Love To Die For

8th November was the date when Viviana Cassius's private jet landed, marking the end of yet another extravagant weekend abroad. Her trips were always special, punctuated by lavish shopping sprees in the most exclusive boutiques around the world. Everything about her screamed opulence and exclusivity.

Viviana's outfits were masterpieces, handcrafted by the finest seamstresses after being designed by top designers in the industry. Her jewellery was out-of-this-world unique, with accessories customised for her. But it wasn't just her lifestyle that turned heads; her beauty was equally striking. Though she was naturally pretty but she still made sure to ggo under the knife several times to get that flawless look that was unmatched.

Luck had been on Viviana's side since childhood and at times when it was not by her side, she simply bought. Life was that simple for her, as the sole heiress of Alister Cassius, an old and immensely wealthy business tycoon. Alister owned a chain of companies under the trademark of Cassius Inc, He held shares in every major industry in the country and was named the richest man of the country a few hundred times in several magazines. If he wished, he could practically name Viviana the queen of the country, and no one would dare contest it.

Awaiting Viviana's arrival was a long line of sleek, black cars, a testament to the protocol that ensured her journey back to the mansion would be smooth and undisturbed. As she descended the jet's steps, she surveyed her surroundings through her designer sunglasses, perched perfectly on her freshly sculpted nose. Behind her, a line of servants struggled with her mountain of baggage, the fruits of her latest shopping spree.

"Miss, welcome back," greeted a neat man in a black suit, his gloved hands clasped in respect, head slightly bowed. "The chairman is waiting for you at lunch. This way, please."

Viviana clicked her tongue, giving him a condescending look. "I have a meeting with a friend. I will see him tomorrow," she said, brushing past him.

"Miss, the chairman is not feeling well. He really wishes to see you," the man insisted, stepping in front of her to block her path.

"How dare you stop me? Do you wish to die?" she screamed, her face contorting with anger.

"Miss, these are orders from the chairman. He really wishes to see you. It has been a month since he last saw you. Please, Miss," he almost begged.

"Get out of my way," Viviana's voice dripped with icy resolve, her forehead veins popping as her fury peaked. The man didn't move from his spot as they were orders from her grandfather.

Viviana stood for a moment, glaring at him before snapping her fingers at her secretary, who was following closely. Instantly, her secretary handed over her phone. Viviana dialed a number, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"Hello?" A weak, shaky voice answered after a few rings. "Vivi! My child, I heard you landed. I sent some men to pick you up for lunch. I have your favorite food ready."

"That man! Fire him," Viviana demanded.

"Huh?" Alister paused, not understanding.

"What do you mean? Did something happen?" he asked, worry lacing his tone.

"He stood in my way! I am so angry I feel sick! Just fire him already!" she screamed. The man's face paled at her words, knowing speaking up would only make things worse.

"Okay, I will do as you say. Just come home," Alister pleaded, hoping to calm her.

"I am not going home today. I have plans with my friends. I will meet you tomorrow or so. Bye!" she said curtly, ending the call and handing the phone back to her secretary. She walked away arrogantly towards the airport's entry gate, leaving the cars and servants deserted. Her secretary followed closely, handing her a cup of cold coffee as they walked into the crowded terminal.

"Miss, your coffee," she said, giving it to Viviana, who paused to make another call.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the waiting area. A fragile boy, not older than fifteen, rushed through the crowd, slamming into Viviana and spilling coffee all over her. She fell backward, hitting the floor hard.

"Ack!" Viviana shrieked, grabbing the back of her head as excruciating pain shot through it. Though she had just fallen back, she clutched her head as if it had suffered a severe impact. Tears sprang to her eyes almost automatically. It felt as if someone had bashed her head with a heavy vase, causing it to split open, and she imagined blood spilling outwards. Her vision blurred, and her ears rang. She saw a bizarre vision: a few buttons of an elevator, blood on the floor, and some deceitful words. The pain persisted, and it was a scene she had never seen before, so it couldn't have been a memory. Yet, it was undeniably her in the vision. Time around her seemed to dilate, her ears ringing with bells of warning. Her own breathing became too audible to her. The pain grew more intense, and Viviana's grip around her hair tightened. Only when she felt a harsh jolt on her shoulder did she snap out of the painful vision and back to reality.

"Miss! Are you okay? Miss?" Her secretary's voice pierced through the fog.

Viviana blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision. The faces of concerned onlookers came into focus, and the reality of the situation dawned on her. She was on the cold, hard floor of the airport, surrounded by a growing crowd.

"I... I'm bleeding," Viviana stammered, still holding the back of her head, finally letting out a breath that echoed in her head.

"You are?" The secretary's voice was filled with concern. "Where?"

"My head is bleeding! Can't you see that?" Viviana's chest heaved with panic, tears streaming down her cheeks. She glanced toward the boy who had caused the commotion. He was now trying to stand, his face bruised, his eyes dark and hollow.

"Miss, you're okay. You're not bleeding," the secretary reassured her.

"What do you mean I'm okay?! I clearly hit my head and I am in pain!" Viviana cried, touching her head where she was sure it had split open. But there was no blood, just like the secretary had said. The boy, too, had gotten to his feet and dashed into the crowd.

"He ran away! How could you let him run away?! Catch him! He pushed me and caused me so much pain!" Viviana yelled, struggling to stand. The secretary pulled off her jacket, draping it over Viviana's coffee-stained dress.

"Miss, we need to get out of here," she said, glancing at the crowd that had gathered, some recording the scene on their phones.

"I need that boy! I want to teach him a lesson!" Viviana insisted, her voice sharp with annoyance, as her secretary guided her out to the waiting car.

"Haah! haah!haah!" Viviana's chest heaved like a train engine, her breath ragged and quick. She continuously touched the back of her head, where the lingering pain still pulsed. What was that? she thought, her mind racing. I've never felt like this before... Was I hallucinating? She pulled her hand away from her head, staring at it to check for any trace of blood, but there was none.

The car's luxurious interior felt stifling, the soft leather seats and ambient lighting doing little to soothe her frazzled nerves. The cityscape outside the tinted windows blurred as they sped through the road, but Viviana barely noticed. She was consumed by the strange vision and the pain that had accompanied it.

"Miss?" The secretary called her a few times before Viviana finally heard her.

"Huh?" Viviana replied, snapping out of her thoughts.

"Are you okay? You seem distracted," the secretary asked, her tone gentle but concerned.

"No, I'm not!" Viviana denied sharply. "What made you think that?"

"I didn't mean to be rude, but you didn't seem to notice your phone was ringing, so I thought you looked distracted," the secretary explained, hoping not to upset her further.

Viviana glanced down at her phone, realizing it was indeed ringing in her palm. She hadn't even noticed. It was Theo, her boyfriend's friend, calling her. She frowned and picked up the call. Theo had been trying to reach her ever since she got bumped into at the airport.

"Hey Vivi! You called and suddenly cut the call. I was worried," Theo said, trying to sound cool.

"Where is Nico?" she asked in a stiff voice.

"Wow! You lost your boyfriend again?" he joked.

Viviana blinked heavily a few times, taking a deep breath before speaking. "Just answer the d*mn question! Where is he and why is he not picking up his calls? Is he still on the business trip?"

"Business trip?" Theo sounded genuinely surprised. "Why would a guy like him go on business trips?" he joked.

"He clearly told me he was off to a business trip and would contact me when he got back, but it's been a freaking month with no sign of him!" Viviana's frustration was palpable.

"No way. He's lying to you big time. I told you not to trust him. You were better off with someone like me instead," Theo tried to wedge himself into the rift between Nico and Viviana.

"Where is he?" Viviana's teeth gritted, and her fingers dug deeper into the leather car seats.

"I bet he's at his apartment. He was there yesterday when I went over, so I bet that lazy man hasn't moved a finger since then," Theo replied casually.

"Send me his address," she snapped, ending the call instantly. Her secretary glanced at her, monitoring her mood.

"Is everything okay with Mr. Nico and you?" she asked cautiously.

Viviana shot her a brief glance and then looked away without answering.

"Miss, I forgot to mention it before, but I managed to get my hands on the CCTV footage from the cruise you were on two months ago. I wasn't going to say anything, but now I think you should see them," her secretary spoke in a low, serious voice.

Viviana looked at the rearview mirror, locking eyes with her secretary, whose serious expression mirrored the gravity of the situation. "Show me!" she demanded, clenching her jaw. The secretary nodded, driving to the nearest quiet area where they could park peacefully. It was a silent spot under a bridge, right by the clear water. The secretary pulled out a laptop and started searching for the footage while Viviana stood outside the car, taking deep breaths to cool off.

After a few moments, the secretary came out of the car, placed the laptop on the hood, and Viviana stepped closer to view the footage. There it was: her boyfriend Nico and her supposed best friend Freya making out in secret.

Viviana stood ramrod straight, as if someone had soldered steel into her backbone. Her neck twitched as she painfully swallowed her anguish. Her eyes watered, and she took a deep breath, looking up to hold back her tears. "What a dog! He thinks he can double-cross me? Me, Viviana Cassius?" she gritted her teeth, her nails digging into her skin. "I will make sure he regrets it." She hissed, venom dripping from her words.

Just then, her phone buzzed with a message. It was Theo, sending Nico's apartment location. Viviana nodded and turned to her secretary. "Give me the keys. I have somewhere to go," she said in a voice laced with hurt and determination.

"Miss, let me drive you," the secretary offered, reluctant to let her go alone.

"I said give me the keys!" Viviana snapped, her rage boiling over. She had been deceived, and she was not going to let anyone take away her chance at retribution. Her voice, filled with fury, scared the secretary, who quickly handed over the keys and bid her farewell.

TWO MONTHS AGO:

The moonlight danced on the gentle waves of the ocean, casting a silvery glow over the private cruise ship, *The Seraphine*. The vessel was the height of luxury, with its sleek design and grand features. The sound of the waves lapping against the hull mingled with the soft hum of classical music playing in the background, creating an atmosphere of serene elegance.

On the deck, a lavish party was in full swing. The air was filled with the mingling scents of expensive perfumes and the faint aroma of gourmet food being served by attentive waiters. Fairy lights were strung along the railings, casting a warm, golden light over the scene, while the stars above twinkled like diamonds in the clear night sky.

Viviana was lounging on plush chaise lounges,beside her two friends Silvia and Blanca, their laughter ringing out over the deck. They were dressed in glamorous evening gowns that shimmered under the lights, each one a picture of carefree sophistication. Their cheeks were flushed from the champagne they had been sipping, their eyes bright with the effects of alcohol and the exhilaration of the night.

Viviana, her chestnut hair flowing freely over her shoulders, took another sip of her champagne, her eyes scanning the deck. "Where are Nico and Freya?" she slurred slightly, a hint of irritation creeping into her voice. "They've been missing for a while now." Her eyes scanned the surrounding.

Silvia, shrugged, her movements loose and relaxed. "Probably off somewhere, talking," she said, her words drawn out and lazy. "They have been doing that a lot recently." she said casually.

Blanca, lounging back with a glass of wine in her hand, giggled. "Or doing something more," she added with a wink. Silvia snorted, but Viviana's hand tightened around her glass of champagne, her irritation visible in the coldness of her eyes. She shot Blanca a dead look, causing Blanca to recoil slightly. "I didn't mean it like that, Viviana," she said with a pained expression.

But it was too late. Viviana hurled her glass to the deck and stood up abruptly. "Viviana, please, I am sorry!" Blanca scrambled to her feet, reaching out to hold her back, but Viviana shrugged her hand off, causing Blanca to slip and crash into the glass table beside her, shattering it into a hundred pieces. Blanca shrieked in pain, but Viviana didn't spare her a second glance as she stormed into the cabin area, her head spinning, her feet unsteady.

"Nico?! Freya?!" she called out, receiving no response. The cruise ship had multiple rooms for each guest, and Viviana marched towards Freya's room, twisting the doorknob without knocking. Expecting to find them there, she was met with an oddly empty room. Frowning, she closed the door, and just then, the door behind her opened. Nico hurriedly walked out, almost bumping into her.

"Vivi!" he exclaimed, breathless. His top few shirt buttons were undone, and his lips had a glossy tint. Viviana's eyes narrowed at the sight.

"Where were you?" she demanded.

Nico gave her a weak laugh. "What do you mean, darling? I went to the restroom. I told you that," he said, wiping his lips.

Viviana wasn't convinced. "Where is Freya?" she demanded, her tone sharp.

Nico shook his head. "How would I know? I was in my room all along." Nico replied instantly but Viviana didn't seem convinced until Freya walked into the hallway from the opposite direction, holding an empty glass. "What's up with the two lovebirds? I hope I didn't intrude," she said, chuckling.

Viviana turned to look at her, noticing she was coming from a completely different direction. For a moment, she felt she might have wronged Nico and misunderstood the situation.

"Yeah, we didn't have much time to spend together, so I thought why not enjoy ourselves on the cruise. Am I right, Nico?" Viviana held onto Nico's arm and pulled him closer possessively even though Nico's expressions were very reluctant to do anything romantic in front of Freya. Nico leaned in, and they exchanged a soft, brief kiss. Freya's gaze turned cold for a split second before she spoke.

"You are making us single people jealous, you know that, right?" Freya said.

Viviana gave her a pointed look before laughing. "Well, why don't you find someone then? I think it isn't that hard to find a perfect guy with that face of yours."

There was a brief moment of silence before Freya gave Nico a long, meaningful glare and spoke. "What if my Mr. Right was taken by someone else? What should I do then, Vivi?"

"Well then, he must not be your Mr. Right after all if he was that easily taken away from you by someone else. You should learn to tame your men so they can't leave." Viviana's fingers twisted in Nico's collar, her eyes catching a pink pigment on it that she didn't mention. "Am I right, Nico? You know you are my Mr. Right, and you also know what will happen if my Mr. Right tries to find himself another Miss Perfect who is not me. Right?" Her voice held a hint of threat, and her emerald green eyes bore into him with intensity.

Nico, who had been calm moments ago, now seemed unnerved. "Of course, Vivi! You are the only one for me." He laughed weakly and glanced at Freya briefly.

"Let's go out and enjoy ourselves. We shouldn't miss a single moment here. After all, Vivi planned it all for us," Nico said, trying to disperse the tension in the air.

The luxurious setting of the cruise ship amplified the tension among the friends. The scent of the ocean breeze mingled with the faint aroma of exotic flowers arranged in vases throughout the deck.Silvia and Blanca, who had been silent spectators to the unfolding drama, exchanged uneasy glances. The deck, with its plush seating and glistening teakwood floors, felt like a stage set for an unfolding drama.

Viviana tightened her grip on Nico's collar briefly before letting go, her eyes still flashing with anger. She forced a smile and turned to the others. "Come on, let's enjoy the night. We're here to have fun, aren't we?"

Blanca, still nursing her wounded pride from the earlier incident, nodded hesitantly. "Yes, let's make the most of it."

Freya, her expression unreadable, lifted her glass. "To an unforgettable night," she said, her tone dripping with a mix of sincerity and sarcasm.

As they moved to the outer deck, the cool breeze from the ocean provided a momentary relief from the charged atmosphere. The sky was a canvas of stars, and the moon cast a silvery glow over the water. Viviana clung to Nico's arm, her grip possessive. Nico, trying to appear nonchalant, felt the weight of her eyes on him, and the lingering threat in her words.