Chapter 6

The first time Lisette came face-to-face with Maverick after being reborn, her hatred almost boiled over. Her body tensed up, nerves stretched thin. It took everything not to break character.

Yeah, it was tough, but she managed to pull off step one of her plan without a hitch. Now came the waiting game - waiting for Maverick to realize he'd been played, lose his cool, and slip up.

Lisette let out a long sigh as she wired three hundred million to Scarlett, who had fronted some of her investment. The rest-two hundred million - was all funneled into VistaSphere.

"Still not enough," Lisette muttered. With several projects about to roll out, the spending was just getting started.

Slouching deeper into her chair, her brows pinched in thought.

She'd roped Tobias into this because he had the brains and the connections. She swore to him this was a surefire win. And while she had no doubt about the project itself, no matter how good the idea was, underfunded projects went nowhere real fast.

She couldn't just expect Tobias to keep dumping money in while she sat back with her feet up. She tugged at her chin, thinking, "Gotta figure out a way to make money."

For the next two days, Lisette holed up in her room, tossing around ideas until Elliot's call finally broke her out of her bubble. "Ma'am, the boss's flight lands in Veridia in an hour. Want to pick him up?"

"Mr. Deep Pockets is finally here?" Lisette perked right up like someone flipped her switch.

After stepping into the investment world, she'd quickly learned how insanely good Tobias was at this. The man turned every bet into gold - seriously, the guy had never lost.

He multiplied the Hastings fortune nearly tenfold and became the wealthiest man - all before he hit thirty. And now, she had a million questions lined up waiting for his answers. His timing couldn't be better.

"Oh yes, I'm heading out now!"

Lisette was so pumped that she nearly startled Elliot on the other end.

He couldn't help but wonder... had the boss really not been able to hold back while in Albion? Was that why Mrs. Hastings suddenly seemed so... eager? She had been all cold and distant before, and now this?

His mind instantly went there: Desire. Major thirst vibes.

"Yup. She's totally not getting enough."

An hour later, just when Elliot thought things couldn't get weirder -

"Tobias, any chance I could steal you tonight? I've got a few things I'd like to go over with you... somewhere private."

Lisette's smile was pure sunshine. The golden light painted her fair skin with a hint of pink. Her lashes curled dark and thick, and when she smiled, her eyes lifted just right. Beautiful didn't quite cut it - she was downright radiant.

Elliot stood frozen. Okay... wow. 'Mrs. Hastings, could you at least... pretend to be low-key?' he thought, glancing at the crowd around them.

Yeah. Sure, he got it. Ten days apart? No surprise she looked ready to pounce. But seriously, lady, save the flirty banter for behind closed doors!

A quick look around...

All the other assistants and bodyguards wore the same silent, poker-faced 'we-didn't-hear-that' expressions. The awkward tension was real. Like, you could slice the air with a knife.

Tobias simply gave a calm nod. "I'm free tonight."

"Perfect!" Grinning, Lisette tugged gently at his sleeve, practically bouncing with anticipation.

Tobias looked down at her.

His gaze slid from her face to the hand gripping his coat. Her pale, slender fingers stood out starkly against the dark fabric, the contrast drawing a faint softness to his typically frosty face.

Lisette hummed contentedly as they walked, chatting away. "All done with your work in Albion?"

"Yeah."

As usual, short, to the point. Classic Tobias.

Lisette didn't feel awkward at all. She was naturally chatty around people she liked. Tobias just happened to fall into that rare "okay" category for her - business partner, and surprisingly, someone who could actually unpack her confusion and help her figure out ways to rake in some cash.

"Every time you go abroad, it's like a month at least, sometimes over three. But this trip? What, like twenty days tops?"

Tobias glanced up, his eyes meeting hers. Her expression was bright, features striking. Her almond-shaped eyes sparkled, almost like they were telling you a secret story just by blinking.

He paused slightly, then replied, "Eighteen."

"Mr. Hastings, you've totally set a new personal record!"

Lisette remembered the couple of days they'd overlapped in Albion - could barely clock two hours of actual face time. She clicked her tongue. "Guess your schedule's nuts this year, huh? Moving that fast? Most people do a nine-to-five - you make it feel like you're clocked in 24/7.

"Always out the door before sunrise, home past midnight... Seriously, I've never seen a CEO work as hard as you!"

Elliot and the rest of the assistants and security following behind: 'Ma'am, you've captured exactly what we've been wanting to scream! Keep going! We all need your divine intervention if we ever want to date again!'

Maybe Lisette caught their thought-beams, because she didn't miss a beat. "My dad runs a big company too, but even he finds time to chill-tea parties, chess matches, golf rounds, random shopping trips abroad with my mom...

"You can grind all you want, but dude - take a breather now and then. Or you're gonna burn out."

Tobias kept that same unreadable look. Clearly not interested in this topic. A little pout tugged at Lisette's lips.

"How long are you staying in Veridia?"

He actually had to think about it before answering. "Probably until the end of the year."

"Probably?"

That was the first time Lisette had ever heard him sound unsure about anything.

Before she could push further, Tobias suddenly dropped, "I'll start coming home earlier."

Lisette was confused.

Hold up, come again???

"Amber, this way!"

"Amber, we love you!"

The sudden shrieks of excited fans yanked Lisette out of her confusion. She looked over to the commotion.

Amber West was waltzing through the airport, shielded by her manager Eric West and a ring of four bodyguards who were basically cutting off the flood of admirers trying to get closer.

Eric kept moving but still managed to smile and speak: "Thank you all for supporting Amber."

Fans shouted with teary eyes, "Amber, we'll always stand by you!"

Amber didn't even bother with shades today. Her innocent doll face was glowing, eyes brimming with tears. "Thank you all for loving me so much. I'll work even harder to give you more amazing work."

"Don't cry, Amber!"

"Keep slaying, Amber!"

Cue the dramatic airport farewell between the "beloved celeb" and her ride-or-die fan club.

The scene drew loads of attention. Even folks who didn't recognize which starlet it was took out their phones to snap pics and post on Twitter.

Lisette's gaze hardened as she watched. It was like cracks splintered across her line of sight.

That voice - that was the same one she heard before she died.

Amber.

She'd been at the crime scene. Maverick hadn't even bothered hiding her presence, which said everything about how close they were.

Amber knew about Maverick's plan all along, but still played her role as the innocent bestie to the hilt, clinging to Lisette like nothing was wrong. There was a strong chance Amber had a hand in the fall of the Cavendish family.

Lisette added another name to her revenge list.

Tobias noticed the chill radiating off her and gently hooked her cold fingers with his. "What's wrong?"

Snapping out of her thoughts, Lisette cast a cold glance at Amber putting on a show. "She's literally paying for fake hype. Must've realized she's not popular enough - shameless and not even worried about getting exposed."

"Pfft."

A junior assistant beside Elliot couldn't hold back a laugh.

Not seeing any disapproval from Elliot or Tobias, he risked asking, "Mrs. Hastings, how could you tell her fans were fake?"

He glanced over again but still didn't see the trick. "The crowd looks so into it. Feels like real fans being all starry-eyed."

Lisette turned away, like the sight offended her. "Unless the artist's itinerary was leaked on purpose, where'd those 'fans' even get the info?

"You might argue some fans have connections or staff might spill info now and then, like a perk for fans. But look at how airport fashion's blown up lately - have you seen any celeb treat it like a red-carpet event? At least put on a hat, a mask, or some sunglasses, right?

"Sure, we all know most airport shots are staged, but if you don't even pretend? That's just asking to be called out."

The assistant's eyes widened. "So she came in with her manager and bodyguards all high-key, face wide open - guess she was worried her hired crowd wouldn't recognize her and ruin the plan?"

As they spoke, both groups met at the terminal entrance.

At the front, Lisette locked eyes with Amber.

Amber's brows lifted in surprise. "Lisette? What are the odds! Small world!"

Her gaze quickly shifted - to Tobias.

Whoa. That face?! Even hotter than Maverick!

She blinked, dumbstruck, then asked, "And he is...?"

Lisette noticed Tobias had somehow taken her hand. His palm was broad and calloused but warm - it cut through the icy chill clinging to her.

She looked up at him. He looked as cold as ever - lips in a straight line, jaw tense, carrying that intimidating, back-off pressure like a walking firewall.

Sensing her gaze, Tobias looked down at her. There was no softness in his expression, but it gave her a quiet sort of strength. Her heart gave a little twitch.

Lisette laced her fingers with his and smiled. "My husband."

Amber's eyes twitched. What???

He's the billionaire Tobias?

Wha-!?

That man whose Twitter tag [Billionaire Looks] has been trending forever?

The same billionaire whose company released that cold press statement about refusing all interviews?

Everyone figured he stayed out of sight 'cause he must be horrifically ugly, didn't wanna tank his empire's public image. Amber thought so too - and that's why she used to look down on Lisette.

Please. So what if you're the Cavendish heiress? Married to a billionaire? Bet he's hideous, and you've got to suck it up and pretend like it's all roses while barely managing not to gag over lunch.

But reality... Her worldview just shattered.

This billionaire was not only not ugly - he was drop-dead gorgeous. One glance and he was seared into her memory.

And that's the guy Lisette wants to walk away from?

Has she lost it?!