Meeting Again

 Lexi's POV 

  Unable to bear it anymore, I turned and walked away, leaving my family to their mocking laughter. I have a long and difficult road ahead of me, but I was determined to succeed. I wanted to reclaim my mother's company, Eclipse Holdings, and restore it back to its former glory. 

   I would get my mother's properties and I'll clear my name. I'll let everyone know that I wasn't responsible for my mother's death. I'll let everyone know that the real culprits are my father, my step mother and step sister. 

 Before anything else, I got to the bank and withdrew some funds from my account. Claudia and my father have freezed all my accounts, including my mom's own, but little did they know that there was one bank account left. Only my mother and I have access to it. 

  When I was done, I made my way straight to the cab station, ready to go to my mother's company, my heart racing with anticipation. I hadn't set foot in the building since her death and the thought of going back there filled me with a mix of emotions. 

 The cab pulled up in front of the company. I pushed open the iron doors and stepped inside, my eyes scanning the familiar lobby. It felt surreal, being back in this place. I half-expected to see my mother walking towards me, a warm smile on her face.

 But that was never going to happen. My mother was dead and gone forever and I was left to pick up the pieces.

 I approached the security guard, a man who had been a friend of mine when my mother was still alive. He looked up at me, a mixture of surprise and guilt on his face. 

 “Lexi, I…,” he started to say.

 “I need to get inside,” I said, my voice firm. “I have some important things to do,” I lied. I only wanted to see the state of the company.

 The man hesitated. He seemed torn between his duty and our little friendship. He has been my friend ever since he started working here. 

 “I'm sorry, Miss Lexi,” he said. “I've been instructed by Ma'am Claudia and Mr Jenkins never to let you in,”

  That bitch! I felt a surge of anger, but I pushed it aside. I knew that getting angry wouldn't help me achieve my goals. 

 Instead, I focused on my plan. I needed to gather information about the company's current state, identify key assets and stakeholders and develop a strategy to gain control.

 I needed allies for my plan to work out and I know that no one would want to help me without expecting anything in return. Well, I don't care if they want a share in the company. But I just needed to get my mother's company back. No matter what it takes.

 “Please, Charles,” I said, my voice softening. “I promise I won't cause any trouble. I just want to see the company for myself,” I blurted out. 

 Charles looked at me, his expression softening. “Okay, Lexi,” he sighed. “But be careful. Ma'am Claudia has made it clear that you are not welcome here,”

 I nodded, my heart pounding with excitement. I made my way to the elevator, my mind racing with thoughts of what I would find inside. I ignored the judgemental gazes that some of the employees gave me. They didn't know the truth, so I won't blame them. 

 As I stepped out of the elevator on the top floor, I felt a sense of nostalgia wash over me. This was where my mother spent most of her time, building the company from scratch and a nameless woman from God-knows-where just wanted to steal it? Never! I'll never allow this. 

 I walked down the hallway, my eyes scanning the familiar surroundings. Everything looked different, yet somehow the same.

 I pushed open the door and stepped inside, my eyes scanning the room and that's when I saw Ethan, the man who had betrayed me, who had believed my family members over me. He thinks I actually killed my mother. Such a pity that I fell in love with someone who doesn't love me the way I do.

 He was sitting in the chair behind the desk, a smug smile spreading across his face. 

 My fists clenched and my heart pounded in my chest as I glared at Ethan. Memories of our past interactions flooded my mind - the way he had charmed me at first sight, the way he had listened to me, and the way he had believed my family's lies about me murdering my mother, instead of believing me. 

 “You!” I spat, my voice venomous. “What are you doing here?”

 Ethan stood up, his eyes glinting with amusement. “I've been waiting for you, Lexi,” he said, his voice low and husky. “You even look more beautiful than I remembered. I guess staying in prison makes one more beautiful,”

 I felt a surge of revulsion, my skin crawling at the thought of him touching me. “Get out of my mother's company!” I growled, my fists clenched. 

 But Ethan just laughed, taking a step closer to me. “I don't think so, Lexi. I am the new CEO of this company,” he said, his eyes locked on mine. 

 I felt a wave of shock wash over me. That bitch! She dared to place a stranger in charge of my mother's company? Just how far can she go? 

 “Get out of this place, before I call the cops on you,” I said through gritted teeth, but he didn't budge.

 “I've missed you, Lexi. I've missed you so much,” He said as he leaned in to kiss me. I tried to slap him away, but suddenly the door was pushed open. 

  Margaret and her daughter walked into the room. An idea popped in my head. If I want to have my revenge, I'll have to start from the easiest thing. 

 I leaned down and locked lips with Ethan. Seeing the look of shock on Margaret's face was something I will kill to see again.

 “Thanks for last night, Ethan, I enjoyed myself. I look forward to seeing you again,” I winked at him before walking away. I felt fulfilled as I heard the two of them arguing. What a good way to start my revenge.

 With a smirk on my face, I walked out of the company. I didn't want to go back home yet. 

 But as I crossed the street, I didn't notice the car coming towards me. Everything went black as I felt a searing pain in my head. 

 Three days later, I woke up in a hospital bed. As I looked around, I saw a familiar face - the stranger I had seduced at the hotel.

 “You!!!” I gasped, trying to sit up.