Chapter 5 A Choice She Can't Refuse

CHAPTER 5

ROSE'S POV

I sat at the corner table of the dimly lit restaurant, my fingers curling around the stem of an untouched glass of water. The air was rich with the scent of roasting herbs and freshly baked bread, but it did nothing to settle the churning in my stomach. My eyes flicked toward the entrance every few seconds, and the longer I waited, the more the knot in my chest tightened.

She was late.

A flicker of movement near the door drew my attention, and there she was. Seraphina Duval strode into the room like she owned the place-back straight, chin high, every inch of her oozing the poise of someone who was well aware of her own importance. Her sleek, raven-black hair flowed over one shoulder, and her tailored cream pantsuit fit her like a second skin. The clack of her heels against the hardwood floor echoed loudly in my ears as she approached, her scarlet-painted lips pulling into a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Rose Sinclair," she said, her voice smooth and dripping with false warmth. "You're even more ordinary than I saw the last time."

I stiffened, my grip tightening on the glass. "Miss Duval." I said curtly, refusing to rise to her bait.

Her smile widened as she pulled out the chair across from me and sat down, crossing her legs with deliberate grace. "Oh, please, call me Seraphina. Everyone does."

I doubted that was true, but I didn't bother arguing.

A waiter appeared beside us, his notepad poised. "Good evening, ladies. May I start you off with drinks?"

Seraphina waved a manicured hand. "A Sauvignon Blanc for me, chilled. And for her..." She paused, her eyes sweeping over me in mock appraisal. "A water should suffice. She doesn't look like she can handle anything stronger."

The waiter glanced at me awkwardly, clearly unsure if he should follow through with her order.

"I'll have a black coffee," I said firmly, ignoring Seraphina's smirk.

The waiter nodded and disappeared, leaving the two of us in a tense silence.

Seraphina leaned back in her chair, her fingers tapping idly against the table. "You're not much of a talker, are you?"

"I didn't come here to chat," I said flatly.

"No, I suppose you didn't," she mused, her smile never wavering. "You came because of my message."

Her words sent a chill down my spine, and my mind flashed back to the text that had appeared on my phone just two nights ago.

"Let's strike a deal. I know you're looking for your sister. If you want answers, meet me at 7 PM, La Verità. Come alone."

The words had felt like a punch to the gut. I'd stared at my screen for what felt like hours, my heart pounding and my thoughts racing.

Now, sitting across from Seraphina Duval, I could feel the weight of that message all over again. She watched me with the detached curiosity of a cat toying with a trapped mouse.

"Well?" she prompted, her smile sharpening. "Aren't you going to thank me for reaching out? After all, I've done quite a bit of digging for you."

I didn't trust myself to speak.

She tilted her head, feigning concern. "You look pale, darling. Are you feeling alright?"

"Just get to the point," I snapped, my voice colder than I intended.

Seraphina chuckled softly, a sound that grated on my nerves. "Very well. Let's skip the pleasantries." She leaned forward slightly, her gaze locking onto mine. "I've done my research, Rose. And what I found is... troubling, to say the least. Your sister, Lily, has been missing for years, hasn't she?"

My stomach twisted, but I didn't react.

Her smile widened as if my silence was confirmation. "It's such a sad story, really. A young girl vanishing without a trace, a family left in shambles..." She trailed off, her eyes glinting with something cruel. "You must be so tired of carrying that burden all by yourself."

I clenched my fists under the table, my nails digging into my palms.

"And here you are," Seraphina continued, her tone almost pitying. "Scrambling for scraps of information, hoping for a miracle. It's pathetic, really."

"Why are you telling me this?" I demanded, my voice trembling with barely restrained anger.

"Because I have an offer for you, didn't I make that clear?" she asked simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Before I could respond, the waiter returned with our drinks. He set the wine glass in front of Seraphina and my coffee in front of me, then quickly retreated, sensing the tension between us.

Seraphina took a slow sip of her wine, savoring it like she had all the time in the world. Finally, she set the glass down and leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table.

"I can help you find Lily," she said, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But there's a price."

My heart pounded in my chest. "What kind of price?"

Her lips curved into a predatory smile. "That's for me to decide. But rest assured, it will be worth it. After all, isn't finding your sister worth any cost?"

I stared at her, my mind racing. She was toying with me, dangling the one thing I wanted most in front of me like bait on a hook.

"I don't trust you," I said finally.

Seraphina laughed, the sound light and mocking. "Oh, Rose. Trust is such an overrated concept. What matters is results. And I always get results."

I hesitated, the weight of her words pressing down on me. Part of me wanted to get up and walk away, to call her bluff and refuse to play her twisted game. But another part of me-the desperate, broken part that had spent years searching for Lily-couldn't ignore the possibility that she might be telling the truth.

"What's the deal?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Seraphina's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Ah, now we're getting somewhere." She leaned back in her chair, looking impossibly pleased with herself.

Seraphina swirled the last bit of wine in her glass, her crimson lips curling into a smile that didn't quite reach her cold, calculating eyes. She set the glass down with a soft clink and leaned forward, her hands folded elegantly on the table.

"Here are the conditions, Rose," she said, her voice smooth but laced with an unmistakable undercurrent of menace. "First and foremost, the moment your sister is found, you leave Damien. Completely."

I blinked, the words hitting me like a slap. "Leave him?"

Her smile widened, sharp and predatory. "Yes, darling. You're a nobody. A little journalist playing pretend in a world where you don't belong. You have no right to stand anywhere near Damien Sterling, let alone be in his life."

The words stung, but I refused to let her see how deeply they cut. I clenched my fists under the table, my nails biting into my palms. "Why does it matter to you?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.

Seraphina tilted her head, her dark eyes gleaming with something akin to amusement. "Because Damien deserves someone of his caliber. Someone who understands his world and can elevate his status-not drag it down. And you? You're nothing but a distraction."

I bit my tongue, swallowing the retort burning at the back of my throat.

"Secondly," she continued, her tone dropping to something colder, "Damien must never know about this meeting or our arrangement. Not a word, not a hint. If he finds out..." She trailed off, her smile returning, though it was anything but kind. "Well, let's just say you'll lose both him and your sister."

I opened my mouth to argue, to protest, but no sound came out.

Seraphina leaned back in her chair, crossing her legs with the air of someone who had already won. "Do we have a deal?"

I stared at her, my mind racing. She made it sound so simple, so transactional. But the thought of leaving Damien felt like ripping out a piece of myself-But why am I feeling like that?

"Why are you doing this?" I asked finally, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her expression hardened, the playful façade slipping for just a moment. "Because I protect what's mine," she said, her tone icy. "And Damien is mine. You're just a placeholder."

The venom in her words sent a shiver down my spine. "You don't even love him," I said, my voice trembling despite my best efforts to keep it steady.

Seraphina's smile returned, cruel and condescending. "Love is irrelevant, Rose. This isn't about fairy tales or romance. It's about power, status, and control. Things you'll never understand."

I looked down at my hands, my resolve wavering. I could feel her gaze on me, sharp and unrelenting, waiting for me to break.

"And if I say no?" I asked, forcing myself to meet her eyes.

Seraphina's smile didn't falter. "Then you'll never find your sister. And Damien will hear a lot lot about you."

Code for framing me.

She picked up her glass and took a slow sip, her gaze never leaving mine. "Your choice, Rose."

I felt the walls closing in around me. Every instinct screamed at me to walk away, to call her bluff and refuse to play her twisted game. But then Lily's face flashed in my mind-her laugh, her smile.

Tears burned at the back of my eyes, but I blinked them away. "Fine," I said, my voice barely steady. "I'll do it."

Seraphina's smile widened, triumphant and cold. "Smart girl."

"But I have one condition," I said, surprising even myself.

Her eyebrows arched in amusement. "Oh? And what might that be?"

I swallowed hard, forcing the words out. "You find Lily first. No delays, no excuses. I'm not leaving Damien until I know she's safe."

For a moment, Seraphina simply stared at me, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she nodded. "Agreed. But remember, Rose..." Her smile faded, replaced by something darker. "If Damien finds out about this, it's over. For you, for Lily, for everything."

Her words sent a chill down my spine, but I nodded, unable to trust myself to speak.

Seraphina stood gracefully, adjusting the lapels of her blazer. "Well, this has been lovely," she said, her tone light and mocking. "I'll be in touch."

She turned to leave but paused, glancing back at me over her shoulder. "Oh, and Rose?"

I looked up, my chest tight.

"Try not to get too attached," she said with a smirk. "It'll only make things harder when the time comes."