Tatiana never imagined she would feel a pang of regret for leaving her fiancé at the altar, until she laid eyes on him again. He had transformed into a more attractive and wealthier version of himself, leaving her wondering if he still harbored feelings for her. Jameson, on the other hand, had forgiven Tatiana for her betrayal, but he couldn't forget the humiliation she had caused him on their wedding day. His burning desire for revenge consumed him, and he vowed to make her pay for the pain she had inflicted on him. As fate would have it, their paths crossed once more, reigniting the thin line between love and hate. Jameson's determination to seek revenge clashed with the undeniable passion that still lingered between them. Will Jameson succeed in exacting his revenge? Or will he find himself entangled in Tatiana's web of desire?
Chapter 1 Jameson
Jameson
The familiar ringtone that signifies an important call buzzes into the air, disturbing my beautiful morning sleep.
I pick it up without looking at the screen, knowing fully well it's Michael, calling-the private investigator I hired to trail the woman who betrayed me five years ago.
"Any updates?" I ask, getting out of bed and heading towards the bathroom.
"Yeah. Looks like our plans are working perfectly."
"Her proposal was denied?"
"Exactly."
I pump my fist into the air, excited about how frustrated her life has been ever since she humiliated me at the altar.
"So, what's next boss?"
I flash an excited smile at my reflection in the mirror, already picturing her next downfall and how I am going to be behind it.
"I'll get back to you when I've figured it out. Well done."
While brushing my teeth, I dial Benjamin's number. He has been doing a great job as the perfect boyfriend I paid him to be for that woman, Tatiana.
"Hello, sir," his deep voice fills the background speaker I had connected the phone to.
"Updates." I demand from him, hoping my voice doesn't reveal how eager I am to hear how she is doing.
Getting updates from him has been part of my daily routine for the past three years since we signed the contract for a fake boyfriend. Sometimes I demand a video call when I want to see her.
It was hard at first. Seeing her all relaxed and living an aesthetically pleasing life after shattering mine.
But with a carefully mapped out plan, I started dismantling that life. Slipping in sadness one day at a time.
"She drank herself to sleep last night, boss."
"And you didn't touch her, right?"
"Affirmative boss. You can check the cameras for confirmation."
"No need, I trust you completely."
I end the call and begin washing myself up. Another part of my day I enjoy is coming home to CCTV footage from the apartment building where Tatiana lives.
Owning the building, I had no trouble getting consent for the videos.
My jaw always clenches each time I see her face. Especially when she goes through her day as if she hadn't broken someone's heart into a million pieces.
But as much as I hate her, I always get lost whenever her eyes mistakenly meet the camera. Those big brown eyes. I have lost count of how many times I have lost track of time while staring into them. Pausing and rewinding the footage to get the perfect view from all angles.
The drive to work is as swift as it has always been. I grew up in this city, New York. Started making money here. Made my debut into the tech world here. Also made it to the Forbes 30 under 30 list here-when I was 23.
Everything in my life was going well until Mr. Willson approached me with a proposal. He was someone I looked up to while growing up, so I had no problem falling in line with his proposal. Except that he didn't have the money to fulfil his end of the bargain.
But he had somehow slipped in his single daughter along the line, even went ahead to show me her picture. It was love at first sight. I knew this because prior to seeing that picture, I had sworn that I would be a bachelor for life.
No woman had captivated me the way Tatiana Willson did.
I have taken her by storm-thinking I could handle her the same way I handle all my business affairs. Simple and straightforward.
She had mistaken my naivety in the romance department for rudeness.
But what she shouldn't have done was to disgrace me in front of all my friends, business associates and society at large by dumping me at the altar.
I haven't gotten over how my friends had teased me about it, and still teasing me. I will never forget what the gossip columns said about me-it was on the front cover for months.
"The tech guru who knows nothing about matters of the heart. Robotic much?"
I give a curt nod to every "Morning, sir" I receive as I stride towards the elevator in my office building. Then I turn a blind eye to every flirtatious move I get from some of the ladies in the elevator with me.
One even goes as far as dropping her purse beside my leg, hoping I would be gentleman enough to help her pick it up.
I could have done that. It would have been easier to sleep with a series of women, fuck them every night, until I wash off every trace of Tatiana from my head.
But then, I, Jameson Smith, am not the type of man a woman can embarrass and get away with it.
I will make sure she pays for it. Even if it has to be with her last drop of blood.
I started my revenge by buying over her father's struggling tech firm for a ridiculous amount. That could have been enough, since that move left her father more financially crippled than before. But my blood craves more revenge.
When the elevator dings and opens up on the 20th floor, I enter my office ready to start my day.
I start with the basics. A video conference call with the JSS corporations branch in Japan. Then a business meeting with some start up firms hoping for a collaboration. I have lunch before launching into coding for a new software that has been in my head for weeks.
I could have handed it over to some of my subordinates, if I didn't need to keep myself busy. It is the only way to keep my thoughts from drifting back to five years ago, the worst day of my life. The day something shifted permanently inside me.
The hurt still feels so fresh, like it happened yesterday.
I sigh, muttering under my breath, "Tatiana Willson, you will crumble. I'll crumble you."
Chapter 1 Jameson
14/11/2023