The Devil CEO's Contract Wife novel Chapter 218

Chapter 218: A Visit To The Pub

Present Day

I took the glass in my hand and sipped before setting it down on the table. My eyes roamed the pub; it wasn’t as refined, but they had good taste here, the kind with unique aesthetics.

There were a few eyes here and there, but I wasn’t paying them any heed. I checked my Rolex before I got distracted by my phone.

It was Athena. She was texting me again, and I hadn’t replied to any of her messages for the last few days. Hence, the decision to load my phone with more to further irritate me.

Right at the corner of my eye, I caught what I was waiting for. I tracked Victoria’s movement as she talked with the bartender. He nodded to every single instruction.

It took a while before she noticed me, and her expression completely changed.

The bartender looked too, but I was heavily focused on her. Growing uneasy at my stare, she gulped and looked away, forcing a smile as she finished up. It took a while before she came towards me, the sharp tap of her boot heels resounding.

"What are you doing here?" She folded her arms, not hiding the vexation in her tone.

"I’m here for a drink."

She eyed my glass, her face screaming liar, but she said nothing of it, pulling out the chair to sit.

"I have told you a million times... I haven’t heard from Cat. I’m just as stuck in that loop as you are."

I took the glass and sipped, keeping my eyes pinned on her, and just as always, she shifted uncomfortably.

"I-It’s the truth."

"I know you wouldn’t lie to me..." I stated, but the darkness in my tone said otherwise.

"Look, I get it... You’re hellbent on finding her." She pointed to herself. "I am too, Ares, but..." There was a pause, and the pain in her eyes was visible. "It’s been five years since Cat’s disappearance."

I clenched the glass in my hand at the mention of how long. Victoria noticed the strain eyeing the glass like it would shatter into pieces in my grip.

She swallowed hard. "I-I’m sorry... I shouldn’t have said that, knowing you don’t like being reminded. I’m just as hurt as you are, and each time I think about it... It hurts too."

My grip loosened. "You’re one of her closest friends." I resumed our chat. "You would be the first person she would contact."

"Yeah, I thought I was... but here I am with you searching for her with no progress... Cat, she..." She shook her head. "I don’t know why she did something like that... going away without a word. She left her grandparents, too, but something like that can only happen if something was wrong. Once again, I’m asking you, Ares. What happened that day five years ago?"

"..."

Victoria huffed, looking away. "Silence. Wow! I honestly thought we were getting close there, you know, the kind we share things and be honest if we really want to find Cat."

She rubbed the back of her neck. "I should probably stop asking since this is getting nowhere. I know something was wrong... Cat was too consumed, and every day I regret not sticking by her. I should have stuck by her and made sure she was okay."

"I have things I regret too."

She snorted. "What does the devil regret?"

"Not keeping Catherine caged to my side." I sipped the whiskey.

Victoria’s smile slowly faded. "How dreadfully romantic... I don’t blame Cat for running." She paused when she caught my glare. "That was a joke! Jesus!"

"But let’s face it, she did leave because of you. I’m sure."

I don’t question that, because it was nothing but the truth.

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