Contract with Ares

Prelude

i. epigraph

❝...if you want to melt the

i c e ,

you need to play with

f i r e.❞

ii. foreword

Kye Cohen had been fooled.

For someone who had a record of controlling everything in the way that he wanted, this is one f*****g jab. It was a problem he had never thought he would ever have. Eyes focused on his watch, a sweat of worry lingered in his temple. While he knew that he should face the truth, a part of him wanted to decline ever having that thought.

It seemed like he had lost this one.

Hands pulling his tie slightly loose, he suppressed the noise he wanted to create.

How the f**k this did happen?

“K? Where is your little girlfriend?” Lucas was quick to ask upon spotting the man walking back to their spot. Everyone seemed to have looked at their friend, confused to see him alone.

—and well, with an added sourness in his temper.

Not willing to talk about it, Kye sat in one of the chairs and continued on checking his phone. Even if it was an action that indicated that he did not want to discuss more of the topic, it is one that captured everyone’s attention. All had risen from their seats, walking close to Kye.

Kye seemed to move back, surprise by the audience. “What the f**k is going on?”

“Did you get dumped?” Seth pipped in.

“I do not want to talk about it.”

“You’re dodging the question.” Lucas noticed, brow slightly raised.

“That means you’re embarrassed!” Matthias quickly takes note.

“Did you get catfished?” Braden asked.

Kye didn’t even answer, which further gave his friends enough answer they needed. It was safe to say that he was pissed. K had spent his entire summer to make this girl fall for him—not even for the reason that he had fallen for her, but simply because he needed the woman.

It was all due to his personal interest, and not at all because of her.

Synchronized laughter ensued by all of them. Seeing K in this situation as comedic. The one person who is used to having the power to manipulate everything around him is in despair all because of the variables that he cannot control. He rarely showed any emotion, so seeing him all around was rather pleasing to his friends.

Ayne grinned, clearly amused. “Who has the power to scare the almighty K? I am curious.”

“I am too!” Vien raised her hand in glee. “I bet she’ll be fun to have around!”

While K was questioning why he has these people as his friends, Braden caught a single girl from a distance. Page Asvette was just done parking her car. She’s wearing a uniform that complimented what Seth was wearing—which then placed her in the Engineering Department. What caught his attention—was her face. It was easy to spot since she looked like Kye Cohen’s supposed girlfriend.

“Hey, K. Just a quick question.” He called, seemingly calm as he put his drink down, “that girlfriend of yours isn’t a student here, right?”

He sighed, massaging his head. “For f**k’s sake. I think she doesn’t even exist.”

“Don’t say that You might not be talking to the real one, but the girl in the picture does exist,” slowly beckoning them to the girl who was checking her phone, he smiled. “And it seemed like she’s a student here.”

K felt a sense of relief wash over his face like a small breeze had been finally allowed inside the cave that he was trapped in. While it gave him the verification that he had been catfished, he could work with someone that is much closer to him. Seeing the woman’s living form, he could not even doubt that he was talking to a different presence. Even if he still wasn’t familiar with her, he could sense that she was someone who had a privilege life growing up—a clear contrast to who he was talking to.

He talked for this “girl” the whole summer, and upon her stories, she wasn’t even qualified in this school. Kye had forgotten to check with their dean for this woman, but damn. He is startled.

Fuck.

Ayne nodded, patting his back softly, “So even the great K Cohen can get catfished. I was not aware that you have some episodes of being stupid.”

Soft chuckles ensued upon remembering old times. Kye didn’t even listen to their words as he tried to wind up ideas on how he could have a peaceful life. Everything was getting out of hand, dammit. He has a perfect plan to make everything work, but this slip-up is messing up all he has planned.

“And if you look there.” Lucas frowned as he saw a familiar car stopping from where they were. “Your other doom is about to park her car.”

“Well,” K started, eyes focused on the woman. “Frankly, Xbie isn’t aware that I got catfished.”

Vien frowned, already seeing the errors in his words. It seemed like K was perplexed about this. “But if she asked for a picture and then saw that same girl... wouldn’t she know what’s up?”

At the set of the alarm of a car and the familiar voice calling their group, Kye did things without planning in his head. He bolted into the girl that was slowly getting far from them. He could hear someone calling him from behind, and he didn’t even know if this would work.

But heavens, he has to try.

“Hi!” He started, gasping for air before the woman before her.

Page frowned, looking around to see if he was talking to someone else. When she saw none, that is when her eyes moved towards him. Not in a way to speak, she rolled her eyes. “Bye. Now, get out of my way.”

“I need to escape from someone, and I need your help.”

“Good luck,” she muttered before walking past him.

Upon having her walk past him, he was faced with a familiar face not far from him. The other woman smiled, ready to run into his arms. It was easy to admit defeat and find a new approach to this, but K isn’t that kind of man. Moving his feet, he jogged back to Page, who seemed surprised to see him.

“What are you—”

“I’m sorry about this.” He muttered before doing something spontaneous.

With a frown, she was about to ask what for, but his lips had inched closer to hers, enough that any small movement from her would let their lips connect. It might have some distance in their view, but it was a tad different in a distance. At that particular time, Xbie Sage, who saw the scene as something that broke her made a run for it—slightly wishing that he would follow her and explain.

However, Kye did let his lips depart from the female with a sigh. He smiled, ready to thank Page for accepting his favor, but her hands were surprisingly faster when it slapped his cheeks.

“Exactly what the fuc—” she paused, a small shriek escaped her lips the second that he had tried to get a step closer to her. when he tried to get closer to her. “No! Don’t you dare come forth!”

Kye chuckled, offering his hand, “I’m Kye Cohen. Nice to meet you.”

“You’re crazy!” Page replied with a huff, walking past him.

Yes, he was.

He knew that this could still work if he managed to pull the right keys and handle how to bend such a woman. Since he had started on her, he has been willing to do everything to have her on board. No matter what happens, his plan will continue.

She will settle well with having a contract with him.

iii. sypnosis

Kye Cohen has his life figured out with every crook and edge. From the second that he had the ability to think, he always had a plan set in course. In order not to get bothered and distracted by his past, he was willing to do everything. Even if it means dabbling on the idea he had always seen stupid—love.

Everything was in the palm of his hands.

What he didn’t expect though, was to get catfished by someone who looked like Page Asvette—possibly the last person in the world that would grant any favor that would ask of her. Despite that setback, he must do what he needed to get what he wanted.