CHAPTER FOUR: I DON'T KNOW YOU.

 Reyna stepped into the apartment, the soft click of the door behind her sounding louder than it should in the quiet room. She slipped off her heels, holding them in her hands and walked barefoot across the polished wooden floors, her expression unreadable as always, but her sister knew better.

Brielle, curled up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a half-watched show playing on her tablet, looked up. “You’re home early. That’s... new.”

Reyna dropped her shoes near the coffee table and headed straight for the kitchen. “Wasn’t in the mood to linger.”

Brielle narrowed her eyes. “Did something happen?”

Silence stretched for a beat as Reyna opened the fridge, pulled out jug lemon juice, and poured herself a glass. She took a long sip before answering.

“Roman was at the award show.”

Brielle paused her show and stared at her sister. “Roman... as in Roman Knight?”

Reyna gave a small nod, settling onto the edge of the couch beside her sister. 

“The ‘I would never sleep with her’ Roman,” Brielle clarified sitting upright she was now fully alert.

“Same flirtatious smile, same self-important walk. Just that his hair is longer.”

Brielle leaned closer to her sister, unable to hide her curiosity. “What did he say to you?”

“He offered me champagne,” Reyna said, tone dry. “Told me I looked different.”

“And?”

“I looked him in the eye and said I didn’t know who he was.”

Brielle gasped and immediately burst into laughter, almost spilling her popcorn. “No. You did not.”

“I did.” Reyna took another sip of her lemon juice, completely unbothered.

Brielle beamed at her, eyes full of pride. “Please tell me you walked away without looking back.”

“Of course I did.”

Brielle laughed again, shaking her head in disbelief. “You’re a savage. I love it. What was his face like?”

“I didn’t stay long enough to see.”

The humor slowly faded from Brielle’s expression as she looked closer at her sister. “Did it… bother you?”

Reyna leaned back, exhaling slowly. “I didn’t feel anything, Brielle. Not hurt, not anger, I felt absolutely nothing.”

“That means you’ve healed,” Brielle said softly.

Reyna glanced at her, a flicker of thought behind her calm gaze. “Or maybe I have just overcome so much that my past feels so insignificant ”

Brielle reached for her hand and squeezed it softly. “Whatever it is, I’m proud of you. He doesn’t get to haunt you anymore.”

Reyna nodded slightly, letting the silence stretch between them. The past was still there, but it no longer defined her. She wasn’t the girl who had walked away ashamed all those years ago.

She was Reyna Styles now, top popular fashion designer and this time, she held the power.

“You remember I have a Fashion show tomorrow Brielle and you are modeling my top collection.” Reyna snuggled close to her sister. 

“Yes little sis, you have to remember that first I am a nurse before your personal unpaid model,” Brielle pulled at Reyna's styled hair and she yelped.  

“Sure Sure, but I do pay you, with all my love” she teased. 

“Silly girl” The two sisters burst out laughing. 

Reyna valued her sister's love more than anything, she wouldn't have been able to overcome without her help. Brielle was her guardian angel. 

******

The hum of anticipation thrummed behind the curtains. Reyna stood by the monitors, watching as her models strutted the runway in her newest line, graceful silhouettes, power pieces in bold jewel stones. Applause echoed, but her focus stayed razor sharp. Everything was going according to plan.

Then Brielle appeared dressed in one of her sister's designs “He’s here.”

Reyna blinked confused. “Who?”

Brielle Tilted her head knowingly. “Roman Knight, he is here and he brought a date along.” 

A small frown tugged at Reyna’s lips, but she didn’t let it linger. “He doesn't give up.” 

Brielle went on stage as the final model and took her bow, Reyna stepped onto the stage, radiant in a lilac suit of her own design. She and Brielle, walking  side by side. 

She gave her usual poised wave, thanked her team, and exited to a private lounge where press and VIPs were being held.

She didn’t have to look far. He found her first.

Roman Knight stood, tall, broad-shouldered, dressed in tailored black stood by the champagne bar. Then he began walking towards her. 

“Impressive show you put on,” he praised as he walked towards her. 

She faced him slowly, already knowing he was approaching her.  

The years had been good to him. Tailored suit, Rolex glinting under the warm lights, the same easy swagger in his stance. But his confidence came laced with something else now, hesitation.

“It was wonderful, ” he complemented. “Amazing collection.”

“Thank you,” she replied, her tone was polite but distant at the same time. 

Roman extended a flute of champagne to her. “Thought you might want one. To celebrate.”

She accepted the glass without a smile. “You’re becoming quite the supporter.”

He chuckled deeply, watching her closely. “You remember me, then?”

Reyna sipped her drink, her expression unreadable. “I do. You were at the award show sitting in the front row and offering me champagne, again.”

“And yet,” he leaned in slightly, “you acted like you’d never seen me before.”

She turned to face him fully, lips curling into something too cool to be called a smile. “That’s because I didn’t know who you were then.”

His brow lifted slightly. “And now?”

“Now,” she said softly, “you’re just another man trying to impress me with wealth and charm, and I am not moved by those things. ”

Roman laughed lightly, charmed despite himself. “You have become a sharp woman, Reyna.”

She stepped back half a pace, enough to maintain control. “Naïve people only get used and dumped.”

They held each other’s gaze, his, curious and determined, hers, calm and unreadable.

Then, her phone made a sound. She glanced at it. “Excuse me, I have important things to meet up with.” she excused herself walking away. 

Roman watched her as she walked away, she took bold steps and moved elegantly. All he could do was wonder, curiosity and guilt swelling in his mind, he had made her who she was. 

The cold hearted woman she had become. 

And now he was going to right his wrongs.