Chapter 15 Pawn in the game
Chapter 23
Victoria's POV
We pulled up to the address Jaxon had given me, and my stomach twisted at the sight before me. The house stood in stark contrast to the life I was used to—its peeling paint, overgrown weeds, and the general air of neglect made it look like a relic from a different era. This wasn’t just an ordinary house; it was a symbol of everything I was trying to escape, a reminder of the kind of life I had no interest in leading. Jaxon parked the car, and we sat in silence, waiting for Alex to emerge.
Minutes felt like hours as the tension in the car thickened. I could feel Jaxon’s gaze darting between the house and me, his concern palpable.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, I saw a figure step out of the house. Jaxon honked the horn, the sound piercing the stillness like a gunshot. The young man who had been inside hesitated, his brow furrowed with confusion as he ambled over, taking his time as if weighing the risks.
“Alex?” I greeted him with a smile, trying to project warmth.
“Yes?” he replied, his expression a mixture of surprise and suspicion. I could see the gears turning in his mind, trying to piece together this unexpected encounter.
“Can we talk?” I gestured for him to join me in the back seat of my car, wanting to keep our conversation private. The cramped space felt stifling, but it was necessary.
As we settled in, Jaxon remained outside. I could sense the walls Alex had built around himself; he leaned back, studying me closely, as though he were trying to decipher a riddle.
“Sorry, have we met before? You look familiar,” he said, a note of uncertainty in his voice.
He had probably seen me on the news. The scandal had been all over, and my face had become a symbol of betrayal and heartbreak.
“No,” I replied, shaking my head. “But I know someone you know.” I leaned in slightly, gauging his reaction, hoping to ignite that flicker of curiosity I had seen earlier.
“Really? Who?” His tone shifted, and I could see a spark of intrigue ignite in his eyes.
“Sophie stole my fiancée,” I said, feigning hurt, hoping to provoke a reaction. This was the moment I had planned for, the opening I needed to draw him in.
“What do you mean?” His brow furrowed deeper, the confusion evident as he tried to connect the dots.
“Did you not receive any envelope?” I asked, tilting my head as I watched his expression shift.
“How do you know? Did...you send it?” he asked, disbelief coloring his tone.
“Yes,” I confirmed, my voice steady. “Sophie went ahead and stole my fiancée because he’s rich. She made a choice, and I’m here to make sure she understands the consequences.”
Alex laughed—a harsh, mocking sound that shot through me like an arrow. "I guess a rich girl is upset because someone stole her man," he said sarcastically. "So what do you expect me to do? Small fishes are smart these days. They know they’ll only suffer in whales' fights... Are you kidding me? What do you expect me to do? Damn it! You just wasted my time." With that, he opened the car door and stepped out, frustration radiating from him like heat from a flame. This was not what I expected.
I could hear him mumbling to himself, "Where am I? Why did I follow her here?" He turned, glancing around as if trying to make sense of it all.
I stepped out of the car, my voice rising to meet him. “People who think like you live as shrimp all their lives. Especially you—a weak little fish who doesn’t know how vast and deep the ocean is.”
He advanced toward me, his frustration boiling over. With a swift motion, he pushed me against the car, the cold metal biting into my back. “How dare you? You little roach.”
“Then live like a loser for the rest of your life," I shot back, refusing to back down. "Keep wondering why nothing goes your way. You don’t have a job, a house—nothing you can call your own. Even the old woman in your house is cheating on you.”
“Watch your mouth!” he shouted, his voice echoing in the empty street, and before I could react, he spat in my face. The act was shocking, but it only fueled my resolve.
I laughed, wiping my face with the back of my hand as he released me. “Don’t be just a small fish that bites; be a small fish that can beat a whale. Do you really think Sophie is the only one whose life can change overnight?”
“But why did you come to me?” His tone softened, a hint of vulnerability breaking through the anger. I could see the walls beginning to crack, and I seized the moment.
“Because I’m furious. She’s living well after stealing my man. It’s unfair, and people like me can’t stand feeling cheated. I’m here to blow off steam, and maybe, if I’m lucky, get a piece of the Blackwood Empire. You, on the other hand, get to punish the woman who betrayed you and changed your life forever.”
“What do I have to do?” His voice was almost a whisper now, intrigued yet hesitant, like a moth drawn to a flame.
“Well…” I leaned closer, lowering my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I’ll tell you if you’ve made up your mind, little fish.”
With a nod, I turned and climbed back into the car, my heart racing with a mix of adrenaline and anticipation. I could see Alex standing there, the gears in his mind turning, processing everything I had said. Jaxon glanced at me, his brow raised in question, but I simply nodded, and he gave Alex my business card before entering the car.
The tension in the air was palpable, and I could feel the weight of what had just transpired. I didn’t know if I had gone too far or if I had ignited a spark that could work in my favor.
As Jaxon navigated the streets in silence, the soft hum of the engine and the distant city noises filled the air. I stared out the window, lost in thought, my mind racing with possibilities.
I thought about Sophie, her smug face and the way she had flaunted her victory. Would Alex ally with me? Would he find the strength to rise above the situation instead of wallowing in self-pity?
The car turned a corner, and I caught a glimpse of skyscrapers piercing the sky, a stark reminder of the world I inhabited. I was determined to reclaim what was rightfully mine.
My thoughts drifted back to the conversation. I had pushed him, prodded him, and now I needed to see if he would respond. Maybe he was more than just a weak shrimp. Perhaps he had the potential to be something greater—an ally in my quest for vengeance.
With a newfound sense of purpose, I decided it was time to lay my cards on the table. Alex would just be a pawn in my game. He didn’t have a choice but to come to me.