Reborn at Eighteen: The Billionaire’s Second
Chapter 105
I glanced at Raven. At her unfocused eyes, her slack posture. The
white residue at the bottom of one of the glasses on the table.
Think. Think.
“Because-” I lifted my chin. Met his eyes. “Because I wanted to meet
you.”
His eyebrows rose. “Meet me.”
“Yes.” I took a breath. Forced steadiness into my voice. “I’ve… I’ve
seen you. At Blackwood. At family dinners.” The lies flowed easier
now. Desperate lies. “I wanted to talk to you. But I didn’t know how.
When I heard you were here tonight-”
“You pretended to be Victoria Vane to get past my security.” His tone
was skeptical. But there was interest there too. Curiosity.
“I didn’t think you’d agree to see me otherwise.” I clasped my hands
together. Let them shake slightly–not hard to fake, given how
terrified I was. “I’m nobody. Just the girl they took in out of pity. But
you-”
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Chapter 105
“What about me?”
“You’re ” I searched for words that would flatter his ego. “You’re not
like them. The Vanes. You’re… real. Powerful in your own right. Not
just because of your name.”
He studied me for a long moment. I could see him weighing my
words. Deciding whether to believe me.
Finally, he laughed. Low and dangerous. “You’re either very brave or
very stupid, little girl.”
“Maybe both.” I forced a small smile. “I just wanted to meet you. To
talk to you.”
His gaze slid to Raven. Back to me. “And what about her?”
“That girl?” I made my voice dismissive. Cold. Like Victoria talking
about someone beneath her. “Her service tonight is clearly….
inadequate.” I gestured at Raven’s drugged state. “I thought–I hoped
–maybe I could take her place. Spend the evening with you instead.”
Silence stretched between us. My heart hammered so hard I thought
he’d hear it.
Then Damien Kennedy smiled. Slow and sharp as a knife
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Chapter 105
“Is that so?”
He moved closer. I forced myself not to step back. Not to run.
“You want to replace her?” His voice dropped lower. “Entertain me for
the evening?”
“Yes.” The word barely made it past my lips.
“Interesting.” He reached out. Caught my chin between his thumb and
forefinger, tilting my face up to the light. “Very interesting.”
My skin crawled where he touched me. But I didn’t pull away. Didn’t
flinch.
Behind him, Raven made a small sound. A whimper.
Damien’s grip tightened on my jaw. “You know what? I think I’ll take
you up on that offer.” He released me. Moved to the bar cart in the
corner. “But first, let’s have a drink. To celebrate this… unexpected
visit.”
He poured amber liquid into two tumblers. Brought one to me.
“To new acquaintances.”
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Chapter 105
I took the glass. The crystal was cold and heavy in my hand.
If I could get him drunk–drunk enough to pass out–maybe I could
get Raven out of here. Get us both out.
It was a terrible plan. But it was all I had.
I raised the glass. “To new acquaintances.”
We both drank.
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