Revenge Begins

Chapter 004.

Aurelia's POV

I woke up with a pounding headache and immediately regretted every drink I had taken the night before. I slowly opened my eyes, then froze when I realized I was not in my room. The unfamiliar ceiling, the expensive curtains, and the faint scent of perfume around me made the memories return in pieces. The club. The hotel. The shirtless man.

 My cheeks warmed as I sat up and looked around. He was sleeping peacefully. I quickly gathered my things, dressed, and slipped out of the room before anyone could see me.

I hurried down the corridor, keeping my head lowered until I reached the lobby. 

Bella was already waiting there, sitting comfortably on one of the sofas with her legs crossed. The moment she saw me, her eyes widened before a wicked smile spread across her face.

 “Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to show up.”

 I stopped beside her. “Don't start.”

If only she hadn't suggested the club, I might be home by now, getting ready to eat breakfast. 

 She stood up, looking me over. “Why? Did you have fun?”

I bit my lower lip and looked away. I honestly had no idea what to say. The man must have been one of the men Bella had set me up with.

“You don't have to pretend with me,” she continued, linking her arm with mine. “I told you there were plenty of handsome men in that club.” 

“Bella, please.” I rolled my eyes.

 “What? I'm proud of you. At least you finally stopped thinking about Asher for one night.” I gave her a look, but she only laughed as we walked toward the car.

The moment we got inside, Bella started talking again. She kept teasing me about disappearing and asked whether her choice had been worth it. 

I barely listened.

My mind was somewhere else. Who exactly was that man?

 I don't know why I remember his face clearly, his voice, the warmth of his body, and the way he had looked at me, but I did not even know his name.

How I wish I had a hangover, unable to remember anything. However, the memories were clear enough to ignore. 

 I glanced out the window, replaying the night over and over. Bella's voice became nothing more than background noise as questions filled my head.

By the time we reached home, Bella was still whining about how I had refused to tell her anything. 

She stopped the car in front of my mansion and turned toward me. “Next time, at least tell me which one you picked.” 

I rolled my eyes. “There won't be a next time.” 

She laughed. “Sure, Lia.” 

I stepped out before she could continue and watched her drive away. The moment I entered the mansion, I found Dad's secretary waiting in the sitting room with a thick file in her hands.

“Good morning, Miss Whitmore,” He greeted. 

“Good morning. What is that?”

“The handover file for the company. Mr. Whitmore asked me to bring it to you first thing this morning.”

I stared at the file.

So much for recovering from last night.

It seemed my new life had already begun.

"I will take a look at it once I'm done with my bath", I replied, climbing the stairs gently as I tried to hide the pain in my thighs. I must have ridden him too much last night; now I can't walk properly. 

Taking another step, I glanced back at him. "Get me a female assistant before the end of today. I will be resuming work tomorrow, so no delay"

"Yes, ma'am"

"You can go"

I watched him disappear and released a loud sigh. I took two steps....

“Ah!”

Pain shot through my thigh.

I grabbed the railing and stared at the stairs as if they had personally offended me. “What did that man do to me?”

I tried climbing another step.

It was an idea. My leg nearly betrayed me; I held the railing tighter and slowly dragged myself upward, one painful step at a time.

“Never again,” I muttered.

Another step. “Ouch!”

By the time I reached the top, I was breathing as if I had just climbed Mount Everest.

I glanced down at the staircase. “I'm blaming Bella for this.”

******

I woke up early the next morning, still feeling the effects of two nights ago. I worked throughout the previous day, checking the company's statistics and going through different files until late at night.

Finally, I went to the company. 

After a quick shower, I stood in front of my wardrobe, deciding what to wear for my first day back at the company. I wanted something elegant but powerful.

 I finally chose a perfectly fitted black suit, a white silk blouse, and black heels. I pulled my hair into a neat style, added simple jewelry, and checked myself in the mirror.

 The woman staring back at me looked like a CEO.

By the time I arrived at Whitmore Corporation, several cars were already parked in the parking area. Employees and executives. 

Then my car stopped at the main entrance, and two guards immediately stepped forward to open the door.

“Good morning, Miss Whitmore.”

I stepped out, adjusting my jacket as I looked at the familiar building. I had spent years away from this place, yet everything still felt strangely familiar. The moment employees recognized me, whispers spread across the entrance. Some bowed slightly as I passed, while others greeted me respectfully.

“Good morning, Miss Whitmore.”

“Welcome back, Miss.”

I nodded politely and continued walking.

My father's secretary hurried toward me with a few board members and several bodyguards behind him. The moment they reached me, they stopped and bowed respectfully.

“Welcome back, Miss Whitmore.”

I smiled. “Thank you. It's good to be back.”

The board members exchanged cautious glances. They had probably heard enough about me from my father to know exactly who I was. I had been away for three years, but I was still the Whitmore heiress, and from today onward, I would be running the company.

“I want to look around the building myself,” I said.

The secretary immediately nodded. “Of course, Miss Whitmore. Should I accompany you?”

“No. I'll be fine.”

The bodyguards looked at each other.

I waved them off. “You don't need to follow me. I just want to walk around and see how things have changed.”

They reluctantly stepped back.

I walked through the familiar corridors alone, taking in the offices, meeting rooms, and employees rushing around with files in their hands. Some stared at me openly, while others quickly looked away when our eyes met. I could not blame them. I had returned without warning, and most of them probably knew me only by name.

I turned another corner and suddenly bumped into someone.

A stack of papers flew from the person's hands and scattered across the floor.

“What the hell!” a woman screamed.

“I'm sorry.” I immediately crouched down and started gathering the papers. “I wasn't watching where I was going.”

“Of course you weren't! Do you know how important these...”

Her voice stopped.

I picked up the last sheet and slowly raised my head.

My breath caught.

It was Elara, Asher's stupid first love.

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

Then she burst into laughter. “You?”

I stood up slowly.

Elara looked me up and down, her laughter becoming louder. “What are you doing here? And look at you!” She touched her own suit and scoffed. “Who taught a lowlife like you how to dress this nicely?”

I stared at her calm expression.

Some things really had not changed.

I smiled faintly. “Funny. I was about to ask you the same thing. How did you end up here?”

Her smile widened with pride. “I'm the new secretary of the CEO.”

I almost laughed. “The CEO?”

“Yes.” She folded her arms. “The new CEO is arriving today, and I'm going to be working directly under her. Don't tell me you are here for a cleaning job?” she mocked.

I looked at her for a moment before laughing.

“Well, I am the CEO.”

Her smile disappeared.

I adjusted my jacket and looked directly into her eyes. “Aurelia Whitmore. The new CEO.”

Elara stared at me before bursting into another laugh. “You?”

“Yes, me.”

She shook her head. “You must be joking. Do you really think someone like you can become the CEO of this company?”

“I don't think. I know so.”

Her smile slowly faded. “You seem so delusional,” she muttered.

“Neither have you. Still loud, still arrogant, and still carrying other people's papers.”

Her face darkened. “You really think wearing an expensive suit makes you the CEO? Oh, you want to get my attention! Try harder!”

“No. My family name does that quite well. I mean, we have people's attention without trying. ”

Elara stepped closer. “You're still nothing compared to people like us.”

I smiled. "And yet, somehow, you're nothing more than a mere secretary. And I'm not sure you are hired.”

Her expression changed instantly. “You...”

She raised her hand.

Before it could come down, a sharp voice echoed through the corridor.

“Stop that immediately!”

She froze.

My father's secretary rushed toward us with several bodyguards behind him. The moment they reached me, they stopped and bowed.

“Miss Whitmore!”

I watched her face turn pale white. I smirked. 

Let's start the payback from here.