Four

Seraph 

FIVE YEARS LATER 

I stared at the email on my laptop screen, fingers hovering over the reply button. 

The company of the man who called me unfit wanted me to meet. Why? 

Five years had passed since I walked out of that house, left the heels behind and stopped apologizing for existing. I'd built something real in that time... Seraph's World, a fashion label for women who didn't fit molds. And it was thriving. 

The knock on my office door broke my focus. "Come in!" 

Sloane, my assistant, poked her head in. 

"Miss Seraph, your 2 pm schedule is here."

I nodded. "Send them in." 

A moment later, a polished man in his late 40s walked in, suit sharp but his smile was sharper. 

"Miss Seraph... I'm Brian Volker. A partner at Tradefare investments." 

I stood, shaking his hands. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Volker." 

"Brian, please." He took the seat across from me."I'm here about your brand, Seraph's World. We've been watching your growth. Impressive." 

I leaned back, curious." Thank you." 

"We think there's a potential for expansion... bigger markets, collaboration with other international brands." He slid a folder across the table." We're willing to offer you a significant investment to make Seraph's World global."

I opened the folder. Numbers swam in front of me. Big numbers.

" Why?" I asked, looking up.

Brian smiled." You're talented. And we believe in calculated risks. Mr Ronan.... mentioned your work."

Ronan. My fingers tightened around the pen I held." He did?"

Brian leaned forward." Yes. He said you have...vision. And that Tradefare investments should be part of it." 

I laughed small. Bitter." Ronan said that." 

Brian's eyes narrowed slightly." Is that a problem?"

I closed the folder." No problem.I just... need to think about it."

He nodded. " Of course. Take your time. But... I'd like to add something personal."

I raised an eyebrow.

" His wife.. Mrs Elena has been asking about your brand,"he said casually." She's intrigued."

My smile felt like a crack of ice. So they got married after all." Tell Elena I'm flattered."

Brian chuckled." I'd definitely pass that along."

We wrapped up the meeting quickly after that . As he left,he said, " you're very beautiful Seraph. It's not just beauty, you've got brains too"

I smiled.

The second the door closed,I let out a breath. They're circling without knowing it's me.

I grabbed my phone and dialed my best friend, Melanie. She answered on the first ring." Hey, queen!! How was your meeting?"

I told her everything .

" They want to use Ronan's influence to push you off your hiding spot," she said, voice sharp." And Elena's trying to sniff you out. Sounds like they're desperate and getting curious too." 

I laughed." Do you know it's me?If they do, desperate for what?" 

"For you, maybe?" Melanie said dryly.

"You've moved on. They're stuck in the past." 

I leaned back in my chair." I want to meet them." 

Melanie paused." Are you sure that's smart?" 

"Not about revenge," I said." About business. I'll take their money. And I'll use it to bury them." 

Melanie laughed." Now that's the Seraph I know." 

We talked strategy for a while longer. By the time we hung up, I knew exactly what I wanted.

I opened the folder again. Big numbers. Bigger plans.

I picked up my phone and texted Brian 

I'LL TAKE THE DEAL. LET'S DISCUSS TERMS OVER DINNER. MY TREAT.

The game was on. And this time it'd play my way.