Elise's pov

We returned to the table separately after that.

My eyes drifted to the couple of the year, Marcus eyes were already on me making me look away.

"Lucian, I am a bit offended that you never told us that Sebastian Deluca is your son." My father said, "After all our years of friendship, you sly dog."

Mr Grey chuckled but it sounded strained. "I didn't mean to but... it's a bit complicated. Do accept my apologies, Mark."

My father clamped his hand on his shoulder. "It's fine, my friend. So, why is he back here after all these years?"

Mr Grey exchanged a look with his wife then said, "Sebastian is here because he wants to open a branch of his company in New York."

"What?" Marcus exploded, shooting to his feet. "Why am I just hearing about this? And I never agreed to this."

"Calm down son."

"Don't tell me to calm down!" He snapped. "New York is my territory, London is his. We all had an agreement to never cross paths so what the fuck is going on?"

"Enough!" Mr Grey snapped.

A low chuckle came from Sebastian, making Marcus shoot him a glare. "Come on, baby brother. Territory? Are we five." Sebastian said, amused. "This is all business and times have changed."

"Shut it." Marcus snapped.

The relaxed aura from Sebastian turned to something deadly that made the hairs on my arm stand. "Careful, Marcus."

I saw Marcus swallow and look away briefly. What was that?

Then suddenly it clicked in my head why Sebastian's name was so familiar. I couldn't believe that I hadn't noticed it initially.

Sebastian Deluca was the CEO of freedom tech.

The third Largest tech company in the entire world. He was on every article in Forbes, business insider, New York times and the entire tech world has been raving about him for years.

"The prodigy of England's tech revolution." "The man who rivaled Silicon Valley before thirty."

And yet I... I had mistaken him for a staff.

Somebody kill me now. My face turned red in embarrassment as my mind replayed our discussion and even how I had gone as far as telling him not to sneak into "higher up" residence.

Who dug this pit for me? I was about to fall inside. I just wanted to vanish because the humiliation was eating me up.

I managed to sneak a peak and he was already looking at me.

No, fuck. Big mistake.

He shot me a wink and his smirk widened.

Something about that combo was lethal and made my stomach flip so I looked away and focused on Marcus instead.

"New York is mine, Deluca." Marcus spat. "My life, my company, my client, my people. You can't just swoop in here and plant your flag like you belong."

"Belong?" Sebastian said the word like it was foreign, an amused look on his face. "It seems you have forgotten that I am Sebastian Deluca, brother. Whether you like it or not, I belong wherever I decide to be and there's nothing you can do about that."

I sucked in a sharp breath. I have known Marcus for years and if there's one thing he hates it's things being out of his control. A new piece was on the cheeseboard that he didn't approve of, it was unraveling him.

"Don't fucking test me." Marcus said through gritted teeth, pointing a finger at Sebastian. "You've been out of this family for years, remember your place and don't think you can crawl back now and play king in my city."

Sebastian laughed. A deep belly laugh like Marcus had just cracked the joke of the century. "You know I am not doing this for your precious little inheritance or family name."

Yup, there was something deep about this family that I didn't know about.

"If you were actually half the CEO you pretend to be then you won't be afraid of a little competition. Or can't you stand against me without father's influence?"

Even the air went still.

Victoria, who always looked smug, shifted uncomfortably in her chair. I noticed Mr and Mrs Grey exchange a tense look. My family and I simply sat back and watched something dangerous unfold.

That's when it hit me

This wasn't just rivalry. This wasn't just about New York.

This was a family war.

A memory suddenly crept in. I was eight at the time and had slept over at the Greys' mansion. I couldn't sleep for some reason so I wandered down the hall barefoot looking for only God knows what.

Then I heard hushed voices from Mr Grey's study.

Curious, I paused to listen.

"...he's disgraced us enough. He's no longer part of this family."

"...he'll ruin everything if we let him stay..."

"...our other son will carry the legacy. The right son."

Back then I didn't understand what or who they were talking about because Marcus was the only son I knew. I chalked it off as me mishearing them or maybe I had just dreamt about it.

But now, sitting in the middle of the tension between this family, I realized that it was a dream and the son they had spoken about was real.

Sebastian was that son. The one they had erased and now he was back.

Why had Sebastian been erased in the first place? Why keep him hidden all these years? And more importantly, why come back now?

Marcus' voice snapped me back to the present. "Stay out of my way, Sebastian. I'm warning you."

Sebastian leaned forward, eyes locked on Marcus. "Try and stop me."

A chill ran down my spine.

Mr. Grey coughed awkwardly. Mrs. Grey plastered on a fake smile, trying to steer the dinner back on track, but it was useless. The storm had already been unleashed.

If Sebastian was this powerful and successful, then why had he stayed in the shadows for so long? Why New York, of all places? Why now, at the exact moment Marcus decided to propose to Victoria?

There were too many questions and secrets.

Marcus threw his napkin down and stormed away from the table, Victoria immediately getting up and following at his heels with a huff.

The tension reduced slightly but it was still there.

Then Sebastian turned to me and I felt my heart stop. He slowly leaned close to me, my heart started again and raced wildly.

What's he doing? Stop, damnit! I wanted to scream but my tongue felt heavy like lead.

"I'll be in touch." He whispered.

I blinked. "What?"

He rose from his chair, stretching lazily. His lips tilted into that maddening smirk again. "When I need you. You'll know."

And just like that, he walked away.

As I watched the mysterious, tattoo covered man walk away I couldn't shake off the feeling that from here on out, things were going to be different.

I just didn't know whether it was going to be good or bad yet.

Elise's pov

Not long after that I told everyone that I needed to go to bed early so as not to miss my flight the next day. My mom made me promise to come to home next week once I was back in New York for a family dinner.

Marcus didn't even spare me a glance after he returned to the table, it stung but I said nothing.

As I walked out of the hotel I heard someone call out, "wait!"

Turning, I saw my sister running towards me in way too high heels that made me wonder how she hadn't face planted into the floor yet. I waited until she was close to me before speaking, "what's up?"

She held up a hand silently telling me to wait for her to catch a breath which I did. Finally she spoke, "I'm coming to your hotel with you."

"Why?"

"Because..." she frantically searched for an answer then blurted out. "I didn't book a hotel."

I raised an eyebrow that said. Really? Is that the best you could come up with?

She winched.

I shot her a deadpan look before turning and walking away. "Good night, Olive."

"Wait." She grabbed my wrist with a sheepish expression. "You see..."

I knew why she was here. She's the only member of my family who knows how I feel towards Marcus and she probably wants to keep an eye on me so I don't spiral but honestly, right now I wanted to be alone.

"Just leave me be for tonight, Olive." A tired sigh escaped me.

"Oh, Eli." She said more softly this time. "I know that tonight must have been... hard."

It was but hearing her say it made it even worse. I was barely keeping up my facade and the last thing I needed was to breakdown in the hotel parking lot.

"It was," I admitted quietly, my voice cracking despite my best efforts. I looked away, blinking fast so the tears didn't spill again.

Olive stepped closer and playfully bumped her shoulder against mine. "Which is exactly why I'm not letting you go back there alone so that you'll sit in that room, mope, probably cry yourself sick and eat a depressing minibar Snickers. You need me."

I let out a small, humorless laugh. "You're unbelievable. This isn't about you babysitting me, Olive. I'll be fine."

She tilted her head, lips quirking. "You're the least convincing liar I know. You weren't fine when you failed your driver's test the first time, you weren't fine when Netflix canceled your favorite show, and you sure as hell aren't fine right now."

I glared at her but she wasn't wrong.

"And," she added with a dramatic spin, "what kind of sister would I be if I didn't swoop in during your heartbreak and supply ice cream, tissues, and brutal honesty? Hm?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Or maybe you just didn't book a hotel and now you're guilt-tripping me."

Olive grinned, caught red-handed. "Two birds, one stone."

I rolled my eyes and started walking again. "You're impossible."

"And you love me," she sang, struggling to keep up in those ridiculous heels.

"I tolerate you," I muttered, though the corner of my mouth betrayed me with a twitch.

She bumped her shoulder against mine again. "Close enough. So, roommate?"

I slowed down, pulling out my phone to order an Uber. A long tired sigh slipped out of me, I wanted space, but she wasn't going to let up and maybe, deep down, I didn't want to be completely alone tonight.

"Fine," I sighed at last.

Olive lit up, looping her arm through mine like she'd just won a trophy. "Knew you'd see reason. Now, about that minibar Snickers-dibs."

I groaned, but I couldn't stop the small smile tugging at my lips as we waited.

****

Soon, we were in an Uber heading back to my hotel simply staring out the window as the city of LA glittered as we drove past.

Olive was furiously texting her PA on her phone because something urgent had come up that she needed a moment to handle.

I didn't mind the silence, in fact I welcomed it.

As soon as we got into my hotel room, I slammed the door shut and pressed my back against it. Chest heaving like I had run a marathon which in a way I had but it was a marathon of feeling.

My heels clattered as I kicked them away along side my purse and then it all came crashing down as I drew my knees up to my chest and buried my head in it.

My shoulders shook with silent sobs breaking through the cracks of the facade I had forced myself to put up all night.

I didn't care that olive stood over me watching me break down. I just needed to let it out.

My eyes burned, ugly tears leaving streaks through the perfect makeup I had done just for him.

God, Marcus.

My chest ached as though someone had shoved a fist right through it and ripped out my heart. How many years had I loved him? Since childhood, since those summer nights when we lay under the stars and whispered promises to each othee. He was always my forever, even when he never said it back. I gave him everything-my loyalty, my time and even my career. I turned down my father's company, my birthright, to stand by him. To be close to him.

And for what?

To stand in that room like a fool, watching as the words I had prayed to hear my whole life-Will you marry me-were meant for someone else.

For Victoria.

The images from today would forever be engraved in my mind. The way she squealed in joy and kisses him, the sparkle of the ring under the chandelier, the way Marcus looked at her like she was the only person in the room. Like she was his entire world.

Another ugly sob escaped me as I clutched my dress tightly as if holding it would keep me from falling apart completely.

All I had ever wanted was to be loved by him. Was that too much to ask? Was I so unworthy that the one person I devoted my life to couldn't even see me?

I curled into myself, wrapping my arms around myself to be small like the little girl I used to be.

I just wished I could disappear.

I felt Olive kneel in front of me. I didn't even life my bad because I just wanted the world to leave me alone.

"Eli..." she whispered hesitantly.

She didn't rush me. She didn't say anything at first. She simply came and sat beside me on the floor, her presence a silent comfort. I broke again, collapsing sideways until my face pressed against her shoulder, my tears soaking her dress. She wrapped her arms around me, stroking my hair gently the way she used to when I was a little girl scared of thunderstorms.

"I've got you," she murmured, voice soft even though I could hear the ache in it. "Let it out."

So I did. I cried until I was empty, until the sobs slowed into hiccups and my body didn't shake anymore. Olive held me through it all and for the first time all night, I didn't feel completely alone.

"You're stronger than this, Eli," she said softly when my breathing finally steadied. "Marcus was never your forever. He just borrowed your heart for too long."

An empty, shaky, bitter laugh escaped from me. "You make it sound so simple."

"It isn't simple. But it's true." She tilted her head as I looked up at her. Suddenly, a teasing look got into her eyes that made me know that whatever she was about to say next would be absurd. "Besides... maybe your forever doesn't look like Marcus."

I frowned at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, come on." She gave me a smug little smile. "You can't tell me you didn't notice the way Sebastian looked at you tonight."

Of course that's where she's going.

Heat rushed to my face instantly. "Olive, no. Don't-"

She gasped theatrically. "You did notice!"

I buried my face in my hands. "He was just... curious. Maybe wondering why his little brother's awkward best friend was still hanging around with a sad look on her face."

"Mmhm. Sure." Olive poked me in the side until I swatted at her. "That man wasn't curious. He was... invested. Like he could see right through you maybe he also wanted to be inside you, you know?" She wiggled her eyebrow suggestively, making me pinch her.

"Ouch!" She squeaked, laughing. "And don't think I missed that blush when he winked at you."

"Olive." I groaned, but her laughter eased something heavy inside me. She always knew how to break the tension, even when I swore I hated her for it.

"Fine, fine," she said, patting my knee. "But seriously don't you think it's weird? The whole mysterious-brother thing? He shows up out of nowhere, Marcus freaks out, and then he drops that little bomb about staying in New York?"

I sighed, sitting up straighter. "I've been wondering the same thing. He doesn't need to be here, he's already one of the biggest CEOs in the world. So why come back now?"

"You know what time it is?" She said excitedly clapping her hands.

I rolled my eyes but smiled nevertheless because she was about to say something we came up with as kids.

"Oli-eli investigation time!" She announced throwing her hands up making me laugh at her antics.

"You're right." I said getting up and walking to my desk. "Come on."

Something definitely wasn't adding up and it ate away at me as I grabbed my laptop from my desk. Olive scooted closer, propping her chin on my shoulder as I typed in his name: Sebastian Deluca.

The results filled the screen instantly, article after article, headline after headline. Each one made my mouth fall open wider.

"Holy crap," Olive whispered. "He's... huge."

He was more than huge. He was untouchable.

A mogul who had built an empire across Europe, leading in artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and medical tech. His name appeared alongside Bill Gates and Elon Musk. There were pictures of him shaking hands with Gates, standing beside Obama, even one with the North Korean president.

"Marcus looks like a kid playing CEO next to this," Olive muttered.

My stomach twisted. She was right. Compared to Sebastian, Marcus seemed... ordinary.

So why? Why was a man who already owned half the world be so determined to return to New York?

I went deeper, searching for anything that might explain it. But the further I went, the more obvious it became: his private life was a mystery. No spouse, no exes, no family ties. Nothing but a carefully curated public image.

"He's good at hiding things," I whispered.

Olive nudged me with her shoulder. "Or maybe he just doesn't want nosy sisters like us digging into his love life."

I rolled my eyes, but her teasing couldn't distract me from the unease in my chest. Sebastian Deluca was a ghost, a man who let the world see only what he allowed. And now, for reasons I couldn't yet understand, he was here and I am now involved with him due to a deal I had made on a rollercoaster of emotions.

"Okay, enough." I shut the laptop with a snap, pressing it to my chest.

Olive leaned against me, sighing. "So? What do you think?"

I stared at the ceiling, Sebastian's smirk playing my mind and the fact that I had shook hands with a man who might be either the devil or an angel but only time would tell.

"I think..." My whisper was barely audible, even to myself. "Why are you back, Sebastian Deluca?"