It's been over a year now. Nineteen months, to be precise, since Diana had watched her father being murdered by Antonia and her daughter and framed for his murder. Nineteen months after she discovered her beloved husband, Gabe had been having an affair with her step-sister and had married her solely so they could get their hands on the Tate fortune. Her fortune.
Diana had watched them, live their lives like nothing had happened, like they hadn't killed her father or ruined her life and the lives of so many before her. Well, now she was back and was nothing like the Diana Tate they once knew. After a year of settling into her new identity, and making necessary plans needed for her revenge,
she has returned with a new identity and a sole purpose.
She was now Scarlett Johnson, fiancee of the almighty Killian Blackford. Killian and Scarlett announced their engagement a few months ago, but almost no one had any idea who Killian's fiancee was and how she looked.
Killian had done the necessary papers to adopt little Ava as his daughter. And that was something Scarlett wholeheartedly agreed with. Ava had been through a lot; even at an early age, she was not spared from Antonia's evil.
Scarlett kept swimming in the pool. It was at the peak of midnight, and as usual, the pool was quiet and closed for the night. There shouldn't be a single soul around, but yet she could feel the lingering presence that blended with the night.
He'd been there since the second she dived into the pool in nothing but her red bikini swimsuit, and him still being there only meant one thing. She'd caught the interest of her ex-husband, Gabe Patterson.
It'd been just a short time, a year and seven months since she'd last been this close to him. Since she discovered his betrayal, so many things have changed. Gabe got what he wanted, he was now the president of the Tate Group, and Emily was the vice president, living their lives like nothing happened.
Throughout the months, she’d managed to gather incriminating evidence against Gabe; even with all the wealth he had, he was still stealing the company's money, channeling it into the paper company he had created where he laundered money. And Emily wasn't left out as well; the best PIs she hired had found some dirt on Emily as well. That alone was enough to put them behind bars for a few good years, but that wasn't enough. So far she couldn't find anything that could tie them and Antonia to her murder or that of her father.
The only way she could break all of them was from the inside, and Gabe was going to help her.
Nothing had changed between him and Emily, they were still secret lovers and that was surprising because, with the way Gabe had rushed the divorce, she was almost certain they'd be married by now. It was satisfying to find out her husband hadn't changed. He was still a cheating bastard who went after anything wearing a skirt. And that would just be his downfall.
Scarlett had her eyes on him from the second he checked into one of the private suites in Royale hotel, with his whore for the night. It was New York's best hotel and one of the many hotels that belonged to Killian.
Scarlett got out of the pool and was about to pick up her robe when she heard the sound of silent footfalls behind her. She turned around just in time to see the figure step out of the darkness.
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you,” She heard Gabe's familiar voice as he took more steps closer. “I was just taking a midnight walk and then…”
“And then, you decided to spy on me?” Scarlett's voice held a little anger, meeting the eyes of the man who had once meant everything to her.
“No. I didn't. I just saw a beautiful goddess taking a swim, and I couldn't look away. I know it was wrong, but I just couldn't look away… you are very beautiful,” He paused, looking almost flustered for a second, but Scarlett could tell it was just an act.
Scarlett rolled her eyes, fastening her robe on her body. “This part of the pool is closed off for guests at midnight, everyone knows that I suggest you remember that in the future because next time I won't be this forgiving,”
She picked up her phone and a few belongings from the pool chair and turned to leave.
“Once again, I'm sorry. And I really don't want you to have a bad impression of me. So can we forget what just happened and start afresh? I'm Gabe Patterson, owner of Tate Group,” He smiled at her. Scarlett no doubt knew he thought sounded charming as he introduced himself confidently, too confidently, as if expecting her to fall to his feet.
Well, the truth was, any woman would. Tate Group was one of the most powerful leading companies in the corporate world, and everyone knew it.
Scarlett knew exactly what he was expecting, after all, that charming smile and the proclaimed title of the owner of Tate Group was exactly what got women into his bed. Well, except her.
She looked straight into his eyes, raising a brow. “I don't care who you are, Gale Peterson,”
“Gabe Patterson—”
“I still don't care. Do me a favor, and don't appear before me again,”
His lips parted in shock. He probably didn't expect that from any woman. Gabe was an egoistic asshole, and she wondered why she couldn't see that before.
Without waiting for his response, she continued walking away.
“Wait,” He tried to grab her hand, but before he could, a suited man stepped out of the darkness, pulling out a gun and training it on Gabe.
“It's okay Trey. This man lost his way, and now he's walking in the opposite direction, aren't you?” Scarlett said, eyes on Gabe whose shock hadn't vanished from his face.
He glanced at the bodyguard and then at the beautiful woman he'd just met, taking a step back. “As you wish, my goddess,” He muttered with a smile. “I guess I'll just see you around, then,”
Without responding, Scarlett kept walking using one of the private back doors into the hotel.
She knew she'd definitely be seeing him tomorrow night at the exhibition in her new museum. Over the past year, she joined Ford Empire Group and also made a name for herself, being a famous artist.
Everyone who meant anything in the business world would be there. And Gabe and Emily weren't an exception. She was secretly hoping Antonia Saunders would be there as well, even knowing the sly fox was currently in Spain and was in talks for her fourth marriage.
Regardless, neither Gabe nor Emily could ever be prepared for what awaited them tomorrow night. But Scarlett knew one thing for sure, there was no way Gabe would be getting any sleep. At least not without dreaming of her.
