Femme Fatale: The King's Deadly Temptress

Chapter 450: A Brewing Conspiracy

William made himself at home, strode towards the kitchen, and grabbed a bottle of beer from Damien's fridge. "Want one?" he asked the owner of the house.

Damien shook his head and slumped onto the sofa in the living room where William joined him afterward. He couldn't be bothered to call him out anymore. What was the point? He rubbed his temple when he felt an incoming headache. William seemed to be chirpy and it bugged him that he was like this. He couldn't tell what the man was thinking at the moment.

"Why are you here, William?" Damien asked.

"Can't I just visit you?" William answered in the most uninterested voice before he took a swig of his beer.

For the past months that Katherine was gone, William, Caleb, and Jeffrey had been around him. They came and went in his penthouse or in his office just to check on him or keep him company as if he needed a babysitter. When Katherine came back, they called him several times too. He stopped responding to them and they somewhat understood that he wanted to be left alonethat they didn't need to worry anymore. It was either that or maybe Ali had told them about him getting back with Katherine.

However, he knew that William didn't come that night to check on him. He was there to talk about what happened at Park Group a few nights ago. Damien had actually planned to see him days later for something that he had planned. So, seeing him come to him was half a surprise and half expected. 

"Cut to the chase," Damien muttered.

"Always the straight-forward one." William let out a sigh and took another sip of his beer. It was silent for a few beats before he told him, "I know it's her."

Damien's heart started to increase its pace. He was still surprised despite having the feeling that he might already know. "What are you talking about?" he asked in a toneless voice.

William softly chuckled. "You're really going to make me say it?" he asked. When Damien didn't answer, he continued, "Fine. I know that it was Katherine that night. She, along with another woman, infiltrated Park Group." He looked at Damien and met his gaze. His cousin had an unreadable expression. "Don't bother denying. I already checked my facts."

"How did you find out?" Damien was genuinely curious. "How did you recognize her?"

"I didn't at first. She was unrecognizable with her get up anyway." William saw him crease his brow, so he added, "I drove by the south entrance minutes before it happened. I only thought to check my dashcam the day after and guess what I foundrather who?"

Damien closed his eyes for a brief second, already knowing what William was about to say next.

William softly chuckled. "It was Katherine and one of your men in that red Lexusthe very same one down at the basement parking."

Damien clenched his jaw and was about to respond when the other spoke before he could, "Don't worry, I didn't tell anyone."

"And why the hell not?"

William cocked a brow at him. "Do you want me to tell someone?"

"Cut the crap, William. Why are you really here?"

"Because I want answers." William's expression turned serious. "She's Katherine Young. And I'm pretty damn sure you both know what that means now. She left Now she's back And you two looked like you're Hollywood's newest celebrity scandal who's in your honeymoon stageas if nothing happened."

Damien got up from the sofa and grabbed himself a shot of hard liquor, shaking his head as he listened to William's ramble. He could tell that his cousin was annoyed that he didn't 'update' him with his love life's status. And the incident from last Thursday night caused this visit. 

"We've never been a family for a long time and that's my faultI know that. But I had your back when she turned hers on you. So please, enlighten me. What is with you two? And why the fck is she snooping around in my territory? Is she back for revenge? What does she want?"

Damien's hand stilled from pouring the amber-colored liquid into the glass for a few seconds before he poured two fingers into two glasses. Apart from the fact that Katherine was indeed back for revenge, that night, she wasn't there for that. However, he couldn't tell William the whole truth. At least not yet because it wasn't only his secret to tell.

His relationship with William had improved over the past couple of months. They weren't exactly back to how they were back when they were still young, but they were already on speaking terms and no longer avoided or messed with each other. 

Without asking, he gave the other glass to William and sat in the armchair facing him. "I can't tell you anything about that yet. Give me time" The other scowled at him, clearly pissed that he was asking for him to have patienceand William wasn't friends with patience.

The expression on Damien's face went from looking uneasy to looking confident. His plan was already in place and he needed William's help for it to succeed. He knew about William and Frederick's relationship. Although William sought for his father's approval, he hated his father almost as much Damien didprobably even more. Damien would be using his cousin, but he was sure that William wouldn't mind as long as they both get what they want in the end.

"However Let me offer you something instead. Something that I know you cannot refuse. I was going to tell you about this at the end of the week but you're already here now"

Intrigued, William swirled the drink in his glass and carefully replied, "I don't know what you think can entice me at this point, but go on..."

Damien's eyes darkened as he looked at the other in the eye and asked, "How would you like to take over Park Group as the next CEO?"