public announcement -006

Jane knew that her presence at the office was seen as a threat, and she did not intend for things to escalate further. She had not come to make friends—she was here to learn and to prove to Diego that she was capable of taking over the business. Still trying to find her footing, she wondered what her next move should be.

Perhaps she should wait until others arrived—or maybe just play a few harmless games on her phone. As she minimized an app, a message popped up from Diego:

"Hope you are prepared for the press conference?"

Jane frowned. She couldn’t recall being told about any press conference. Ever since waking up, it felt as though fragments of her past had been left behind. Explain to me why I'm still forgetting things like this, she thought.

She quickly texted back, "Okay, when should I leave the office?" The word "office" was new to her—once, Jane had been just a housewife, but now she sat behind her own desk, attempting to live a life that felt both foreign and empowering. Just as she was beginning to relax, her phone beeped again. This time it was Dante:

"Am outside the office. Diego asked me to lead you to the OR team; he is waiting for you there."

Immediately, Jane rose to adjust her makeup and her dress. As she stepped out into the corridor, she encountered an unexpected moment of levity. An intern was attempting to juggle a tray of donuts near the reception area. The treats sailed through the air before landing in a comical splatter against a wall. A burst of laughter rippled through the gathered staff, and even Jane couldn’t help but let a small smile escape her. The absurdity of the scene offered a brief reprieve from the tension that had been building all morning.

Before long, she ran into Sylvia—the head of PR—whose withering glance seemed to bore right through her. Jane knew that Sylvia was undoubtedly curious about what was unfolding, but Jane cared little for gossip; she just wanted the press conference to be over. Upon reaching the meeting room, Diego quickly briefed Jane on what she should say. He instructed her to be as truthful as possible when answering personal questions—especially those about her name—and to explain that she was merely undergoing training at the Orlov empire. Jane agreed, steeling herself with his instructions as she left.

Meanwhile, Sylvia approached Dante with a tone dripping with envy. "Where is she from, and who is she to him? Is she really his wife?" she asked, her words laced with disdain. Dante said nothing and walked away. Jane paid little attention to their gossip—in truth, she rather enjoyed the spectacle. It was clear that Sylvia coveted Diego for herself, and seeing Jane by his side only fueled her ire.

When the press conference began, Diego took to the stage and addressed the public. The first question following his speech was directed at Jane. Rather than answer himself, Diego gracefully ceded the floor to her. Stepping up with confidence, Jane declared, "I'm Jane Stadlar, the new Vice of the Orlov Empire and assistant to Diego Orlov, currently undergoing training." She delivered her introduction flawlessly—until one reporter raised his hand.

"Jane Stadlar, how is it that you share the same name as Assemblyman Daniel's dead wife?" the reporter asked.

This was the question Jane had anticipated yet hoped to avoid, but she met it head-on. "Yes, I'm Daniel's dead and ex-wife," she declared boldly, deliberately stirring the pot. Adding an exclusive twist, she continued, "And how is it that you are still alive? I thought they said you died." The reporter, adjusting his glasses, pressed further.

Jane’s fingers twitched nervously as she replied, "I was in a coma for six years, and I just woke up to face a different world. What do I really know? But if you have more questions, perhaps you can try reaching out to him."

Almost immediately after the conference, the headlines exploded:

"Is Daniel’s Dead Wife Back from the Dead?" one blared; another read, "Is She Back for Revenge?" while a third demanded, "Who Is the New Jane Stadlar?"

Meanwhile, Lucy was watching the news. Upon seeing Jane on screen, she screamed for Daniel, "what is this, ....Daniel, come fast—hurry, you need to see this, if this is true we are busted!" In a flurry, Daniel came running, still wearing dishwashing gloves—a rarity he reserved for moments of utter disarray. "what are you talking about" he muttered

Daniel rushed into the living room, his hands still damp, and snatched the remote from Lucy’s trembling fingers. His eyes fixed on the TV screen as his breath caught. There she was—Jane is alive. His grip on the remote tightened as the headlines scrolled by: "Is Daniel’s Dead Wife Back from the Dead?" "Is She Back for Revenge?" "Who Is the New Jane Stadlar?"

"No… no, this can’t be happening," Daniel muttered,"this must be a joke" shaking his head as his pulse pounded and his world began to unravel.

Lucy turned to him, her voice frantic. "it's not this is live see I just checked my phone" and continued We’re screwed, Daniel! You told me the body was taken care of! You promised me she was gone for good!"

Daniel’s face twisted in rage as he grabbed Lucy’s wrist. "I did take care of it! I paid those thugs to get rid of her body! She was dead, Lucy—dead and buried!" His voice dropped to a venomous whisper, as if the mere utterance might somehow make it true.

Lucy yanked her wrist away, fury rising. "Clearly your thugs failed because she’s standing there—breathing, talking, living!" She let out a hysterical laugh, running a shaky hand through her hair.

"She was supposed to be gone," Daniel hissed as he began pacing back and forth. His mind raced—not only was Jane alive, but she also posed a threat by potentially revealing the truth: the life he had built with Lucy, the career he was fighting for, and the fortune he had stolen were all at risk.

Lucy leaned in close, her eyes flashing dangerously. In a low, trembling whisper, she said, "Do you realize what this means? If Jane talks… if she remembers what really happened…"

Daniel stopped pacing, and a cold silence fell between them. "She won’t," he said firmly, though Lucy’s eyes betrayed her lingering doubt.

"She’s already talking, Daniel. She called herself your ex-wife on live TV! She’s baiting you. What if she remembers everything?" Lucy’s voice dripped with panic and malice.

Daniel’s jaw tightened. He understood all too well what Lucy feared. Jane was not just an ex-wife returned from the dead—she was the woman they had once tried to erase. The one Lucy had betrayed by pushing her off that rooftop, the one Lucy had falsely claimed she committed suicide. And Daniel, instead of involving the authorities, had paid thugs to dispose of Jane’s body. They had celebrated her supposed death.

Lucy’s voice dropped, trembling with both remorse and defiance. "I should have made sure she was dead that night..."

Daniel turned sharply to face her, his tone cold. "You pushed her, Lucy. You were the one who came to me, crying crocodile tears, claiming she jumped not knowing that I saw you and I cleaned up your mess! I paid to have her body removed!"

Lucy swallowed hard. "I didn’t just push her," she admitted in a near-whisper. "it was a mistake and I also I watched her fall. I saw the blood..so. I—I thought she was gone."

Daniel clenched his fists as the painful memory flared. Jane had been a thorn for too long, and Lucy—her own adopted sister—had been the final blow. Instead of mourning, they had celebrated her death.

"I should have made sure," Lucy repeated, panic rising. "I should have gone down there myself. I should have—"

"Enough!" Daniel barked, grabbing her by the shoulders. "We can't t panic. We should look for a survival route ."

Lucy looked up at him, her eyes wild. "How?"

A sinister smirk curled on Daniel’s lips. "We do what we do best. We lie. We make her the villain. If Jane is back, she will no longer be seen as the innocent victim."

Lucy’s breath hitched as the implication sank in. "You mean…?"

Daniel’s smirk widened. "We spin the story. She’s been gone for six years. We control the narrative. If she remembers, we ensure that no one believes her. Didn’t you see her? It won’t be hard to turn the world against her."

Lucy’s eyes darkened with a mix of fear and resolve. "We will turn the world against her—make sure she ends her own life. How dare she."

Their gazes locked, sealing an unholy pact. Jane had survived, but Daniel and Lucy were determined to make sure she wished she hadn’t.

"Bringing yourself out from your little home was a mistake. You should have stayed hidden forever," Lucy murmured bitterly, caring only about her life with Daniel and the money they had amassed.

Later that evening, after the press conference had aired and its fallout spread like wildfire, Daniel sat alone in his study, trembling as the reality of the situation set in. Amid the chaos, one image cut through his thoughts—the man standing next to Jane during the broadcast. That man—so calm, so imposing—was Diego Orlov.

Daniel’s eyes widened as he replayed the press conference in his mind. His heart pounded with dread as he murmured, "That man… was Diego Orlov. Jane isn’t just some assistant to him—he’s Mr. Orlov. And I need his approval for my business transaction."

Lucy, who had followed him into the study, noticed the terror in his eyes. "Daniel, what is it?" she asked softly.

He turned sharply, his voice barely a whisper. "Look at her—Jane is really with him. With Diego. The almighty Diego Orlov, the very man whose word rules this empire. I… I’m terrified, Lucy. How did she even get close to him? His approval is everything. Without it, our plan crumbles. And I might loose the company,We may have talked about turning the world against her, but I have personal issues—I need his backing."

Lucy crossed her arms, her tone a mix of envy and alarm. "Diego? But I thought he was just someone who helps around here. You’re saying he’s Mr. Orlov—the one everyone fears? And the funny thing is, he’s downright amusing when he’s with Jane. That can’t be true. have been with Jane all this while, and I can’t recall anyone by that name. Besides, maybe he’s just helping her gain the public’s sympathy."

Daniel’s eyes darted to the framed photograph on his desk—a constant reminder of Diego’s unyielding presence. "Yes. He is Mr. Orlov. And seeing him there, by Jane’s side—so confident, so powerful—makes me realize our little scheme is in grave danger. If he doesn’t back us, if he turns against us… everything we’ve built will vanish. So we’ll hold off on turning the world against her until I get what I want from him."

"I will win his trust," Daniel murmured to himself.

Meanwhile, back at the office, Jane continued on with her day, unaware of the dark machinations unfolding behind the scenes.