Chapter 31
The next day, Victoria entered the Kane Industries building with a sense of purpose, though her mind was still reeling from the mysterious text she’d received the night before. Who sent it, and why? The questions lingered in her head as she rode the elevator up to her office. The cool, professional mask she wore hid the turmoil beneath as she prepared for another day of navigating the snakes in her company.
When she reached her floor and stepped into her office, however, she froze.
The room was filled with roses. Every available surface was covered—her desk, the window sills, even the chairs. The overwhelming scent of the flowers was almost suffocating, and she instinctively took a step back.
Before she could process what was happening, Damian emerged from behind her desk, dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, his usual smug grin firmly in place. He held a single red rose in his hand, twirling it between his fingers.
“Victoria,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “I told you I’d do anything to win you back.”
She stared at him, her expression unreadable for a moment before she let out a sharp, bitter laugh. “Are you serious right now?” she asked, crossing her arms.
Damian’s grin faltered slightly. “I’m very serious,” he said, stepping closer to her. “I made mistakes—terrible ones—but I want to fix them. I want to fix us.”
“There is no ‘us,’” Victoria snapped, taking a step back to put distance between them. “You don’t get to stroll in here with a florist’s shop and pretend you’re the victim. You destroyed us, Damian. You destroyed me.”
“Victoria,” he said, his tone softening, “I know I hurt you. I know I’ve done things I can’t take back. But you and I—we’re meant to be together. You’re my wife.”
“Don’t call me that,” she said coldly, her eyes narrowing. “I’m not your wife. Not anymore.”
Damian’s jaw tightened, but he kept his composure. “I will do whatever it takes to prove to you that I’ve changed. That I’m still the man you fell in love with.”
Victoria scoffed, shaking her head. “You’re delusional if you think some roses and empty promises are going to erase everything you’ve done.”
Before Damian could respond, the office door slammed open, and Selena stormed in like a hurricane. Her heels clicked furiously against the floor, her perfectly styled hair bouncing with every step. The fury in her eyes was unmistakable as she took in the scene before her.
“What the hell is this?” Selena screamed, her gaze darting between Damian and Victoria. “Are you out of your mind, Damian? Roses? For her?”
Damian straightened, his calm demeanor faltering under Selena’s wrath. “Selena, this isn’t your concern—”
“Not my concern?” Selena cut him off, her voice shrill. “You’re prancing around here like some lovesick fool, embarrassing yourself—and me—in front of the entire company!”
Victoria stood to the side, watching the scene unfold with a mix of annoyance and amusement. Selena’s tantrums were always theatrical, but this one was particularly satisfying.
“You’re pathetic,” Selena spat, shoving a vase of roses off Victoria’s desk. It shattered on the floor, water and petals scattering everywhere. “Do you honestly think this is going to work? That she’s going to forgive you?”
Damian’s eyes flashed with anger as he stepped toward Selena. “Stay out of this, Selena. This has nothing to do with you.”
“It has everything to do with me!” Selena screamed, knocking another vase to the ground. “You’re making a fool of yourself—and of me!”
“That’s enough,” Victoria said, her voice cutting through the chaos like a knife. Both Damian and Selena turned to her, momentarily silenced by her commanding tone. “You’ve both made your point. Now get out of my office.”
Selena glared at her, her chest heaving. “Don’t think this is over,” she hissed before storming out, slamming the door behind her.
Damian lingered for a moment, looking at Victoria with a mixture of regret and determination. “This isn’t over either,” he said softly before following Selena out.
Victoria let out a long breath, pinching the bridge of her nose. She looked around at the destroyed vases and scattered roses, feeling exhaustion creep over her. She grabbed her bag and left the office, deciding to focus on the upcoming board meeting instead.
As she approached the boardroom, the sound of hushed whispers caught her attention. She slowed her steps, leaning slightly closer to the ajar door.
“Did you hear about the HR manager?” one voice said, barely above a whisper.
“Yeah,” another replied. “He’s missing. Just disappeared overnight. No one’s seen him or heard from him.”
Victoria’s brows knitted together as she listened.
“I heard there’s an investigation,” a third voice chimed in. “Apparently, he was close to Gregory. Makes you wonder if it’s all connected.”
Victoria’s stomach tightened. Missing? The HR manager had always been a quiet figure, someone who stayed in the background. But now, with Gregory’s arrest—and supposed death—this new development felt far from coincidental.
Taking a deep breath, she straightened her posture and pushed open the boardroom door, silencing the whispers instantly. The board members looked up at her, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and unease.
Victoria offered a polite but firm smile as she stepped inside, though her mind raced with questions. First Gregory, and now the HR manager? What’s next?
