2025-03-25 17:44:51Serena sat in her office, fingers tapping impatiently against the glass desk. The space around her was massive, lined with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the city. The building itself…her building…stood tall, a monument to the empire Nate had helped her build from the ground up. A high-end fashion and luxury brand, known for exclusive designs, limited edition collections, and premium beauty products. It was a business that screamed power, dripping in wealth, worth hundreds of millions.
Workers moved like a well-oiled machine below, rushing through the hallways, carrying fabric samples, documents, and tablets loaded with schedules. Models strutted through the lower levels where the latest collections were being prepped for an upcoming show. Executives spoke in hushed tones, closing million-dollar deals. Everything was perfect. Just as she had designed it to be. This was her own world where she ruled. And yet…Serena felt nothing but anger. She couldn’t sit still. She had been shifting in her chair, crossing and uncrossing her legs, her nerves tightening with every passing second. She had planned everything so carefully, so flawlessly. The tea was supposed to be the start. The first sip leading to the slow, steady decline of his body. But now? Now, he was different. Smarter. Sharper. He had refused to drink it. And the way he looked at her… that smug smile. That knowing gaze. Her hand curled into a fist. He was supposed to be easy to control. A fool, nothing more. A man blinded by love, bending to her every whim. But now, it seemed the puppet had cut his strings. A sharp knock on the door pulled her from her thoughts. She turned, forcing her expression into something neutral. “Come in.” One of her assistants, a young woman dressed in black, stepped inside. “Mrs Aldric, the Paris investors are on line two. They’re asking about the exclusivity contract.” Serena exhaled through her nose, irritation tightening her jaw. “Tell them I’ll call back.” The assistant hesitated but nodded, leaving the office just as quickly as she had entered. Serena leaned back in her chair, rubbing her temples. She couldn’t let Nate ruin this for her. He still had too much power. Too much control. She had to finish what she started. And if the tea wasn’t going to work, she needed another plan. … Two hours later. Serena was still trying to come up with a plan, when the sharp sound of knocking pulled her out of her thoughts. Her P.A., Michelle, rushed inside, her face drained of color. "Ma’am, we have a serious problem." Serena barely spared her a glance, still gripping her phone. "Not now, Michelle." "It can’t wait," Michelle insisted, her voice tense. "The Paris investors… they’ve pulled out. They don’t want to do business with us anymore." Serena’s fingers loosened around her phone. Slowly, she turned to Michelle. "What did you just say?" Michelle shifted nervously. "They sent an official notice this morning. They’re withdrawing all investments immediately. And… it’s not just them. Two other companies have also terminated their contracts with us. Effective today." The room felt unnaturally quiet. Serena’s mind refused to accept what she just heard. "What?" The single word came out in a near whisper. Michelle exhaled shakily. "I don’t know what happened. Everything was fine yesterday, but now they’re out. Just like that." Serena shot up from her chair. "Are you kidding me? That doesn’t happen. Companies don’t just pull out overnight." Michelle bit her lip. "I thought the same, but it’s real, ma’am. Their legal teams have already processed the terminations." Serena felt an unusual sensation creeping in…one she hadn’t felt in years. Unease. Why? Why would three major investors suddenly back out? There had been no warnings, no hints. Everything had been running smoothly. This was totally insane, felt unreal. She paced behind her desk, running a hand through her hair. "Did they give a reason? Anything at all?" "Nothing concrete," Michelle said. "Just vague excuses about changing business directions." Serena clenched her jaw. That was a lie. Something had changed. But what? Her company was worth hundreds of millions. It was strong, stable, built on years of hard work. Investors didn’t just change their minds like that. "I want details. Get me the emails. Call their representatives. Find out what the hell is going on." Michelle nodded and rushed out. Left alone, Serena slowly lowered herself into her chair, gripping the armrests tightly. This wasn’t normal. Something was happening. Something big. And she didn’t know who or what was behind it. She was still deep in thought when her phone buzzed on the desk. She sighed, snatching it up without checking the caller ID. "What?" "Serena," Lucas's voice came through, tight with panic. She frowned, sitting up. "What is it? Why do you sound like that?" "It’s Nate. He… he knows." Her heart stopped for half a second. "Knows what?" "Us. He knows we’re together," Lucas rushed out. "He figured it out." Serena let out a short laugh, leaning back in her chair. "Oh, please. You’re overthinking things, Lucas. Don't be paranoid. You're probably just guessing. Get your act together." "You don’t get it!" Lucas’s voice rose, frantic. "He didn’t just confront me. He… he set me up, Serena! He did something crazy!" Serena’s brows knitted together. "What the hell are you talking about?" Lucas let out a shaky breath. "He took me to an open place. I don’t even know where I am. I think he paid off the people around because the moment we got there, they… they took my clothes!" Serena bolted upright in her chair. "What?" "All of them, Serena! My pants, my shirt, even my damn shoes! I’m standing here butt-naked, covering myself with a damn cardboard box!" Lucas’s breathing was uneven, his humiliation bleeding through every word. "People are taking pictures! They’re laughing at me! I can’t even move!" Serena’s mouth fell open. She tried to process what she was hearing, but it sounded so absurd, so ridiculous, that for a moment, she didn’t know how to react. "Are you serious?" "Do I sound like I’m joking?" Lucas snapped. "I called my driver. He’s on his way. But, Serena… Nate did this to me! That idiot actually did this!" Serena scoffed, rubbing her temple. "Lucas, you’re overreacting. Maybe it was some prank or a coincidence. You’re just guessing Nate had something to do with it." "Guessing?" Lucas barked out a bitter laugh. "Serena, wake up! Who else would do this to me?!" Serena opened her mouth to argue but hesitated. Because for the first time… she wasn’t sure. There was a sudden knock on her door. Sharp. Firm. Serena exhaled, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Not now, Michelle. Go away." But the door didn’t stay shut. It swung open. And standing there, in the doorway, was Nate. Her breath got caught in her throat.
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