Chapter 53

Laura's POV

The moment I stepped into the restroom, I let out a deep breath, pressing my hands against the cool marble sink. The coffee stain on my blouse clung to my skin, the sticky sensation only fueling my irritation.

I had tolerated a lot since stepping into this office, whispers, judgmental stares, and now, Emma’s ridiculous antics. But this? This was the final straw.

My fingers tightened around my phone as I pulled it out and scrolled through my contacts. There it was…her number. The PA assigned to me ever since I became Mrs. Aldoracco. A position I had barely acknowledged, let alone used to my advantage. But right now, I was done playing nice.

I hit the call button.

The phone barely rang twice before she picked up. "Mrs. Aldoracco? How may I assist you?"

For a split second, I hesitated at the title. It still felt foreign and steange. But I pushed the thought aside. "I need a fresh set of clothes brought to my office. Immediately."

There was no need for explanations. She didn't ask why or hesitate. "Understood. I’ll have it delivered within ten minutes."

I hung up, exhaling sharply as I stared at my reflection in the mirror, watching as my own expression shifted.

I had spent far too long letting people like Emma look down on me, treating me like an outsider in my own life. But I wasn’t just Laura anymore. I was Mrs. Aldoracco, and it was time I started acting like it.

Straightening my posture, I smoothed my skirt and turned away from the sink. Just as I stepped toward the door, my phone buzzed in my hand.

"Ma’am, I’m here," my PA’s voice rang through the speaker. "Should I wait at your office?"

A slow smirk formed on my lips. "No. Bring it to the restroom. Now."

"Right away."

Within moments, there was a knock at the door. I opened it to find my PA, a petite woman with sharp eyes and an air of quiet competence, holding a sleek garment bag.

"Here you go, Mistress," she said smoothly, extending the bag toward me.

I took it without hesitation, stepping back inside and locking the door behind me. Unzipping the bag, I found a tailored silk blouse and a fresh skirt, both designer.

Perfect.

Stripping off my ruined blouse, I let it drop to the floor before slipping into the new one. The silk slid over my skin like confidence woven into fabric.

I folded the stained blouse and stepped back out, handing it over to my PA. "Dispose of this."

She took it without blinking. "Understood, Ma’am."

I paused, eyeing her thoughtfully. "And while you’re at it, arrange a staff meeting for later today. There are a few things I’d like to discuss."

She nodded immediately. "I’ll take care of it. Anything else?"

I smiled, slow and deliberate. "Yes. Have someone send a fresh coffee to my office. Black, no sugar."

She inclined her head, already typing notes into her phone. "Consider it done."

As my PA disappeared down the hall, I turned back toward the mirror, studying the woman staring back at me. This was power. This was control. And damn, it felt good.

For too long, I had allowed myself to shrink, to exist quietly in the background, enduring whispers and sideways glances. I had been pitiful, hesitant, unsure. But today was different.

Still, I had no intention of becoming the kind of person who abused power. I knew firsthand what it was like to be on the receiving end of cruelty, and I had no desire to inflict the same misery on others.

No, I would use this power with precision, using it where it truly mattered.

And as that thought settled in, another surfaced.

My stepmother. My stepsister.

What had they been up to? It had been a while since I last heard anything about them, and knowing those two, silence only meant they were scheming.

A smirk tugged at my lips as I considered my next move. Maybe it was time to find out. They had to pay for all they had done to me and my mother. Afterall, they were one of the reasons I got to this point, it's time to send them a gift.

Stepping back into my office, I shut the door behind me and strode to my desk with renewed zest. The sleek interior, emanated cold elegance, I belonged here, and I was ready to make that clear to everyone, including the people who had once tried to break me.

My PA was already waiting beside my desk, her expression neutral but attentive. “Your coffee, Mrs. Aldoracco,” she said, setting the steaming cup on a coaster.

I took a sip, letting the rich bitterness settle on my tongue. “Don't call me that here.” I muttered, after dropping the cup but still holding it in my palms. “ I need you to do something for me.”

She straightened slightly. “Of course.”

“I want a full background check on Clarissa and Jane. My stepmother and stepsister.” I leaned back in my chair, crossing one leg over the other. “I want to know everything, where they live, what they do, who they associate with. Every detail.”

“Understood. I’ll have the information compiled and delivered to you as soon as possible.” She responded.

“Make it discreet,” I said, tapping my nails against the desk. “Thank you.”

She gave a curt nod, seemingly taken aback by my word of thanks, but she recovered quickly. “Consider it done.” With that, she turned and exited the office.

Alone, I let a slow smile spread across my lips.

Clarissa and Jane had taken everything from me once. They had humiliated my mother, treated me like dirt, and laughed as they climbed the social ladder on the remnants of what was rightfully ours.

But now? The tables had turned.

And soon, they would know exactly what it felt like to be at the mercy of someone far more powerful than them.