“Hello, Trisha?” A masculine baritone voice greeted.

It held a great deal of confidence and pride and it made Trisha turn to see who it was.

Her eyes widened slightly as she sucked in a deep breath and scowled.

“Do you need something?”

The golden haired man grinned in what he believed to be a sexy way and leaned in slightly closer to her.

“Why so sour?” He murmured under his breath.

Trisha fought the urge to tremble and swallowed discreetly as she deepened her scowl.

“I think I'd be better for you to mind your business, sir.” She said coldly and turned to leave.

But the younger man feeling insulted refused to let her leave in peace. He reached forward and yanked her back by her arm.

Another shiver ran through her and she blanched in panic.

“Let go!” She half cried.

Anger slowly bubbled within his mind at her unnatural reaction to him. But he didn't let it show as he smiled softly and gently released his grip, not wanting to cause a scene in the almost crowded hall.

Trisha worked out her pants as she gently rubbed her sour arm. She turned to flash him a glare.

“What was that for?” She snapped.

“Why are you being so rude to me, Trisha?” He questioned gently with a raised brow.

“How do you know my name?” Trisha narrowed her eyes.

She was in Monaco not Los Angeles' Beverly hills where she was quite the celebrity.

No one aside from her friend, Gia, was supposed to know her name here.

This stranger might actually be able to since he was also from Los Angeles, but she wanted to play dumb and act like she didn't know who he was.

“Come on, spare me that crap.” He said as he slowly walked towards her.

Trisha's eyes widened subconsciously. She took some hasty steps backwards, successfully putting the distance of an arms length between them.

"In fact, that doesn't matter. Don't come any closer. Stay away from me. I mean it.” Trisha ordered in a rush and turned away from him to disappear into the crowd.

An expression of confusion replaced the smile on Hendrick's face as he was left standing there and feeling foolish as a few people threw him curious, judging glances.

Gritting his teeth, he adjusted his tie and turned the other way.

It doesn't matter if she was acting like she didn't know who she was right now, but he knew she was his already…

He concluded in his head with a cold light in his eyes.

…and he'd really teach her how to address him properly.

…….

“Where were you?” Trisha snapped the moment her brother approached her with his usual poker face expression.

He glanced coolly down at her and didn't reply.

This attitude had always served to irk Trisha, and it did now.

She fisted her hands and tried not to punch him in the gut.

“You left me unaccompanied and vulnerable. That in turn gave Hendrick Ravenswood the guts to approach me.” She half shouted.

A few guests turned to stare and glare curiously at her so, she was forced to compose herself.

Again, she didn't see the frosty look in his eyes when she mentioned Hendrick's full name.

“That prick…” he mumbled under his breath.

Trisha glared at him.

“What?”

“What did he say to you?” He asked, calmly without any fluctuations in his eyes or voice.

“Seriously?”

“Christ! Trisha, just answer the question.” Maverick snapped in an exasperated voice.

“You don't raise your voice at me. I didn't let him say anything tangible. But he seemed to… know me?”

“He did, huh?” Maverick laughed coldly and gritted his teeth. “That prick.”

“Seriously, what's going on? Do you know the infamous reputation that guy has? Everyone in my social group knows about his weird… evil fetishes.” Trisha asked, angrily.

“You will know soon, unfortunately.” Maverick said, looking into space and ignoring her complaints at the suspense before turning to her again.

“Father is ready to see you. Come with me.” He ordered and turned away tapping a finger against the earbud in his ear.

Trisha was indignant, but she followed him anyway and when they got to the private room, her father and his business partners were already present.

The room was dimly lit in purple lighting so she couldn't see their features clearly as she approached them.

“Good evening, Dad.” She greeted politely and stepped into his offered embrace in disbelief.

Why would her usually unapproachable father suddenly initiate an embrace?

Mr. Avalon pulled away and wrapped an arm around her waist as he introduced her to the other men with laughter.

“Everyone, meet my beautiful daughter, Trisha Avalon.” He announced amiably.

The other men whose face Trisha still couldn't make out laughed and said their hellos.

Judging from the voice and stature of the other two, she could tell that they were as old as her father.

And the quiet, tall one among them seemed to be younger. Trisha tried to ignore his fixed stare on her and smiled at them.

“And Trisha, I want you to meet Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Ravenswood and his son, Hendrick…”

Trisha's breath caught as her eyes riveted onto the younger, taller man, but her father wasn't done with his introduction.

“Hendrick is the appropriate young man I have chosen to accompany you for the rest of your life. Haha.” Mr. Avalon said jokingly, and the other men guffawed along with him.

Trisha stumbled backwards slightly when Hendrick moved closer to her, his face now slightly visible in the dim light.

She watched with wide eyes as he reached forward and gently took her hand in his with a cocky grin on his face.

“You are going to get married to Hendrick to bring the two families together.” Mr. Ravenswood said with a grin as he nodded repeatedly.

Trisha blanched white, feeling as though her soul was leaving her body.

So this was it?

The reason for the offhand behavior in everyone around her.

An arranged marriage?!

With his ever growing triumphant grin, Hendrick pressed his lips to the back of her hand.

“Hello, Trisha. You look stunning, I didn't get the chance to tell you this earlier.” He said, raising his voice as if to let his words sink into the quiet room.

Not caring for his daughter's reaction, Mr. Avalon nodded in approval and gently pushed Trisha closer to Hendrick.

Reaching forward, Hendrick gently pushed a strand of her platinum blonde hair out of her face behind her ears.

“We meet again under ‘better’ circumstances.” He gritted out with his triumphant grin still in place as he took her slender hand in his and led her away.

Blood pounded in Trisha's ears and she didn't try to rein in her fearful expression.

It was, after all, an arranged marriage to a man similar to the devil's cousin.