Chapter 8 Davenport & Andrieux Families

Alicia Davenport The tension in the car was suffocating. My fingers clenched around the fabric of my dress, my nails pressing into the smooth material as I held back every sharp retort that was bubbling inside me. “Behave yourself, Alicia,” my father’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “I will not have you making the Davenport name a joke in front of the Andrieux family.” I scoffed under my breath and turned my gaze out the window, watching the blurred lights of the city pass by. Just as I parted my lips to respond, my father shot me a sharp look through the rearview mirror. “If you cannot conduct yourself properly tonight,” he continued in that cold, clipped tone, “you will face the consequences.” His words weren’t a warning. They were a promise. I frowned but swallowed back my irritation, choosing silence instead. There was no point arguing with him—not here, not now. I leaned back into the seat, exhaling slowly through my nose as the car slowed to a stop. The driver stepped out, announcing our arrival as he opened the door. My parents exited first, maintaining their poised and polished demeanor, the picture-perfect example of power and prestige. With a resigned sigh, I followed, adjusting the hem of my black bodycon dress as I stepped onto the pavement. The restaurant was extravagant, with dim, warm lighting and soft classical music playing in the background. The kind of place where everything was designed to make you feel important, exclusive. The hostess greeted us with a polite smile, leading us towards a private dining room. The moment the door opened, my patience dissolved. Nicholas. Of course. Sitting there as if he owned the damn place, dressed in his usual pristine suit, exuding that irritating, effortless confidence. His gaze flickered to me, and for a split second, I thought I caught a trace of amusement in his eyes. Great. This is going to be a long night. The parents exchanged pleasantries, hugging each other as if this dinner wasn’t another calculated business move. I nodded politely at Mr. and Mrs. Andrieux, playing my role as the obedient daughter, but inside, my thoughts were screaming. We were told to take our seats, and just my luck—I was seated directly across from Nicholas. “Lovely dress,” Nicholas commented as I settled into my chair, his tone laced with something unreadable. I gave him a sweet but insincere smile. “Lovely silence.” His lips twitched as if he was holding back a smirk. “Feisty tonight, are we?” “You’ve seen nothing yet,” I muttered under my breath, reaching for my glass of water. My mother shot me a pointed look from across the table, silently warning me to behave. I clenched my jaw, gripping the stem of my glass tighter. Dinner had barely started, and I already wanted to leave. The conversation between our parents started as expected—talk of investments, mergers, and the bright future of two powerful families joining together. Every word felt rehearsed, premeditated, like a script they had all memorized long before we sat down. And then, as I knew it would, the conversation shifted. “So, Alicia,” Mr. Andrieux began with a pleasant smile. “Have you given any thought to the future? To the opportunities that lie ahead?” I forced a polite smile. “I think about my future all the time.” He nodded approvingly. “That’s good to hear. A future with stability and strength is important, wouldn’t you agree, Nicholas?” Nicholas, who had been watching me the entire time, leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. “Of course,” he said smoothly. “A well-planned future is always… beneficial.” I could feel my father’s gaze on me, waiting for me to say the right thing. I cleared my throat. “I believe the future should be about choice,” I said carefully, my voice even. “And who we choose to spend it with should be entirely up to us.” A beat of silence. My mother placed her wine glass down a little too firmly, but she masked it with a tight smile. “Of course,” she said lightly, though I could tell she wasn’t pleased with my response. “But sometimes, the best choices are made with guidance.” Guidance. That was their way of saying control. I said nothing, letting the statement hang in the air. Nicholas, however, seemed to be enjoying this far too much. His eyes studied me like he was waiting for me to snap. I refused to give him satisfaction. The conversation continued, and I let the words wash over me, barely paying attention. My mind was elsewhere—on Daniel, on what my parents had done, on how completely and utterly trapped I felt. But then, something Nicholas said caught my attention. “I believe partnerships should be based on more than just benefits,” he mused, swirling the wine in his glass. “There should at least be some compatibility, wouldn’t you agree, Alicia?” My eyes snapped to him, searching for the hidden meaning behind his words. Was he taunting me? Testing me? I lifted my chin. “Absolutely. But compatibility isn’t something you can force.” Nicholas chuckled, a slow, knowing sound. “No, I suppose it’s not.” Our parents continued their discussion, their voices fading into the background as Nicholas and I held each other’s gaze. There was something in his expression, something I couldn’t quite place. Amusement? Curiosity? A challenge? I wasn’t sure. But I knew one thing. Nicholas Andrieux was far too dangerous. Not because he was cruel. Not because he was powerful. But because he was calculated. And I had no intention of playing whatever game he had in mind. But something told me, whether I liked it or not—this wasn’t a game I could walk away from. I kept my eyes down, idly pushing my food around my plate, wishing I was anywhere but here. And then, my father spoke. “I think it's time we officially discuss the engagement,” he said smoothly, lifting his wine glass. My fork clattered against the plate. My entire body tensed as I slowly looked up, my ears ringing at his words. “Of course,” Mr. Andrieux replied with a pleased smile. “It would be wonderful to finally move forward—” “No, I'm sorry,” I interrupted, my voice calm but firm. “What engagement?” The entire table went silent. All eyes turned to me. My mother’s hand tightened around her napkin. My father shot me a warning glare, his expression darkening. I smiled politely at Mr. Andrieux, feigning innocence. “Because the last time I checked, I never agreed to any engagement.” “Alicia,” my father said, his tone a sharp warning. I ignored him. I leaned forward slightly, my voice still sickeningly polite. “You see, I find it very strange that an engagement is being discussed when the supposed bride-to-be was never given a choice. Isn’t that odd?” “Alicia,” my mother hissed, her voice low. Nicholas remained quiet, his expression unreadable, but I caught the faintest flicker of amusement in his eyes. Enjoying the show, are we? “You will not make a scene here,” my father growled under his breath. I met his gaze head-on, my heart hammering in my chest, but I refused to back down. “And you will not decide my future for me.” Without another word, I pushed back my chair and stood up. The room felt unbearably suffocating, the walls closing in on me with their expectations, their demands, their control. “I will not agree to such an arrangement,” I said clearly, my voice unwavering. “Excuse me.” I turned on my heel and walked out of the private room, leaving behind the stunned silence of my parents and the Andrieux family.