Lila's POV I stood in front of the vanity mirror for minutes. The woman staring back at me appeared like a total stranger. I had taken enough time to primp myself and look my best, yet I feel less of myself. Many times, I've always tried to stay strong despite life's challenges. I try to motivate myself the best way I can. But I don't understand what is wrong with me this morning. Whether it is the anxiety of what to expect—if I would be welcomed or not—by the time I get to the company, or it is the sad happenings that I've faced in the last couple of days, I couldn't tell which one of them is affecting me. I could say it's the two. Although I know I look beautiful with or without makeup, the light make up I applied on my face only did little to enshroud how broken and shattered I feel within. The heartbreak of finding out that I'm an adopted orphan seeks to mire me to my deepest cauldron and as I stare at the mirror, all I see beneath that beautiful face is a girl pretending
Lila's POV I felt the ground tilt beneath me as the conference room brimmed with laughter. I know there's a limit to how far I can go with adjustments but I still palmed my hair a little with my hands, hoping that most of the dishevelled parts would fall into place. Just when I thought I had done that swiftly and stylishly enough, they laughed even more. It seemed that for a moment, I forgot that I am the spotlight here and their eyes are glued to me.Every bit of my actions seemed to amuse them because they wouldn't stop laughing even if I simply took a breath. I just gave up trying to make any other adjustments before them. Why do things keep going wrong for me?I became an object of ridicule even in my late parent's company. Could my life ever get any more pathetic?I couldn't even bear to look at these shameless grown people who would not stop acting like kids despite their ages. “It's not their fault,” I thought, my eyes fixated to the ground, my mind a swirling tempest of
Damian's POV As the door was thrown open when the meeting just started, my attention was immediately riveted to the door and the person that came from the door. Here she comes, the heiress who is supposed to take over the company, sabotaging my well structured plans.But that's not happening. Well, even if I let that happen, I won't let her last long on that seat. But wait, why is she dressed like this? Is she a stand up comedian or what?Before I knew what was going on, the whole conference room brimmed with laughter. A kind of laughter that crescendoed the more she tried to make some adjustments to her terrible appearance. Even I wondered if it's so terrible in her house that they couldn't afford a common mirror I had to put in so much effort to stifle the impulse I had to laugh. I should let her have a good impression of me so that I can get closer to her for my own gain. “How will she wear something like this to the company?” I still wondered When Victor came and announce
Lila’s POVI couldn’t stop staring at my reflection in the mirror this morning. Yesterday, I had asked Damian to choose which dress I should wear today from the ones he bought for me. The dress Damian chose for me—a tailored, navy-blue office dress—fit perfectly, highlighting my features without being too revealing. For the first time in a long while, I looked like someone who belonged in an office, in charge of things, someone important. My fingers grazed the soft fabric, and a wide smile spread across my face. Maybe today would be different. Maybe today, I’d prove I could handle this new world.The cab ride was also a smooth one, unlike the chaos of yesterday. I actually had time to relax and think—mostly about Damian. A soft warmth settled in my chest as I thought of him, his firm but kind way of guiding me through everything, his insistence that I could do this. I never would have guessed that behind his polished exterior, there was someone genuinely willing to help. I was grat
Damian's POVI relaxed in the back seat of the car as we cruised down the busy streets, the soft hum of the engine blending with my thoughts. I stared out the window, the city's pulse racing around me, but my mind was somewhere else—focused on Monroe Corporation and, more specifically, Lila. Right now, I'm just a shareholder in that company and although Monroe corporation is a big company on its own, it is nothing compared to the large conglomerate that I own. What I get as a shareholder In Monroe corporation is something I would classify as a little bonus to what I have. As the CEO of my own large conglomerate, I have quite a lot of things to oversee, but now that I've partnered with Monroe corporation and even promised Lila that I'll come and assist her, I know that I have signed in for more stress. Normally, I only go to Monroe Corporation once a week for now as I'm trying not to rush my plans but here I am, going there another day because of Lila.Well, I shouldn't complain.
Damian's POVI gave Lila my most reassuring smile, leaning in just a bit as if to emphasise my sincerity. “I’m offering you a special partnership,” I said, my voice smooth and comforting. Confusion was evident on Lila's face still. “Special partnership? Apart from being a shareholder, what other partnership are you talking about “Let me handle the heavy lifting for you,” I told her. “You’re a Monroe—you deserve to enjoy the wealth, the legacy, without getting lost in the cutthroat details that can trip anyone up.”Will she ever stop looking confused? “While I manage the business side of things,” I further clarified, “you can take your time to learn at your own pace. There’s no rush. And I’ll make sure you’re protected every step of the way.”It seems I'm at least making progress. There was a pause, a silence that felt like it stretched on forever as she processed my words. I could practically see the gears turning in her mind—the doubt, the desperation, the longing for someone to
Lila's POVThe ride home felt like a dream as I sat in the back of my brand-new car, watching the familiar streets blur by through the tinted windows. It was hard to believe how much had changed in just a matter of days. I could still feel the weight of the CEO documents I’d signed earlier today, the sense of responsibility that had settled on my shoulders. But right now, I didn’t want to think about the company or deal lost—I just wanted to share my little victory with the people who mattered most.As we pulled up to the house, I could already see the curtains twitching. Mom was peeking out, curious and anxious as ever. She had no idea I’d be arriving in a brand-new luxury car, let alone one with a driver. I smiled, my heart swelling with excitement and pride as I stepped out of the car.“Mum!” I called out, waving as I walked up to the front porch.Mum had already wheeled herself to the door and she opened the door, her eyes widening when she saw me. “Lila!” she exclaimed, one ha
Lila's POVDamian came in early today. Despite being the CEO of a massive company himself, he somehow found the time to help me with my workload. Sometimes I feel guilty—like I’m burdening him, pulling him away from his own responsibilities. But every time I mention it, he just brushes it off with a smile, telling me it's no trouble at all.I think what amazes me most is how willingly he takes on the chaos of Monroe Corporation. There’s no obligation for him to help, yet he steps in without hesitation. I catch him focused and diligent, tackling the most complicated tasks, even the ones that make my head spin. I can't help but admire him for that.Damian Left early today after helping me out with most of the strenuous tasks, leaving me with much easier ones to get familiar with. He had tried, but today took a turn I wasn’t expecting.Not long after Damain left, It was early afternoon when I got into the car with my driver. We were heading back to the office after a quick lunch meetin
Damian's POVAs soon as the driver pulled the car back around, we were right where we’d seen them before. I stared at Lila, trying to keep my expression unreadable, but inside, my emotions were spiralling out of control. I reminded myself—again—that Lila wasn’t mine. We weren’t together, and I had no right to feel possessive. And yet, there I was, watching her, unable to tear my eyes away.She seemed comfortable, too comfortable, with that guy. They were laughing, chatting easily. I could tell from his body language that he was flirting, leaning forward, his gaze locked on hers like she was the only person in the room. My jaw tightened as I watched him reach across the table and take her hand. As if everything unfolding before my eyes wasn't enough to spite me, this flirt just took her hand and planted a kiss on it, his gesture slow and deliberate.Damn!My fingers knew what to do. They didn't take permission from me before curling into a fist beside me as if warming up for an impen
Damian's POVYesterday was a whirlwind. The demands at my company had me tied up all day, so much so that I didn’t even make it to Monroe Corporation. Valerie had been doing well at keeping things in order while I was away. But there was still a lot to do, so I assisted her myself with some of the tasks. My deed caught her by surprise. She knew I would not reduce her salary because of the help I rendered to her, so she voiced her gratitude to me a couple times with a smile on her face each time. Actually, Valerie is beautiful, but I do not see her in any other light apart from being my PA. Aside from being perfectly qualified for her job, she doesn't spark up anything in me. Nothing at all. I've figured out that she likes me, but she knows the stakes. She dare not make me sense that she's making any advance towards me. She should keep it all to herself. It wasn’t until I finally settled down at home, my mind free of distractions, that I realised something surprising—I actually mi
Lila's POVI was deep into reviewing some documents when my phone buzzed, interrupting my concentration. Glancing down, I saw his name flash across the screen again—Connor.I huffed. This guy won't just quit. Since last night, he had been so intent on blowing up my phone. I got a call last night from a strange number that popped up on my screen. I wondered who could be calling me quite late at night, only for me to answer the call and find out that it's Connor.As soon as I heard that it's Connor, I hung up on him immediately, even though I didn't like how something in me disapproved of what I did. First, I wondered how he got my contact information but I didn't ponder it too far before I reckoned that since I'm now the CEO of a big company, he must have searched me up on the internet and got my contact information there. I tried to stay as low-key as possible in the shopping mall yesterday by moving only with Elena, but he must have seen the guards and the luxurious car that wai
Lila's POVThe last thing I needed was to be stuck in my own head, tangled in the web of confusion and anxiety that had been tightening around me since I discovered the truth about my parents. Damain had left early today to fully attend to some functions in his own conglomerate. So, using his company for my distraction wasn't an option. As I kept pondering on what else I could do, that’s when the idea struck me—shoppingShopping felt like the perfect escape from the overwhelming stress I’d been under. It was my first evening free in a while, and I needed a distraction—something to take my mind off the haunting discoveries about my parents and the lingering anxiety over my mum’s upcoming surgery. With everything happening, I’d been avoiding the company's apartment, going straight from work to home every day. But today, I was determined to break that routine.After work, I decided on a spur-of-the-moment shopping trip. I wanted to pick up a few things for the house, for Mum, and for
Lila's POV When Damian walked into the office this morning, I felt a strange mixture of relief and unease. I hadn’t been able to sleep much the previous night; the discovery in my mum's old journal was haunting me.I needed to tell him about it, to share the weight of this terrible secret with someone who might have answers—or at least know what to do next. All the times that Damian and I had spent together, I've seen how he handles situations. I could tell that he is a better problem solver than I am. Maybe he could help me figure this out. He looked calm and composed as usual, flashing me his reassuring smile as he approached me. "Good morning, Lila," he greeted me warmly, but I could tell he sensed something was off. My face must have betrayed my restless night."Damian, we need to talk," I said, my voice a little shaky as I stood up and gestured towards the corner office. I couldn’t have this conversation out in the open. His brows furrowed slightly, and he nodded, following m
Lila's POVDespite the fact that I had additional company in the back seat of my car, the silence we maintained was strange, yet I revelled in it, hoping the soothing silence helps me clear my head.The two guards who would stay at home permanently were in the car with me, together with my two personal guards. The driver and I made it six of us in the new SUV car that drove us home, yet it was as silent as a graveyard. Well, nobody would say a word unless necessary, or unless I engage them to. And I'm not really in such a mood.The soft hum of the car intertwined with my thoughts as my driver drove us home. I've not just had a long day, I've stumbled on something that has stirred up some unrest within me.Finally, the car pulled up in front of the house, and as I tried to alight, I suddenly paused when I heard the voice that came from one of my guards at the back seat. “I'll get that ma'am,” he said. I was lost. I didn't understand what he meant until he quickly alighted from the
Lila's POV The morning air was crisp with the usual buzz of the company coming to life. My mind was preoccupied with everything that had happened lately—the shattered windows, the break-in, and all the tension that seemed to hang like a dark cloud over my head. The more I paid attention to these things, the more I realised that a danger might be lurking somewhere in the shadows, waiting for the right time to manifest. But I just can't seem to wrap my mind around whatever it is. Even as Randall seemed to be my prime suspect, judging from his sudden change of behaviour, I still can't be too sure since there's no solid evidence to corroborate my speculation of him.Speak of the devilI barely had a chance to settle into my thoughts when I saw him—Randall.He was one of the first few people I ran into, standing by the reception desk, talking to the receptionist as she was flipping through some documents. When our eyes met, he greeted me with a wide, innocent smile that caught me compl
Damian’s POV“Lila, are you there?” I called out again when I didn't hear any response from her just like she did last night before I had to rush to her place.Does she have a thing for going quiet suddenly? Finally, I heard her swallow audibly, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I went to my company’s apartment earlier today, just to settle a few things before heading home. Damian... someone broke in.”My eyes narrowed, and I felt a cold wave of surprise wash over me. “What? What happened?” I asked sharply, though my mind was already racing. This was unexpected. I had been the one to assign someone to hack her phone, but this... this was something else entirely.“The window... it was shattered,” she said, her voice trembling. “The same way it was at my main house the other night. It’s like whoever broke into my home did the same thing to my company’s apartment.”I clenched my jaw, tension coiling in my chest. This wasn't part of my plan. Whatever games I was playing with Lila, bre
Damian's POV.The memory of the night replayed in my mind like a broken record even as I lay on Lila's bed last night. After the rain had stopped, as well as the lightning and thunder, and we had both realised what we'd done by chance, we both retired to bed quietly to sleep away the memory. I would have just gone back to my apartment immediately but it appeared that Lila still needed someone around a little longer. The storm, the kiss, the unspoken intensity that hung between us—it all felt so raw, so undeniably real. Yet, as I lay awake in Lila’s bed, staring at the ceiling while she faced the other way, I told myself it was nothing more than lust. A fleeting moment of weakness. My body had betrayed my mind, and I needed to get a grip.The silence stretched between us, broken only by the occasional rustle of sheets as she shifted slightly, and I wondered if she was awake too, lost in her own thoughts. I waited until her breathing slowed, indicating she'd fallen asleep, before I