Bought by My stepbrother, the don

Chapter 45: Red Savant

Carmen’s POV

He was right about me running—but I was never going to admit that. Instead, I fixed my gaze on him stubbornly, holding it for a second longer than necessary before turning away to stare out the window. The city lights blurred past in streaks of gold and white, but I barely saw them.

If I had been unsure before about anything remotely sexual between us, that moment erased all doubt.

It had been a mistake to kiss him—an even bigger one to let my judgment become so clouded. I should never have allowed things to get that far, something I now fully intended to rectify. Whatever this was between us, it needed boundaries. Clear ones.

Nico didn’t speak after that, and neither did I. The silence in the car was thick, almost suffocating, filled with a thousand thoughts clashing in my mind. Regret. Frustration. Confusion. And something else I refused to name.

Finally—much sooner than I expected—the car slowed and came to a smooth stop in front of a five-star hotel. It was the kind that exuded wealth without trying, its grand entrance illuminated by warm golden lights. Beyond it, I noticed a private, gated hall—clearly reserved for exclusive events like the one we were attending.

A uniformed attendant opened the door for us, and we stepped out.

Nico stood tall and confident, dressed immaculately in a perfectly tailored suit that seemed made for him alone. There was something effortlessly commanding about the way he carried himself, like he belonged in rooms like this—like he owned them.

And me?

I stood beside him, my elbow tucked into his, a polite smile on my face as I played my role to perfection. To anyone watching, we looked like the ideal pair—elegant, composed, untouchable.

No one would notice the tension simmering just beneath the surface.

We had barely stepped into the brightly lit and exquisitely decorated hall—crystal chandeliers casting soft light over polished floors, the hum of conversation blending with the soft clinking of glasses—when Nico leaned slightly toward me.

His voice dropped to a low whisper meant only for my ears.

"The names are written there. Go over them and remember," he said, slipping a folded piece of paper into my hand.

I nodded, unfolding it discreetly as I walked. My eyes scanned the list quickly, committing the names to memory before folding it back up and tucking it into my purse.

"You could stay close, and we’ll go over your list first while I look for—"

"I’ll be fine," I interrupted, already pulling away from him.

"It would be better and faster if we did things separately," I added, my tone leaving little room for argument.

Nico stopped, his eyes fixing on me in a way that made it clear he didn’t agree. But I didn’t care.

We were becoming more attached than we needed to be, and I wasn’t going to let that spiral any further. He could kiss me if he wanted to—as part of whatever arrangement this was—but nothing beyond that.

Without waiting to see if he had anything else to say, I turned and walked away.

The bar sat on the right side of the hall, sleek and polished, with bottles lined up like a display of liquid jewels. That was my destination. I needed a drink—something to steady my thoughts—especially since finding the people on my list was going to take time.

But I had barely reached the bar, just about to call the bartender’s attention, when I sensed someone approaching from the left corner of my eye.

"I’d recommend the Red Savant. It’s exquisite."

His voice was low, deep, and smooth—immediately drawing my attention. I turned, slightly startled, to find him standing there.

He was tall—just as tall as Nico, which was rare enough to be noticeable. His skin was dark, his features striking in a way that leaned heavily into raw masculinity. A sharp jawline, defined cheekbones, and just at the edge of his jaw, a faint scar that only made him more intriguing.

His tuxedo was dark and perfectly fitted, though he’d chosen to replace the traditional tie with a loosely wrapped scarf around his neck—a subtle defiance of the black-tie rules that somehow worked in his favor.

"My name is Aran," he said with a warm smile, extending his hand.

I responded automatically, placing my hand in his—but instead of a simple shake, he lifted it and pressed a light kiss to the back of it.

"Carmen," I replied as calmly as I could, though I could feel his eyes studying me closely.

He was handsome—undeniably so. But there was something else about him, something harder to define. His eyes were soft, almost gentle, but they carried the unmistakable promise that they could turn dark depending on the situation.

"It’s nice to meet you, Carmen," he said, stepping beside me at the bar. He gestured subtly toward the bartender, who immediately began preparing drinks without a word.

That caught my attention.

"Truth is, I’ve heard of you. I needed to see you face to face. My condolences for your father," he added, his tone softening.

I nodded slightly. "Thank you. Good things, I hope?" I asked, my voice low.

The bartender was already halfway through making our drinks, which meant he hadn’t even asked for my order—just followed Aran’s lead.

I didn’t like that.

Not one bit.

"Of course," Aran said smoothly. "I’m in town for some business, and like all good businessmen, I looked into other opportunities—potential partnerships. Most pointed me your way, especially since you’ve been named sole heir."

That didn’t surprise me. If anything, I expected more of it. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ

"There’s been a rather nasty rumor about you," he continued, his tone shifting slightly. "Something about you being sold to Nico Romano. Slavery—who even does that in this day and age?"

My grip tightened just slightly around the stem of the glass in front of me, though my smile didn’t falter.

"Where could you have possibly heard that from?" I asked, my voice carefully measured as I kept my eyes on the drink being prepared.

"I do my research on prospective partners," he replied easily. "It doesn’t help that you currently live with him."

That was enough to irritate me.

"How does who I live with connect to business matters?" I asked, my gaze snapping back to his.

He didn’t flinch.

"I apologize," he said quickly, though the ease in his expression reminded me far too much of Nico. "My bias is leaking out. I’ve heard too much about Nico Romano to want nothing to do with him."

His eyes held mine steadily. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"You, on the other hand... I have a business idea I’d like to discuss with you."

Of course he did.

I was the new heir. That alone made me a target for people with ideas, ambitions, and agendas.

Aran might look polished and charming, but I knew better than to take that at face value. There was more to him—something layered beneath the surface.

The bartender finally placed the drinks in front of us.

Mine was a deep red, almost too vibrant, and it looked overly sweet—something I would normally hate.

Still, I lifted the glass and took a cautious sip.

And paused.

The taste was unexpected—bittersweet, rich, perfectly balanced. It lingered just enough to make me want more. A small, genuine smile formed on my lips before I could stop it.

I looked up, meeting his gaze as he lifted his own glass.

"I was sure you’d like it," he said, satisfaction evident in his voice. "I’m glad I wasn’t wrong."

I nodded slightly, taking another sip.

"Fine. You can follow me," I said after a moment, glancing around the now fully crowded hall.

People moved in clusters—laughing, networking, exchanging carefully measured words behind polished smiles.

"I’m trying to meet more people. We’ll talk after," I added plainly.

A flicker of amusement crossed his face.

He gave a mock bow before offering me his arm once more.

This time, I didn’t hesitate to take it.