Chapter 9

Kelsey pouted. “I called him, but he didn’t pick up.”

Truth be told, Kelsey had been trying Tyler’s phone since last night. She wanted to explain to him.

However, Tyler refused to take her calls. He must be furious this time.

Left with no choice, Kelsey had to seek him out at his office.

The receptionist made a face upon the revelation.

Her attitude underwent a 180-degree change.

“Since Mr. Lang won’t take your calls, you should leave.” The receptionist brushed Kelsey off.

She associated Kelsey with all the women who pursued the CEO aggressively.

The receptionist was no stranger to women requesting private meetings with Tyler.

Without exceptions, the security officers would escort these women out of the premises.

The CEO would not meet Kelsey for sure.

“I have an emergency. Can you work something out?” Kelsey tried to keep a smiling face.

“I can’t let you through without an appointment. Rules are rules,” the receptionist said firmly.

Kelsey hesitated for a moment. “In that case, can you call Shawn for me? I need him to pass a message to Tyler that a Ms. Young wishes to see him.”

The receptionist took a long, hard look at Kelsey upon learning that she knew Shawn. In the end, she reluctantly dialed her internal phone.

One minute later, the receptionist ended the call with a grimace.

“Mr. Lewis informed me that Mr. Lang doesn’t know a Ms. Young.”

Kelsey was ballistic.

She believed Tyler had taken things too far.

Even if his mind was made up about her sin, he should at least hear her out.

Sure, Kelsey did not hold much credibility since she had lied one too many times. However, she was not lying this time.

Last night was a mere misunderstanding.

Kelsey felt like she was the boy who cried wolf.

The mountain of lies chipped away at Tyler’s trust. He could no longer accept her truth.

Amid her frustration, the CEO’s exclusive elevator not too far away glided open.

A lithe figure emerged from the elevator, with several assistants and security detail in tow.

All eyes fell on the group.

The slender figure belonged to none other than Zara Quest, one of the recent hottest celebrities.

Renowned for her aloof demeanor, Zara held the title of the ice queen among her devoted fans.

Zara looked mystical in her white, tailored mermaid dress.

She turned heads everywhere she went.

Zara glanced haughtily at her admirers in the lobby.

Sporting a pair of oversized aviators, she strutted confidently forward, her chin held high.

She suddenly stopped short.

Her gaze fell on Kelsey, who was a short distance away, and she froze.

Kelsey was startled to run into Zara at the Lang Group.

She and Zara went to the same school but attended different classes. Due to their similar esteemed backgrounds and equally striking physical attributes, they became aware of each other’s existence through frequent comparisons.

The real reason Zara was hostile toward Kelsey was Tyler.

Zara had always had a crush on Tyler, but Tyler was after Kelsey’s heart instead.

Although Kelsey had rejected Tyler more than once, Zara had a problem with the situation.

Zara took her rivalry with Kelsey seriously.

She had to have the best things whether it came to food, clothes, drinks, studies, wealth, and popularity.

It was a good thing Zara went to perfect her art after high school, and they went their separate ways.

The next time Zara crossed Kelsey’s radar, she was a highly-acclaimed star.

The last place Kelsey expected to see Zara was Lang Group, especially not waltzing out of Tyler’s private elevator.

Tyler was meticulous in his habits.

He was not keen on anyone using his personal elevator.

Kelsey had to suspect that Tyler saw Zara as his woman since she could take his private elevator.

While deep in her thought, Kelsey took notice of the receptionist who dismissed her earlier.

The receptionist approached Zara with an ingratiating smile.

She attended to Zara with the utmost respect as if the latter was the wife of the CEO.

“Are you leaving already, Ms. Quest?”

Ignoring the receptionist, Zara stared straight at Kelsey.

The resentment fleeted across her eyes.

Still, Kelsey managed to catch the slipping emotion.

She furrowed her brows in confusion.

Kelsey had not met Zara in years. Yet, she was met with hostility from her.

Unlike Zara, Kelsey had moved on from the past feud.

Zara might be an A-list celebrity now, but she was as petty as ever.

Kelsey nodded at Zara, acknowledging her presence as an old but irrelevant acquaintance.

Zara narrowed her eyes grimacingly, fixating on Kelsey for a moment before letting out a defiant smile.

Before Kelsey could read into her smile, Zara pulled out a black-cross necklace from her purse and hung it around her neck.

Kelsey was stunned.

If she remembered correctly, the necklace was the only thing Tyler’s parents left him.

He had always worn it.

For years, the necklace had become an extension of himself, never leaving his person.

Kelsey wondered how the necklace ended up in Zara’s possession.

She had to suspect that Tyler had given the necklace to Zara.

Kelsey could not believe it.

When she was a kid, Kelsey was once curious about the black cross and asked Tyler if she could try it on.

He refused.

Tyle had his reason for declining her request. “The necklace is the only thing my parents left me. I want to give it to my future wife. You can try it on if you promise to be my wife.”

Of course, Kelsey did not say yes.

Tyler would not even let her touch the necklace.

However, the necklace was now in Zara’s hands.

Kelsey had to stop herself from jumping to conclusions.

She looked at Zara with a frown.

Zara took off proudly like a winner.

Kelsey pursed her lips, standing there lost in her thoughts.

Tyler’s anger could not be the only reason for suddenly shutting her out. It might have something to do with Zara.

The chatter in the lobby lingered in her ear.

The public talked about Zara and Tyler dating in secret. Zara’s appearance at the office building could mean that wedding bells were ringing.

Kelsey scoffed with a pout.

She would be aware if Zara and Tyler were dating.

Still, Zara’s presence at the Lang Group was rather suspicious.

Kelsey tried to unravel the reason behind Zara’s visit to Tyler’s office building.