Chapter 3

I had just finished printing my resignation letter and was about to hand it over when the manager spoke first. "Sabrina, Mr. Sinclair wants to see you."

I froze for a moment.

I tucked the resignation letter away and headed for the elevators. My gaze drifted to the one on the far right, reserved exclusively for the CEO.

I used to be able to take it whenever I wanted. But that morning, I discovered that my access had been revoked.

When I reached Joseph's office, Lenore stood beside him and walked him through a report.

He listened attentively and offered gentle corrections from time to time, a far cry from the sharp, biting way he pointed out my mistakes.

Lenore spotted me first and greeted me with exaggerated warmth, "Brina, you're here."

Goosebumps rose across my skin.

We had been friends in high school, but after 10 years apart, we were barely more than acquaintances.

Joseph looked up and frowned. "Why are you so pale? Not feeling well?"

"I'm fine."

Just a fever on top of a demotion. My head was spinning, but that was all.

"What did you want to see me about, Mr. Sinclair?"

I had never called him that before. Even at the company, I had always addressed him by his first name.

At that, his grip on the mouse tightened slightly, and his lips pressed into a thin line. "Just a warning. Don't try any of your tricks on the project Lenore's handling. And you don't need to attend the Bremont Group business dinner either."

I clenched my fists. "Understood."

I turned and walked out. I had no desire to stay a second longer than necessary.

'Hey, Jesse, do you think our lovesick mother has changed? Why are things going differently this time compared to the last nine?'

'Let's keep watching. Remember the sixth time? She came to her senses for a day or two back then, too. But she still ended up losing control and getting herself killed afterward. We won't know for sure until she's out of Navaria for good.'

Jesse's voice had lost the slow, unhurried quality it had the day before. Now, it sounded serious.

I returned to my office, ready to hand in my resignation letter.

Just then, my phone buzzed. An invitation to the business dinner had arrived from my contact at the Bremont Group.

I had spent three months on this project, and I wasn't ready to let it go just like that. I accepted the invitation without a second thought. It was only a business dinner, after all. There was no reason for Joseph to be there.

…

At noon, I arrived for the appointment. But the moment I pushed open the door to the private room, I froze.

Joseph's parents were there, along with the representatives from the Bremont Group.

I stood rooted to the spot for a moment before I forced myself to walk in.

They had always looked down on me. From the moment I entered, they barely acknowledged my presence, apart from a single scornful glance that swept me from head to toe.

Sirius Bremont came forward and pulled out a chair.

Whether deliberately or not, he steered me toward the seat right beside him. "The people at the Sinclair Group aren't just capable. They're real beauties, too."

His flippant remark made my skin crawl. The fiery temper I had developed over the years threatened to flare up.

Jamie got nervous. 'Oh no, oh no! Our mother's getting angry. That Bremont guy actually dared to say something like that? She's about to crack his skull open!

'See? I told you there's no way she'll hold back. There's no way she's actually changed.

'Ugh. The deal between the two families falls through, and then my sorry excuse for a father and his parents dump our mother straight into a slum in Mavrola.'

My clenched fist loosened instantly, and my face went white as a sheet.

Thank God I'd held back. I didn't even want to imagine what would have happened otherwise.

When Sirius saw that I made no attempt to push back, he grew bolder with every word. He edged closer and closer until he was practically pressed against me.

I forced myself to endure it. No one had my back anymore.

Suddenly, someone kicked open the door to the private room.

I turned around.

The moment I saw Joseph, a wave of hurt and resentment washed over me.

But as soon as I noticed the dark expression on his face, I forced those feelings back down.

I knew he had to be furious that I'd defied his orders and attended the dinner anyway. He must have thought I'd come to steal the spotlight from Lenore, and he hated me for it.

"Sorry," I said before he could speak.

It was better to apologize than get shipped off to Mavrola.

His breathing grew heavier. He strode over, grabbed me, and yanked me out of my chair. "Get out here!"