Elarie Newton thought she could hide her secret forever. After becoming pregnant with no idea who the father was, she buried her shame, concealing the truth for months. But when her father, Alexander Newton, found out, her world crashed down in an instant. "Get out of my house! I don’t have a daughter who’s a slut like you!" Alexander’s voice had cut through the silence like a blade. Abandoned and alone, Elarie had been left to fend for herself. Five years later, she was still fighting—fighting to survive, to raise her son, Daniel, and to give him a future. But the load she carried was becoming unbearable. With Daniel starting school, her low-paying job barely covered their bills. Then came a glimmer of hope. A job interview. Her final chance to turn things around. Elarie stepped into the conference room with her heart pounding, filled with hope and determination. Behind the massive desk sat Danreb Scott, a man whose cold, calculating gaze pierced right through her. “So, Ms. Newton…” He had dragged his eyes from her feet to her head. “…do you really think you’re capable of working with me without a degree?” Elarie’s breath had hitched, but she had straightened her spine. “I’ve done more with less.” This was her chance to prove that her past didn’t define her—that she was more than the broken girl her father had cast aside. But would Danreb Scott see beyond her scars, or would her past continue to haunt her? But one thing was for sure. Elarie was ready to fight for her son’s future, even if it meant working under the icy gaze of the man sitting across from her.
View MoreBack in her cubicle, Elarie was going through the day’s tasks when the phone on her desk rang. She glanced at it, momentarily distracted from her thoughts about the murmurs that had circulated around the office earlier. She picked up the receiver.“Hello, this is Ms. Newton from Danreb Scott’s office.”The voice on the other end belonged to the front desk officer. “Ms. Newton, there’s someone here in the lobby looking for you.”Elarie frowned. “Someone looking for me? Who is it?”“She says her name is Stephanie. Stephanie Newton.”Elarie’s forehead knotted in confusion and frustration. ‘Stephanie? What is she doing here?’“I’ll be right down,” Elarie replied, trying to keep her voice steady despite the irritation washing over her. After ending the call, she looked over at Therese, who was seated nearby."I need to go downstairs for a minute," Elarie said, standing up.Therese barely glanced at her, rolling her eyes with the usual dismissiveness. “I don’t care what you do.”Elarie sim
Elarie already arrived at the office. She gave her customary greeting to Therese, her senior secretary, offering a polite, “Good morning,” only to be met with the same reaction as always—Therese rolling her eyes with a hint of annoyance. Elarie sighed quietly and moved on. As she sat on her desk, Elarie noticed the soft murmurs and whispered conversations growing around the office floor. She couldn’t mistake what their topic was. Her co-workers were talking about Danreb.“Did you hear the news? Danreb Scott was rejected by a potential investor. Of all people, him?”“I’ve never seen him lose a deal before. This is a first.”“It was a big proposal too. He never fails.”Elarie’s heart sank as she pieced together what they were talking about. It was about Mr. Castor, the investor who had crossed the line in their last meeting last week. The one who made an inappropriate demand involving her. Danreb had shut him down, refusing to sacrifice his integrity for the deal. But now, the rumors w
Elarie sat in stunned silence. Her mind was still on the heated argument that had unfolded between Danreb and Mr. Castor. She had been witness to a level of composure and professionalism from Danreb that left her both impressed and slightly shaken. When Mr. Castor stormed out, fuming with anger, Elarie wasn’t sure how things would proceed. The potential deal that could have secured a huge investment for Scott Corporation had been dissolved in a matter of moments.Danreb, however, seemed entirely unfazed. He signaled the waiter and calmly paid for their meal. He looked as if nothing had just happened. When he finished, he glanced at Elarie, who was still sitting frozen in her seat.“Let’s go,” Danreb said. “We’re behind schedule.”Elarie blinked, shaking herself out of her trance. “Yes, of course,” she muttered. She quickly stood and followed him toward the exit. She was still processing everything. Her feet moved automatically as she walked behind him. They made their way through the
Danreb sat in his seat. His face became unreadable when the investor made his intentions clear. The words that fell from Castor’s lips dripped with arrogance and entitlement.“I think you know what I mean,” Castor said with a chuckle, eyeing Danreb with an amused glint. “After all, you’ve been in this business long enough to understand how deals like these are made.” He leaned back, swirling the last bit of wine in his glass before adding, “In exchange for my investment, I want Elarie.”Elarie’s breath hitched. Her eyes immediately widened in shock. She sat frozen in place. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. She was trying to process the audacity of the demand. Her entire body felt cold as Castor’s words echoed in her ears, making her feel objectified and powerless.Danreb, on the other hand, remained outwardly calm, though his jaw tightened as he gritted his teeth. He inhaled deeply, carefully controlling his temper. His eyes narrowed, but his voice remained steady. “I bel
Elarie and Danreb stepped out of the car and approached the grand entrance of the restaurant. Elarie, following closely behind Danreb, tried to keep her composure as she took in the opulence. But just before they could enter the restaurant, Danreb suddenly stopped in his tracks. She was not expecting the abrupt halt which made her bump straight into his back.She took a quick step back as her face flush with embarrassment. “I-I’m so sorry, Mr. Scott.”Danreb turned his head slightly. He didn’t seem so affected by the minor accident at all. His eyes flicked to her before he spoke. “Walk beside me, not behind. I need to be reminded that I have company.”Elarie quickly nodded. “Yes, sir.”She fell into step beside him as they entered the restaurant. The doors opened to reveal an extravagant interior that took her breath away. It had been five years since she had last been in a place like this. The crystal chandeliers, the gleaming silverware, the soft murmur of conversations from well-dr
Stephanie was left at the spot frozen. She just watched Danreb and Elarie disappear from her sight. The smug look on Elarie’s face replayed in her head. And each second that she thought about it only fuelled her anger for her. Her chest tightened. Unconsciously, she clenched her fist at her sides. How dare Elarie speak to her like that? In front of Danreb Scott no less. She had humiliated her.When Stephanie finally regained her composure, her jaw clenched in fury. She gritted her teeth, and she almost couldn’t catch her breath. “She’ll pay for this,” she muttered under her breath. “I’ll make sure of it.”Without wasting another moment, Stephanie fished her phone out of her designer handbag and dialed a number. After a few rings, the familiar voice of her mother, Gladys, came through the line.“Stephanie?” Gladys answered. “What is it, darling?”“Mom,” Stephanie hissed, struggling to keep her voice calm. “I have something important to tell you. It’s about Elarie.”Gladys’s tone imme
Stephanie’s jaw dropped the moment she laid eyes on Danreb Scott. Standing just a few feet away from her was the man her father, Alexander, had spoken about so many times—the elusive and powerful CEO of Scott Corporation. She could already feel how fast her heart was thumping at the sight. Danreb was not just any businessman. He was a man who could make or break a company with a single decision. And her father had been desperate to secure an investment from him for the Newton Chain of Hotels.At that moment, Stephanie completely forgot about Elarie. Her mind was already circling about this opportunity. Without missing a beat, she began walking toward Danreb. She walked confidently toward the man. She even widened her smile as she approached him. She knew how to charm men like Danreb—she’d spent her whole life learning how to navigate powerful circles.“Mr. Scott,” Stephanie began. Her voice dripped with so much sweetness. Then she extended her hand toward him. “I’m Stephanie Newton. I
Elarie’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red as the boutique staff continued to smile at her. They clearly misunderstood the situation. “No, no,” she stammered, trying to clarify. “I’m just an employee. Mr. Scott is my boss.”The staff exchanged knowing glances. Their smiles widened as if they were all in on some secret that Elarie wasn’t. One of them even chuckled softly, offering a polite, “Of course, dear.”Elarie pressed her lips together. She just realized there was no point in arguing further. The women clearly didn’t believe her. And she didn’t have the energy to explain herself again. Just as the makeup artist finished applying the last touch of powder to her face, the door opened. Collin entered with a perfectly pressed, dry-cleaned outfit in his hand.Danreb glanced at the clothes, then shifted it at Elarie. “Go change,” he instructed.Elarie nodded. She took the clothes from Collin and walked toward the boutique’s powder room. Once inside, she changed into the new outfit—a s
Elarie was stunned in front of the luxurious collection of clothes. She could feel her heart hammering against her chest in disbelief. Everything felt surreal. She had followed Danreb into the boutique, assuming he was shopping for someone else. Now, as the staff lined up to present her with the outfits and accessories, she couldn’t understand what was happening.Stuttering, she finally gathered enough courage to ask, “M-Mr. Scott, why are you doing this?”Danreb didn’t even blink. He just glanced at a nearby rack of clothes indifferently. “I don’t want a secretary who repeats her outfits every day,” he answered plainly. “I can’t have anyone thinking I hired a cheap secretary.”Elarie’s face flushed with both embarrassment and shock. “But I could just stay in the office,” she blurted out, feeling desperate to avoid the mounting expenses. “Therese could attend the meetings with you. She’s more experienced anyway.”Danreb shook his head. “That won’t always be possible. Therese has her o
Elarie gasped as a sharp pain shot through her abdomen, jolting her awake. The dark room around her was still and silent. And the only sound was her ragged breathing as she clutched her stomach. It was the middle of the night. So it was far too late for anyone to be awake in the Newton household. But the pain was unbearable now. And she knew she couldn’t wait any longer.Her eyes darted to the bag she had prepared for this exact moment. She had packed it days ago as she was anticipating the arrival of the one thing she had kept secret from everyone, especially her father. Grimacing, she swung her legs off the bed and forced herself to stand. She took deep breaths as she willed herself to move through the pain. Then she grabbed the bag and slipped out of her room, careful not to make any noise.Each step down the hallway felt like a monumental task as she struggled to breathe through the pain. Reaching the front door, she hesitated only briefly before slipping outside.She didn’t know
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