CHAPTER 69: - WHAT A SHAME -

Sabrina stood in front of the apartment that York had just come out from. He’d been looking into Nikolas Bastiani even though Viviana had yet to tell her to. She didn’t need her to. Viviana was her best friend and she was looking out for her.

She was going to find out who Nikolas Bastiani really was. And this man she’d just seen was someone that often tagged along with him.

Narrowing her eyes, she glanced at York who was walking further away. He was on the phone and if she wasn’t wrong, he was definitely talking to Nikolas.

Sabrina tailed behind him, trying her best to keep herself hidden. York took a cut into the dark alley and that made her pause for a moment. She furrowed her brows, deciding to go after him regardless.

However, upon taking the turn, she couldn’t find him anymore.

"What the...?" she grunted. "Where did he go? I was more than sure that I just saw him take a turn." She was muttering to herself, attempting to turn around and look up.

Someone however grabbed her. She was yet to even register who it was before she was roughly slammed up against the wall, a cold metal pressed up against her neck.

Sabrina’s chest dropped into her stomach. She froze.

"Who the fuck are you?"

She forced her gaze up, meeting the pair of grey eyes that were bright as if lit up by a match in the dark.

Her chest pounded. She couldn’t speak. Frozen and short of words.

"Don’t make me repeat myself because I’ll slit your throat if you don’t answer fast enough."

"Sabrina..." was all she could let out.

York narrowed his eyes at her, gaze dangerous. "Why were you following me? Five seconds is all you have to—"

"I like you," Sabrina blurted out. She didn’t doubt one bit that he would actually kill her if she didn’t answer fast enough. Every instinct screamed to run. This man was dangerous and she needed to stay far away from him.

But York seemed stunned by her words, confused. "What?"

"I-I’ve seen you a few times, but I...but I never really got to speak to you and uh...t-tell you um, that I liked you. So, I saw you today and followed, hoping to, to..."

"To what?"

"To catch up to you!"

York snatched her jaw in a harsh grip, glaring into her face. "Do you know that I can tell if you’re lying or not?"

"Can you?" Her brows shot up.

He was about to drop a whole lot of threats on her, but Sabrina, whether or not it was reckless behaviour, grabbed him by the collar of his coat, yanking him much closer to her height.

She slammed her lips to his, kissing him unapologetically. Whatever it took to get out of here alive, she didn’t care.

By the time York had snapped back to his senses, the knife had slipped out of his grip. He shoved her, staggering back rapidly with a stunned look on his face.

What the hell had this human done?

He leveled her with a seething glare. "Are you insane? How dare you put your mouth on me?"

Sabrina raised a brow. "What? Has a woman ever kissed you before?" She licked her bottom lip and he followed every movement of her tongue, his pupils dilating.

She took a step to approach him. He moved back. "Try it, and I will kill you."

"Oh boy, wait a minute..." Her face grew with amusement, forgetting her life was in danger. "No way. You’re a virgin? Hold on, a handsome man like you?"

"You little!"

York bristled.

"First of all, I’m not a virgin, and you’ll learn that when I snap your fucking frame like a twig. Secondly, I am not accustomed to a stranger putting their mouth on me nor do I appreciate it, so don’t ever try that on me again, got it?"

Sabrina blinked.

"Don’t ever let me see you again, because if I do—"

"You’ll kill me?" she asked.

"Good girl, you’re learning fast." York wiped at his lips and stormed off, seeming angrier than she’d ever seen a man before.

"Am I that bad of a kisser?" Her face grew horrified. "What was that attitude for?!" She scoffed. "Well, looking on the bright side, I got out of this situation without having to explain myself. You might kill me the next time you see me, but I’m going to keep watching you until I find out who my best friend’s husband really is."

———

Amadeo stared emotionlessly at the video playing on his computer.

Carlos Aceto had signed more than just a million-dollar contract with Nikolas Bastiani. His hands balled into fists.

How did Aceto manage to meet Bastiani?

What did he offer him to even get him to sign a contract like that with him?

Amadeo was confused.

Nikolas Bastiani was a man that for over three months now, he’d been trying to set up a meeting with, to discuss what deal he had to offer. Each time he got negative feedback, almost as if the man had no intention of meeting him.

Had he offended him?

But how could he have? They have never even met before.

Rising to his feet, Amadeo picked up a lighter and plucked a cigar stick in between his lips. He lit it up, inhaling to puff out a soft cloud as he approached the floor-length window of his office.

He hadn’t bothered going to the event because it was too measly for someone like him to waste his time at. But Nikolas Bastiani had been there. If he’d known that a man like him would be there, he would have gone. Would have taken the opportunity to meet him face to face.

"Fuck!" he snapped, annoyed at himself. ’You don’t make mistakes, Amadeo, but you sure fucked up right here,’ he thought to himself, brown eyes blinking about, lazily.

"What a shame." He blew off a puff of smoke toward the glass. "I wonder for how long you can keep rejecting me, Nikolas Bastiani."