As Anastasia stepped into the office and settled into her chair, she felt a wave of nervous anticipation wash over her. The interviewer, still focused on his computer screen, hadn’t even acknowledged her presence yet. His silence was unnerving. Without a glance, he stretched out his hand across the desk and said coldly,
“Your CV, ma’am?”
She quickly handed it over, her heart pounding as his fingers brushed the paper. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, as his eyes landed on her name, something shifted. His indifferent expression faltered, replaced by a spark of recognition.
He had received explicit instructions from the vice president herself: reject any applicant from the Stewart Empire, except for one—Anastasia Stewart.
Realizing who was
Arriving at the Stewart Mansion, Anastasia felt a strange hollowness in the air. It was unsettling—too quiet for a place that was usually buzzing with life. She realized, with a sinking feeling, that it was just her and Nancy. No one else from the family was around, only the housekeepers and the ever-watchful secretary. Not even her cousin, Daniel, was in sight. She sighed softly, her fingers brushing the cool surface of the dining table as she sat down to wait for Nancy to appear.The announcement of her arrival must have reached Nancy by now. Anastasia imagined her grandmother getting ready upstairs, mentally preparing for what was sure to be another heated conversation about Alex. With a heavy heart, she gazed at the rich surroundings and the elegance that had shaped her childhood. But today, it all felt distant.Upstairs, Nancy was indeed prepared, both physically and mentally. Her wrinkled hands moved methodically as she put on her jewelry, each piece symbolizing years of hard-ea
Nancy arrived in a sleek convoy of black cars in Greentree, a smaller but lively city just south of Southlake. Despite its size, Greentree buzzed with energy, its streets filled with companies eager to make strategic partnerships.After the abrupt end of her partnership with the Sebastian Southlake Corporation, Nancy saw potential in Nexera Industries. Nexera wasn’t as big as the Stewart Empire, but Nancy hoped a deal with them could keep her business afloat until Anastasia would do her bidding.“Welcome, Mrs. Stewart,” Mrs. Coker Nexera greeted warmly, bowing slightly at the entrance of her elegant villa.Mrs. Nexera’s genuine smile radiated warmth and respect. “Please, come in,” she said, guiding Nancy into the opulent sitting room.Once seated, Nancy crossed her legs with the poise of a seasoned matriarch. She accepted a cup of coffee, savoring its rich aroma. Mrs. Nexera, still smiling, took a deep breath, clearly eager to impress.“I’m interested in forming a partnership with Nexe
“How can you hate me so much when you’ve never even met me?” Jackson’s voice rose, a mix of frustration and desperation in his tone. “I told you I love you, and even your grandmother wants us to be together, to eventually get married.”His words were forceful, more like a command than a confession. It was as if he believed he could make Anastasia bend to his will with sheer determination.Nancy, who was watching from nearby, frowned deeply. She knew this wasn’t the right way to approach a woman, but she felt powerless to stop Jackson. She desperately wanted Anastasia to date Jackson, even if it meant pushing her into it.“Leave me alone!” Anastasia shouted, her voice shaking with anger and fear. But Jackson didn’t back down. Instead, he grabbe
Upon reaching Greentree City and stepping into his home, Jackson was still reeling from the humiliation he had suffered in Southlake City.“She dared to ask me to leave her home.” He fumed, the thought of it still lingering like a ghost. He sank into the leather chair in his home office, his hands cradling his face as he brooded over how to elevate his status.“If I can just improve my status, she’ll have no choice but to notice me and leave that bastard behind.” A fleeting smirk crossed his face but vanished just as quickly.In a fit of determination, he flipped open his laptop and began researching Echelon Enterprises.Much like Sebastian Southlake Corporation’s dominance in Southlake City, Echelon Enterprises was a key player in Greentree City. However, Sebastian Southlake Corporation still held a larger market share. Jackson reasoned that landing a role at Echelon Enterprises, independent of his family’s influence, could pave the way for his entry into Sebastian Southlake Corporat
Arriving home, Jackson’s mind was a storm. The interviewer’s cryptic words replayed in his head, like a song stuck on a broken loop. He hadn’t done anything wrong—or at least, he couldn’t think of anything. But the unsettling feeling wouldn’t leave him.“Could Anastasia be behind this?” The thought hit him out of nowhere, sending a sharp pang through his chest.“No,” he shook his head, as if to push the idea away. “That’s impossible. Her grandmother wanted us married. She wouldn’t—couldn’t—do something like this.”Yet, his chest tightened as doubt gnawed at him. He began pacing the room, each step quicker than the last.His mind spiraled. He replayed every interaction fr
“Oh, there he is,” a man in a sharp suit approached the table, and Emmanuella stood up, smiling as she gave him a warm hug.The way Emmanuella spoke, smiled, and embraced him made it obvious—no words were needed. This man was clearly her boyfriend.As he reached the table, he greeted everyone with a casual “hello,” and settled into the seat right beside her.There were ten people gathered around the table, each sitting next to their significant other, enjoying the food, drinks, and the atmosphere—until Juliet spoke up. “Why don’t we all introduce our partners and share what they do for a living?”That’s when Anastasia saw right through Juliet’s intentions. Ever since they were kids, Juliet had always flaunted her status like a crown.Anyone beneath her was treated like dirt, and she made sure they knew their place. “A Lannister never mingles with the riff-raff,” she used to say, referencing her favorite show.The moment she asked for introductions, Anastasia could already tell what sh
Hearing Anastasia’s words, Juliet shot up from her seat. There was no way she was going to stand by while Anastasia disrespected her man. If Anastasia wanted to play dirty, she was ready to take it a step further.“Oh, so you think your family’s all pure and perfect? Why don’t you tell everyone how Grandma and Grandpa built the Stewart Empire? They didn’t do it by hard work; they did it by stealing—siphoning funds, to be exact!” Juliet’s voice was sharp, echoing through the room as the bombshell hit.Everyone froze, their shock evident. Emmanuella’s eyes widened, and even Anastasia, who was rarely caught off guard, stood still as if she had been slapped in the face. Her heart raced as she processed what she had just heard. Her entire life, she had believed in the integrity of the Stewart family. Her grandparents, especially, were always seen as hardworking, respected figures. The idea that they stole money?“Liar!” Anastasia’s voice cracked with anger, her fists clenched. “You’ll say
Anastasia took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling as she tried to calm herself. After a moment, she finally returned to the table.But as soon as she sat down, she could tell things had gone from bad to worse. Alex was standing now, and everyone, except Emmanuella, was throwing cruel comments at him.Even though Emmanuella wasn’t joining in, the sadness in her eyes as she watched Alex made Anastasia's heart twist. Something was terribly wrong."Alex, what’s happening?" she asked, gently placing her hand on his shoulder.Before Alex could respond, Juliet, always the loudest in the room, jumped in with her mocking tone."Your little boyfriend here’s been showing off since you left," Juliet sneered. "He said he’d throw you the most lavish wedding after graduation. You guys are graduating next week, right? So, what’s his plan? Sell his father’s apartment?"Juliet’s laughter rang through the air, cold and cutting. Michael, ever her partner in cruelty, laughed right along with her.