Chapter 3 A Proposal in Disguise
The clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation filled the grand dining hall of the De Laurent estate. Lila could hear the activity from her room, the sound grating against her nerves. She had avoided her father all morning, still stinging from his earlier reprimand.
She knew today was important. Elias had been unusually insistent about the arrival of some esteemed guests, barking orders at the maids and ensuring every detail of the estate was immaculate. But Lila didn’t care. It was always the same, more business, more alliances, more suitors she had no intention of entertaining.
The soft knock on her door was unwelcome.
“Miss Lila,” a maid’s voice called hesitantly, “your father is asking for you to come downstairs. The guests have arrived.”
Lila sighed, staring at her reflection in the mirror. She hadn’t bothered to change out of her morning dress, simple, flowy, and pale blue. She figured it would annoy Elias, and that alone was worth it.
“I’m coming,” she muttered, rising reluctantly.
As Lila descended the sweeping staircase, her heels clicking against the polished marble, she caught sight of Clara waiting at the base, her expression unreadable.
“They’re here,” Clara said quietly, smoothing her pearl-white gown. “Papa’s in the parlor with them.”
“And why am I being dragged into this?” Lila whispered sharply.
“Just behave, Lila,” Clara hissed. “It’s not always about you.”
Ignoring her sister’s reprimand, Lila squared her shoulders and entered the parlor, her father’s deep voice already dominating the room.
“Ah, here she is,” Elias announced, gesturing grandly as Lila stepped inside. “Lila, come meet our guests.”
She glanced around, her gaze immediately falling on two unfamiliar figures seated opposite Elias. The older man stood out first, a towering presence even while seated. His salt-and-pepper hair was neatly combed back, his sharp suit impeccable. His piercing gray eyes carried an air of authority that sent a chill down her spine.
“Andreas Vasilis,” Elias said with pride, gesturing toward the older man. “The most respected businessman in Greece and a dear friend of our family.”
The name alone made her stomach churn, but before she could process it, her eyes shifted to the man seated beside Andreas. Her heart dropped.
Damien.
Lila froze, her breath caught in her throat. He was dressed sharply, his dark suit tailored to perfection, his long dark lashes, his dark full grown well craved eyebrows, small pink plump lips, this took her to the thought of the kiss they shared but immediately, it was the smirk playing on his lips that set her blood boiling.
Clara, standing quietly beside Lila, sucked in a sharp breath. She leaned closer, whispering urgently, “Lila, isn’t that—”
“Yes,” Lila whispered back through gritted teeth. “That’s him.”
Elias, oblivious to the tension between the sisters, continued with his introductions. “And this is Damien Vasilis, Andreas’s eldest son. A man of many accomplishments in his own right. He’s one of the most promising young businessmen in Europe.”
Damien rose smoothly, his movements as calculated as his gaze. He extended a hand toward Lila, his smirk deepening. “Miss De Laurent,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. “A pleasure to formally meet you.”
Lila hesitated, glaring at him before taking his hand briefly. “Likewise,” she said coolly.
Her father cleared his throat, his tone growing more formal. “Now that introductions are out of the way, Lila, sit with us. We have important matters to discuss.”
The conversation started predictably, business ventures, family alliances, and pleasantries exchanged between Elias and Andreas. But Lila wasn’t paying attention. She was too focused on Damien, who sat directly across from her, his expression infuriatingly calm.
Clara, seated beside her, leaned in and whispered, “You need to tell me everything later.”
“I’m still trying to figure out what’s happening,” Lila whispered back, her voice tense.
Her father’s booming voice cut through their hushed exchange. “Andreas and I have been discussing a proposal.”
Lila stiffened. The word proposal set off alarm bells in her head.
Andreas nodded, his steely gaze locking onto hers. “It is no secret that your family and mine share similar values, tradition, loyalty, and strength. In these times, alliances are more valuable than ever.”
Elias smiled warmly, a rare sight. “Which is why Andreas and I believe it would be mutually beneficial for our families to join together—through marriage.”
The air seemed to leave the room. Lila’s head snapped toward her father, her eyes wide with disbelief.
“Marriage?” she echoed, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and shock.
“Yes,” Elias said firmly, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. “You and Damien.”
Clara gasped softly beside her, her hand flying to her mouth. Lila, meanwhile, was too stunned to speak.
Damien, however, leaned back in his chair, entirely too relaxed. His smirk returned, his dark eyes glinting with mischief.
“Don’t look so surprised, kardia mou,” he said, his voice dripping with amusement.
“You knew about this?” Lila hissed, her voice low but venomous.
“Not exactly,” he replied smoothly. “But I’m not complaining.”
Her hands clenched into fists under the table. She wanted to strangle him, but her father’s sharp voice cut through her thoughts.
“Do you two already know each other?” Elias asked, his tone tinged with suspicion.
Before Lila could deny it, Damien spoke up. “We’ve crossed paths.”
Elias’s brow furrowed, his gaze narrowing. “In what context?”
Damien tilted his head slightly, his smirk widening. “Let’s just say fate has a way of bringing people together.”
Lila glared at him, silently willing him to shut up. The last thing she needed was for her father to connect the dots between her escapade at the hotel and Damien.
Andreas, who had been silently observing the exchange, finally spoke. “Is there something we should know?” His voice was deep, authoritative, and impossible to ignore.
Lila opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat. She felt trapped, the weight of the room’s expectations pressing down on her.
“I’d say there’s plenty you don’t know,” Damien said, his voice calm but laced with an edge that sent shivers down her spine.
Andreas’s sharp gaze shifted to his son. “Damien, if there’s something relevant to this arrangement, I suggest you share it now.”
For the first time, Damien’s smirk faltered, replaced by a flicker of something Lila couldn’t quite place, hesitation? Guilt?
“It’s nothing,” Damien said finally, his tone lighter but clearly calculated. “I’m simply looking forward to getting to know Lila better.”
Elias nodded approvingly, but Lila wasn’t fooled. She knew Damien was hiding something, and whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.
Her father turned to her, his expression stern. “Lila, this is an opportunity most women would envy. Andreas and Damien are offering our family a partnership that will secure our legacy for generations. You will treat this arrangement with the respect it deserves.”
“Respect?” Lila snapped, finally finding her voice. “You want me to marry someone I barely know because it benefits your business?”
“Lila,” Clara whispered urgently, her hand on her arm.
“No,” Lila said, shaking her sister off. “I’m not going to sit here and pretend this is normal.”
Andreas’s gaze darkened, his presence even more intimidating than her father’s. “You are young, Miss De Laurent, but you will learn that duty often outweighs personal desires. This is not just about business; it is about legacy.”
Lila’s jaw tightened, her anger bubbling dangerously close to the surface. She looked at Damien, who was watching her intently, his expression unreadable.
“I’ll never agree to this,” she said firmly, rising from her seat.
Elias’s voice was like a whip. “Sit down, Lila. Now.”
But she didn’t. She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, her heart pounding in her chest.
Damien watched her go, his smirk returning as he leaned back in his chair.
“Well,” he said casually, glancing at his father, “this should be interesting.”
Elias sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. “She’ll come around. She always does.”
Andreas said nothing, his cold gaze fixed on Damien.
“She’s fiery,” Damien remarked, almost to himself. “I like that.”
His father’s voice was low, a warning. “This is not a game, Damien. Don’t forget what’s at stake.”
Damien’s smirk faltered briefly before returning, though less confident this time. “I won’t forget.”
