Chapter 4

Selene’s lips suddenly became parched, and her heart wouldn’t stop thumping loudly; it felt like he was the only one existing in the hall.

He was talking leisurely with another woman? Is she the woman he claimed he loved, or is she the one he left her for?

Different angry questions bounced across her swelling head, sharp pain laced in her eyes as she stared at him.

His head swerved in her direction and their eyes locked. They stood face to face with each other separated by only a few feet. Marion’s face radiated surprise, his smile dropped and his eyes held emotions that only he could alter. What was she doing here?

He glanced at the stream of confused faces that stared at them and strode gracefully toward Selene.

“Miss Selene Sinclair, I never thought I’d meet you again. Especially in this manner,” he muttered the last sentence in a low tone. He stretched forth his hands, beaming in smiles.

Selene glanced at the hand and then at his face. She was mused at how easy he felt around her.

“Nice to meet you too,” Selene replied and clasped her pygmy hands into his.

“It is time to announce the winner of the top-ranking CEO of the year!” A voice boomed through the speakers, and into their conscience, they pulled apart, and Marion nodded at her before walking up to the lady he was in a conversation with.

Selene’s eyes surreptitiously followed every move they made and every action that played out between them. Selene’s lips curved up in disgust when the auburn-haired woman wrapped her hands around Marion’s arms; she muttered something to him, and his blossomed lips stretched into a smile, though Selene figured out that it never reached his eyes.

“The winner of the CEO of the year is Doreen Sinclair!” Thunderous ovations filled the hall. Marion remained blank, he knew that the Sinclair Productions would win the position again.

“Dad?” she whispered dumbfounded. She couldn’t believe that after all the saga, Doreen still managed to win the CEO of the year award just like he did the previous year.

“We call for the princess of the Sinclair Production company, Miss Selene Sinclair.” Tears filled Selene’s eyes as she walked up to the podium to collect the award. She wished her father was present.

Marion slipped out of the hall and shuffled into a balcony, he twirled a glass of wine and gulped the content. The award should have been his! He gritted his teeth and flung the cup against the wall and it shattered.

He exhaled deeply and smiled wryly.

“Not like I care about the company, anyway.”

Back in the hall, Selene shook hands she had never imagined coming in contact with. Associates swarm around her, whispering congratulatory messages, to which she simply replies with a smile.

“Congratulations!” the auburn-haired woman who had earlier been with Marion said behind her. Selene spun around and stared at her chubby face.

“Congratulations,” the woman repeated and stretched a glass of wine towards Selene.

“Thank you,” Selene muttered and took the glass.

The woman silently watched her drink up the wine.

“You like it, right?” she asked.

“It tastes great,” Selene replied, chuckling nervously.

“I produce wines and that is one of my products,” she nodded towards the glass.

“This is amazing. I love it,” Selene stretched a fake grin across her face. She didn’t feel comfortable talking with Marion’s woman.

“By the way, I’m Lizzie Diego.”

“Nice to meet you,” Selene quickly responded.

Lizzie gave her a side hug, took the glass, and disappeared into the crowd.

Selene glanced around the hall for Marion but couldn’t spot him, she shrugged and turned to receive more compliments.

Minutes later, she suddenly felt the urge to urinate. Selene excused herself from the bevy of chattering ladies. She shuffled into the corridor that led to the female restroom. The urge came again, threatening to burst her bladder. She increased her pace as she ran along the long corridor.

“Get the car, Jonathan!” he heard a familiar stern voice.

Her legs propelled her to a corner where she hid.

“Everything seems to be working against you, don’t you think? Ever since you left Selene you’ve practically lost everything, including your dad’s company,” Jonathan opined.

Selene widened her eyes in shock as she heard the revelation. The urge to urinate suddenly disappeared.

“It’s none of your business, get the car!” Marion snapped.

“Don’t you think you should find a way to win her back?”

“Fucking mind your business!” Marion roared furiously. Jonathan mumbled inaudibly and scrambled away for the car.

Marion turned to walk away but spotted Selene crouched behind a wall. His lips paled as he stared at her.

“Miss Selene?” he called out.

Selene jumped as Marion’s intimidating eyes pierced into her.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was looking for the restroom,” Selene said and swerved around quickly.

Large, rough hands gripped her wrist and her breathing seized.

“Can we talk?” Marion whispered.

“We have nothing to talk about, Marion, let go of me!” she shrieked. His grip loosened up and she snatched her hands away.

“We need to talk…”

“We have nothing to talk about!” she snapped, cutting him off. Marion swallowed hard.

“I heard that you’re taking over your dad’s company soon; perhaps you may win the award next year too; congratulations anyway.”

Selene arched her brows, surprised at how he found out; she had only told Victoria. She was sure that Victoria hadn’t told anyone else.

“Lauren told you, that little snitch!” Selene balled her fist.

“It doesn’t matter, what matters now is that you’re becoming a CEO soon, a billionaire,” Marion chuckled and stuck his hands into his pant pocket.

Selene felt irritated by standing close to him. After everything that happened, he behaved like they were meeting for the first time, perfect acting.

“I hate you! I hate everyone! Why did you leave me, why couldn’t you love me?” she ranted and placed her hands on Marion’s cheeks. Marion stared at her, bewildered.

Selene felt her head spin wildly as she spoke. She tried to put her tongue in control, but no matter how hard she tried, my mouth kept running, spilling words she never intended to say.

“You left me for that ugly girl? She isn’t better than me. After everything we shared and planned together, you threw it all away within minutes. I hate you; I hate everyone here; I will destroy everything and everyone!” she shook her fist at him, heaving heavily. With a mad dash, she headed for the door that led to the conference hall.

His eyes popped out as she reached for the doorknob, and in a fast rush, he grabbed her and pushed her away from the door; she fell, hitting her head hard on the wall.

Marion rushed over to her and squatted beside her. He swept her up in a bridal style, staring calmly at her fluttering lashes that were threatening to shut.

“Are you an angel?” she muttered and her eyes slammed shut.