Chapter 4

Cassandra’s pov

The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and every head in the lobby turned. The sound of heels on polished stone followed, deliberate, and unhurried.

I hadn’t realized until that moment how much silence power could command.

Gideon Storm walked beside me, tall and composed in his charcoal suit, radiating the kind of authority that made people straighten their spines. His hand brushed lightly against my back, not possessive or creepy, just grounding.

He reminded me more of my father with every passing day, like Anthony Langston himself had come to help his daughter rise to the top again.

“Ready?” he murmured.

I gave a small nod, my gaze fixed on the double doors ahead that led to the consortium meeting. The same doors I’d once entered as a silent wife, trailing behind Austin Barker.

Today, I walked through them as Cassandra Langston, the woman behind the alias Celestia Atelier, mother of the prodigies the world called the Genius Twins, and soon-to-be the most influential woman in the fashion industry.

“Let them talk,” Gideon said under his breath as the whispers began.

And talk they did.

“That’s her, the woman from the news.”

“Storm’s new partner.”

“Didn’t she used to be–?”

“Impossible. Barker’s ex-wife disappeared years ago.”

The sound of speculation buzzed around me like bees circling honey. I smiled faintly. Let them guess. Let them choke on curiosity.

My outfit was armor I picked specifically for my mission today, it was a fitted black suit with gold buttons, hair pulled into a sleek bun, and diamond studs that caught the light with each step.

Confidence wasn’t something I wore anymore, it now lived in me.

The boardroom was larger than I remembered. Glass walls framed the sky with the city far below. A long mahogany table dominated the space, surrounded by the sharpest minds in fashion finance.

At the head sat Austin Barker.

He was paler than I remembered, his once-perfect posture slightly slouched. His hair had lost its luster and the easy arrogance in his smile was gone. Still, when his eyes lifted and met mine, something flickered, disbelief, then recognition, then something darker.

He went still.

For a second, no one spoke.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” Gideon said smoothly, taking his seat beside me. “We’re here to finalize a few… changes.”

Austin blinked, clearly thrown off. “Gideon, I wasn’t informed there’d be new investors joining today.”

“You were informed,” Gideon replied, his voice mild but edged with steel. “You just didn’t read the fine print.”

Austin’s gaze darted to me again. “And she’s–?”

I smiled. “The new majority shareholder.”

The room fell silent. Even the air seemed to pause.

I placed the signed contract folder on the table, the GX Designs logo shining on its cover. “Effective immediately, all management rights and creative control will be transferred to me under the new merger as Celestia Atelier.” I turned toward him fully. “That means you, Mr. Barker, answer to me.”

Color drained from his face. “You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m very serious.” I leaned forward slightly, my tone soft but clear. “Effective today, your contracts are terminated. Every position you used to hold, gone.”

Murmurs erupted around the table.

One executive whispered, “Wait, she’s Celestia Atelier?”

Another one, “The twins’ mother?”

Austin slammed his hand on the table. “You don’t have the authority to–”

“She does,” Gideon cut in coolly. “I transferred my shares to her this morning. She owns fifty-one percent of GX Designs.”

Austin turned to him, voice breaking. “You… you sided with her?”

Gideon’s gaze was calm and his eyes crinkled with harshness behind his gaze. “I side with talent. And justice.”

A ripple went through the room. Reporters in the back that were invited discreetly by Gideon scribbled furiously.

The fall of Austin Barker was unfolding live.

He stood, his composure cracking. “You’re trying to ruin me, Cassandra! I won’t let this stand!”

I rose too, slow and deliberate. “No,” I said, meeting his eyes. “You ruined yourself the day you thought I’d stay broken.”

For a heartbeat, the room was nothing but the sound of cameras clicking.

Then I gathered my papers, smoothed my jacket, and turned to leave.

Gideon stood with me, nodding once to the board. “Meeting adjourned.”

As we stepped out, the air outside the conference room felt fresher. Like I’d been holding my breath for four years and finally exhaled.

The corridor was already crowded. My heels clicked against the floor as I walked through the people with my chin high, and my smile poised.

“Ms. Langston! Over here!”

“Cassandra, how does it feel to be back on top?”

“What message do you have for Austin Barker?”

Flashes went off like lightning. I smiled and said nothing. Some victories didn’t need words.

Gideon’s car was waiting outside, his driver already holding the door open. But before I could step in, a voice rang out behind me, desperate, and sharp.

“Cassie!”

I turned.

Austin was standing in the lobby entrance, security trailing after him. His tie was loose, his eyes wild, and his voice cracking as he shouted again. “Cassandra!”

The cameras swiveled toward him.

I tilted my head, my smile cool and almost kind. “Oh,” I said softly, letting the words hang just long enough for the press to catch every syllable. “You still recognize me?”

He froze.

I took one step closer, just enough for him to see what he’d lost up close.

“Good,” I added. “You’ll need to remember me.”

The white flashes on me were immediately directed to Austin, everybody wanted to catch his reaction, and none of them paid attention to me anymore. Good, I wanted his look of despair broadcasted everywhere.

As I turned to head into Gideon’s car my eyes caught on warm amber eyes and I swivelled to see clearly.

It was Theophilus.

And he was blending into the crowd.

I needed to see him. I needed to thank him.

Our eyes caught and I closed the door, ignoring the paparazzi and the people around me to go to him.

He walked away.

I walked faster, determined to catch up to him. We had only interacted for a short while, but he had been the catalyst to me restarting my life. I was more grateful to him than anyone else.

“Wait! Theophilus!” I yelled. He didn’t turn, just continued at his brisk pace.

I changed from a walk to a sprint and just as I was about to catch up to him, I stumbled.

I was headed straight for the floor.

Damn it.

I just had a cool moment ruining Austin’s life only moments ago but now I was about to hit the floor. I closed my eyes tightly, bracing for the impact, but none came.

The scent of Sandalwood clouded my nostrils.