Chapter 23: Chapter Twenty Two

Eros

The library was a haven of tranquility, its spacious interior awash with golden sunlight filtering through tall arched windows. Rows upon rows of books filled the shelves, their spines facing neatly arranged study tables and chairs. Across from me sat Mia, a nervous sophomore battling calculus, a subject that seemed to defy her otherwise brilliant mind. She had been assigned to me for tutoring, her struggles in this one area overshadowing her successes in others.

Mia’s unease was palpable. Her hands trembled as she repeatedly dropped her pen, but I said nothing. I understood the reason for her nerves. My reputation preceded me—unintentionally, I had instilled an air of fear among the students. Most avoided me altogether, unable to stand even a few feet from me. 

Only a handful had dared to break through the invisible barrier: Athena and Scarlett, who earned their places at my side, and Chloe McIntosh, though I had swiftly reminded her where she stood.

Leaning forward slightly, I focused on the notebook in front of Mia. My pen moved steadily, my voice calm and deliberate as I explained the concepts that eluded her. Unlike the hurried, chaotic notes in her pad, my writing was clear and methodical.

“The derivative of sine is cosine,” I explained, pointing to the equation. “From here, you substitute the values. Don’t overthink it. Math is like a puzzle—each piece has its place if you follow the rules.”

Mia frowned, her pen tapping rhythmically against her chin. “But what about this part? The negative sine?” she asked.

“Good question,” I replied, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “That’s because the derivative of cosine is negative sine. It’s an easy mistake, but once you remember that detail, it becomes second nature. Let’s go through it again.”

As I continued walking her through the problem, the stillness of the library was interrupted by the faint buzz of my phone. Pulling it from my pocket, I glanced briefly at the screen: Vivienne Briers. My jaw tightened, the name triggering a flash of irritation. 

How she had obtained my number was a question for another time. Silencing the device, I placed it face down on the table and redirected my attention to Mia.

“Focus,” I said firmly, my tone unwavering. “Here’s another example. Work through this one, and I’ll guide you.”

Mia hesitated for a moment but soon began working on the problem, her pen moving tentatively across the page. I watched her closely, offering words of encouragement when needed.

“Good. Now simplify that term… Perfect. See? You’re getting it,” I said, my tone steady and reassuring.

The faint buzz of my phone disrupted the quiet again, its vibrations muffled against the polished wood of the table. Mia’s eyes darted to it nervously, but I remained calm, ignoring the interruption. If Vivienne wanted my attention so badly, she’d have to wait until I was finished here.

“It’s nothing urgent,” I said, waving off the distraction. “Focus on finishing this problem, and then we’ll wrap up for the day.”

“Um… did I mess it up?” Mia asked hesitantly, her brow furrowed. She looked uncertain.

“Not at all. You’re almost there,” I replied, leaning in and circling the small error on her paper. “See? You just missed dividing here. Fix that, and you’ve got it.”

Mia’s face brightened with a shy smile as she corrected her mistake. Moments later, her expression lit up with excitement as she completed the equation.

“I did it!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with pride and relief.

“Well done,” I said with a nod of approval. “Keep practicing, and you’ll ace that test next week. You’ve got the hang of it now. Do a few more problems tonight, and if you’re still stuck, I’ll check in with you tomorrow. That’s all for today.”

Mia gathered her books, gratitude written all over her face. “Thank you so much, Eros. I don’t think I could’ve done this without your help.”

I offered her a faint smile. “You’ll do fine. Just trust yourself and stop second-guessing.”

“I won’t,” she assured me, slinging her bag over her shoulder. She waved as she headed off, leaving me alone at the table.

I slid my books into my backpack, zipped it closed, and slung it over my shoulder. As I made my way toward the exit, my phone buzzed again. This time, I answered it, pressing it to my ear as I pushed open the glass doors of the library and stepped into the hallway.

“To what do I owe the displeasure of this call, Vivienne?” I asked, my voice cold and unwelcoming.

“Eros,” came her smooth, sultry voice, laced with a tone that felt calculated. “I was starting to think you were ignoring me. I’ve never had anyone ignore my calls before.”

“Really?” I replied, my tone laced with mockery. “Well, I’m glad to be the first to show you just how unimportant you are. Now, what do you want? And before you answer that, how did you get my number?”

She chuckled softly, a hint of smugness in her tone. “I told your father I wanted to get to know my future stepson, and he gave it to me. He was thrilled.”

My steps faltered at her words, and my jaw tightened. I’d explicitly told Leonardo to delete my number from his phone, but he hadn’t listened. Instead, he’d handed it over to his fiancée without a second thought. He and I would be having a serious conversation about this later.

“I see,” I said evenly, keeping my voice devoid of emotion. “What do you want?”

“As I said, I want to get to know you better,” Vivienne replied, her tone smooth and calculated. “You’ll be my stepson soon, and it wouldn’t reflect well if we didn’t get along. Think of your father’s reputation.”

“More like you’re worried about your own,” I drawled, sarcasm dripping from every word.

“Well, if you say so,” she responded with a dry chuckle, clearly unfazed.

I sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of my nose to suppress my growing frustration. “I’m this close to blocking your number, Vivienne. I don’t have the time or patience for whatever mind games you’re playing.”

“Relax, I won’t take up much of your oh-so-precious time,” she said, her tone light but tinged with mockery. “I was thinking we should have dinner tonight. There’s a new restaurant on the south side of town—Le Bijou Rouge. Swanky, intimate, the kind of place I thought you’d appreciate. Seven o’clock. What do you think?”

“Swanky choice,” I muttered, unimpressed.

“Only the best,” she replied, amusement lacing her voice. “So, I’ll see you there?”

I hesitated, weighing my options before nodding to myself. “Alright. Seven it is.” If nothing else, I needed to get a sense of her true intentions. Leonardo claimed she made him happy—I had my doubts.

“Don’t be late, Eros,” Vivienne purred before ending the call.

\~~~~

I decided to drive myself, something I rarely did, but today I needed a distraction, and driving always had a way of clearing my mind. I pulled up to Le Bijou Rouge in my Bugatti La Voiture Noire, the sleek black car gliding to a stop in front of the restaurant. The grand entrance shimmered beneath the soft glow of gilded lanterns, the restaurant’s name etched in elegant gold above the double doors.

The valet gave me a respectful nod as I handed him my keys, and I adjusted the cufflinks of my charcoal suit before stepping out of the car and making my way inside.

Le Bijou Rouge’s interior was nothing short of lavish. Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceilings, scattering prisms of light across the polished marble floors. The air was rich with the scent of truffle oil and aged wine, blending seamlessly with the soft hum of classical music. A hostess, dressed in a sleek black dress, greeted me with a polished smile.

“Good evening, sir. Do you have a reservation?” she asked.

“Eros Belmonte. Vivienne Briers is expecting me,” I replied.

The hostess’s smile deepened as she glanced down at her tablet. “Ah, yes. Ms. Briers is waiting for you in the private dining area. Please, follow me.”

I trailed behind her, passing through the main dining hall, where tables were meticulously set with crisp white linens and adorned with exquisite floral arrangements. We reached the private area, separated by an ornate frosted glass partition that offered a sense of exclusivity. The hostess opened the door, revealing an intimate dining space lit by the warm glow of a single chandelier.

Vivienne was already seated, the epitome of elegance in a crimson silk dress that hugged her figure like it had been made for her. Her dark hair was swept into a sleek updo, and a diamond necklace glittered at her collarbone. She looked up as I entered, her lips curling into a slow, knowing smile.

I couldn't deny that Vivienne Briers was undeniably beautiful. Her looks were why men were eager to marry her, falling over themselves to win her favor. But beneath that beauty lay a woman with a soul as rotten as they come. I couldn't for the life of me comprehend how Leonardo believed he could find happiness with someone like her, especially after having married someone as pure as my mother.

“Eros,” she said, rising gracefully to greet me. “Punctual as ever.”

“Of course,” I replied dryly. “I’m a gentleman.”

She gestured to the seat opposite her. “Only the best for you. I thought you’d appreciate somewhere… refined,” she said, her voice laced with an air of smugness.

I sat down, my movements deliberate and controlled. “Let’s hope the food lives up to its reputation.”

Vivienne chuckled softly, lifting her wine glass with a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. “Oh, it will. Shall we toast?”

“To what?” I asked, arching an eyebrow.

Her smile deepened. “To a night worth remembering.”

I hesitated for a moment, then reluctantly lifted my own glass. The soft clink of crystal marked the beginning of a very long and boring evening. This was it—my chance to feel her out, to get a sense of her true intentions. This was where politeness would have to carry me through. 

I forced a smile, though I could barely tolerate her presence. The sickly sweet scent of the perfume she wore was almost overwhelming, reminding me of Scarlett in all the wrong ways.

I clenched my jaw, determined to keep my composure. I was a gentleman, after all, and I had to remind myself that gentlemen don’t make women cry.