Every black Tie Charity Gala is a work of art. For a typically grand ceremony like this, an equally grand venue in New York takes precedence: the who-who from this gala extends from CEOs all the way down to celebrities, that mix of power players that have fashioned this city into one of wealth and influence.Photographers lined the entrances, illuminating the red carpet stretching toward the double doors of the ballroom with their flashes.Roxanne sat inside the limousine now almost slowing down. She shifted uncomfortably, the cool sliding sweat slipping between her fingers and the fine cloth of her dress.The dress had been selected out of a whole list drawn by the sebastien family, especially for occasions like this. It was a very elegant piece-black and clung to her curves, then flowed effortlessly onto the floor.It was the kind of piece designed to turn heads, not that she was quite sure it was a good t
The next morning after the gala, the world was already buzzing.Roxanne was scrolling through her phone with a pounding heart, as article after article flashed across her phone screen.“Mrs.Sebastien’s Mysterious Past -Who Really is Roxanne Renwick?”“Ciel Sebastien’s Wife Exposed? The Night She Does not Want Anyone To Know About!”“A Billionaire’s Bride……or Just another Gold-Digger?”Her palms became sweaty as she held her phone. Her breathed hitched at the words across the page when she opened one of the articles.“An inside source had claimed that Roxanne Renwick had a secret lover before her sudden marriage to Ciel Sebastien, whose identity she had discreetly kept undsiclosed. But what could she be hiding? A wild one night stand, or something even more disgraceful? Source suggest that the night before her wedding, she was spotted leaving an hotel premises with a man whose identity could not be confirmed. Could it be that her
The Sebastien estate was quiet as it has always been. Roxanne was wandering around as usual. It's been just a few days since her wedding to Ciel Sebastien.She had not meant to snoop around.She had been searching for anything to fill her mind with.And that was when she came across a book on her husband's desk in his study.She decided to read it and as she was about to pick it up, she saw some papers beside it.She pulled them closer out of curiosity.She started to read them.Her heart stopped after she read the first page.It was a contract, a marriage contract for her and Sebastien.She was breathing heavily as she read through the neatly typed clauses.Duration of Marriage: Indefinite until either of the parties involved request dissolution.Financial Agreement: Mrs. Sebastien will get full support financially, including personal expenses, property, and discretiona
Roxanne had remained as an observer since her marriage to Ciel. She was never included in things that concerned the family except when it's needed to put on a public display.The estate where she stays with her husband is quite big and showcases power, and wealth.She had been wandering around it for the few days she had been married, trying to get to know it's occupants.She had been married into one of the powerful families in the country, but she never felt included.She was not okay with being a wife that's tossed into the background. She would not let herself be looked down upon again, and disregarded.Now that she's here, she would make sure she carry the Sebastien name with purpose.And she was going to let Ciel know about it, tonight.She found him in his study, as usual, with a glass of whiskey beside him.He looked relaxed, but Roxanne knew better. The man was always watching, and calculating.
That evening, Roxanne was still trying to work out the task given to her by Ciel.She was neck deep into it and didn't realize he was standing close to her.She jolted to consciousness when he coughed slightly to get her attention.She was surprised to see him.“You said you wanted control over your life, isn't it?” Ciel said quietly. “You seem quite serious about it.”“Why are you here?” Roxanne finally asked him as she kept her expression neutral.“Well, I would like you to put a pause on what you are doing and work on this.” He said as he gave her a folder. “There is a socialite in our circle. Vivienne Montclair.”“She's highly connected, and influential, and…” Roxanne could see something like amusement in his eyes.“And?” She asked as she arched her eyebrows.“And she is presently interfering in a business deal that concerns me. I would like you to convince her to step back without it causing
Roxanne could not find any comfort in Sebastien's estate since she came because she had been thinking about her brother.She had not seen him since her sudden marriage to Ciel and had no idea what was going on with him.That morning, she was scrolling through her phone, trying to focus but the tightness in her chest would not let her.A sense of unease has been eating her up since she woke up.Reading through the message on her phone, she could not be at rest.“Roxanne, this is Finn's nurse. Your brother is not doing so well. I thought you should know. He has been asking for you, but your step mother…she will not let us get across to you directly.”It was from an unknown number.Finn.Her little brother.Her only family, who had never betrayed her.She stood up from her seat immediately. Her heart raced so fast as she held her phone tightly.She need to see him.She need to ma
Roxanne was in the car, heading back to the Sebastien mansion.There should have been a form of relief for her, going back to her husband's mansion.But she felt hollow.Her earlier confrontation with Evelyn was still fresh in her mind. Her cruel words are heavy on her chest.“You chose wealth over your family.”The guilt was coming to her mind, regardless of how she tried to keep it off.Then the car stopped at the mansion's entrance.A butler came forward to open the door, but Roxanne was quick to do that, stepping out on time.She walked briskly inside the mansion, her steps heavy.She needs time to think.And to breathe.To…“You were quick”A deep voice jolted her to consciousness of her environment.She turned to see Ciel standing in the doorway, his silver blue eyes looking at her with deep scrutiny.His expression was neutral.She he
At a ballroom, people were glowing under the light of the crystal chandeliers, as different scents mixed together.The elites in New York had come together, dressed to impress and also to Converse, mostly with ulterior motives.Roxanne was already getting used to these kinds of gatherings. But tonight, something felt off.There was this tension in the air, something she could not quite place.Her husband was beside her with his tailored black suit enhancing his sharp features.His presence commanded respect, and yet, she could feel that even he was on guard tonight.She stood close to him more, as she looked around.That was when she saw them.Devian and Reina.She felt fidgety but tried to remain calm. She can't let them see her like that.Ciel turned his head slightly when he noticed her attitude. “Relax,” he said quietly. “They are not worth your sweat.”She did not reply.
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