"Did I ask you to stop talking?" I asked coldly.
The young man giving the presentation froze instantly. The entire eting room went silent, the air turning thick and suffocating. No one dared to breathe too loudly.
"I’m sorry, sir... I’ll continue right away," he stamred nervously, quickly flipping back to his slides.
I leaned back in my chair, my attention drifting back to my phone. She called herself... what exactly does she want to discuss?
My mind wandered unwillingly.
I rembered the conversation I had with my grandfather that night. He had been insistent, annoyingly so, that I was in love with Lena. According to him, that was the only explanation for why I felt so miserable without her.
And the worst part?
Everyone else seed to think the sa thing.
Damon and I had been at odds ever since the last ti we saw each other. Our conversations now were nothing but tension and sharp words. Liam, on the other hand, had outright refused to hang out with unless it was strictly work-related.
It was ridiculous.
Because of that, I had flown back to New York City, hoping the distance would help clear my head. At the sa ti, I needed to personally oversee several ongoing projects.
But even here... there was no escape.
The house was still filled with Lena’s scent. Every corner held traces of her, small, insignificant monts that now felt unbearably heavy. It was like she had left pieces of herself behind just to haunt .
Bertha had refused to co with this ti. She was still angry, and honestly, I didn’t bla her.
I glanced out the window at the bustling city. used to feel like a place of ambition, of power. Back then, everyone was willing to follow here, my team, my friends.
Now?
They were all gone.
And it was all because of one woman.
"You said the waterfall has to be hidden, and the sensors would control the water flow at intervals, correct?"
My voice cut through the room suddenly.
The presenter paused mid-sentence, clearly shocked. The rest of the team exchanged glances. They must have assud I wasn’t paying attention.
"Yes, sir," he replied quickly. "Since the waterfall will be a key visual feature of the hotel, we wanted to create sothing different from the Starlight and Hyacinth hotels. A hidden waterfall would give it a unique, mysterious atmosphere. We are planning to build this project in Vegas City."
I nodded slightly.
"So you intend to use Miss Smith for the structural design, I presu?"
"Yes, sir. She’s the best choice," he said confidently. "Ever since Banana Island was developed, the sales of each unit have skyrocketed every week.
The completed units are already sold out, and even the ones still under construction are being purchased in advance. The revenue generated from tourism alone is overwhelming."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"That’s why we thought it would be best to collaborate with Smith Enterprise for this project."
"I see."
I tapped my fingers lightly on the table, my expression unreadable.
"You can send her an email after finalizing the draft," I said calmly. "But I also want proposals sent to other companies."
Their expressions shifted slightly.
"The success of Banana Island wasn’t just because of its design," I continued. "It was because of the entire process, the competition, the publicity, the anticipation. Everything was broadcast online. People were involved from start to finish."
I leaned forward slightly, my gaze sharp.
"If we hand everything to Miss Smith directly, it becos predictable. She already has a na. There’s no excitent in that."
Silence filled the room as they listened carefully.
"We need sothing bigger," I added. "Sothing that will make the entire world stop and watch when this hotel is built."
I straightened back in my chair.
"And don’t touch the contract. I’ll handle it myself."
"Yes, sir," they all responded in unison.
I exhaled slowly, suppressing my irritation.
Of course, every single one of my companies wanted to poach Lena.
It was almost laughable.
No matter where I went, no matter what I did... I couldn’t escape hearing about her.
***********
After my call with Raymond, I decided to stay ho and rest.
I had just been discharged from the hospital, and the last thing I wanted was to faint again, or worse, put my baby in danger.
The thought alone made instinctively place a hand over my stomach.
My phone suddenly began to ring.
At first, I ignored it. The number was unknown, and I wasn’t in the mood for any unnecessary conversations. But after a mont of hesitation, I picked up the call.
"Hello?"
"Lena... please don’t hang up. I’m begging you, just hear out."
My breath caught instantly.
"Papa...?"
"Lena, I’m so sorry," he said, his voice breaking.
"I’m sorry for everything, for all the pain I caused you."
I froze, unable to speak.
Then I heard it.
He was crying.
That alone made uncomfortable.
"It was that wicked woman... and Ashley," he continued. "They manipulated . They made do those terrible things to you."
My fingers tightened around the phone.
"Since I left that house, I’ve been living alone," he went on. "And I’ve had ti to think... to reflect. I realize now how wrong I was. I sincerely want to apologize."
Tears began to well up in my eyes.
"If you’re sincere," I said softly, my voice trembling,
"why didn’t you apologize earlier? Why now?"
"I wanted to," he admitted. "But I was ashad. What I did to you... it was vile. I’m not proud of any of it."
His words hit harder than I expected.
"I rember how much I loved you when you were little," he continued. "And then I think about how I treated you as you grew older... it makes sick.
The things Selena and Ashley made do... they were unimaginable."
I couldn’t hold back anymore.
Tears stread down my face.
"Papa... are you telling the truth?" I whispered.
"Have you really changed?"
mories of my childhood flooded my mind, the version of him who loved , who protected .
"I promise," he said firmly. "I’ve even divorced that woman. I have the papers to prove it."
My sobbing slowed.
"Really?" I asked, shocked.
"Yes," he replied. "Why don’t you co out? I can show you."
I hesitated.
"Are you in Vegas City?" I asked cautiously.
"Yes. I’ll leave imdiately once I see you."
My brows furrowed.
"How did you know I was in Vegas?"
"I’ve been going to your company every day," he said with a sigh. "Begging to see you. They wouldn’t let in, so I stayed outside. Eventually, one of them told you were here."
There was a pause.
"It was worth it," he added quietly. "Even if I only get to see you once before I die... I’ll be satisfied."
My heart clenched.
"Papa, are you sick?" I asked anxiously.
"No," he chuckled weakly. "But I’m old. Death can co anyti."
I exhaled in relief.
"Okay... we can et," I said finally. "But it has to be in a public place. And I’ll choose the location."
"Of course," he agreed imdiately. "Anything you want. I just want to see you."
That was enough for .
After ending the call, I quickly got up and prepared myself. My heart felt lighter than it had in a long ti.
Maybe... just maybe... I could have my father back.
When I arrived at the restaurant, he wasn’t there yet.
I checked the ti.
Maybe he was running late.
I sent him a ssage and ordered so food since I was already hungry.
Minutes turned into an hour.
I finished eating.
Still no sign of him.
I tried calling him, but the line wasn’t going through.
A small frown ford on my face.
Maybe he got lost... he’s not familiar with Vegas City after all.
"Don’t worry, baby," I murmured softly, rubbing my stomach. "We’re going to et your granddad today."
I looked around the restaurant, hoping to spot him walking in at any mont.
But as ti passed, the sky outside began to darken.
The hope in my chest slowly faded, replaced by a heavy sadness.
Maybe he never ca.
Maybe this was all a prank.
Or worse... sothing had happened to him.
Either way, I couldn’t just sit there any longer.
I needed to leave.
Standing up, I grabbed my bag and made my way
outside.
The mont I stepped out, a strange dizziness hit .
It ca suddenly, and intensely.
My vision blurred.
"What’s happening...?" I whispered, trying to steady myself.
Panic rose in my chest, but I try to keep my calm.
I quickly waved down the first taxi I saw, silently thanking God that it stopped in ti.
If I had stayed out there any longer, I might have collapsed right on the road.
The mont I got into the taxi
Darkness swallowed whole.
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