Chapter Six
The receptionist’s eyes widened for a brief second, and then she quickly stood up, her posture becoming more respectful. “Oh! Of course, Mr. Henry Knight.The vice president has been expecting you.” Her sudden change in tone caught Henry off guard, but he followed her as she led him to a private glass elevator. The elevator had a spectacular view of the city as it ascended, and Henry couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe as the towering buildings of the metropolis came into view. When the elevator reached one of the highest floors, the doors slid open with a soft *ding*. Henry stepped out and immediately found himself in front of an office that was unlike anything he had ever seen. It was sleek, modern, and smelled faintly of expensive perfume. The vice president’s office was filled with rich, dark furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of the skyline. But what really caught Henry off guard was the person standing behind the desk. He had expected to see an old, balding man with a potbelly—the type of executive he imagined ran the show in a place like this. Instead, he was greeted by a stunningly beautiful young woman, who looked like she was still in her twenties. She had long, straight black hair that cascaded down her back, and she wore a perfectly tailored business suit that hugged her curves in all the right places. Her lips were painted a deep, dark red, and her nails were polished to match. She exuded confidence and power, and for a moment, Henry was too stunned to speak. “Good day, young master,” she greeted him, extending her hand for a handshake. “My name is Zara. Welcome.” Henry, still trying to process everything, took her hand and shook it awkwardly. He couldn’t believe this elegant young woman was the vice president. Zara, on the other hand, was equally surprised. Mr. Anderson had told her that the heir to the consortium would be arriving, and she had pictured a much older, seasoned businessman. But instead, standing in front of her was a muscular fit tall, handsome man with piercing blue eyes, wearing a simple T-shirt and jeans. Despite his casual attire, there was something commanding about his presence. “Please, have a seat,” Zara said, motioning to the leather chair in front of her desk. Henry sat down, still feeling out of place in the grand office. “What can we offer you?” Zara asked with a polite smile trying hard not to blush and remain professional. “Uh, anything is fine,” Henry replied, unsure of what to say. Zara turned to the receptionist who had escorted Henry upstairs. “Please get us the finest Italian champagne,” she said smoothly. The receptionist nodded and left the room, leaving Henry and Zara alone. Henry fidgeted in his chair, feeling out of his depth in such a luxurious setting. “Why was I invited here?” he asked, finally cutting to the point. He wasn’t interested in pleasantries or champagne—he just wanted answers. Zara smiled, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “You were invited because you own this entire building, Mr. Henry.” Henry blinked, his brain refusing to process her words. “I…what?” Zara nodded. “Yes, this building—HEXAGON—and many others. You are the heir to the consortium, and from now on, I will need your consent before making any major decisions regarding the business. Everything you see here belongs to you.” Henry’s mouth went dry. He felt a wave of dizziness wash over him as he struggled to comprehend what Zara was telling him. “This…this can’t be real,” he muttered to himself, choking on his own spit as he tried to process the words. He pinched his arm, half-expecting to wake up from a dream. But the room around him remained the same. Zara was still there, watching him with a patient smile. “I know this is a lot to take in,” she said softly. “But it’s the truth. You’re the future president of this consortium, and we’ve been waiting a long time to bring you back.” Henry leaned back in his chair, his heart pounding in his chest. He stared out the window, looking down at the city far below. Could it really be true? Could he, a man who had lived his life scraping by, suddenly be the heir to a massive fortune? “Am I truly a billionaire heir? None of this is a dream” he whispered to himself, still unable to believe it. Stella sat in the plush waiting room of the **Hexagon Consortium**, her foot tapping impatiently against the marble floor. She huffed loudly, crossing her arms. “How long are we supposed to wait? Doesn’t she know who we are?” she hissed, her voice dripping with entitlement. Stefan, her fiancé, sat beside her, checking his watch for the hundredth time. “I don’t understand why we’re being kept waiting this long,” he muttered. “We have a meeting with the vice president, not some low-level executive. This is unacceptable.” Stella rolled her eyes, her frustration boiling over. “Exactly! We shouldn’t be treated like this. I’m not used to waiting around like a commoner,” she sneered, her voice rising as her patience wore thin. “Does this vice president even know who she’s dealing with?” Just then, a receptionist walked by, carrying a bottle of Italian champagne that looked far too expensive to be touched by human hands. The label on the bottle gleamed, and Stella knew instantly that it was worth a fortune. She later found out it was priced at a staggering $900,000. The receptionist, hearing Stella’s loud complaint, stopped in her tracks and turned to address her calmly. “Ma’am, please don’t hiss like that,” she said with a polite but firm tone. “We expect professionalism in this building. It could affect your contract application.”Chapter Seven Stella’s eyes narrowed, and she opened her mouth to fire back, but Stefan quickly placed a hand on her arm, squeezing it gently. “Don’t,” he whispered, his voice tight with warning. “We need this contract with Hexagon. Don’t mess this up.” Stella bit her tongue, glaring at the receptionist, but she stayed silent. Stefan continued to whisper urgently, “If we don’t get this contract, all our investments will be ruined. We’ll go bankrupt. My father assured me that Hexagon is one of his partners for electricity supply, so we should have an advantage. Don’t blow it.” Stella, still fuming, nodded reluctantly. Her bratty, spoiled nature made it hard for her to stay quiet, but she understood how high the stakes were. Without Hexagon, their entire financial future was in jeopardy. Two hours dragged by, and no one had attended to them. Stella’s patience finally snapped. She stood up abruptly and marched over to the receptionist’s desk, her face twisted with anger.
Chapter Eight Stella’s father, Mr. Woods, sat on the couch, his face buried in his hands. He looked as though he was ready to break down at any moment. Grandmother Woods, however, was standing by the fireplace, her usual cold composure shattered. She looked like she was ready to explode as well. Stefan stammered, trying to explain. “It wasn’t our fault, Father! The vice president—she was unreasonable! Stella just lost her temper, but—” “I don’t care what excuses you have!” Mr. Claxton cut him off sharply, his voice rising with each word. “You slapped a member of their staff! You humiliated our family in front of the most powerful business consortium in the world. Do you even realise the damage you’ve done? Our entire future with Hexagon is gone, Stefan! Gone!” Stella, who had been standing silently, finally spoke up, her voice shaky with fear. “I didn’t know she was the vice president! How was I supposed to know? She looked so young, I thought she was just some employee—”
Chapter Nine “I’ve missed you,” he whispered softly, his heart full of warmth. He pulled back slightly to look into her eyes, his smile widening. “I feel like something wonderful is about to happen to you, Jasmine. You’re a good and kind soul, and the world will reward you.” Jasmine’s eyes welled up with tears, and she rested her head on Henry’s chest. “You always know what to say to make me feel better.” Henry kissed the top of her head, feeling more certain than ever that their lives were about to change for the better. But for now, he would keep his secret a little while longer, knowing that soon, Jasmine would get everything she deserved and more. Grandmother Woods sat at the head of the long mahogany table in the family’s lavish dining room, her hands trembling as she gripped her teacup. The news was playing on the large TV screen in front of her, but the words seemed to echo painfully in her mind. "Hexagon Consortium announces open slots for new companies to join in
Chapter Ten One by one, nearly every family member and executive raised their hand, eager to prove themselves and secure their position as the future leader of the empire. Everyone, that is, except Henry and Jasmine. Jasmine sat quietly beside Henry, her hands folded in her lap. She had always been shy and had never been taken seriously by her family. She had ideas, she had talents, but no one ever listened to her. And after everything that had happened recently, she felt even more unsure of herself. “Honey,” Henry whispered softly, turning to her. “You should participate. You’re so hardworking and talented. You could really make a difference.” Jasmine looked at him with wide eyes, filled with uncertainty. “I don’t know, Henry,” she whispered back. “No one ever takes me seriously. What if I embarrass myself?” “You won’t,” Henry reassured her, his voice filled with encouragement. “You’re smart, and I believe in you. Just raise your hand. Trust me.” Jasmine hesitated, her
Chapter Eleven Jasmine’s mother froze, her eyes widening in surprise. For a moment, she looked as if she couldn’t believe what she had just heard. But then, a slow, cruel smile spread across her face. It was the first time Henry had seen her smile in a long while. “Good,” she sneered. “I agree. Start packing your stuff, Henry, because I know my daughter. She’s too naive to win against real business sharks. You’ll be out of here soon enough.” With that, she stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. The echo of the door reverberated through the house, leaving a suffocating silence in its wake. Jasmine, who had been sitting motionless the entire time, suddenly broke down. Tears streamed down her face as she sank to the floor, her shoulders shaking with sobs. “Why would you say that?” she cried, her voice barely a whisper as she looked up at Henry with wide, tear-filled eyes.Jasmine woke up before dawn, the room still bathed in the soft gray of early morning. Her hear
Chapter Twelve Jasmine walked away, the weight of Stella’s words pressing down on her. Her ruined documents felt heavy in her briefcase, a painful reminder of how far she still had to go. But as she wiped away a stray tear, she told herself she wouldn’t give up. Not today. Not ever. She would find a way, even if it meant starting over from scratch. “Look at you, with your stupid mouth! When was the last time this broke fool got you anything? A lollipop, maybe? You don’t even have any designer items like your sister, who always has the latest collection.” Jasmine’s anger flared even more. “Mom, he needs to leave. Now.” Damon, who had been watching the exchange with a smug smile, finally stood up, his movements deliberate and slow. He placed the box containing the diamond earrings on the table as if offering a final temptation. “Very well,” he said smoothly, his voice dripping with condescension. “I’ll leave since you don’t want my help. But don’t come crying to anyone when you
Chapter Thirteen She slipped into the dress, the fabric clinging to her uncomfortably. Jasmine glanced at herself in the mirror. The reflection staring back at her looked tired and defeated, but she straightened her shoulders, refusing to give in to the despair creeping in. She gathered her documents, placing them carefully in her old leather briefcase. The briefcase had seen better days—its once-smooth surface was now scratched and peeling, the corners frayed. It looked pitiful, but it was all she had to carry her hopes and dreams. As she descended the stairs, her younger sister Stella appeared, lounging on the couch like a queen. She was wrapped in a silk robe, sipping from a diamond-encrusted Stanley cup. Her eyes lit up with amusement the moment she saw Jasmine. “Oh, look who’s playing dress-up! Are you heading to the zoo, Jasmine?” Stella sneered, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Or maybe the circus? You’d fit right in with the clowns.” Jasmine’s jaw tightened.
Chapter Fourteen Jasmine stood at the front of the room, her heart pounding. She could feel all the eyes on her, waiting. Her hands gripped the edge of the table as she glanced at Zara, the vice president of the Hexagon Consortium. Zara gave her a small, encouraging nod.“You can go on with the presentation, Jasmine,” Zara said calmly.Jasmine swallowed hard, her nerves taking over for a moment. She hadn’t expected to get this far, but now she was here. She had to push through. Slowly, she opened her laptop and started the slideshow. The first few words were shaky, almost a whisper, but as she continued, her voice grew stronger.At first, she stumbled over her words, feeling the pressure. But with every slide, she became more confident. Her passion for the project took over, and soon, she was speaking with energy, her hands moving as she explained each detail. The board members leaned in, their eyes focused on her as she brought her vision to life.“And this design,” Jasmine said