CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

The murmurs in the hallway reached my ears before I even stepped inside the building.

"I heard the new chairman is a young woman."

"The acting chairman is being replaced? By a woman? That’s insane!"

"The last four general managers failed to turn this company around. What makes her any different?"

"I heard she’s Mr. Perez’s daughter…"

"Chairman Perez has many wives. She must be an illegitimate child sent here to clean up his mess."

I chuckled under my breath. People never failed to amuse me.

"She’s here! The new boss is here!"

A sleek Porsche rolled to a stop at the entrance, followed by a procession of Ferraris. The air was thick with curiosity as all eyes turned toward the arrival. When the car door opened, a pair of black high-heeled shoes with red soles touched the ground first. Then, I stepped out.

The murmurs stopped.

My long, dark hair hung down over my shoulders as I stood tall. I selected a navy blue power suit because it was expertly tailored and perfectly fit my curves. Every step I took toward the entrance reverberated in the quiet, and my bold red lips curled into a smirk.

I smiled elegantly and said, "Hello, everyone." in a firm yet composed tone. "I assume the news has spread faster than I could arrive. Yes, the rumors are true. From this moment on, I will be taking over the position of the chairwoman of Hermosa Group."

Then there was silence. Faces that had sneered now looked in astonished shock.

Continuing, I looked around the audience and said, "I hope you will all work with me to make this company thrive, Because failure is not an option."

They didn't have to have faith in me.

In any case, I would prove myself.

And I only thought, "Let the games begin," as I strode into the building that was now mine.

(Jeff’s POV)

Five days had passed since Demi walked out of my life, and yet, she lingered in my thoughts like a ghost refusing to be exorcised. I sat at my desk, staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the metropolitan skyline while my fingers drummed against the glossy wood. The skyscrapers were glowing in the sunlight, but all I could feel was the coldness of unsolved questions.

I asked in a steady voice, but my hold on power was getting stronger, "How is the investigation about Demi's whereabouts going?"

Zander Davis, my secretary, stood rigid before me. "I'm sorry, Mr. Ortega. Unfortunately, there isn't any progress regarding that matter."

I turned to face him, my jaw tightening. "Explain."

Zander swallowed hard. "After Madam Demi left that night, she didn’t return to the clinic where she used to work. I even checked her former address, only to find out that it was a fake. The apartment never existed—just an empty lot. No families with the last name she used were ever recorded in that area."

My stomach twisted. "You mean to tell me that my ex-wife—no, the woman I married—does not exist?"

Zander hesitated before nodding. "Yes, sir. I even checked with the local police station, but there’s no record of the identity she gave us."

I felt completely caught off guard for the first time in years. The foundation of my marriage was already collapsing, but it now appeared that the ground beneath it had never existed in the first place.

"She left with Brent Costales that night. Have you found out anything about him?" I asked, my patience wearing thin.

Zander sighed. "The acting chairman of Hermosa Group is a very private man. But if Madam Demi hid her identity from us, who’s to say she wouldn’t do the same with him? Besides..."

He hesitated.

"Besides what?" I snapped.

"Brent Costales may not have stolen your wife, Mr. Ortega. It’s more like... he stepped into a role you abandoned."

My hands curled into fists. The memory of Brent standing protectively by Demi’s side burned in my mind. She had always been reserved, dull even. And Brent? Ruthless and calculated. How had she managed to captivate a man like that?

"Traitor," I muttered under my breath. The temperature in the room seemed to drop as my rage simmered beneath the surface.

My phone buzzed, snapping me from my thoughts. Seeing Stella’s name on the screen only deepened my irritation.

"Stella? What is it?"

"Jeff! I’m in your company’s lobby. I baked your favorite cake. I want you to taste it immediately." Her voice was sickly sweet, and even Zander flinched at the sound.

I frowned. "You’re at the lobby?"

"Yes. Don’t you want to see me?" she whined.

"I’ll have Zander bring you up. I’m busy." I hung up before she could reply, my mind already reeling from the implications. The divorce wasn’t final, and I needed to be careful. If people caught wind of Stella and me before everything was official, it could damage my reputation and my company.

Then, as if the day wasn’t disastrous enough, my father’s number appeared on my screen.

"You fool!" His voice boomed through the phone before I could even greet him. "Did I not tell you to keep that woman away while you are still married? And yet, you bring her to your company! Have you no shame? Even if you don’t care about your reputation, think of the rest of us!"

His words struck harder than I wanted to admit. Soon after, I was summoned to the reception hall, where my father sat in his chair, his cane gripped tightly. His expression was grave.

"This woman is not worth your time, Jeff," he said the moment I entered.

"Father, calm down." I tried to ease his anger, placing a hand on his shoulder, but he shoved me off.

"My marriage with Demi no longer works, father. And besides, wasn’t it you who told me five years ago? I’ve upheld my end of the bargain and I want you to do the same." I kept my tone neutral, though a part of me hated the words as they left my mouth.

My father paled at the realization of how much time had passed. "And you truly believe Stella is worth losing Demi for?"

"I’m choosing the woman I love. You should respect that."

He scoffed. "Demi was a perfect wife. And you’re throwing her away like she meant nothing."

"It’s not about that," I argued. "We never loved each other."

"You are blind, Jeff."

His face twisted in pain, and for a moment, I feared he would collapse. Instinctively, I reached for my phone, dialing Demi’s number. But she didn’t answer.

And for the first time, I realized—I had no idea where she was.