Cold and Calculating

**Petros**

One week before the wedding, I was gearing up for yet another strategic move. The dinner hosted by Plínio Albuquerque had all the makings of another predictable round in this theater of alliances and appearances. What I hadn’t expected was to see Thomas and Vincent among the guests.

I was well aware of their long-standing friendship with the Albuquerques, but considering what had happened between Vincent and Liandra, I’d assumed they would keep their distance.

The night was warm, and the restaurant reserved for the event exuded sophistication. When I arrived with my parents, I spotted Liandra standing beside Plínio and Júlia, the three of them forming the perfect image of a united family.

Liandra looked especially stunning, her lilac silk dress hugging her curves in an understated yet elegant way. But what caught my attention most was the look she gave me. It wasn’t welcoming but brimming with restrained irritation.

Ah, yes. She expected me to arrive earlier, to stand beside her and greet the guests like a devoted fiancé. But I had my reasons. I deliberately chose to arrive with my parents, fashionably late, knowing exactly how it would affect her.

After the formal greetings, dinner began to unfold smoothly. My parents were perfectly at ease, as always, and Plínio appeared radiant, though his expression betrayed a faint nervousness. Perhaps he understood that all of this pomp was to salvage his reputation and, more importantly, his fortune.

When I finally managed to catch Liandra alone, she wasted no time.

"I thought it would be obvious that we should greet the guests together, Petros. Or am I mistaken?" Her voice was low, but the sharp tone left no doubt about her displeasure.

I smiled, unhurried. "You know I enjoy surprises, Liandra. Besides, my parents deserved their moment of entrance. We’re all here for the same reason, aren’t we?"

She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. "You know perfectly well this isn’t about them. It’s about us, or at least it’s supposed to appear that way."

I observed her for a moment—the stiffness in her shoulders, the way her fingers gripped the hem of her dress. She looked like she was on the verge of snapping, yet she held every emotion in check with admirable strength.

I stepped closer, closing the space between us. Not to intimidate, but to ensure my words were for her ears only.

"Why so tense?" I asked, letting a cynical edge creep into my tone. "Or is it that you haven’t been getting laid lately?"

She turned to me, her gaze sharp enough to set forests ablaze.

"You know perfectly well we haven’t slept together since we got engaged."

I smirked, my tone provocative. Liandra always could meet me head-on, even knowing I controlled the board.

"That’s easy to resolve, Liandra. You just need to decide what you want."

She raised an eyebrow, her expression a mix of surprise and suspicion.

"Decide what?"

I leaned in slightly, closing the distance between us.

"The path is simple. You have two options."

Her brow furrowed as if trying to anticipate where I was going with this, but I didn’t give her the chance to ask.

"Option one: you accept the marriage and the life I’m offering you as my wife. No intimacy, no illusions of romance. You’ll have security, status, and the salvation of your father’s business."

She held her breath, but I pressed on, relentlessly.

"Option two: we go back to what we had before. Something purely based on passion, with no financial transactions involved."

Her expression was a storm of shock and indignation. Her eyes locked onto mine as if I’d just committed the ultimate offense.

"Is this some kind of punishment?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

I let out a low, humorless laugh.

"Punishment? Why, Liandra? Would living a life without feelings be punishment for you?"

Her eyes began to glisten, and her lips quivered as she responded, almost in a whisper:

"I want everything."

My brow furrowed slightly.

"Everything?"

She took a deep breath as if mustering the courage to speak was the greatest challenge she’d ever faced.

"I want you, Petros. But I also want to save my family."

For a moment, my heart faltered in its rhythm. But I couldn’t let it show.

"You have to choose," I declared sharply.

She averted her gaze, looking out at the illuminated city as if it could provide an answer. The silence between us was heavy, laden with unspoken meaning. I wasn’t willing to relent, and she knew it.

Liandra remained quiet, but I could see the impact of my words. She was hurt, yes, but that wasn’t what caught my attention. It was the fact that, for the first time, she seemed truly lost.

"You’re being cruel, yet again, Petros." Her voice was steady, but I noticed the tremor in her hands. "We’re about to get married. Backing out now would devastate my father. He’s counting on the financial support you promised."

"The decision is in your hands, Liandra, not mine."

She turned her gaze toward the room, her eyes landing on her parents. The anguish was almost tangible on her face. For a moment, I thought she might try to argue, but no sound came from her mouth. Instead, she stood there, frozen, as though the weight of the world had settled on her shoulders.

I didn’t intend to leave room for hesitation. Not now.

"Think carefully," I added, letting the coldness in my voice fill the silence.

I left Liandra there, alone in her turmoil, and walked over to where my brothers were gathered in a relaxed group next to Jennifer. It wasn’t by chance that I chose that moment to join them.

"So, what’s the topic of conversation here?" I asked casually, approaching Nikos and Demetrius. Jennifer stood between them, holding a glass of wine, and turned to greet me with a warm smile.

I made sure to insert myself into the conversation, tossing out lighthearted and witty comments that drew a few laughs from Jennifer. I knew exactly the effect it would have.

Liandra might not have been close enough to hear what we were saying, but she could certainly see the scene from where she stood. Jennifer was a figure that unsettled her, even if she’d never admit it. She was my former secretary, a woman who knew many of my secrets and, above all, someone Liandra was aware of because of our past sexual involvement.

"Jennifer, you look stunning tonight," I remarked, letting my voice carry a hint of provocation. She responded with a smile, clearly enjoying the game.

My brothers exchanged glances but said nothing. They knew exactly what I was doing. It was a calculated move, like every other.