Page 59 of Venomous Desires

“It is with great pleasure and excitement that we welcome the guest of the hour. A man of unparalleled vision and extraordinary achievements, he stands as a beacon of innovation and success.” The announcer’s voice faded into the background as I felt Ivan’s fingers crawling up my arm.

“He is not only a billionaire but also the esteemed heir of the world’s richest company.”

Ivan chuckled, clearly amused by my discomfort. “Work, huh? Well, maybe we can find some time this weekend.”

I nodded weakly, unable to form a proper response. His hand remained on my arm, his touch making my skin creep. I wanted to pull away, but I didn’t want to provoke him.

“As the trustee and benefactor of our esteemed university, his contributions have paved the way for countless opportunities and advancements. His generosity and commitment to excellence are truly commendable.” I held my breath as the crowd of students burst into loud applause and hollers.

The air felt stifling, and I could feel sweat trickling down my back. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my breathing steady. Ivan’s eyes bore into me, waiting for an answer I wasn’t ready to give.

“Sure, we’ll see,” I mumbled, hoping it would satisfy him enough to move on.

But he wasn’t easily deterred. “Well, you better, ‘cause I am slowly losing my patience.”

I held my breath and was about to get up and walk away when the announcer’s words echoed in my ears. The initial words didn’t mean anything. But the last two sent countless ants crawling under my flesh and made my bones freeze. Or should I say the name? “Please join me in giving a warm and enthusiastic welcome to the one and only—”

Ivan’s hand on my arm was long forgotten as I stared in disbelief. “Judas Romanovski!”

My fingers gripped the fabric of my dress tightly.

I couldn’t take my eyes off the devil walking onto the stage. He carried a cane and wore shades, which should have made him look vulnerable, but to me, he appeared as dark and menacing as ever.

His dark hair was styled back, making him appear both handsome and deadly as always. He wore a dark suit with a grey shirt underneath, the fabric straining against his muscles, highlighting his tall and broad-shouldered frame.

He moved with an unsettling grace as if he owned half the world. And would burn the other half just to see the smoke.

To others, he must have looked like a vision of perfection, but to me, he was the living, walking-talking version of my deepest fears.

My heart pounded in my chest, the terror making my breath come in shallow gasps. I truly felt like ensnaring to be his prey, to lure me into his web.

Was he here just because I skipped work for two days?

I wanted to run, to hide. I hated it. Hated feeling this way. Hated the fear that gripped my heart.

Others found him charming, but to me, he was a nightmare made flesh.

I instinctively took a step back, but to my dismay, Ivan’s hand had shifted from my arm to my back. I hated it.

The applause just grew, and the hollers intensified.

The devil just smirked as he looked at the crowd, and then his smirk faltered.

His face turned towards the line where I was for a good fifteen seconds.

If he hadn’t been blind, I’d say he looked at me, but since that was not the case, I wondered why I was even feeling thisway. It could be a coincidence. Judas was a trust fundraiser, so it was typical of him to be present here.

The surrounding girls sighed dramatically and screamed his name, their admiration questioning and concerning.

If they knew who he truly was, they’d run for their lives and prefer jumping off a cliff rather than be saved by him.

He was the kind of man who’d kill the president of the country just to sit in his chair for two seconds. Good thing he wasn’t a killer, though he looked nothing short of it.

My mind raced as I tried to process the situation. I could feel the tension building inside me. I needed to get out of here, away from the suffocating atmosphere.

The announcer welcomed him and handed him a bouquet. He tore his attention from the crowd, and Kyle was also with him, helping him to the table. But his mood suddenly seemed depraved, for reasons I didn’t know and didn’t even want to find out.

As Judas took his seat, the applause slowly died down, but my heart continued to race. Ivan’s grip on my back tightened slightly, and I could feel his eyes on me, watching my every move. I needed an escape, a moment to breathe without the weight of their presence pressing down on me.