The Inherited Stranger

NA'

er day to drift around the mansion. Today, I had a purpose. My interview at Vance Corporations was

dy!" I

stantly, as if she'd be

eed you as a friend right now, not jus

open the wardrobe doors, the neat rows of dresses and blouses sudd

ered, pushing aside a stiff navy

buttons and paired it with a fitted pencil skirt. "Th

the mirror. "Hmm. You might

said, holding up a pair of nude heels. "They'll lengthen

ok at you. Who knew you ha

d at her lips. "Maybe

lody fussing over which jacket gave off the strongest impression. It felt... easy. Like w

isfied, I gave a little s

"You look like you a

first time since stepping foot in

ng with morning light. The scent of fresh bread and

lody said as she poured me a cup of coffee. "W

rim of the cup. Her question tug

s who I am,"

head, encourag

ck in the city. After college, I worked there. Started smal

th surprise. "I

vinced Uncle Frederick I wasn't ready, that I'd be better off managing the house and leaving the company to Ti

d with sympathy, but she sta

he plate away, my appetite gone. "But Erténa feels different. It feels like a second chance. Like I finally ge

roud. "So Vance Corporations isn't jus

nviction hardening inside me. "This tim

y spilling bright across the terrace. We didn't linger. My interview was

le never leaving her face. The sleek black car was already waiting

asked, pulling op

my small purse a li

engine. The world outside the mansion blurred into neat roads and familiar landscapes, but

aiming the piece of myself Tiffany and my aunt had stole

CAS

outside my door, the soft shuffle of papers, the low buzz of phone calls. I

called witho

g a neat stack of files. "These are th

through them, I skimmed the names, credentials, and expe

na H

ther. What the hell

d the details. Education in fashion and design. Previous experience un

mpanies in the wor

ions? Or was she blindly walking into this as

t the file, the faintest

asked, noti

the folder. "Schedule her. I

im a place as easily as she claimed Erténa, she was abo

NA'S

even more breathtaking up close. Glass walls stretched sky-high, catch

ing lights. A massive digital screen stretched across the far wall, displaying sharp suits a

de the smile tugging at my lips. "Whoev

but her eyes carried something unspoken. She knew exactly who ran this place. She knew, a

cted us toward the interview rooms. The rule

queeze before letting go. "I'l

The click of my heels echoed against marble as I walke

e sleek, modern space, each filled with men and women clutching neatl

ying to look as calm as possible. Melody had wished me luck befo

ened again, and a woman in a tailored na

ayes?" her vo

ng up straighter.

ional. "The CEO has requested to se

rows knitted. The CEO? Why me? Still, I rose, clutch

walls, our reflections multiplying in every directio

terview me personally

, pressing the button for the

loor after floor fell away until we reached the top, where the

of double doors. The woman gestured t

evator, leaving me alone with nothing but the silence

rd, lifted my h

deep voice cal

racing down my spine. I

me. The space was sleek, modern, and overwhelming, but all

uc

a file, his dark eyes locking on mine with the same intens

authority he radiated. His tie hung loose, as though he had been too busy to care, and yet somehow the imperfection made him look eve

when he set the file aside, the air of quiet command that seemed stitched into him as effortlessly as the sui

my name. His voice carried a weight that filled the room as

oulders. "I didn't kn

smirk and a challenge. "And yet, here yo

"I'm qualified, Lucas. I've studied fashion, I've worked in t

maddening calm. "So, this isn't just a game t

than I felt. "It's about me and the chance to build th

me, sharp and measuring, as though trying to peel back

floor echoed in the quiet room. My pulse jumped as he walked around

n upward to hold his gaze. His cologne lingered fa

confident,"

though my heart raced so

hen lowered his voice, steady and final. "If you truly want

ht of working so closely with him, of being caught in his orbit every single day. Yet anot