall, her posture regal and commanding, like a queen surveying her kingdom.
She walked towards the camera guy, who was shaking in fear, stumbling backward as Kiara approached. She stood in front of him, her eyes blazing with intensity," I hope you captured that moment well. Let's never meet again."
With that, Kiara turned and walked away, leaving the young masters angry, humiliated, and nursing their wounds. The camera guy, still shaking, looked on, grateful to have escaped Kiara's wrath.
Kiara returned to the party, ignoring the young masters she had just defeated. The party continued as usual, with Elijah trying to initiate conversations with Kiara here and there. However, Kiara remained uninterested in speaking until she finally decided to leave.
As she walked out, Elijah followed closely behind her. Just as she was about to reach her car, Elijah's voice rang out behind her.
"Miss Blackwood."
Kiara turned and looked at him, "MR. Blackhaven."
Elijah began to speak, "Maybe you should rethink your options, Miss Blackwood. Wouldn't it be amazing if we both could join forces? Imagine the power and influence we could wield together."
Kiara looked at him incredulously, as if he were crazy. Without responding, she turned and walked towards her car. Her driver opened the door for her, and she stepped inside. The driver drove away, leaving Elijah standing alone.
As he watched the car disappear into the distance, Elijah's eyes narrowed, and a determined smile spread across his face. "You will see, Miss Kiara Blackwood," he whispered to himself. "Sooner or later, you will be my Elijah Blackhaven's wife. And that day is not far off."
After his whispered promise to himself, Elijah shook off his thoughts and headed back inside.
Meanwhile, at Kiara's house, her car approached the grand mansion, and she stepped out. She walked straight to her room, shedding her evening attire as she entered. A refreshing shower washed away the fatigue of the long day, and she emerged feeling revitalized.
Next, Kiara headed to her study room, where she immersed herself in paperwork. A few minutes passed before a gentle knock broke the silence. "Come in," she called out.
The maid entered, carrying a tray with Kiara's coffee. "I brought your coffee, ma'am," she said, setting the cup on the desk.
Without looking up, Kiara acknowledged the maid's presence, and the maid turned to leave. Kiara focused on her work, sipping her coffee as she reviewed the documents in front of her.
Kiara worked on her paperwork until very late at night. Finally, she decided to call it a day and headed to bed.
In stark contrast, the night was far from peaceful at the Blackhaven's mansion. As soon as Elijah returned from the dinner party, he discovered that his house had been infiltrated by his enemies. The situation was dire: his enemies had taken control of everything.
The mastermind behind the infiltration was none other than Ethan Styles, Elijah's arch-nemesis. Ethan sat comfortably, as if he owned the house, and stood up whistling as Elijah entered. "Oh, look who we finally have here. Mister Elijah Blackhaven, I've been waiting for you. I heard you've been looking for me, and look, here I am."
Elijah's eyes narrowed as he coldly regarded Ethan. "I see you have a death wish, bringing yourself to your doom."
Ethan laughed. "One of the days when you used to rule, Mister Blackhaven, you think I'd seriously come here without any... insurance?" He smiled, clearly confident.
Elijah's expression remained icy, his eyes fixed on Ethan.
Ethan pulled out some papers and said, "I'm in a very good mood today, so I don't want to fight with you. Just sign this, and I'll leave peacefully. But otherwise, don't blame me for being rude." He handed the papers to one of his guards, who approached Elijah.
Elijah glanced at the papers, then looked back at Ethan before tossing the papers aside.
Ethan's smile faltered, and he warned, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Elijah's expression remained unyielding.
Ethan continued, "I can see you're still as stubborn as ever, Mister Blackhaven. But unfortunately, I am the ruler of today. Whatever I say, you do." His guards aimed their guns at Elijah.
Without flinching, Elijah walked straight towards Ethan, his eyes locked on his nemesis. Ethan's guards stepped forward, guns pointed at Elijah, ready to shoot.
But Ethan signaled to his guards with a hand gesture, telling them to stand down. He regarded Elijah with a calculating gaze.