The next day, Ciel took the day off work to go through some documents in his private study.
He looked through the documents with his sharp eyes, feeling anger with every word he read. The truth he came to know from the documents was worse than he had initially imagined.The documents have been carefully gathered by Alex, his assistant. It contained everything about Roxanne's mother, Eleanor Renwick, who left her fortune to her two children, Roxanne and Finn.She had been thorough in her will. The wealth was meant to secure her children's future.But now, they may not be able to see a single dollar.Their father had stolen everything.He had lied to the court to forge documents, and channelled the money into secret accounts.Every single part of their inheritance had been taken away, and diverted to support Reina.Ciel felt bad as he thought of everything. Roxanne had grown up thinking she was unwanted and powerless.<At the office, Ciel's mind raced as he thought of many things. He had been thinking of Derek Renwick.The man who had taken everything from his wife, Roxanne. He confiscated her mother's fortune, which was meant to secure Roxanne's future, and that of her brother.And now, Derek had been living in wealth, from the proceeds of the inheritance meant for Roxanne, and her brother.Compared to his family, the inheritance isn't much. That's why they wanted to marry into his family initially, but it's still Roxanne's to begin with. She should not have been stripped off of it.He felt anger towards Derek.A soft knock made him conscious of his environment again.“Come in,” he answered.His ever dependable assistant, Alex, walked in with another folder in his hands. He put it on the desk in the office.“Our investigation is complete, sir,” the assistant said.“It is a lot worse than we thought.”
At the Renwick corporation headquarters, there were reporters, shareholders, and some high profile guests.There had been some rumours making rounds lately, about some secret investigations, financial troubles, and failing projects. Everyone wanted clarification, and tonight, Derek was going to make a public appearance to clear the air.When it was time, he stood tall behind a podium. He was dressed in a very nice and well tailored suit, bringing out his sharp features. He started talking after he adjusted the microphone with a calm expression.“I understand there have been some concerns regarding my company's stability,” he said with a smooth voice. “Let me make one thing clear, Renwick corporation is stronger than it has ever been. The recent setbacks are nothing but temporary blocks. We are rising.”The crowd didn't appear totally convinced but they still nodded in approval.“And to those spreading rumors and lies,
One morning at Sebastien's mansion, Roxanne was sitting on one of the leather chairs, sipping her coffee as she thought about Ciel. For the past few days, she could sense some change in his behaviors.The man who always teases her, seemed to have grown distant right before her eyes.He told her he would not let them harm her again but it was looking like it was more than that.“What is bothering you, Ciel?” She finally asked him, trying to stop the silence between them.He was sitting across from her with a tense face. He did not answer immediately she spoke to him. Instead, he focused on the documents in his hand, going through them with a slow and deliberate move.He finally placed the documents on the desk and looked at her.With a low voice, he said. “There is something about your family that I found out about. Especially your mother.”Her heart pounded in her chest. Sitting upright, she asked. “What is tha
Derek's expression darkened and he said. “You are confused, Roxanne. These accusations…”“I am not confused. I have the proof.” Roxanne interrupted. “Every document and every forged signature, I have it. You stole my inheritance and used it to fund your business. And all the whole, you didn't even care about my brother and I.”The crowd were beginning to murmur loudly now. Some of them looked shocked.Some reporters at the entrance were taking down kites, and their camera flashed all over.Derek was not smiling, but he tried to keep a smooth voice. “You have always had a wild imagination. Your new husband is probably feeding you with lies.”“There are not lies, and you know it.” Roxanne said as she moved closer to him. “You let Reina live like a queen while your own daughter suffered. Finn needed medical care but you never bothered about him.”Guilt flashed through Derek's eyes at the mention of Finn.“You
There was no turning back now on the fight between Roxanne and her father.Few days after the confrontation at the ball, the city was buzzing with the rumors about the Renwick family's secrets.It spread quickly, hastened by the nature of the gossip. A stolen inheritance, the subsequent power struggle, and how Ciel Sebastien had supported his wife without hesitation.Derek was losing face. He was no longer the untouchable patriarch. Ciel was making sure of that.In his sleek office uptown, Ciel sat behind his big and expensive desk, reviewing the recent reports from his assistant, Alex.His sharp blue eyes perused the documents with a smile at the corner of his lips.Evidently, Derek is beginning to feel the pressure of his attacks.“The first part of the plan is done,” Alex said with a crisp and professional voice. “We have successfully blocked his supply chains in three important regions.
Outside the gleaming tower of Bellamy Couture, Roxanne's heart was beating in her chest as she she stood there.She could not imagine that this edifice had been her mother's, and it was now something she had to fight for.She had always thought her father owned it. And the fact that it was supposed to be hers made her shiver.She would not let anyone take what was rightfully hers again.She took a deep breath before walking in, holding her bag.At the reception, she met a young woman who barely recognized her presence.“Name?” She asked.“Roxanne Sebastien,” she replied firmly. Now that she is married to the family, she had decided to use the name. It carries weight and she would like to use it like a weapon.“One moment.” The receptionist said she as she paused mid type, her eyes widening a bit.In no time, Roxanne was directed to the top of floor, where the hiring team were seated, wai
Roxanne had been working her shoulders out since she resumed at the company.One day, it was late. Too late, and the usual bustling was now quiet. Only the streetlights felt like company as she walked along the side, clutching a folder of documents on her chest.She had been reviewing product proposals the whole day, trying to make sure everything was ahead. She was doing it so well, and gaining ground, too much for Derek's comfort.And she knew.She took a deep breath, then pulled out her phone, and sent her husband a quick message.Roxanne: I just left the office. I will be home soon.He replied almost immediately.Ciel: wait for the driver.Shaking her head, she smiled faintly.She did not want to rely on him for everything, and by the way, she could use a walk at the moment to clear her thoughts.Now she has to wait for the driver.However, she was not aware that someone
After the attack, Roxanne was back to her normal self and work mode again. She adjusted her blazer as she stepped through the glass doors of Bellamy Couture.The fragrance of fresh flowers filled the air, but the company was becoming hot lately and she is not here to act cold.Today is not just another work day for her. It's the day she will be resuming as a senior manager in the design department.An official announcement had been made earlier that morning in that regard.It was a significant win for her, as it's a step closer to reclaiming her mother's legacy, and this time, no one, not even Derek, not Reina, nor Evelyn, would stop her.She walked across the lobby, as her heels clicked with confidence.Heads turned as she walked, some whispered in admiration and others with jealousy.But she did not care. Let them talk. She had earned her place and she was not going anywhere.She got into t
She just sat there, looking at Ciel in silence.She was angry Reina had tried to make another attempt to seduce her husband.It was quite pathetic.She wondered what she was trying to achieve with the seduction.Was she trying to get back at her?If that is the case, is that not a weak attempt?Or could there be a deeper conspiracy at play?A target at her career, maybe?Or she was just hell bent on ruining her public image by getting involved in a scandal with her husband?That was still weak and predictable.But the fact she did made an attempt to steal her husband was something she would not forgive her for.Ciel could see the anger in her eyes.He had seen her angry before but that was something else.The look on her face was of something he could not decipher.It was not not anger.It was a cold one that could tear down Reina if she was with them at that moment.She then breathed out slowly, as her chest rose and fell in controlled breaths.“I promise. I am going to destroy her.”
As Ciel left her on the green, Reina felt indignation run through her.She stomped her feet on the green grass as heavily as possible.She was furious.She had been trying to hold the anger in.But she had to let it out now that he had left.Her perfectly done and styled hair that she had spent a considerable amount of time to get done, now felt heavy and kind of pointless.Her confidence had been at an all time high when she got here had actually shattered the moment she realized Ciel had seen through her schemes but she had kept a straight face.She could not believe it.She had been subtly mocked again.Her advances had been rejected.Ciel had not even shown any signs that whatever she did had gotten to him.He had not considered entertaining the idea of her advances.She thought she was making progress when he agreed to play a game with her.Only to realize he had agreed only to make it clear to her that she disgusted him.Her fingers clenched around the gold club as she bent down
As Ciel gathered his things in a bid to move away, his mind thought about many things.He had never been the one to indulge in meaningless conversations, but the way Reina was pursuing the conversation with him in a relentless manner was becoming amusing to him.As he turned to away, he hesitated and looked back to Reina.His lips then curled into a smirk.“You know, I heard an interesting rumor, Reina.”Raising an eyebrow, she asked with some interest.“Oh really? What kind of rumor could that be?”He calmly set his things down with an effortless grace that only added to his aura.He then tilted his head a bit, looking at her in a way that seems to be weakening every single one of her defenses.Still smirking, he said.“I heard you were pregnant.”The words came unexpectedly to Reina.It felt like a slap to her face, but she managed to keep her expression neutral.Regardless of how she tried to compose herself, she could feel her pulse quicken as she heard what he said.With a scoff,
Reina had always been a girl who got what she wanted from childhood.And it transcends into her adolescence, up till her present age.And it translated into how she relates with men.To her, she believes men are predictable in nature, and if you can offer them the right temptation, they would lose their composure and fall.It has worked a lot of times and will continue to work.She thought her dad's idea was great, but before her dad finalized his plan, she decided to try something on her own.She believes Ciel may see through what her dad was planning.He was not stupid.That she knows too well.He was a different breed of man.Therefore, she decided a one on one meeting with him first would help do the trick.The private golf club in the city was a place that is exclusively for the elites.It's a place where businessmen meet and make deals, while playing games leisurely.It's also an opportunity to waste money on drinks worth thousands of dollars.They do not hesitate to make such t
“It's cold out there. I need to get warm.”Derek told his wife as he proceeded to the living room.His mind was reeling with the fact that what he came to do had been unexpectedly easy to carry out.Reina had broken up with Devian.He had not expected that.He was here to try to convince her to temporarily abandon Devian in pursuit of what he wants her to do for him.Because he knew how stubborn she could be when she was being persuaded.But she had already left him on her own.The revelation made him smile as he walked to a seat.This was really perfect.At Least the burden of being a manipulative father, trying to pressurize his daughter into making a difficult choice she may not want to make is off his chest.The choice had already been made before he came around.And now, it aligns perfectly with his plans.She was free, and will be unbothered by the distraction of a lover who may want to get in the way of his plans.That said, this means she would be able to use her charms to the
Derek went to his mansion after he left Bellamy Couture.He stared at the big iron gates in front of his house.It symbolizes dominance to him, which was why he had it then.This house has always been his pride and his fortress.Where he had made many of the plans that were meant to progress the family's legacy.Now, it felt like a foreign place to him as he stood outside the gates.But it was his.He had to go in.He adjusted his cap on his head, pulling it lower over his face.He was not sure if his wife would recognize him like this.But he does not care at this point.He just wanted to see them.He felt like he had been left behind and the world moved on without him since he was in the police cell.He was beginning to think why he bothered with a disguise when he came.But he had always been cautious.It was a habit he could not shake off.Not especially now that he had a plan.The humiliation he had suffered at his late wife's company was not something he could easily erase from
He looked at himself from head to toe using the glass of the building.He felt sorry for himself.Adjusting himself, he started to move slowly.He had no clear destination in mind but he could not continue to stay here.It was one thing to be humiliated by his daughter.It was another thing for others to think he was an imposter.As he did not clearly look like the Derek Renwick they once knew.And given everything the receptionist said, it was obvious no one believes he could have a chance in his daughter's life again after all he did to her.As he moved, the cold wind did not help matters.It bit him sharply.The humiliation still burns him like a red fire.He had come here to at least, make peace, but was not expecting it to be easy, however the hostility he got was something he never planned for.Roxanne had dismissed him utterly and nonchalantly.His own daughter.She was contemptuous with the way she looked at him.It was like he was nothing more than a dirt on the floor under h
And for the first time in a long while, Derek felt nervous.He had not felt this way before now.All his business life, he had walked into buildings with his head high, because he knew everyone around him would bow to his authority.He had always commanded respect whenever he went effortlessly, and used power like a tool.But today, as he stood before the big entrance of his late wife's company, the mother of Roxanne, Bellamy Couture, he felt like he had never been there before.He felt like a beggar coming to beg for alms.He was dressed in an old, nondescript coat.He had a cap pulled over his face very low.He does not look like the man who had been the largest shareholder of this company.He was, however, not here as Derek Renwick, former largest shareholder.He was here under disguise as a father, one who was desperately hoping to seek an audience with his daughter he had once thrown aside.He looked at the glass doors, looking so large before him.It shone under the midmorning s
He sat on the sofa and turned on the TV.Luck was on his side.It was just about time for the broadcast of the latest business news in town.He was glued to the TV, waiting to see what was going to happen.His eyes rolled as he saw what was happening.His hands trembled as he tried to steady it against his thighs.“And in today's news, we bring to you the recent updates from Bellamy Couture, the company has been on a steady rise since its newly appointed CEO, Roxanne Sebastien, resumed office. The company had already secured high profile partnership deals, leveraging on the star power of the CEO, which also proves her capability in the highly competitive fashion industry.”She paused before she continued.“Experts predict that this new change in the company, under the new leadership will bring about numerous progress and soon enough, the company will surpass its previous records. This is not thanks to the CEO, who is also one of the sought after women in the industry, and her position