Chapter Five: The Woman They Lost

Six years later.

Lyra's POV

“Miss Sinclair," my secretary's voice came through the line, formal and efficient. “The board is already assembled, the investor’s team confirmed arrival within the hour."

“Good. I'll be there in twenty," I said. “And tell the head of all departments to not speak unless I'm done. They expect resistance"

Of course they did.

This investor wasn't like the others, the smaller firms had been easy.

Predictable.

But this one?

This was the final door and though it was rumoured the CEO had never been seen ever since he purchased the company and he had an odd crave for standard, a collaboration with him would take my company from successful to untouchable.

I walked towards the mirror one last time, smoothing an invincible crease from my sleeve.

It reflected exactly what stood before it.

A woman, not the girl who had walked out of Iron Claw pack with nothing but broken pride and shaking hands but someone better, unrecognizable and rich.

My penthouse floor to ceiling windows stretched across my room, flooding it with morning light.

I adjusted the cuff on my Gucci tailored blazer and brushed back my blonde straight hair that swept past my shoulders and down to my waist line.

My red bottom heels clicked against the terracotta glass flooring as I turned away from the mirror that automatically closed like a shelf.

When I was sure I had taken the right amount of wolf suppressants, I stepped out of my room and into the hallways leading downstairs with bronze railings.

Minimalist but expensive in a way that needed explanation.

No one would expect less from the top five richest females in New York.

Abstract arts frames that cost more than most houses, decorated mine.

Glass table with edges so clean they almost disappeared.

Sculpted leather couches.

I reached for my six hundred thousand dollar birkin bag that sat on the console near the door before moving out of the house and into the car already prepared for me.

“Good morning ma’am" the driver greeted.

I only nodded, settling on the car seat with crossed legs as he started the car.

Almost immediately, my lips curved faintly as my phone buzzed, the screen lit up and a name flashed across the screen.

Harry.

My fiance for five months.

The nervousness in my stomach loosened as I answered.

“Hey,"

“You're already on your way, aren't you?" His voice came, warm and soothing to hear as always.

I leaned my head lightly against the seat.

“Of course" chuckling softly.

"Oh baby, I'm proud of you, you know”

I rolled my eyes playfully. "It's just a meeting, be proud when I finally strike the deal”

"There isn't a deal you can't strike Scarlet, so yeah. I am proud of you”

And in that moment the tension slipped.

“Are you nervous?" He asked.

The truth hovered on my tongue, all the years I spent building myself and my safe haven, today felt like I was taking a big step to finally leaving my past where I was a disappointment and becoming the woman I wanted to be.

“I don't get nervous."

“Liar" Harry hummed, he could understand me like he was reading me from the back of his palm, it was why our wedding was in seven days, it was why I had chosen to spend the rest of my days with him.

I loved him and he loved me.

“Okay maybe a little." A small smile tugged at my lips as I admitted.

There was a pause before his voice softened. “Well don't be, you built this. From nothing.”

My fingers instinctively tighten slightly around the phone.

" You don't need them,” he continued. " They need you.”

I closed my eyes briefly as my chest rose slowly and fell.

"Walk in there,” he said, “and remind them exactly who they're dealing with.” He paused. " Okay?”

" Okay.” I said and sighed slowly. "Thank you babe”

" No. Thank you. For coming into my life, now get ready, we're having a victory lunch after your meeting”

My insides warmed up. "Victory lunch it is”

After the small pep talk, the line clicked off as I looked up to catch the building loom ahead.

My building.

Tall and glass wrapped.

‘Scars Dynamics’

Biggest consulting firm in the whole of New York.

Current net worth of $640 million and project value after expansion over $2 billion.

It wasn't so bad for someone who had once been sold for gold and guards.

Harry was right, I built this from nothing, from scratch.

I had put my past behind me like it never existed, because here, I wasn't Lyra Thorne.

I was Scarlet Sinclair.

I stepped out of the car with the guide of one of my guards.

My heels met the pavement as I stood upright.

Immediately, paparazzi camera lights started to flash in my eyes, I held my arm up to block the rays but it didn't stop them.

‘Miss Sinclair, how optimistic are you today?’

‘Tell us what next ma’am’

‘Miss Sinclair, is it true you and Mr Hyde are getting married after you strike the deal?”

" Miss Sinclair, wait…."

Guards guided me as I stepped into my company, staff greeting me eloquently as I crossed the receptionist area and into my private elevator going up to the One-Hundredth floor.

The elevator pinged after some seconds and the door slid open.

The boardroom was already prepared.

The long table with documents aligned perfectly on them, the projector already lit.

My team stood as I entered, all upright with respect.

“All set?" I asked.

My secretary nodded. “They'll be here in five ma’am"

I placed my Birkin bag down on the table, my secretary reached for my coat and took it off me as I took a seat at the head of the table.

After some seconds, the doors opened but I didn't look up immediately.

Instead, I felt the weight of a presence that hit me before anything else.

I looked up and my fingers stopped tapping on my phone, I swallowed as the world tilted.

He stood tall at the entrance of my board room door, same face with trimmed beards and broader shoulders, with that same presence that had filled the council room years ago.

The same one that I had felt behind that curtain.

The same one that had pulled me apart from inside out.

My breath caught as my blood ran cold.

No.

Fingers curled slowly against the table as I tried to compose myself, trying to steady my breath intake.

“Miss Sinclair, meet Mr Vander Clegane, CEO of VanCe tech Enterprise."

I started to wish for the ground to open and have me, to make me disappear or most probably wake up from this nightmare.

Vander tilted his head, his unmistakable blue eyes locked on mine as an amused smirk played at the end of his lips.

My heartbeat resounded in my ears as he took two big strides towards me, towering me with his dark aura that I felt deep in my bones, arms stretched and eyes still on me.

"There you are…… Miss Sinclair” his deep voice growled.

I couldn't believe it. The past I ran away from made me believe I was done with it, only to dress in a tuxedo and walk back in.