Beneath The Servant's Apron

Chp 5

The early morning sun poured over the city skyline, painting the glass skyscrapers in brilliant shades of gold. A Mercedes-Maybach glided effortlessly down the bustling boulevard, its black body reflecting the morning light.

Inside the car, Julian rested one hand on the steering wheel, a suave, relaxed smile plastered across his face. Sitting in the passenger seat beside him, Elena checked her reflection in the vanity mirror, smoothing down her designer business suit with trembling excitement.

In her lap sat a folder containing the execution copies of her company's profile. Today was the day her entire life would change forever. In less than an hour, she would sign the $2 billion contract with Sterling Group and officially step onto the grand stage as the richest, most influential woman in the province.

Julian stole a sly, calculating glance at her from behind his designer sunglasses. Beneath his charming facade, a dark, sinister plot churned relentlessly in his mind.

"Look at you, Elena," Julian thought to himself, his lips curving into a cold, hidden sneer. "So vain, so foolish, and so utterly blind. You actually believe I care about your little company or your corporate empire? You are nothing more than a golden ticket for my own ambition."

He remembered his uncle's terrifying threat on the phone the previous night.

"The second that ink dries on the contract," Julian continued his monologue, "I will take you out under the pretense of a victory celebration. One drop of the tasteless sedative in your vintage champagne, and you will wake up in my uncle's bed. That’s all i need to do to secure the position of the second vice secretary”.

Turning toward her with a warm, sugary grin, Julian reached across the console and gently stroked her hand.

"You look absolutely breathtaking today, my love," Julian cooed softly, his voice dripping with false devotion. "Destiny has always intended for a queen like you to stand at the absolute pinnacle of high society. Within six months, Elena Corporation will dominate the entire northern region."

Elena beamed with unbridled pride, leaning her head affectionately against Julian's arm as the luxury car glided smoothly down the sunlit boulevard toward the towering skyscrapers.

"I couldn't have done any of this without you, Julian," Elena whispered, her voice full of admiration and relief. "You are my true savior. Unlike that pathetic, useless worm I wasted eight years of my life with."

Julian let out a booming, arrogant laugh, tossing his head back with utter disdain as he kept one hand lightly on the steering wheel.

"Please, darling! Don't even say that beggar's name in my car!" Julian said loudly, shaking his head in mockery. "It's hilarious to even think about him! Imagine a grown man sitting at home for eight whole years, washing dishes, cooking soup, and scrubbing toilets while his brilliant wife builds a massive empire! What kind of pathetic, spineless loser lives like a glorified housemaid?"

Elena giggled cruelly, crossing her legs with supreme arrogance.

"And the best part was his pitiful attempt to guilt-trip my family at the hospital!" Elena spat out, her eyes flashing with anger. "Screaming about how he saved my parents from an accident! As if a broke, worthless dog like that had any value to offer the world."

"He thought he could manipulate you into staying!" Julian added with a sneer, steering the car toward the company. "He was so desperate to keep freeloading off your success! Pouring that scalding coffee over his head was the best lesson you could have ever given him. By now, he's probably lying in some filthy charity ward, crying over his broken bones and his dying mother!"

"I don't care if he rots or dies in that hospital!" Elena spat back, her eyes flashing with malice. "Divorcing him was the greatest decision I have ever made in my life!"

Within minutes, the Maybach pulled up to the main plaza of Sterling Group Headquarters—a breathtaking 80-story skyscraper.

Julian parked the vehicle in the driveway. They stepped out, striding across the marble plaza with an air of authority and overwhelming arrogance. Dozens of employees bowed politely as Julian passed by.

As they entered the soaring atrium, a neatly dressed executive floor coordinator stationed near the private elevator bank immediately recognized Julian. Spotting them approaching, the coordinator offered a polite, deferential bow.

"Good morning, General Manager Julian," the coordinator greeted him respectfully. "You and Miss Elena are right on schedule."

"Good morning," Julian replied smoothly, adjusting his cuffs with an air of absolute authority and importance. "We are here for the grand $2 billion contract signing."

"Of course, Sir," the coordinator nodded, stepping forward to swipe an access card. "The 80th-floor executive suite has been fully prepared. Please head straight up. The top floor is waiting for you inside to finalize the paperwork personally."

Because the official revocation order had been issued directly from the Chairman's private office late the previous night, the lower administrative and floor staff had not yet received the internal memo.

"Thank you," Elena beamed, her heart hammering against her ribs in sheer ecstasy as she clutched her document folder tightly. 

They stepped into the private express elevator. As the doors closed and the elevator shot upward toward the pinnacle of the building, Julian puffed out his chest, running a hand through his styled hair.

"You see that, Elena?" Julian bragged proudly. "Direct access to the Chairman's private floor! People spend their entire lives begging for a five-minute meeting with Sterling Group, but with me by your side, the doors slide wide open!"

"I know, darling!" Elena clutched her document folder tightly against her chest, her chin lifted high. "When my family sees the signed documents, we will throw the grandest victory gala this city has ever seen!"

The elevator chimed softly as it reached the 80th floor. The doors slid open to reveal a magnificent, quiet hallway lined with rare artwork, plush velvet carpeting, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the entire metropolis.

At the far end of the corridor stood a pair of massive, hand-carved mahogany doors guarded by two stern executive security officers. Upon seeing Julian and Elena, the officers bowed respectfully and pushed the doors wide open.

Elena took a deep, triumphant breath, her high heels clicking rhythmically against the polished marble floor as she strutted into the grand executive suite with Julian close at her side.

The CEO's office was staggering in scale—a massive, sunlit sanctuary of absolute power and wealth, framed by floor-to-ceiling glass windows that overlooked the entire sprawling metropolis. Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting sharp, golden beams across the room, yet an eerie, suffocating dead silence hung in the air, heavy and unnerving.

Behind a custom-cut mahogany desk sat a high-backed leather executive chair, turned completely away from the entrance, facing the glass wall and the city below. Beside the desk stood Natalie, dressed in an immaculate business suit. Her hands were folded neatly in front of her, and her face was a completely unreadable mask, her eyes cold and distant as she watched them enter without uttering a single word.

Elena lifted her chin, clutching the document folder tightly against her chest with a smug, victorious smile.

"Good morning!" Elena announced loudly, her voice echoing sharply against the glass walls. "I am Elena, CEO of Elena Corporation! I have arrived to execute our historic $2 billion contract and solidify our partnership!"

Not a single sound answered her.

Julian frowned slightly at the lack of fanfare, but quickly puffing out his chest. He took an authoritative step forward. Adjusting his designer suit jacket, he cleared his throat loudly to assert his presence.

"Sir, we have arrived precisely as scheduled by the administration department," Julian declared."Please sign the final paperwork so we may proceed with the formal press announcement."

For a long, agonizing second, nothing happened. Then, slowly, the chair began to rotate backward.

The morning sunlight caught the sharp profile of the man sitting behind the desk. He was dressed in a bespoke, multi-thousand-dollar dark suit, his cold, piercing eyes locking directly onto Elena’s face.

Elena’s breath caught in her throat. Her proud smile froze, then completely shattered.

The leather folder slipped from her paralyzed fingers, crashing on the floor and scattering papers everywhere.

Sitting in the Chairman's seat was Lucas.

His face was calm, his gaze icy and cold, staring down at her as if she were nothing more than a speck of dust beneath his boots.

"L-LUCAS?!" Elena screamed out in sheer disbelief, her eyes bulging wide, her blood turning to ice in her veins. "HOW... HOW IS IT POSSIBLE FOR YOU TO BE SITTING IN THE CEO'S CHAIR?!"