Chapter 27 Laurent
Laurent
“I Was Never Included”
There is nothing more dangerous than a man who feels replaced.
I wasn’t invited to the contract signing.
That was the part that bothered me.
The exclusion.
It had been two days since I had found myself standing across the street from the H?tel de Marseille, watching my family walk inside as if I didn’t share their blood.
Security. Lawyers. Black cars. Ares.
And me?
Outside.
That was the moment I realized something simple.
If they were planning the future without me, then I would have to plan without them.
Now, I was watching Bianca from the hallway of my Paris condo for a moment, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, enjoying the way bitterness softened her edges.
I always loved that about her. Heartbreak made beautiful women honest. She was here with me because she claimed she needed a vacation, but I knew she was here to see what information she could get on Ares, and she knew I had it all, even though I hadn’t said anything up until now.
I walked into the living room as she poured her third glass of red wine.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and sat beside her, close enough to feel the heat coming off her skin.
“I might have something that interests you.”
She watched me carefully as I played the video.
Shaky footage.
Luxury hotel entrance.
My family arrived first.
Then the Laveaus.
A woman stepping out in black, veil low, moving like she wanted the ground to swallow her.
Bianca frowned.
“Who is that?”
“The girl Ares is being forced to marry.”
She scoffed. “That?”
I paused the video and zoomed in. Yuna’s face caught the light for half a second. Beautiful even through exhaustion.
Bianca leaned closer.
“She looks…” she hesitated.
“Sick,” I finished for her.
I leaned back, letting the words sink in.
“I overheard Marcel talking. She’s on meth. The whole family is trying to clean her up before they tie her to Ares, but it looks like they failed. The contract is signed.”
Bianca laughed.
A sharp, arrogant sound.
“So he left the other girls and me for a crackhead?”
I watched her closely.
“He didn’t leave you,” I said quietly. “He didn’t have a choice.”
Her smile faded slightly.
“That supposed to make me feel better?”
“No. It’s supposed to make you understand.”
I set the phone down between us.
“He’s trapped. Contract marriages. Family control. Legacy bullshit.”
She stared at the screen again.
“You sure she’s that bad?”
I shrugged, letting the lie stretch just enough.
“I saw them dragging her to her new estate. She looked rough. Like she barely knew where she was.”
Bianca leaned back, folding her arms.
“Well damn. Guess the king fell off.”
I laughed low.
“Kings don’t fall. They get pushed.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“What are you really trying to say, Laurent?”
I leaned closer, lowering my voice.
“You still think the NDAs are okay?”
She stiffened slightly.
“What?”
Silence.
“That money wasn’t enough for what you gave him.”
She frowned. “Don’t start.”
“I’m not starting anything. I’m saying you have power.”
She looked at me sharply.
“You want revenge?”
I smiled slowly.
“I want balance.”
She scoffed. “That sounds like revenge with better marketing.”
I reached up, brushing my thumb along her jaw. She didn’t pull away.
“You were his lawyer. You know where everything lives. How everything moves.”
Her expression shifted.
Professional now.
Dangerous.
“He didn’t let me in all the way like you think.”
I leaned closer until my mouth was near her ear.
“Thrones shift. Kings fall. Somebody always steps in.”
She pulled back slightly.
“That somebody is you?”
“Of course.”
“And his little bride?”
I shrugged.
“That only matters if he survives long enough to make it to Marcel’s funeral.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“You’re insane.”
“No,” I said calmly. “I’m prepared.”
She exhaled slowly.
“And what do you want with me?”
I moved closer, voice softer.
“I want you loyal to me this time.”
She smirked.
“Why would I be loyal to you?”
“Because I chose you first.”
She hated me.
She wanted me.
Those two things always lived in the same room with Bianca.
I kissed her.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Possession, not romance.
Her fingers gripped my shirt anyway.
Good.
Let her forget who she’s really thinking about.
Let her pretend this is about me.
Later, after everything burned down, she’d realize she was only ever part of the plan.
$$$$$
Hours later, Bianca slept curled against my pillows, skin warm, breathing even, after I fucked her brains out.
I got up quietly.
Her phone sat on the desk.
Connected to my network.
I opened her email.
No effort required.
And there it was.
Subject: Legal Inquiry — Urgent.
Recipients: Lyric Green. Leona Graves.
I read every word.
Ladies,
Hope you are doing well.
I am contacting you because after personally reviewing the NDAs and final compensation packages associated with our departure from Ares, I discovered multiple inconsistencies and questionable clauses that may warrant legal attention.
This is not a personal or emotional message.
This is about fairness and opportunity.
If either of you is interested in discussing next steps, please respond within forty-eight hours.
Professional collaboration could benefit everyone involved.
Regards,
Bianca Cole
She was gathering Area’s most dangerous ex-girlfriends.
Building a case.
Interesting.
I leaned back in my chair and smiled.
Bianca thought she was making her own moves.
Thought she still had control.
But Bianca was never the strategist.
She was the opening move.
A useful one.
A beautiful one.
And soon, a very dangerous one.