SLYVIA POVAs I stood at the front of the conference room, facing my team, a mix of anticipation and nervousness fluttered in my chest. This was it—the moment I would reveal our plans for the future, including the big move to New York."Alright, everyone, settle in," I called out, my voice carrying across the room. "I've got some exciting news to share."The room buzzed with anticipation as all eyes turned to me, eager to hear what I had to say."So, as you all know, we've been working tirelessly on this project, pouring our blood, sweat, and tears into every aspect of it," I began, offering a warm smile of appreciation to my dedicated team."Thanks to all your hard work, Lockwood Co. has secured some major wins," I continued, emphasizing each word for effect. "And with those wins comes some big changes."I watched as a ripple of excitement coursed through the room, my team leaning in eagerly to catch every word."First off, let's talk about the perks," I announced, ticking off the li

GRAYSON POVI saw the news headline pop up on my phone: "The Whore of Wall Street is Back" with a picture of Sylvia. My heart dropped. "What? What is this?" I muttered under my breath as I found it hard to believe I am seeing right. I grabbed the remote and turned on the TV in my room, switching to the news channel.As I watched the report, my blood began to boil. The reporters were tearing into Sylvia, slandering her in the most brutal way possible. My mind raced, trying to piece together how this happened. I hadn't made our partnership public yet. The only people who knew were my family. That could only mean one thing: someone from my own family had leaked it and staged this smear campaign.I stormed out of my room and down the hall, my thoughts fuming with anger. Entering the living room, I saw Jocelia lounging on the couch, flipping through a magazine like nothing had happened."Jocelia!" I barked, causing her to jump. "What the hell is this?" I shoved my phone in her face, the he

SLYVIA'S POV"This is quite a good neighborhood, ma'am," Paul remarked as we drove through the quiet, tree-lined streets."You know the neighborhood?" I asked, surprised."I used to work as a security guard at a hotel close to here," he responded with a nostalgic smile.I was curious. "How was that? Did you enjoy working there?"Paul chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Oh, it was quite the experience. I have plenty of stories. Like the time a married man brought his side chick to the hotel, and his wife showed up and confronted them. The drama was something else!"I laughed. "That sounds like a soap opera!""Exactly!" he said, laughing along. "And then there were the celebrities. They'd come in, cause a scene, and their agents would rush over to pay the hotel management to keep everything a secret. It was like living in a tabloid some days."I shook my head in disbelief. "I can't imagine dealing with that on a regular basis.""It kept things interesting, that's for sure,"

GRAYSON'S POVHearing that the kids had been bullied, especially Zendaya, broke my heart. I wished I could shield her from the cruelties of the world, to protect her from any harm. I stepped over to where Zendaya and Zenith stood and squatted down to their level."Hey," I began softly, "I want you both to know that you have me in your life now. I will never leave you, and I'll do everything to keep you safe. Your mom and I are going to find the best school for you, where no one will pick on you, okay?" I said, placing my hands gently on their cheeks.Zenith stepped forward and hugged me tightly, his small arms wrapping around my neck as I kissed his head. It felt like a breakthrough, a small victory. Zendaya, on the other hand, remained still, her big eyes studying me warily. Though she didn’t hug me, she didn’t pull away when I cupped her cheek. It was a tiny gesture, but it felt like a significant start.I looked into her eyes and smiled. "I promise, Zendaya, I'll be here for you."

SLYVIA'S POV"Hi, everyone," Jocelia said with her fake smile, sliding into the chair next to Grayson. I watched Grayson's expression shift to frustration at the sight of her."What are you doing here... and how did you find me?" Grayson asked in a cold sharp tone."Oh, come on, Grayson. You dining at a place like this tends to make the news," she replied casually, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. I glanced around and noticed a few people sneaking glances at our table.Jocelia settled into her seat and looked around expectantly. "So, what are we having?" she asked, but no one responded."It's good to see you, Slyvia," she said, turning her attention to me."Is it, Jocelia?" I sneered, unable to hide the spite in my voice."Come on, you're not still angry, are you?" she continued, ignoring my tone. "We can get past our differences, especially since we'll be seeing more of each other now that you and Grayson are working together. And besides, Grayson and I are togethe