Chapter 41

“Mr. Ben, I think it would be best if you lowered your voice,” Mr. Peter said calmly.“Well, I’m sorry, Mr. Peter,” Mr. Ben replied sharply. “But my daughter just came to me saying a proud little newcomer slapped her after bothering her all day.”“Is she inside?” he asked as he stepped toward the meeting room.“Who exactly is this ‘proud little newbie’ you’re talking about, Mr. Ben?”I stepped out of the room, calmly adjusting my hair.“That’s her, Dad!” Bella cried, pointing straight at me.“I never knew—”“Terisa, don’t,” Mr. Peter warned quickly.Bella scoffed loudly.“Mr. Peter, is she your girlfriend or your side chick?” she snapped. “Why else would you be protecting her all day and giving her VIP treatment even real clients don’t get?”She stomped her foot and tugged on her father’s arm.“Dad!”I chuckled softly.“You—” I began.“Terisa!” Mr. Peter interrupted again.Mr. Ben turned slowly toward him.“So what Bella is saying is true?” he asked, staring straight into Mr. Peter’s

Chapter 42

“Well, Mr. Ben, I just said—” Vivian stuttered, her words trembling.“You said you’re the only daughter of Mr. Avila,” Mr. Ben shot back, his legs visibly shaking, but he tried to keep his composure.“Ohhh.” I said calmly, a small, knowing smile forming on my lips.“You asked, and I smiled. I didn’t—” Vivian’s voice grew louder, sharp and defensive.“You did,” Mr. Ben interrupted, raising his voice immediately.“I didn’t! You asked, and I smiled. You’re the one who mistook it for an answer,” Vivian cried, her voice shaky, now on the brink of tears. She rushed to her mother’s side.“Mom!” Vivian sobbed, seeking comfort.“But you said your family runs the business and that the company belongs to your family. You said we could be friends, Vivian!” Bella spoke up, her voice shaking with betrayal, tears forming in her eyes.“Enough!” Mrs. Lisa’s voice cut through the room, commanding attention.“She said you misunderstood. That must be it. I’m sure she didn’t mean for you to misunderstand

Chapter 43

“Well, it’s being organized by Mr. Ben and supervised by Mr. Adrian,” Mr. Peter said clearly.“What?” Mrs. Lisa shot to her feet, slamming her hand against the table.“Mrs.!” Dad snapped. “Take your seat and stop this attitude immediately.”The entire room fell into tense silence.“Mr. Peter, there might have been a misunderstanding. Initially, I was supposed to handle this project, but after our last meeting, Mrs. Lisa demonstrated a strong understanding of the hotel’s design, aesthetics, and the client’s vision, so we deemed it best for her to take over,” Mr. Ben explained calmly, choosing his words carefully.“True,” another board member added, nodding in firm agreement.“I heard about that meeting,” Dad said, his tone steady but firm. “But if that’s the case, then Mrs. Lisa will explain it to us—properly—instead of throwing a tantrum.”“So, the client—Mr. Rutherford,” she began, stepping forward as she connected her laptop and projected the presentation onto the large screen.Inte

Chapter 44

“Who said it isn’t necessary?” he repeated, stepping into the room.He was dressed in a tailored black suit, a crisp white shirt visible beneath it, with another man following closely behind him.“Rowan,” I muttered in shock.The entire room shifted.Everyone straightened in their seats, the atmosphere tightening instantly.“Mr. Rowan, we weren’t notified of your presence,” Dad said, his voice sharp with authority. “Why is everyone still seated?”I tightened my grip on the file in my hand, feeling the tension rise.If this presentation wasn’t already nerve-wracking… now I had to do it with Rowan here?I thought he left the company after what happened in my office.So what is he doing here?Questions spiraled through my mind, pulling me deeper into my thoughts.“Miss Terisa.”No response.“Miss Terisa.”Still nothing.A sharp tap on my arm jolted me back to reality.“Miss Terisa, are you okay?” a lady in a neat black skirt asked, stepping closer.“I’m fine,” I said quickly, shaking my

Chapter 45

“Well, well, well…” Rowan said, leaning back slightly, a calm smirk forming on his lips.“You took a sealed, private document on this case… from someone?” Dad asked slowly, his eyes locked on Mrs. Lisa.“That’s fabricated—clearly fabricated!” she shouted, her voice rising.“Lies… all lies! This is just an attempt to ruin my reputation. I would never—” she stopped, turning to me. “Terisa… you’d do this to me?”“Well, I haven’t said anything yet,” I replied calmly, my gaze still fixed on the screen.“And you’re already assuming it doesn’t look good for you.”The image remained projected behind me.Mrs. Lisa.Standing close to an unknown man.A file between them.I zoomed in.PROJECT RUTHERFORD STARLIGHT — PRIVATE DOCUMENT 1Clear. Undeniable.“Who is that man handing her the document?” Mr. Godwin asked, stepping closer to the screen in disbelief.“Well… it could still be fabricated,” Mr. Ben started quickly. “We all know Mrs. Lisa wouldn’t do something like this, and—”“And she’s smar

Chapter 46

“Who is what?” he asked, his voice low—closer than before.“Rowan… why aren’t you gone?” I asked, my heart pounding so hard I pressed a hand lightly against my chest, as if he could hear it.“Well,” he said, taking another step closer, “I’m still here.”“I thought you left,” I said softly.Our breaths brushed against each other.“You really want me gone?” he asked, his eyes roaming slowly over my face.I didn’t answer.I couldn’t.I was too focused on him—on the way he stood, the way he looked at me like he already knew my thoughts.“Miss Terisa.”The door pushed open.“Yes!” I said quickly, stepping back and putting distance between us. I brushed my skirt unnecessarily, trying to steady myself.The lady from earlier—the one with the sleek figure and composed presence—stared at me for a moment, clearly confused.Then she spoke.“Your dad asked for you. I came to get you.”“I’ll be there,” I said, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.She nodded and stepped back.“Oh,” Rowa