Isabella's POV

"Tell me what you want." I tried to sound calm, unnerving, but the crack in my voice betrayed me.

Cole's smile was relaxed, as if he already knew he'd eventually have his way.

"It's quite easy actually," he said, leaning back on his chair. "I just need you to keep hooking up with Damian."

"What?"

"You heard me." Something shifted in his tone that I couldn't put my finger on. But whatever it was, it made him more dangerous.

"I want you to continue your… infidelity with your stepfather." The way he said this made me wince, and I could tell he was enjoying the game he was playing. "In fact, I want to make him fall in love with you. Just think of it as a little game of Samson and Delilah."

"And what do you have to gain from this?" There was no way the snake-like Cole was doing this just because he had a kink for affairs. There had to be something he was trying to gain from all this.

"Oh, it's nothing serious," he said, before his face went totally dark. "I just want you to be the end of the great Blackwell."

A cold shiver went down my spine. He wanted to use me to get Damian and probably get information out of him. Information that could most likely end everything he had worked for his entire life.

I couldn't do that. I just couldn't. I wasn't entirely sure of what I felt for Damian, but I knew I didn't want him to fall for Cole's schemes. Damian was also my mother's husband. She was happy again, and I wanted to keep that.

Cole regained his usual smile and calm demeanor. The rate at which this man switched from charming and amiable to calculating and dangerous was alarming.

"So what will you do, Isabella?"

"I… I can't." The words barely came out, but it was loud enough for him to hear.

"Well, that's a shame." Cole stretched for a champagne glass and started twirling the contents before taking a sip.

"I wonder what I will do with all these pictures of you and your stepfather. Maybe I should just send it to your mother right now. I wonder how she'll react when she sees it. Maybe she will…"

"Stop!" My voice came out shrill. "Stop, please."

I was fighting back the urge to cry. I had been bullied and blackmailed before but never this way. My body was trembling with emotions I couldn't explain. Anger? Indignance? Fear? Or maybe a mixture of all of them.

"Just give me another task," I said, my voice shaking. "I'll do anything. I'll give you anything you want. Please don't make me do this."

Cole's smile faded, but not completely gone. He stood up from his seat with the glass in his hand and walked to the large portrait on the wall, his back facing me.

"I'm sorry, Isabella." His voice was darker, resolute. "I can't do that. And your secret is only safe with me if you agree to my terms."

There was a short silence before I spoke again.

"I'll do it." It was getting harder to keep my voice steady. "I'll do it, but first tell me something."

Cole did not answer, but I saw his brows prick up.

"Why? Why are you going to such lengths to end Damian? Why are you so desperate to ruin him?"

Cole's face went the darkest I'd ever seen him. The air felt heavier, and each breath became a conscious effort.

"If only you knew who you're dealing with and his involvement with the death of your father."

Those words threw me off guard. Damian was involved in the death of my father? But that made no sense! What relationship did my dad have with him?

"What do you mean?" Cole sighed, rubbing his temple.

"I shouldn't have said anything."

"But you did. And now I have questions."

Before Cole could say anything, Damian and my mother entered the room. Mom was holding Damian's hands, and I wished seeing this didn't affect me the way it did. Damian's eye caught mine, and I turned my head to avoid his gaze. Cole was back to being the charismatic, charming man I first met.

I felt sick to my stomach. I had sex with the man that married my mother and became my stepfather. Apparently, the same man might have a hand in the death of my father. And everyone else was aware of these things except my unsuspecting mother. And a man my mother introduced me to has evidence that could possibly destroy my relationship with my mother and is using it to threaten me.

"I think I might want to give Cole a quick tour." Mother's cheerful voice rang out. She did seem happy, and this was supposed to make me happy too.

She led Cole out, and before Damian could even say anything to me, I rushed out of the room. I found myself in the garden after wandering a bit.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. A lot was happening at the same time.

All these happened because of one night. One stupid night, and now Cole had me dancing on the palm of his hands.

I heard footsteps coming from behind me and didn't even need to turn to know who that was. I could feel his presence like heat against my skin.

"What did he say to you?"

I didn't turn back. "Nothing."

"Don't lie to me." He took a step, bridging the distance between us.

"Why do you even care?" I finally looked him in the eyes. "You're married to my mother, remember?"

His eyes flashed. "That doesn't answer my question."

"And I don't answer to you."

We stared at each other for a long minute. My eyes were tracing details I shouldn't notice on his body. The memories came flooding in—what it felt like to be with him.

"Fine." He resigned, and I felt a little disappointed.

"I'm going to bed. Goodnight."

I walked away, afraid that I'd give in to anything he said if I stayed a second longer. He didn't stop me, and I rushed into my room. I crashed into my bed, still trying to process everything that happened.

I thought about Dad, Mom, my career that hadn't even started. Mom spent so many months grieving. She deserved to be happy.

But then there's Damian who fucked me the way I had never been fucked before.

A text message interrupted my thoughts.

It's Cole. Tomorrow. My place. 2pm. Come alone.