Chapter 10 Appetizers
Selena's POV
He probably thought this was an absolute disaster for his life.
Forced by his father to get engaged to some country woman he'd never met, and now this woman was clinging to him like gum stuck to his shoe—tacky, money-grubbing, and stupid.
"Miss Hart, I think there's been a misunderstanding between us."
"No misunderstanding!" I immediately cut him off, leaning forward and trying to grab his hand. Of course, he smoothly dodged it.
"Mr. Sterling, I know you specially bid on that 'Heart of the Ocean' to show how sorry you are! Oh my God, I never thought I'd own such a beautiful gem in my whole life! It must be so expensive, right? You're just too good to me!"
I deliberately emphasized the word "expensive," putting on a starstruck expression.
Watching Royce's mouth twitch, I knew I'd exhausted his last bit of patience.
He couldn't be bothered to pretend anymore.
He thought I was just a gold digger who only cared about money, willing to do anything to marry into wealth.
He pulled out a checkbook and a Montblanc pen from his suit pocket and pushed them directly in front of me.
"Name your price."
His tone was like he was brushing off an annoying beggar.
"I don't understand what you mean..." I blinked my false eyelashes with their clumpy mascara, looking confused.
"Stop pretending. Everything you're doing is for money, isn't it? So tell me, how much will it take for you to go to my father yourself and call off this engagement? One million? Ten million? Just name it, and promise you'll never appear in front of me again."
I looked at him, laughing inside.
This arrogant idiot.
He thought money could solve everything.
He thought he'd seen right through this "country girl's" greed.
He had no idea that the money he was using to humiliate me would eventually come back to him doubled, in a different form.
My tears came again, and this time I cried even more pitifully than before.
"How could you... how could you use money to insult our feelings?" I sobbed, my shoulders shaking dramatically. "Mr. Sterling, you've disappointed me so much! My love is priceless!"
He clearly didn't believe my act.
"Fine..." I said, as if making a huge compromise, sniffling. "Since you insist on measuring everything with money... I don't want your cash. Cash is too vulgar."
I saw his eyebrow raise, seemingly surprised.
"I... I just want a little bit of security."
I lowered my head, my voice barely above a whisper. "How about... you transfer just a tiny bit of your company shares to me? Not much, ten percent... no, five percent would be fine! That way, I can feel your sincerity and have some sense of security..."
Royce slammed his wine glass on the table, narrowing his eyes at me. "Miss Hart, you've got quite an appetite."
"But you're the one who told me to name my price... doesn't my love mean even that much to you?"
I watched his expression grow darker and darker.
But in the end, he said nothing. He just pulled out a black card from his wallet and slapped it on the table.
"Dinner's on me. As for the engagement, I'll talk to your father myself."
With that, he turned and walked away without looking back.
I picked up the wine glass and raised it to the empty air in a toast.
This was just the beginning.
I took my time finishing that expensive dinner, then picked up my spoils and left, completely satisfied.
Passing by the bar, I stopped.
The sommelier who had poured my wine earlier was standing there polishing glasses.
I glanced at the half-bottle of red wine Royce had left behind.
"'98 Lafite?"
"Good choice, though it could have used a bit more time to breathe—slightly harsh."
Without waiting for the sommelier's surprised reaction, I elegantly lifted my skirt and walked out of the restaurant.
Never looked back.
Walking out of the restaurant, I felt amazing.
The look on Royce Sterling's face was more satisfying than that hundred-million-dollar "Heart of the Ocean" he'd bid on.
I hoped he enjoyed tonight's appetizer.
Back at the farm, I threw that ridiculous floral dress and heels straight into the trash.
Then I took a long, satisfying shower, washing off all that makeup that had been thick as a wall, finally able to breathe again.
Wearing a comfortable silk robe and holding a glass of red wine, I walked out to the terrace.
The night breeze was cool, clearing my head even more.
I opened my phone to check the latest report from the Kingston Mining Area, but an entertainment news notification suddenly popped up.
The headline was eye-catching: #Empire's Rising Star Myrdal Carter and Taisia Hart to Announce Engagement, Power Couple Creates New Business Legend#
The accompanying photo showed Myrdal and Taisia in an intimate pose at some gala.
Taisia was nestled against Myrdal like a little bird, wearing that smug smile only winners have.
She looked like a cat who'd finally caught the canary.
I stared at the photo for a few seconds, then chuckled and swiped it away.
Power couple? Ridiculous.
The Kateson family was nothing but an empty shell now, and Myrdal had less than a tenth of his father's ability.
As for Taisia, what did she have besides acting skills and knowing how to please men?
Together, they'd only drag the Kateson family deeper into the mud.
I'd told Myrdal long ago that Taisia was a woman who'd stop at nothing to climb the social ladder.
He didn't believe me then, completely fooled by her tears and fragility, thinking he was the hero rescuing a damsel in distress.
Now he was probably basking in the joy of marrying his "true love."
Fine. Trash belongs with trash.
I turned off my phone, done thinking about these irrelevant people.
The next day, I was in the farm's greenhouse studying a new soil analysis report when the housekeeper, Anna, walked in.
"Miss, there's a letter for you."
She handed me a pink envelope reeking of cheap perfume.
No name on it, but the address was crystal clear.
I frowned and opened it.
Inside was a gaudy engagement invitation, featuring Myrdal and Taisia.
Beneath the invitation was a handwritten note in delicate script, but the content dripped with showing off.
[Dear Selena,
Myrdal and I are getting engaged next Saturday. I know you're living in the countryside now and probably haven't seen much of the world, so I'm specially inviting you to our engagement party to broaden your horizons. And don't dress too shabby—wouldn't want to embarrass Myrdal.
Love, Taisia.]