Chapter 3

Vivian sat beside Nathan, her face expressionless.

The whispers around the room pricked at her like needles.

She pretended not to hear them.

Serena’s eyes immediately reddened.

She stood up, her voice trembling.

“Mr. Hayes, I can’t accept this. I haven’t done enough to deserve it.”

Nathan placed a hand on her shoulder, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“You deserve it. Everyone here has seen how much you’ve given to this company over the years.”

Then he turned to Vivian.

“Ms. Grant agreed to it too.”

The conference room fell completely silent.

Every eye turned toward Vivian, waiting for her to speak.

Vivian stared at Nathan’s hand resting reassuringly on Serena’s shoulder.

She lowered her gaze, her nails digging into her palm.

“Yes. I agreed.”

Her voice wasn’t loud, but every person in the room heard her clearly.

Some looked stunned.

Others immediately lowered their heads and started typing furiously on their phones.

A few exchanged knowing glances.

Nathan nodded in satisfaction and continued.

“Now that Serena is a shareholder, she’ll no longer be working solely as my secretary. She’ll be involved in more of the company’s core projects.

“I expect everyone to cooperate with her and give her the support she needs.”

Everyone nodded in agreement.

The way they looked at Serena had already changed, carrying noticeably more respect.

Watching the scene unfold, Vivian suddenly remembered the early days of the company.

She had once accompanied Nathan to meet an especially difficult client.

The man had taken one look at how young she was and learned that she came from a ballet background.

His disdain had been obvious.

“Mr. Hayes, you brought a ballerina to a business meeting? Is she here to put on a show for me?”

Vivian’s face had burned with humiliation.

Nathan had immediately set down his glass.

His voice had been ice-cold.

“She’s the business partner I trust most.

“If you have a problem with that, then we don’t need this deal.”

Once they left the building, Vivian’s eyes had finally turned red.

Nathan had cupped her face in his hands.

“Vivian, no one gets to look down on you.

“As long as I’m here, all you need to do is hold your head high and keep moving forward.”

Back then, she had believed this man would protect her for the rest of her life.

But now, the woman he was protecting was someone else.

After the meeting ended, everyone gradually filed out.

Whispers spread through the room like a rising tide.

“Has Ms. Grant basically been pushed aside?”

“His actual girlfriend is sitting right there, and Mr. Hayes is still openly protecting Serena.”

“You don’t understand. It’s equity compensation. Public companies do this all the time.”

“Compensation is one thing. But why did it have to be his secretary?”

Vivian didn’t move.

She remained in her seat until the last set of footsteps disappeared down the hallway.

Only then did she slowly stand.

On her way out, she passed Serena’s workspace.

It was a small area directly outside Nathan’s office, separated by a semi-sheer privacy screen.

The screen was drawn.

Quiet voices came from the other side.

Serena sounded uneasy, with a hint of hurt in her voice.

“Mr. Hayes, do you think Vivian is upset?

“Those were her shares. I feel terrible accepting them.

“Maybe you should give them back to her. I’m afraid she’ll blame me.”

Nathan’s voice softened as he reassured her.

“With me protecting you, who would dare blame you?

“Don’t worry. I’ve already handled things with Vivian. You don’t need to think about it.”

Vivian stood outside the screen, her fingers tightening around the edge of the folder in her hands.

She heard Serena murmur a soft, nasal “Okay.”

It sounded almost like she was both touched and seeking comfort.

Then came the scrape of a chair.

Nathan seemed to move closer to her.

Vivian had never paid much attention to that privacy screen before.

Now she suddenly understood.

Nathan hadn’t had it installed simply because it was “more convenient for discussing work.”

He had done it so Serena could always be close to him.

Vivian forced herself to look away.

As she walked toward the exit, she called her attorney.

“Mr. Walker, please put all the shares under my name up for sale.

“Sell every last one. I want it handled as quickly as possible.”

There was a brief pause on the other end.

“Ms. Grant, are you planning to leave the company?”

“Yes.”

Her voice was perfectly calm.

“Can everything be done within a month?”

“It can. I’ll have it expedited.”

After hanging up, Vivian sent a message to a few of her closest friends.

'Drinks tonight. My treat.'