The room fell into a tense silence. Everyone present could feel the shift in power, and neither Hailey nor Charles could ignore it. Hailey’s pride felt hurt. She looked at Jeremy from head to toe with anger and disgust. “Kneel? You want us to kneel for him?” she spat with indignation. “I would rather…” “Enough!” Charles barked, cutting her off. “Do you want to ruin both our lives? If Miss Vivan says kneel, we both kneel!” Hailey looked at him in aghast. “You can’t be serious! Charles, I…” “I’ve had enough of your tantrums, Hailey!” Charles snapped. “For once, just swallow your pride and do as you are told.” “But…” The look Charles gave her was killing which made her to swallow whatever word she was about to spill out. Defeated, Hailey hesitated before grudgingly lowering herself to the ground in humiliation. Charles slowly followed and bowed his head in submission. The sight was almost surreal; these two who felt like they were on top of the world couldn't help but

“Jeremy, the lady standing before you is Hope. Hope Lancaster,” Vivan said with a faint smile. Jeremy’s gaze hardened as his eyes locked onto Hope immediately. *Hope Lancaster?*—the daughter of Senator Klaus Lancaster, known for her unrelenting activism and high-profile influence. Everyone knows her. Her name carried a well-known reputation, and now she stood before him, calm and deliberate, like she owned the room. “Hope,” Jeremy repeated slowly in a low voice. He didn’t step back or avert his gaze. Instead, he tilted his head as he measured her from head to toe. “I’ve heard of you. You have quite the reputation.” Hope smirked, folding her arms across her chest as she met his gaze without flinching. “And here I was hoping for a fresh start. Tell me, Jeremy, what does my reputation say to you?” Jeremy’s lips quirked into a faint smile that immediately faded. “That you’re someone who likes to make waves. Someone who doesn’t back down easily. But I don’t impress easily either.”

After a few moments of awkward silence, Bonnie excused herself. She had been invited by Vivan, and it was clear that the meeting was over. She smiled before walking away, leaving Hope and Jeremy alone. Jeremy continued brooding at the desk, while Hope, sensing the tension, decided it was better to give him space. She walked out and was about to get a cup of coffee when she suddenly bumped into Vivan in the hallway. She heaved in surprise as soon as she sighted Vivan. "Miss Vivan!" Hope exclaimed, taking a step back. Her expression shifted from surprise to mild embarrassment. "I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you there." Vivan chuckled softly, her presence exuding the calm authority that always seemed to surround her. "No need to apologize, Hope. I was actually coming to see you." Hope raised an eyebrow. "Me? Is there something wrong?" “Miss Sinclair,” Hope began cautiously, “is everything alright?” “Please,” Vivan said with a faint smile, “call me Vivan. And yes, everything is fine.

18.Hope leaned in slightly, her gaze unwavering. "Start with Ethan. What exactly went down between you two?"Jeremy hesitated for a moment, the weight of the memory clearly making him uncomfortable. He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he recalled the events. "I was at the office. Just taking a break, trying to get some air. Then I saw Ethan... he was harrasing one of the younger girls in the company, some kid who probably just started. Jeremy's voice grew tight as he continued. "Ethan was practically cornering her, making her feel small, like she didn't belong. He was saying stuff about how she wasn’t cut out for the job, pushing her around like she was some kind of punching bag. I couldn’t stand it." His eyes darkened, the anger still fresh in his mind. "So, I stepped in."Hope leaned forward slightly, her gaze fixed on him, sensing the deeper layers to his actions. "What did you do?"Jeremy's jaw clenched. "I told him to back off, that the kid was just trying to do her job

Hope cleared her throat, shaking her head to dispel the sudden heat creeping up her neck. "Don’t flatter yourself," she shot back, though her tone lacked it's usual sharpness. Jeremy chuckled as she pushed her off the door and crossed the room toward the window. "Relax, Hope. You’re the one who said I should open up. I figured this would be a good start. Just us—no distractions, no interruptions. And maybe I might open something else-your legs” Hope's jaw dropped, and she stared at Jeremy, half-shocked and half-amused by his audacity. "Excuse me?" she managed, her voice a mix of incredulity and disbelief. Jeremy turned back to her, leaning casually against the window frame with a smirk that was equal parts teasing and infuriating. "What? Too bold? Thought you liked honesty, Hope." She narrowed her eyes at him, crossing her arms as she approached. "There's honesty, Jeremy, and then there's that. If this is your idea of opening up, you're seriously missing the mark." His smirk soft