LOGIN“Mr. Ben, I think it would be best if you lowered your voice,” Mr. Peter said calmly.“Well, I’m sorry, Mr. Peter,” Mr. Ben replied sharply. “But my daughter just came to me saying a proud little newcomer slapped her after bothering her all day.”“Is she inside?” he asked as he stepped toward the meeting room.“Who exactly is this ‘proud little newbie’ you’re talking about, Mr. Ben?”I stepped out of the room, calmly adjusting my hair.“That’s her, Dad!” Bella cried, pointing straight at me.“I never knew—”“Terisa, don’t,” Mr. Peter warned quickly.Bella scoffed loudly.“Mr. Peter, is she your girlfriend or your side chick?” she snapped. “Why else would you be protecting her all day and giving her VIP treatment even real clients don’t get?”She stomped her foot and tugged on her father’s arm.“Dad!”I chuckled softly.“You—” I began.“Terisa!” Mr. Peter interrupted again.Mr. Ben turned slowly toward him.“So what Bella is saying is true?” he asked, staring straight into Mr. Peter’s
“Yeah,” I replied as I pulled a pair of glasses from my bag and placed them smoothly on my face.“I’ll walk you to the office,” the other man said quickly, stepping forward.“That would be nice. Thank you,” I replied with a polite smile.He led me past several desks before we reached the office.The door was made of glass, completely transparent.And the moment I looked inside, my expression hardened.The office was a mess.Cartons filled with papers were scattered across the desk, and the table wasn’t arranged properly. Documents lay everywhere like they had been dumped there carelessly.A mess.That was exactly what it was.“Why does the place look like this?” I asked slowly, my brows tightening. “Wasn’t the department informed of my arrival today?”“Oh—I'm sorry,” the man said quickly. “I’ll have it cleaned immediately. We've just been extremely busy, so the cleaners haven’t been able to come here yet.”Silence filled the space between us.I looked at him calmly for a moment before
“I didn’t make her do it,” I said calmly. “I think the correct way to put it is that I simply made her clean up her own mess. But since she’s used to other people doing that for her, she suddenly feels wronged.”I made a fake sad face.“Poor girl, right?”“Terisa. To the office,” Mrs. Lisa said sharply as she leaned toward Vivian, gently wiping the tears from her face.“Why the office?” I asked slowly. “Why not deal with it here, where she started everything?”“We can’t handle family matters in public,” Mr. Peter said, stepping closer and reaching for my arm. “Terisa, it would be best if you follow your mother.”“Don’t,” I said sharply, pulling away before he could touch me.“You watched everything happen,” I continued, staring at him blankly. “Why didn’t you step in when she started acting like the crazy psycho that she is?”“Terisa!” Mrs. Lisa snapped.“Oh, don’t you dare scream at me like that,” I replied coldly, my expression hardening.Then I sighed.“But fine,” I said calmly. “I
“Terisa Avila?” Mr. Chris asked in confusion.“Yes,” I replied with a gentle smile.“You were so little the last time I saw you,” he said as he walked closer. “Back then you used to run around during your father’s meetings. And now all we ever hear about you is from your dad—usually when you’re on another shopping spree.”He shook his head with a laugh.“Oh boy… you’ve grown up so much.”“She really has,” Mr. Peter added with a smile. “She’s no longer the little girl who used to run around her father during meetings.”“Well, now I’m back at the company,” I said calmly.“You are?” Mr. Chris asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.“Yes,” Mr. Peter replied before I could speak. “She’ll be resuming work in the Management Department, but for now I’m just showing her around the company so she can understand how things work.”Mr. Chris looked even more surprised.“Things like this?” he said with a small laugh. “I always thought Adrian would be the only one involved in the business side of
I walked toward the receptionist desk in the spacious lobby downstairs. A strong but pleasant scent of cologne filled the air. Behind the receptionist’s computer, the words Avila Incorporated were boldly written in elegant italic letters. Beautiful, I thought. Fresh flowers were neatly arranged at the corners of the large lobby floor, adding a touch of warmth to the modern space. “Hello,” I said to the receptionist. “Hello, ma’am. Welcome to Avila Incorporated. How may I help you?” she asked with a warm smile. “I’m here for—” “Terisa?” A voice called out from across the lobby. I turned around. “Mr. Peter?” I asked, surprised. “You didn’t tell me the exact time you were coming. I just settled Mrs. Lisa and Vivian in,” he said. “Oh, I came a bit late and wasn’t sure where to go. That’s why I went to the receptionist. She’s been very nice,” I said, turning to her with a smile. “Thank you, ma. I hope you have a pleasant day here,” she replied, smiling brightly.
He drove me straight to my house.The moment we passed through the gate, my phone beeped.A message.From Dad.We’ll be home tonight with Adrian. He’s been cleared for discharge.“Phew,” I breathed in relief.“What’s that about?” Rowan asked coldly without turning.“Well, it’s the first good news I’ve heard today. Adrian—”“He’s being discharged today?” Rowan interrupted.I turned to him in disbelief.“What?” I stared at him. “How did you figure that out?”“I’m just really smart,” he said calmly.“And mysterious,” I muttered under my breath.He drove into the parking lot and stopped the car.“We’re here. Get down.”I glanced at him.“Looks like you’re chasing me now,” I said lightly.“Well… not exactly,” he replied.But I had already stepped out of the car before hearing the rest of what he said.He rolled down the car window.“Remember to take a good look at those files,” he called out. “Don’t disappoint me, okay?”I simply waved behind me as I walked toward the house without turning
“How are you?” Mr. Peter asked, his gaze sweeping over me as if I might shatter at the slightest movement—careful, assessing, searching for cracks.“Where’s your father?” he continued. “I heard everyone was present.”“There’s an investigation going on,” I replied, shifting higher against the pillow
“That voice…” I whispered, my breath catching.I looked up—and froze.“W-what are you doing h-here?” I stuttered, my heart pounding.Rowan’s lips curved into a faint smirk. “I don’t repeat myself,” he said calmly. “But I’ll make an exception.”“Who is this?” my father demanded, his hands clasped ti
“Don’t you dare, Adrian.”I locked eyes with him, daring him to say another word—like I might devour him whole if he did.“What?” he said, letting out a short laugh.“Dad isn’t aware, right?”“Mr. Rowan seems confused about the story he’s telling you,” I said calmly. “Trust me, it’s not what you th
“Hey, little lady,” a voice said, voice amused, already holding me in place.A hand grabbed me just behind the door.I froze.Then I turned.“Mr. Rowan?!”“Thanks for holding her,” Adrian said, panting as he caught up.“W–wait, it’s just a needle,” my dad added between breaths. “You little drama qu







