Chapter 5: Room 1402

I don’t think I made any mistake… Maybe he just doesn’t know me well enough, Serena mused, replaying the earlier encounter with Alexander. His sudden shift in mood had left her unsettled, making her wonder if she had unknowingly offended him.

The soft buzz of her phone snapped her from her thoughts. Seeing Kevin’s name flash on the screen brought a small sense of relief.

“Ava, have you arrived?” Kevin’s voice was steady yet laced with curiosity.

“Hey, Kevin… I think I might’ve messed up,” Serena admitted with a sigh, running a hand through her hair.

Kevin was taken aback. Serena—known professionally as Ava Alvarez—was one of the most meticulous designers he had ever worked with. He had never once heard her second-guess herself.

“Room 1402. Come here, and we’ll sort it out,” he said, his tone reassuring.

“Okay.” Ending the call, she flagged down a nearby waiter for directions and made her way through the dimly lit corridor toward the private suite.

Inside the lavishly furnished room, Kevin exchanged a glance with Raphael Richardson, who was reclining comfortably on the sofa, a glass of whiskey in hand.

“The designer will be here soon,” Kevin informed him.

Raphael, effortlessly stylish in a tailored suit, smirked. His confidence was the kind that came naturally to men who had never known struggle. “No rush. Xander’s on his way too. When they meet face-to-face, things will fall into place.”

Kevin exhaled, loosening his tie slightly. “Alexander and I went to high school together, but I doubt he remembers me. We weren’t exactly close.”

With Alexander’s privileged background and striking presence, people had always gravitated toward him. Even back then, he had possessed an air of effortless superiority—attending class only when necessary, yet always excelling.

As Kevin finished speaking, the door swung open, and Serena entered.

She walked in alone, exuding quiet confidence. Dressed in light-colored casual attire rather than formal wear, she still managed to radiate effortless elegance. Her neatly tied hair and designer handbag complemented her refined demeanor.

Raphael’s gaze flickered with intrigue as he took her in. “I wasn’t expecting such beauty.”

Still, confusion clouded his expression. “Didn’t my cousin pick you up? Where is he?”

Serena hesitated for the briefest moment. Cousin? She hadn’t known Alexander and Raphael were related, but the revelation barely fazed her.

Composing herself, she met Raphael’s gaze with a polite smile. “Maybe I offended Mr. Vanderbilt somehow.”

Raphael chuckled, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. He had always appreciated people who could remain poised under pressure, and Serena’s composure only intrigued him further.

“How could you have offended him?” he mused. “Your designs are impressive. Even though Alexander is more business-oriented, he has a double degree, and one of them is in art. He should appreciate your work. He’s probably just in a bad mood because of the divorce.”

Serena remained silent, but Kevin’s curiosity was piqued. “Alexander is married?”

Raphael nodded, leaning back lazily. “Yeah. He got married pretty young, but the first thing he did when he returned was contact his lawyer to finalize the divorce.”

Serena took a slow breath, carefully keeping her expression neutral.

Raphael, who rarely concerned himself with Vanderbilt family matters, had never met Alexander’s wife. He was more interested in high-end social gatherings than family obligations.

“This is the first I’m hearing about his marriage,” Kevin admitted. “I thought the villa he bought in Manhattan was supposed to be his wedding house. But if he’s divorcing, does that mean it’s just for him?”

“No, I still think it’s a wedding house,” Raphael countered, tapping his fingers thoughtfully against his glass. “He never wanted his current wife. Their marriage was forced. But there was someone else he liked before—he probably bought the villa for her.”

Serena kept her features carefully blank, though a faint sense of irony curled in her chest. So, he’s preparing a wedding house for another woman before his divorce is even finalized?

Raphael handed Serena a glass of juice, his smile warm. “When Alexander arrives, I’ll show him your designs. He should be interested.”

Serena accepted the glass, nodding politely. “Thank you. If this deal goes through, dinner’s on me.”

Raphael chuckled. “Don’t worry about the money. And if you handle this well, your reputation will skyrocket. You’re about to be in very high demand.”

Serena understood the weight of this opportunity. Landing this project would cement her reputation in elite circles, securing her future as a sought-after designer.

If all went well, this deal would change everything.

Meanwhile, Alexander entered a private suite down the hall, his presence immediately shifting the atmosphere. The low hum of conversation dulled, and even in the dim lighting, his commanding aura was impossible to ignore.

His phone buzzed again—Raphael. Alexander barely glanced at the screen before silencing the call.

Hugo, lounging comfortably with a glass of wine, noticed the tension in his expression. “What’s with the face? Who pissed you off?” he asked, swirling the drink in his hand.

Despite the lively ambiance, no one dared approach Alexander casually. Even among New York’s elite, he exuded a level of authority that kept people at a respectful distance.

“Let me guess… the divorce?” Hugo smirked. “Word is, she’s refusing to sign.”

Alexander unfastened his cufflinks and tossed them onto the tray beside him before leaning back. “She’ll sign eventually. She knew exactly why we got married in the first place.”

His tone was clipped, signaling his disinterest in discussing the topic further.

But the truth was, his irritation had nothing to do with his impending divorce. It stemmed from someone else entirely—the woman he had encountered earlier.

His mind kept circling back to her, unable to reconcile the contradictions. She had been inexperienced—he was sure of that—yet she had claimed she’d been doing this for three years. What exactly does she do?

The memory of that night flickered through his mind, unbidden. Her breathy gasps, the way her body had trembled under him, the way she had…

Alexander scowled and reached for his drink, downing it in one sharp motion.

His thoughts were interrupted by another call from Raphael. This time, he picked up.

“Xander, come downstairs. I want to introduce you to someone personally,” Raphael’s voice came through, the sound of bass-heavy music thrumming in the background.

Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose. “If it’s another woman, I’m not interested.”

Raphael laughed. “Trust me, you’ll want to meet her. I searched for a long time before I found someone perfect for you.”

Alexander’s jaw tightened. So it is a woman.

“If not,” Raphael continued teasingly, “I might just keep her for myself. She’s got talent, and I quite like her.”

Something cold flickered in Alexander’s eyes. “I’ll arrange an internship for you at the company. Since you have so much free time, you can put it to better use. Be at the office tomorrow morning.”

Before Raphael could protest, Alexander ended the call.

---

Back in the private suite, Raphael sighed, shaking his head before turning to Serena. “It’s on me. He’s impossible to deal with.”

Serena wasn’t fazed. “Don’t worry, Mr. Richardson. Perhaps Mr. Vanderbilt already has someone in mind.”

“That’s impossible! He’s still looking for a designer,” Raphael insisted.

Serena merely offered a polite smile. “Some things just don’t work out. Perhaps Mr. Vanderbilt and I aren’t meant to cross paths.”

Raphael exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “If he doesn’t take you, I will. I have plenty of houses that need work, and I love your style.”

Serena accepted his business card with a small nod. “I appreciate that, Mr. Richardson. Thank you.”

After exchanging contact information, Raphael excused himself, leaving Serena to handle a now heavily inebriated Kevin.

Kevin, who had been holding himself together for the sake of business, was now slumped against the sofa, mumbling incoherently. Serena sighed, gently propping him up.

“I’ll call a driver to take you home,” she told him, knowing his newlywed wife would overthink if she personally drove him.

“Serena… it’s not what you think,” Kevin muttered as she helped him toward the elevator. His words slurred together. “She only cares about the money… I’m so tired of this…”

Serena kept her distance as much as possible, though supporting his weight made it difficult.

The elevator doors slid open, and Kevin, struggling to stand properly, nearly stumbled forward—right into Alexander.

Alexander caught him effortlessly, his grip steady, his face impassive as he held the doors open.

Serena’s breath hitched. Three times in one day? What are the odds?

His sharp gaze flicked between her and Kevin, unreadable.

“Which floor?” he asked coolly.

“First,” Serena replied, keeping her tone neutral. “Thank you.”

She stole a glance at him. Dressed in his usual tailored suit, two silver buttons undone at his collar, Alexander looked more relaxed than before, yet there was something in his eyes—something sharp, almost mocking.

Kevin, oblivious to the tension, muttered again, “It’s always about money. Do you even care?”

Serena frowned, remembering the rumors that Kevin’s wife was a heavy spender, adding strain to their marriage.

Alexander scoffed faintly. “He’s your client?”

Serena hesitated. She couldn’t say Kevin was her boss—if Alexander was annoyed with her, he might blacklist the studio out of sheer irritation.

Feeling cornered, she nodded. “Yes, Mr. Vanderbilt. What a coincidence meeting you here.”