CHAPTER 3

Diana stood in the back of the beautifully decorated room filled with other dignitaries on this calm Saturday evening. Glasses clinking in background while the sound of a soft piano notes rippled through the air. The complex but swift movement of the pianist fingers stole her attention. She watched Kasper Hayes, seated on the piano bench, his head bent low. The strands of his dark brown hair following his head’s movement. Diana released a slow breath, sipping from her champagne glass. Kasper looked different from what she remembered, a once warm and relaxed aura now drawn tight into a cold, sharp embrace. “How bad did Damien hurt you?” she murmured underneath her breath. She couldn’t fully remember it all but Kasper and Damien had more than a business relationship. In her previous life, they’d been good friends and Damien almost didn’t let her hear the end of it when it came to him. But, someway, somehow, they cut ties and the worst followed soon after. Which was why she was here. If anyone else knew Damien well enough besides her, it was Kasper. The song playing came to an end. The surrounding audience giving a polite applause, Kasper stood and gave a curt nod in return. The moment he started walking Diana did the same. Taking a full champagne glass from a waitress’s tray, she made her way to him. “That song you played was beautiful.” She called his attention the moment he stopped next to the bar. “Why thank y—” Kapser paused mid turn. His lips down turning to form a frown. She extended the glass to him. he looked at it, then her. “What are you doing here?” he asked. “I—” “In fact, who let you in here? This event doesn’t encourage the likes of you.” “You know that’s not very nice.” “That was the point.” “How I got in here isn’t what matters.” “I’m not inclined to know why you’re here.” “You haven’t even heard what I have to say.” “I’m not interested.” Diana placed the champagne glass on the bar counter next to him. “It’s about Damien.” He glitched abruptly, doing a double take. “All the more reason why this”—he gestured between them both—“should not even be happening.” “Kasper, this is not about me—” “I don’t care if it is.” The tone was sharp. “I don’t deal with Damien’s messes.” “I’m not his mess.” She shot back. He scoffed. “Well, you’re in his orbit. Same thing.” He was turning away from her. She had the urge to drag him back to slap some sense into him. “I’m here to help you.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “And how do you intend on doing that, huh?” “Your family’s charity fundraiser. I can help.” “Is this some game Damien’s playing? Hasn’t he done enough? Or are you his useless pawn now?” “I’m anything but a pawn.” She snapped. “Because I cannot for the life of me, grasp why you’re here, beckoning on me to let you help my family. Since when did we need help from the likes of you.” Diana swore internally. It was like talking a brick wall. Damien had truly run his course with Kasper, because she could blatantly relate and understand why he wanted to keep his distance. But she had to fill him in before things got worse. She downed the remaining champagne in her glass. “There you go again. Clumping both of us together, when we’re not.” The look on his face didn’t agree with her statement. “I’m here on my own accord, not with Damien’s direction or anyone’s will. Just me.” He looked at her for a long while but then he shook his head turning to walk away. But before she could react, he turned back to her. Just by his steps alone, she could tell he was aggravated. “Let me give you a little advice Diana.” He kept his voice low but clear enough, eyes locked on hers so she didn’t miss anything. “You’re a way better person than that lowlife you’re with. If I were you, I’d reason things out and put a thousand mile distance between you and him. Not even you are safe when he starts hunting.” He took the champagne glass she’d left for him earlier in his hands downing the contents. Returning the glass to the counter he trudged off. Diana sighed massaging the side of her head. She needed a drink. Champagne wasn’t going to do it tonight. She unconsciously bit her thumbnail. She had to get through to Kasper. She’d stayed up trying to recollect all that she could from her previous life regarding the fundraiser. Damien and Kasper had suddenly cut ties. Damien hadn’t seemed to pleased about it when he told her but looking back he looked too calm. Especially when he made allegations that they’d wronged him in some way. She remembered comforting him about it. Not long after, an audit had gone on in the Hayes family business. The results incriminated Kieran Hayes, Kapser’s older brother of corporate fraud. The setup had seemed too convienient and once again, Damien had been oddly nonchalant towards the news. She needed to get Kapser on her side. “Diana, are you listening to me?” Diana blinked. Damien’s dark blue eyes met her green eyes. One emotion shared between them being worry. “I’m sorry what?” Diana shook her head. “You didn’t listen to a word I said did you?” “No, no.” she tried to save it. “I was listening.” “You don’t have to lie to not hurt my feelings.” Diana stared at his face on her phone screen. Oh, I’ll hurt you alright, just you wait. “Diana.” “Huh?” “There you go again.” She wouldn’t say sorry. “You’ve been distant since your pitch day. Yesterday was our Saturday date night, you didn’t pick my calls. What’s going on? did I do something?” Diana gazed at him, with a soft smile and a shake of her head. “Nothing, it is nothing at all.”