4. Her Return

4. Her Return.

 A year later. Dallas, Texas.

Dahlia stared at her reflection on the elevator's mirrored walls. No cracks. No tears. Just steady eyes that had finally learned how to lie without trembling. She almost didn't recognize herself and maybe that was the whole point. 

"What time is the flight?" Dahlia asked, her voice cold and sharp, edged with a husky hoarseness she'd never noticed before. 

"6pm Miss Winters" Gaux replied briskly.

"We'll pick Kimberly up on our way out. She's leaving with us too" she stated. 

"Yes" Gaux said. A heartbeat. "Miss Winters..." Gaux called, voice hesitant.

"What's it?" Dahlia asked. 

"California...do you... really have to go?" 

Dahlia cast a look over her shoulder, a small smile gracing her lips. "Fret not Gaux, I'm going there for business" she said.

"But...I could have gone for you...or one of your brothers. It doesn't have to be you" Gaux opined. 

"This" Dahlia said, "is my empire Gaux. Not the Winters, not some family heirloom. This is my blood, sweat and tears. Why should I let someone else work it out for me?"

Gaux swallowed. "I'm sorry Miss. I have overstepped"

"No need to be sorry. I understand what you're wary of, but, this is my stage now. And I don't give a fuck about the side characters". 

Gaux nodded, visibly motivated by her boss's words. She steeled her heart and swore secretly to stand by her come what may. 

The elevator chimed open and they walked out, each step more powerful than the last. This time, she didn't care about anyone but herself and those who cared deeply for her. She stepped into the black sleek Rolls Royce phantom that was waiting in front of the building. The car purred to life and soon they were on their way to pick her friend, Kimberly. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Los Angeles, CA.

"Son, why do you keep hesitating? It's already been six months you and Sasha have been together" Lucien's mother— Diane said. 

Lucien sipped from the teacup in front of him. He placed it down calmly with a precision that belonged to him alone. "Why are you in a hurry mom?"

"You didn't take this long to marry that ex-wife of yours. Why are you delaying now?" Diane questioned, the distaste for Dahlia evident in her tone. 

Lucien's eyes darkened. "Mom...you know very well why I married her back then. She'd served her purpose, nothing more". 

"Of course I know. And now you have everything. Sasha will be your cherry on top. Also, she is in a better level than that Darca or whatever". Diane sipped from her teacup. She never truly liked Dahlia. 

On her part, Diane always thought that Dahlia was too opinionated and independent which clashed with her desire to have control over her son. But Sasha was better. She was more a woman, pliable and eager to please. In addition, she hated Dahlia more because she couldn't 'produce' an heir for her son. However now, she was even grateful, that no offspring came from her. 

"Besides" Diane continued, "Sasha has been the woman you've always wanted". 

The woman he's always wanted. Lucien's jaw ticked at his mother's words. Because the face that came to mind wasn't Sasha's and that infuriated him. He'd always thought that Sasha was his everything but ever since Dahlia left, there's always been this slight tug at his chest. And it wasn't pain or anything. It was a word he hated to admit. Regret.

He has always been a man who made sharp and precise decisions, wielding power in every boardroom he walked into and there's never been any regret. However now... because of her...

Lucien suddenly stood. "Mom, I will marry Sasha when I'm ready. No rush". 

"Why?" Diane pressed. 

Lucien heaved a deep sigh. "Rumors about Dahlia are still flying around. How would that make me look? What about the company? Don't you even care at all?"

Diane finally paused. And thought. Though it angered her that Dahlia was still the reason her son wasn't making a move, she still understood. "Okay. I will let you be. But, by weekend, I will like to hold an engagement party for the both of you". 

"No mom"

"Lucien!"

"I said no!" he roared. 

Diane shuddered. "How dare you---"

"This marriage decision is mine to make. I don't want any rumors again. The last one about the divorce wasn't nice and I can't shoulder any of that again" he stated. 

Diane stood from her seat. "Why...do I feel like you have something for that ex-wife of yours?"

Lucien's gaze shot at his mom immediately. "Now you're also making up my feelings?"

"What other excuse could you have? You keep saying it's the rumors. The rumors already died. Let's give them something else to talk about" Diane stated. Her voice was grating against his nerves.

Lucien stood from his seat, mirroring his mom's gaze. "Whatever. Do what you want" he replied and left. 

Diane smiled at his departing back. She heaved a sigh of relief. It was quite tough but she still accomplished her mission. 

"Greta" she called her aide. 

"Yes Ma'am" Greta answered. 

"Have the news of my son's engagement splashed across boards. We have a wedding to plan. Also, have Sasha come and visit me tonight" she dictated. 

"Yes Ma'am" Greta replied and left. 

Diane lowered herself back into her seat and picked her teacup. "Finally....who says I don't have control over my son?"

At seven, the private jet touched down on the tarmac of Los Angeles international airport, gliding smoothly on the cold asphalt. The engines hummed as the sleek bird settled, it's black body gleaming against the evening sun. 

Inside, Dahlia unbuckled her seatbelt with the same calm sharpness she's learned to wield like armor. 

Beside her, Kimberly fiddled with her necklace nervously before asking, "Girl, are you ready?"

Dahlia paused, her gaze touching the window where the city sprawled in the distance, it's skyline sharp against the dusk. "Ready?" she asked with a quiet laugh. "Kim, I was born ready". Her eyes turned colder. "I was just slow to realize that". 

Kimberly observed her in silence, goosebumps prickling her skin at the raw conviction in Dahlia's voice. "But still" she said, "he's here. She too. You're bound to run into them". 

A small smile graced her lips. "I know" she looked at Kimberly. "And I think it's about time the past meets with the present".

Kimberly smiled. "Great. I'm on your side anyway. I hope we can have a good drink tonight". 

"Of course. My return should be celebrated" she smirked, slipping her sunglasses as the attendants came forward. 

The doors opened, the rush of Los Angeles air seeping into the cabin. For the first time in a year, Dahlia Winters set foot on Voss territory again. But this time, she wasn't the discarded wife. She was the woman who had built her empire from ashes— and she had come to reclaim everything.