Red lips stretched into a smile when Callista reached the registration table. The crimson Valentino evening dress she wore caught the two girls' attention, their eyes raking her elegant form. Callista was aware of how virtuous she looked on red. The color of fire and blood. It signified danger, strength, power, as well as passion, desire, and love. No wonder it was her favorite color.

The two girls welcomed the heiress with bright faces as she handed them her invitation. Their heart-shaped patterned shirt and heart-shaped lipstick made Caly smile. It was amusing. "Welcome, Miss Genovese."

"Here," Caly offered an envelope where she had put a hundred thousand dollars check. As one of the girls received it, another hand jutted to give their invitation.

"Good evening, Mr. Castellano."

Callista clenched her jaw. Fire rose on her heart and anger buzzed on her ears. Franco Castellano challenged every vein in her body. If it wasn't for her plan, she'd have lashed out and proved to all onlookers why red suited her.

"Oh, my donation, right?" Franco mumbled while his other hand searched through his suit's inside pocket. Instead of an envelope, he brought out a checkbook.

It flared up Callista's wrath. The incredulity she felt was mirrored on the two girls' flabbergasted faces. They watched as Franco bend down and wrote on the check. The scribbled amount of five hundred thousand dollars was dark and thick showing no hesitancy from the man.

One of the girls gaped openly. Her hand shook as she accepted the check.

Franco straightened his red jacket as he swirled his head to her. She noticed his smirk more than the wine red three-piece suit that hugged his form. To Callista's horror, he leaned in close enough to whisper. "A hundred thousand? Pathetic."

God, she wanted to slap him.

Callista planned on going home after giving her donation but Franco's presence changed her mind. She couldn't leave without a reprisal. It was not her style.

People were beginning to pour in when Callista and Franco walked in. They breathe in the scent of roses and the huge red balloons that festooned the small stage. Caly smirked as she was maneuvered to the same table as Franco. Words of sarcasm and wit settled on her tongue, ready to strike when the mayor sat beside her.

She cleared her throat, smiling at the politician instead.

"Miss Genovese, I expected to see your father," he greeted. "Though your company is a welcome one too."

The mayor was a statesman through and through. Caly was aware of his dislike for the mafia and her father but he couldn't do anything. The Congress had passed a law for the governor to do as he pleased with the city's gangs. It trumped the mayor's power and if Callista was in his position, she'd be pissed too.

"Good evening, Mayor Johnson," she smiled. They talked through the first part of dinner and Callista began to regret coming to the charity event. The number of calculated accolades and fake smiling she had to endure was getting on her nerves.

A flash jerked her head up and Caly cursed silently. There was a photographer on the right and near the stage. She met the camera's lens before dodging down, pretending she dropped her purse.

One picture could mean a thousand words. There's no way she would allow herself to be seen with Franco again. Callista might have sneered at Delilah's need for an unsoiled reputation but she was just the same. Status equaled power and she was at the point where she couldn't lose it.

Caly decided to excuse herself and proceeded to search for the restroom. She took a moment to collect her thoughts before deciding to go home. Her revenge on Franco would have to wait. She grabbed her purse and sauntered out of the restroom. But another strange coincidence made her bump into the Castellano's heir.

The men's room was right in front of the women's room. The same thing must be running through the male's mind because he stopped, sending a glower to her direction. Callista glared back and both had failed to discern the approach of a girl in a heart-patterned shirt.

"You're both caught!" she yelled in a chirpy tone, clipping the handcuffs on their wrists.

Franco tugged at his right hand causing Caly to collide to his chest. She hissed, pushing him back but she continued crashing to him.

"Come on!" Franco yelled in revulsion. He stood still that Caly finally had the chance to put a space between them. She maneuvered to his right side so they both face the girl.

Callista drew her left wrist upwards and remembered where it was attached to. She sighed audibly, glaring at the girl. "What's your deal? What is this?"

"Uhm, please don't get angry. It's part of the program. My boss said we need to pair up couples and–

"Program? This man's engaged!" Caly yelled.

"Jenny!"

The girl whirled at the man who appeared at the end of the hallway. He wore the same heart-shaped shirt as the other employees. His eyes got bigger as he went nearer to the group.

"Larry! I found my first–

"Oh my god. I'm so sorry, Miss Genovese, Mr. Castellano. She's new and she probably didn't know that–

Franco raised their chained hands. He spoke in a clipped tone, eyebrows drew together. "Stop explaining. Just get the key to these."

Jenny searched through her jeans' pockets but came up empty. Her boss apologized once more and promised to find the key in the hotel's office. They dashed out from the hallway leaving the two elites behind.

Callista shut her eyes, clenching her right hand. Her knuckles were touching Franco's hand, feeling the heat that radiated from it. She was about to open her mouth when a pair of girls entered the hallway.

She cursed, head flinging around for a hiding spot. But the heiress didn't get a chance to do anything as Franco yanked her to the corner. His body hovered over her slim form, his left arm planted beside her head. Franco rested his head on the crook of her shoulder, successfully concealing their faces.

"Don't move." His hot breath blew near Callista's ear, forcing her to contain her shiver. "Or we're fucked."

After a few minutes, Franco's eyes moved over her glorious features. Their eyes met and Caly had to bite the inside of her cheeks to stop the rush of blood to her cheeks. He was open to her probing gaze. She could see his plump red lips, his defined jaw, and the twinkle of his earring on his left ear.

His perfect dark blonde hair was pushed back, creating smooth waves. Callista was suddenly curious how it would feel like to run her fingers through it, how sexy his groan would be as she pulled. Hard.

Fuck. She was starting to dislike their proximity.

"What are you looking at? You don't like being close to me?" He pressed his body closer.

The pompous way he said it was enough to ignite Caly's blood. One of her eyebrows rose, a sneer settling on her upper lip. "Why would I want to be close to a man who's a fucking waste of conception?"

As soon as the words were out, Franco's jaw clenched. He raised his sapphire eyes to hers and his face crackled with annoyance. Caly braced herself for his rebuttal but none came. The Castellano heir just kept staring with something close to disappointment in his eyes.

This confused Callista some more.

"Ma'am, sir, we're really sorry!" The girl exclaimed as soon as she was near. She unlocked the handcuffs while muttering unending apologies.

Callista only nodded but her attention was on Franco. His face was pensive, muscles taut, eyeing the handcuffs as it opened. He didn't waste a minute and immediately turned his back after he freed his hand.

"Thank you," she muttered to the girl and marched to the exit.

Thomas was leaning against the hood of her Lexus. He had a bouquet of red roses on his hand tied with an enormous black ribbon. The old man was looking at his watch, eyes squinting due to the lack of light. Caly cleared her throat. "Is that for your wife?"

"No, miss." He looked up, handing the flowers to her. "It's for you."

"Me?" Callista accepted the bouquet and instantly hunted for the card. A smile colored her face as she read the words.

I can't give you my heart but I do have another throbbing organ you might be interested in

yours, Castor

ps. I actually meant that my head aches so if you could come here, I will love you more

Callista laughed out loud causing Thomas to give her questioning looks. He frowned but eventually let out a smile. "I take it you're happy then?"

"Yeah," she replied, smothering the rest of her chuckles. But a crease crawled its way back to her forehead when she saw the Bugatti next to her Lexus. "Is this...?"

Thomas followed Callista's eyes. "Ah, yes. Mr. Castellano parked his car beside yours." The old man appeared thoughtful before he glanced at his boss. "Do you want me to... hurt his car?"

Callista wanted her revenge on Franco but his somber mood from earlier fizzled the thought. She felt guilt once again because whether she admitted it or not, Caly knew that her words had affected him. He got issues of his own.

Nevertheless, she needed a subtle payback.

Caly smirked, "Thomas, hand me my checkbook, please."

The queen decided to opt for an act of sophisticated revenge. She wrote the amount of five hundred thousand and one dollars, feeling smug about the one dollar difference.

Caly kissed the check until her crimson lipstick made an imprint. She smirked, sliding the paper on Franco's car. "I win."

✘✘

slow updates will be coming.

nevertheless, i hope you all enjoy reading this! :)

✘✘, lucci