Chapter 5

Seven Years Later.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome with me, Kara Reed, the first of her kind to found the world's leading payment system, the tech queen and the CEO of Reed Technologies for the award of the most influential woman in the world!"

The crowd of guests on the expensive five-star event center rose to their feet and erupted in loud applause for me. Whispers ensued on the side as people compliment my looks.

"Oh my God, she's so beautiful and so young too."

"She must have worked so hard for her to get to this spot."

"What wouldn't I give to be in her shoes."

"Such beauty! She's so slender and curvy in all the right places. I could wife her!"

I made sure to take my time as I walked towards the podium.

The host of the show, Dylan Stewart, a high-profile individual himself and one of the many admirers who flocked my DMs stood there with a broad smile, flashing me a wink.

This was the world I had carved for myself. A world where I stood ten feet above every other person. A world where I was the most beautiful, the most adored, the wealthiest, the queen.

It had taken a lot for me to get to where I was. I had been disowned by my father immediately when we got home—he didn't want a disgrace to be associated with him. My mother didn't object either and Erica had never been happier to be the only child.

My son. Everything I built. Everything I built was for him. It has been a hell of a ride giving birth to him alone and raising him but I pulled through. He was my very strength and weakness.

I never heard from Ashton or anyone from school again and it was intentional. I never wanted to hear from them again.

Years of eating healthy, going to the gym, sleepless nights and intense intentionality had finally paid off. I was soaring and nothing was going to stop me. The past was in the past!

But then I saw HIM—Ashton freaking Hall. I had undergone eye surgery to correct my sight, so I could see him very perfectly from where I stood on the podium many many feet away.

Of course he would be in the Skylight Awards event. His father literally owned the town I grew up in.

He was my past now, and that was where he was going to remain—in the past.

"It is my honour and greatest privilege to be awarded this award. I see it as a reward for the years of my humiliation, pain, struggles and hardship. With this award, I celebrate life and prosperity. Thank you all for celebrating with me. You are the real MVPs."

There was an even louder round of applause as I headed back to my seat after receiving the award.

My personal assistant, Lola Hamilton wore a proud look. "You were amazing, Miss Kara."

She was old enough to be my mother and she sometimes acted like my mother, looking out for me. She was just as efficient as I needed her to be.

My reply was as demure as my normal way of speaking. "As I should be."

"Excuse me," a soft voice called from behind me.

I turned around to see a face that I had tried so hard to forget. How on earth did they even get in here?

She looked so humble as she stared at me but I could see right through all that facade. She was still the same person. She just didn't recognise me.

"Excuse me, miss Kara. I just wanted to personally say congratulations," her voice was still as cocky as ever. Erica Johnson. "I'm Lola Johnson."

My nerves screamed at me to shun her. Humiliate her. Make her feel what I felt when she bullied me all those years.

But I offered her a cold expression. "Thank you." I replied before turning back to Lola. "We will be leaving in the next thirty minutes, please."

"Also, miss Reed, if you don't mind, I'd make a very good secretary. I learnt well and I would do your company a truckload of good. I mean, you can ask my friends!"

She had her sugary smile on—the one mom and dad could never ignore. The one she used to manipulate them into pouring all their love and attention on her.

I turned to her friends, the very same ones who had been with her from school. Her minions.

"That's a kind offer, but I have systems in place for that. To discuss matters like that, you'd have to speak to my secretary! Oh, I already have one, by the way."

Her smile dropped and she looked crestfallen. "B-But... We could be really good friends, you know. I mean, we both have the same... sense of fashion!"

I stared her head to toe. "My simple but elegant designer dress would definitely buy hundreds of yours. We have nothing in common. Now, if you'd excuse me, I have guests to attend to."

Her lips pressed together as she struggled to suppress her emotions. "Whatever! It's not like you're some queen anyway. You don't know what a privilege it is to be speaking to a person like me." She scoffed, storming off.

I smiled, watching her storm off. Erica Johnson was a leopard who couldn't change its spot.

"Nasty attitude? Not everyone is charming, though. Ashton Hill. It's nice to meet the high-flying Kara."

The sound of that voice made me freeze—not from butterflies in my stomach as before. This time, it was from satisfaction. His eyes spoke of his desires for me and I relished it.

We meet again, Ashton Hill. The ball is in my court this time and trust me, I won't play lightly!