Chapter 3 Who’s the boss?

Sephora’s POV

The moment Betty opened her door, I didn't have to say a word. One look at my drenched, trembling form and my bloodshot eyes was enough to send her into a protective frenzy.

She pulled me into her apartment, stripped me of my wet clothes, and ushered me into a steaming shower without asking a single question. It was only later, when I was clean and seated in her living room, that I finally tell her all that has happened.

As I told her now how I had naively given him my dad’s company, my house, and all my assets, Betty paced her living room angrily as she cussed Kayden.

Betty had always told me there was something off about Kayden, but when I assured her everything was fine, she backed off, but I should have known better.

"That absolute bottom-feeder!" she hissed, her face red with anger. "Sephora, we are going to fight this. He cannot just steal your life."

"He already did, Betty," I whispered, staring into the tea I was sipping as I tried not to burst into more tears. "I signed the papers. I gave it to him without a second thought."

That night, I barely got some sleep. I assured Betty I was fine, but I wasn’t. As the weekend rolled by, I waited for a text, a call, or even a half-hearted apology from Kayden, but my phone remained silent. It was as if I had never existed in his world.

By Sunday night, I had accepted my fate that this wasn't some sort of joke. Although he had won now, I wasn't going to let him get away with my father’s legacy. By Monday morning, I was a new person with a positive mind. I believed in hard work and starting afresh even if things seemed not to work out.

I stood in front of Betty’s mirror and applied enough makeup to hide the evidence of my weekend spent on crying, and since I didn’t leave my house with anything, I had to borrow some clothes from Betty.

I reached into my purse and pulled out the card Sylvan had given me. I didn’t bother looking at the name because I only assumed it was for the company he worked for.

I only checked for the address and phone number before tucking it back into my bag. I assumed he worked in the design department of a large firm and perhaps his boss was looking for a junior designer. It was a long shot, but I had nothing left to lose.

After saying goodbye to Betty, I hailed a cab and gave the driver the address, and when we arrived, I was wowed by the size of the massive building but before stepping inside the building, I walked into a cafe with my heart filled with worry for him.

"Poor guy," I murmured to myself, as I headed to the counter to place an order. "He’s probably working twice as hard just to look like he belongs here.”

I didn’t mind that I was broke, I squeezed out twenty dollars to buy two extra large black coffees and a box of pastries because although I had been in too much pain to actually know if he was doing well for himself now, I still saw him as that struggling model.

The fact that he was willing to show me to his boss said a lot about him and so, the least I could do was to make sure he at least ate something today.

After getting my order, I walked back to the towering building and headed for the receptionist.

"Excuse me," I said, offering a small, hesitant smile. "I’m here to see Sylvan and I brought him some coffee and breakfast. He’s... well, I’m not sure which department he’s in, but he gave me this card."

I handed the card over to the receptionist and when she took it, her expression transformed instantly as her eyes widened.

"Ms. Smith?" she stammered, her voice a bit louder. "He... he’s been expecting you so please, go right up. The private elevator is already keyed for your arrival."

The private elevator? Frowning, I followed her direction and got into the elevator without thinking much, as I could only assume the firm was generous with both junior staff and everyone in general.

When the elevator shot towards a penthouse, I had expected to find a cramped workspace with Sylvan hunched over a desk with tired lines on his face but as I exited the elevator and stepped into the space, I was honestly wowed.

It felt more like a throne room rather than an office with the furniture and interior designs made from the finest quality that even my company couldn't boast of.

Instead of the cramped workplace I was expecting, there were only a few workers here and none of them looked like they hated their jobs. A woman with a high ponytail and expensive looking suit walked toward me and held her hands out.

“Ms. Smith, I am Katie and you can give me those.”

Hold up, how did she know my name? Or did the secretary tell her while I was in the elevator? Damn, so many things were happening at the same time. She reached for the coffee I was holding but I pulled back instinctively.

"Oh, no, it's fine, I want to give them to Sylvan myself. Is he in a meeting with the boss?"

Katie’s lip curled in a way that made me feel very small. "The Boss is ready for you, Sephora. Step inside."

When she led me through some set of doors, we walked in silence for a while before she pulled to a stop in front of a massive brown door.

“You can go on,” she said, before leaving me by myself.

I didn’t mind her cold attitude, I simply nodded, before opening the door and stepping inside the office. I relaxed immediately when my eyes settled on a familiar figure by the window of the large office that looked stunning and screamed luxury.

"Sylvan!" I called out, my voice filled with relief as I hurried forward, holding out the coffee. "I brought you breakfast as I was worried you’d be too busy to eat, and I know how hard it is when you’re just starting out at a place like this."

Sylvan turned to look at me and I stilled as my eyes ran over him. Now that I wasn’t being eaten up by grief, I could see his features clearly and one thing was for sure, he didn’t look like a struggling model.

He threw one glance at my outstretched hands, before walking towards me with slow but firm strides, making his already perfect suit rub against him like a second skin.

"You brought me coffee, Sephora?" he asked, his voice deep but rich.

"I... I thought you were..." I looked at the coffee in my hands, then at the massive desk behind him, which bore a nameplate made of silver: SYLVAN DEVEREAUX – CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

My heart stilled as the whole missing puzzles began to fall into place. The luxury car, the receptionist’s reaction, the private elevator and the penthouse, this expensive suit? A junior staff member definitely didn’t have access to those.

Oh God…

The coffee and pastries in my hands suddenly felt heavy as my face heated up with a mortification so intense, I thought I might actually faint.

“You aren’t a model,” I let out with a gasp.

Sylvan reached me and his towering presence combined with the realization of who he actually was made my knees buckle as he had a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"I told you I was in the industry, Sephora," he said, stopping just inches from me.

He reached out, his long fingers brushing against the side of the coffee cup, but he didn't take it. Instead, he tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear, making me tremble.

"I just didn't tell you that I owned the building, the industry, and every person inside of it."