Chapter 10%
It was only a matter of time before Lothario De Luca–arrogant, entitled bastard–showed up, demanding answers like he had any right to them. The moment I stepped into my office, I found him standing there, hands shoved into his pockets, his expression carved from stone. I wanted to laugh. He had even bought a penthouse near my company.
He was dressed in a tailored black suit, his tie slightly loosened like he had been running his hands through his hair in frustration. Good. Let him stew
I walked past him without acknowledgment, setting my bag down on my desk as if he weren’t even worth my time
“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said, voice low and controlled.
I almost laughed. The audacity.
I leaned against my desk, crossing my arms, finally looking him in the eye. “Avoiding you?” I echoed, tilting my head. “Why would I waste my energy doing that? You mean nothing to me ”
His jaw ticked “Pearl=”
“It’s Cressida.” My voice was sharp, cutting through the tension like a blade “Pearl doesn’t exist anymore.”
His nostrils flared, and for a second, I saw something–regret, hesitation–but it was gone just as quickly as it appeared.
“You’ve made quite a name for yourself,” he said, stepping closer, ignoring the thick wall of ice between us. “The mysterious Cressida Lancaster, sweeping through the business world like a storm. But I have to ask. He narrowed his eyes. “How did you pull it off?”
I smirked, feigning amusement. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
His gaze darkened. “Are you doing this to get back at me?”
At that, I laughed. A real, full–bodied laugh that made his shoulders tense. “Oh, Lothano,” I said, shaking my head. “You’re still as self–absorbed as ever. Do you honestly think you’re the center of my world? I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “I don’t care about you. Your problems. Your company. I let the words sink in, enjoying the flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. “I moved on.”
His jaw clenched so tight I thought it might crack. “You expect me to believe that?”
“I don’t expect you to believe anything. Believe whatever helps you sleep at night.”
His hands curled into fists at his sides. “You disappeared without a trace.”
“Did 17” I feigned confusion. “Or did you just never bother looking?”
His silence was answer enough.
For six years, I had given him everything. My time, my effort, my love. I had been there when he was at his lowest, working endless shifts just to support him, building him up when he had nothing. And when he finally had it all–he threw me away.11
And now, here he was.
Before he could say another word, the door swung open.
“Am I interrupting?”
Taurus Sullivan’s voice was smooth, laced with amusement.
I turned to him with a smile, letting him walk straight to my side. Without hesitation, he placed a hand on my waist- casual, possessive, and oh–so–deliberate.”
I didn’t move away.
Lothario’s eyes snapped to the touch, and I saw the exact moment his entire body tensed. His shoulders squared, his lips pressed into a firm line, and his hands clenched even tighter.
Good.
Taurus, ever the gentleman, extended a hand toward Lothario. Taurus Sullivan. Pleasure to meet you.”
Lothario didn’t move. Didn’t shake his hand. Just stared at him like he wanted to rip him apart.
Taurus only smirked, dropping his hand. “No? Alright then.”
I turned to Lothario, my smirk widening. “Now you know how it feels,” I whispered, my voice low and mocking. To be discarded.”
His breath hitched, but I didn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing me stay any longer!
I turned to Taurus. “Shall we?“!!
“Of course.“t
The headlines were brutal
“DE LUCA INDUSTRIES FACES MASSIVE LOSS AFTER FAILED INVESTMENT DEAL
TIS LOTHARIO DE LUCA’S EMPIRE CRUMBLING?”
“MYSTERIOUS CEO CRESSIDA LANCASTER CRUSHES DE LUCA INDUSTRIES IN A POWER MOVE”
I scrolled through the articles, sipping my morning coffee as I watched the chaos unfold.
It had been so easy. One strategic business deal. One move against Lothario’s company. And just like that, millions were gone from his pockets
I leaned back in my chair, tapping my fingers against the desk as I watched the stock charts plummet.
So this is what it felt like.
Power
I watched from the sidelines, hidden behind a wall of high–profile executives, as Alessia took the stage at the Global
Business Summit.
She was draped in a designer gown, her hair styled to perfection, her smile just the right balance of sweet and smug She thought she owned this moment. Thought she could bask in the limelight as Alexander Anderson’s “daughter”
How pathetic.
I sipped my champagne, waiting for the show to begin.
The moment she opened her mouth, the first question cut through the air like a knife
ly his
“Miss Alessia, there have been rumors questioning your relationship with Mr. Anderson. Can you confirm you’re truly daughter?”
Her smile twitched.
“I don’t entertain baseless gossip,” she said smoothly. “I’m here to represent my father and-“s
“Then why not take a DNA test to end the speculation?” another reporter interjected
The room shifted. Eyes turned. The air thickened.
I could see the slight panic in her eyes, the way her fingers clenched around the microphone
“I don’t have to prove anything,” she snapped, her composed mask slipping for a fraction of a second.
“Are you refusing a DNA test?*%
Checkmate.X
I set my glass down, fighting the smirk threatening to curl my lips. I didn’t even have to lift a finger–the media was doing my work for me.
Alessia swallowed, then forced a confident laugh. “This is ridiculous. Of course, I’m Alexander Anderson’s daughter. He’s
“-not my daughter.“”
The voice rang through the hall, firm and absolute.
Silence. Every camera turned. Every person froze.!!
Then, like a parting sea, the crowd shifted, revealing the man himself.
Alexander Anderson.
My father.
