CHAPTER THREE- She insist

CHAPTER THREE

RACHEL’S POV

“What, Rachel? Are you serious?” Cecilia asked for the 100th time. Cecilia, my best friend, had grown up with me. A striking model and influential social media figure, She was also the ambassador for my jewelry line. With her long, flowing ebony hair, piercing blue eyes, and model-like figure, she had seen the news and rushed over to my house to confirm if it was just a rumor or fake. I assured her I was aware and fully supportive of it.

“Are you sure you are okay?” she asked again, concern evident in her voice.

“Yes, Cecile, I accept this challenge. I’ve got various plans in my head right now. One is to make him accept the challenge. Two is to get to know more about him—specifically his weaknesses and flaws—and use them to my advantage. Lastly, I will get rid of the other couples in the show, and then I will get rid of him too, making me the only person standing. Max Zenin would have no choice but to invest in my company. And that’s it. I’m going to secure the contract, and the headline will read, ‘The Snows Have Surpassed L&L for the First Time in History.’ After that, I will never make the mistake of letting him surpass me. Perfect plan,” I said, raising a toast with my glass.

She watched me with a mix of admiration and concern, knowing my determination and ambition were unmatched.

“I am not so sure about this plan of yours. Are you sure you two aren’t going to kill each other before the show ends?” She asked, genuinely concerned. “I mean, it looks like your perfect plan is going to earn you a death certificate,” she continued, and I rolled my eyes.

“Oh, don’t worry… I plan ahead,” I said, taking a sip from my glass. She shook her head, still uneasy.

My phone rang, and I saw the caller ID: “Mom.” I ignored it.

“Still haven’t reconciled with your mom yet?” She asked.

I stared blankly into space. “She let go of me, Cecilia. Married a man and started a new family, leaving me to start from scratch,” I said, my eyes still fixed on nothing.

“Whatever it is, I think you should also let it go. She deserves a second chance,” she said, silently hoping I wouldn’t get angry. But she knew she had worsened the situation when I flung my glass against the wall.

The glass shattered, pieces flying in all directions and scattering across the polished wooden floor. The liquid splashed against the wall, leaving a dark stain as shards tinkled to the ground. Both of us fell silent, the tension in the room was high. My chest heaved with anger, while Cecilia stood frozen, regretting her words but unsure how to take them back. The silence stretched on, filled only with the faint ticking of a distant clock and the soft rustle of curtains swaying in the breeze.

“You know, my dad found out she was having an affair, and when he went to confront her, he had an accident and died. And you know what she did? She brought that gigolo-looking guy to my dad’s funeral. That woman has no humanity towards me,” I said, my eyes watery as I stood up.

“I’m coming back,” I said, heading to my bedroom. I was wearing a bathrobe. The maids hurriedly came out to clear the broken glass and spilled liquid while I could feel her closing her eyes and sighing deeply. It’s part of her to do those things when she is stressed

I came back few minutes later and She was still in thoughts. She received a text message but ignored it, probably thinking how deeply hurt I was and what could possibly come out of this variety show.

She had been my best friend right before I lost my dad. Then, she had traveled overseas for a few years to complete her education and returned to find that I had already established Snows. She was more than happy when I offered her the ambassador role, but seeing me in so much pain made her question if there was more she could do to help.

Despite building a successful business from the ground up, the scars of my past still haunted me. Right now, it felt like things were falling apart, and I had no idea where or how to begin fixing them.

LEO’S POV

"Hello, Mr. Drew, what strings are you playing?" I asked, walking towards the balcony to get a view of the outside. Freshly bathed and changed into my pajamas, I needed some air.

"I apologize, but Miss Rachel said we could post the news. Besides, Max Zenin seems kind of impressed that both of you are going for the show. Who knows, he might invest in your company or in both of you if he sees the viewership ratings and the stronghold you two have on Las Vegas," Drew said over the line, his voice carrying the casual tone of someone who might be smoking.

"Whatever. I am not interested. Delete that news before tomorrow by 8 a.m., or I’m going to show up with my lawyers in your office," I said, cutting the call and taking a deep breath while looking at the billboard far away from my house.

So many thoughts were running through my mind, and I felt like crap, but I figured I just needed to let go of some things to focus on what was important at the moment. The city lights twinkled in the distance, a contrast to the turmoil within me.

MORNING ✨✨

John rushed into my bedroom. Still half-asleep, I muttered, "What the heck…?"

"I am so sorry, boss, but it's M-Mi…" he stuttered.

"Who is it?"

"Miss Rachel is at the entrance of your mansion."

"What!" I exclaimed, getting up and looking out from the balcony. I saw her alone, wearing shades and no guards in sight.

She caught a glimpse of me, turned to face me, and smirked. I rolled my eyes in exasperation. My phone rang, and I picked it up to see it was a call from Drew.

"Thank you so much for agreeing, Mr. Leo. We are grateful. The show will commence right away this evening. Please do come with Miss Rachel."

"Wha—" Before I could complete the question, the call was cut off. I glared daggers at Rachel, who stood confidently at the entrance, seemingly unfazed. My mind raced with frustration and confusion, knowing that somehow, she had managed to trap me into this situation.

"How the heck did she know where I am living in the first place?" I cussed under my breath.