Chapter 5: Room 1402

‘I don’t think I made any mistake… Maybe he just doesn’t know me well enough,’ Serena thought, replaying the earlier interaction with Alexander. His sudden shift in mood had caught her off guard, leaving her questioning if she had inadvertently offended him. 

Her thoughts were interrupted by the buzz of her phone. Seeing Kevin’s name flash on the screen brought a small sense of relief.

“Ava, have you arrived?” Kevin asked, his voice steady yet curious.

“Hey, Kevin… I think I just messed up,” Serena admitted with a sigh.

Kevin was taken aback. He had always trusted her judgment, especially when it came to design. Serena Ava Alvarez, or known professionally as Ava Alvarez, was one of the most talented designers he knew, and she had never expressed doubt about her work before.

“Room 1402. Come here, and we’ll sort it out,” he said reassuringly.

“Okay.” Serena ended the call, asked a nearby waiter for directions, and headed to the room.

Inside the private suite, Kevin glanced at Raphael Richardson, who was lounging comfortably, his legs crossed.

“The designer will be here soon,” Kevin said.

Raphael, with his flamboyant style and a playful smile, exuded an air of easy confidence. “No rush. Xander’s on his way too. When they meet face-to-face, things will fall into place.”

Hearing Raphael’s assurance, Kevin exhaled in relief. “Alexander and I went to high school together, but I doubt he remembers me. We weren’t exactly close.”

With Alexander’s privileged background and striking presence, people had always gravitated toward him. Even back in high school, he had an air of distinction, despite barely attending class for half a year.

As Kevin finished speaking, the door opened, and Serena entered. She walked alone. 

Though dressed in light-colored casual attire rather than formal wear, her elegance was undeniable. Her neatly tied hair and matching handbag gave her a polished yet approachable look.

She smiled politely at Raphael. “Hello, Mr. Richardson.”

Raphael’s eyes lit up with interest. “I wasn’t expecting such beauty.”

Still, he couldn’t hide his confusion. “Didn’t my cousin pick you up? Where is he?” 

Serena paused briefly, caught off guard by the mention of their familial connection. He and Alexander are cousins? she thought, but quickly composed herself.

Despite the unexpected revelation, she remained unfazed. After all, she had rarely interacted with the Vanderbilt family beyond occasional visits to Cornelius. Alexander had never seen her before, let alone others who wouldn't be interested in someone on the fringes like her. 

Thinking back to her earlier encounter with Alexander, she smiled lightly, a hint of regret in her expression. “Maybe I offended Mr. Vanderbilt somehow.” 

Raphael chuckled. He had always admired people who maintained grace under pressure, and Serena’s composed demeanor only heightened his appreciation.

“How could you have offended him? Your designs are impressive. Even though Alexander is more business-oriented, he has a double degree, and one of them is in art. He should appreciate your work. He’s probably just in a bad mood because of the divorce.”

Serena remained silent, but Kevin’s curiosity was piqued. “Alexander is married?”

Raphael nodded. “He got married pretty young, but as soon as he returned this time, he contacted his lawyer about getting a divorce.”

Raphael, who rarely stayed with the Vanderbilt family, had never met Alexander’s wife. He preferred spending his time at parties rather than dealing with family matters.

“It’s my first time hearing about his marriage,” Kevin said, intrigued. “I thought that villa in Manhattan was supposed to be his wedding house. But if he’s already married and preparing for a divorce, so it’s just for himself?”

“No, I still think it’s a wedding house,” Raphael replied. “He didn’t want his current wife. They were forced into marriage at the beginning. But there was someone else he liked before. I believe that villa was designed for her.”

He handed Serena a glass of juice and smiled. “When Alexander arrives, I’ll show him your designs. He should be interested.”

Serena accepted the glass with a polite smile. “Thank you. If this deal goes through, dinner’s on me.”

Raphael appreciated her humble attitude. “Sure. Don’t worry about the money. And if you handle this well, your reputation will skyrocket. You’re gonna be even more popular.”

Serena understood the opportunity at hand. If she landed this project, it would boost her profile and open doors to more elite clients. In that case, the studio would no longer be short of orders. 

Meanwhile, Alexander entered another private room down the hall, exuding his usual cold and commanding aura.

As soon as he stepped inside, his phone buzzed—it was Raphael calling again. Ignoring it, he took a seat, his expression grim.

Hugo, a close friend of his, noticed the tension. “What’s with the face? Who pissed you off?” he asked, handing Alexander a glass of wine. 

Despite the lively atmosphere, no one dared approach Alexander. Even among the upper class, he commanded a level of respect that kept others at a distance.

“It’s the divorce, right? I heard she’s refusing to sign,” Hugo added, sipping his drink. 

Alexander getting divorced wasn’t exactly a secret anymore. Even Cornelius would probably hear about it soon enough.

Alexander tossed his cufflinks onto a nearby tray before leaning back on the sofa. “She’ll sign eventually. She knew better than anyone else why we got married back then.”

His tone was cold, signaling that he didn’t want to discuss the matter further.

But it wasn’t the divorce or his nominal wife Serena Morales that irritated him tonight—it was the woman he had met earlier. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, puzzled by the contradiction she presented. She seemed to be a virgin, yet claimed she had been doing this for three years. What’s her story?

She had occupied his mind more than he cared to admit. He could not stop thinking about the night he had spent with her.

His thoughts were interrupted by another call from Raphael.

“Xander, come downstairs. I want to introduce you to someone personally,” Raphael said over the music.

“About what?” Alexander asked, his tone frosty. “Stop trying to introduce women to me.”

“Trust me, you’ll want to meet her. I searched for a long time before I found someone perfect for you.” Raphael didn't give up. Even if Alexander didn’t want her, Raphael could still have her design his empty houses. “If not, I might just keep her for myself. I quite like her,” Raphael teased.

Alexander straightened, annoyance flashing in his eyes. “I’ll arrange an internship for you at the company so you can stop wasting time on nonsense and hanging around with these miscellaneous people all day. Your mother has already talked to me about it. Be at the office tomorrow morning.”

Before Raphael could respond, Alexander hung up.

Back in the private room, Raphael sighed, turning to Serena with an apologetic smile. “It’s on me. He’s hard to deal with.”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Richardson,” Serena said calmly. “Maybe Mr. Vanderbilt already has someone in mind. It’s understandable—this villa was designed for someone special.”

“That’s impossible! He’s still looking for a designer,” Raphael insisted.

“Sometimes things just don’t work out,” Serena replied evenly. “Perhaps Mr. Vanderbilt and I aren’t meant to cross paths.”

Raphael let out a resigned sigh. “If he doesn’t take you, I’ll hire you to design my houses. I love your style.”

He extended his hand, and Serena shook it politely. “Thank you, Mr. Richardson. I appreciate it.”

After exchanging contact information, Raphael excused himself.

Later, Serena helped an inebriated Kevin out of the room, supporting him as they headed toward the elevator. 

This was already Kevin’s second business reunion tonight. He was already at his limit. 

“I’ll hail a driver to send you back,” Serena knew that he held out until now just for the business deal. She was grateful for what Kevin had done for her.

"That would be great, Serena. Thanks." Kevin collapsed almost right after hearing what Serena said.

Serena could give him a ride, but she didn’t want his newly wedded wife to overthink. Thus, the best solution was to hail a driver for him.

She helped Kevin out of the room and went down the corridor to the elevator on the other side. It led to the exit, which was closer.

Kevin muttered incoherently, as though arguing with his wife in his sleep. “It’s not what you think… I’m tired of this.” 

Since she needed to maintain a polite distance between, it was quite difficult for her.

Kevin stumbled when the elevator doors opened and almost fell out of it.

Serena quickly grabbed him but she then saw Alexander, who held the doors open for them.

As the elevator doors opened, Kevin stumbled forward, nearly falling—only to be caught by Alexander, who held the doors open.

Serena froze, her eyes widening in surprise. Five years without seeing him, and now I’ve run into him three times in one day. How is that even possible?

Alexander’s gaze flicked between Serena and Kevin, his expression unreadable. “Which floor?” he asked coolly.

“First floor. Thank you,” Serena answered, keeping her tone polite yet distant. 

With two silver buttons on his shirt collar loosened, Alexander didn't seem as indifferent as before, but still no emotions could be seen on his face. Serena keenly caught a hint of sarcasm and disdain in his eyes.

Kevin muttered again, “It’s always about money! Do you even care?”

Serena recalled hearing from colleagues that Kevin’s wife was a heavy spender, adding strain to their marriage.

Alexander sneered faintly. “He’s your client?”

She could not possibly tell him that Kevin was her boss or else Alexander might blacklist his studio out of his annoyance towards her. Feeling trapped, Serena nodded reluctantly. “Yes, Mr. Vanderbilt. What a coincidence meeting you here.”