When Dad left after the conversation and our dinner at Sterling's, I was painfully taken back to yesterday's rollercoaster events. I was just looking through some important files when my phone buzzed - a message from Rachel. "Sia, you need to see this. A&L Corp is throwing a massive celebration party tonight. Everyone's talking about it."
My stomach dropped. I hadn't heard anything about a party, and I was supposed to be company's partial share owner now. I grabbed my keys, my hands trembling as I drove to the office building.
The top floor was alive with music and laughter. Through the glass doors, I saw champagne flowing freely, executives mingling with broad smiles. In the center of it all stood Jason, his arm wrapped around Tiffany's waist as Marcus raised a toast.
"To the successful acquisition of Alpha&Luminary Corps!!" Marcus's voice boomed across the room. "And to my son, who played his part perfectly."
The room spun. I pushed through the doors, and the crowd parted. Jason's smile faltered when he saw me, but Tiffany's grew wider.
"Oh look who's here," Tiffany purred, pressing closer to Jason. "The girl who thought she'd found true love." She flashed the bracelet I'd thought Jason had lost.
Marcus stepped forward, that familiar twinkle in his eye now cold and calculating. "Sienna, my dear. You weren't supposed to find out this way, but since you're here - let me explain how your father's company is now mine."
"The company I handed to you," I whispered, looking at Jason. "You said we'd run it together."
"Business is business," Jason shrugged, not meeting my eyes. "Dad's been planning this since before I met you. Your father took everything from him years ago. It was time for payback." I could no longer even believe it was all real, I didn't want to.
This was the same man who was my lover for the last 4 years was, the one who promised me the world. Same one standing in front of me being completely indifferent and careless towards my deep heartache and so easily announcing his betrayal while holding his lover so close
Tiffany laughed, the sound sharp as glass. "Did you really think he loved you? Jason and I have been together for years. You were just part of the plan."
I stood there, frozen, as my world crumbled around me. The mentor I'd trusted, the man I'd loved, the future I'd planned - all of it had been an elaborate lie.
My knees weakened as Tiffany circled me like a shark that had smelled blood. "All those nights you spent together? He came straight to my bed afterward saying you don't even know how to keep a man happy. You actually don't huh?" She laughed hysterically almost forcing it out, and dangled her phone in front of my face, scrolling through intimate photos of her and Jason. "See? While you were drafting contracts, we were planning your downfall."
"That's enough, Tiff." Jason's words held no real conviction. He stayed rooted beside her, his hand still on her waist.
I turned to Marcus, searching for any trace of the man who'd mentored me through countless late nights at the office. "You were like a father to me."
"Oh please." Marcus adjusted his cufflinks, his blue eyes cold as winter. "You made it almost too easy. So desperate for approval, weren't you? Just like your father - too trusting, too weak to see what was right in front of you."
The room tilted. Champagne flutes clinked around us as if this was just another celebration. As if my world wasn't shattering into pieces. I could see piercing gazes from all around the room looking at me absolute mocking pity and the humiliation was suffocating
"Aw, look at her face." Tiffany's voice dripped with mock sympathy. "Did you actually think someone like Jason would choose you? Honey, you were just a stepping stone. A rather pathetic one at that."
Jason pulled Tiffany closer, pressing a kiss to her temple almost exaggerating his actions to show me. The same gentle gesture he'd done with me countless times. "It's nothing personal, Sienna. Just business."
"Business?" The word tasted like ash in my mouth. "You told me you loved me last night."
Tiffany's laugh cut through the air. "He says that to all his marks. Don't feel special." She wrapped her arms around Jason's neck, making sure I saw every possessive touch. "Though I must admit, watching you fall for every single lie was quite entertaining."
Seeing me defenseless she continued.
"Your father trusted you with his life's work." Tiffany's words slithered under my skin. "And look what you did with it. Handed it right over to Jason without a second thought."
My throat closed up. Dad had built A&L Corp from nothing. Poured his soul into every brick of this building especially after his ex business partner, Marcus betrayed his trust. The same Marcus who's now celebrating regaining the company.
"He warned you about being too trusting, didn't he?" Marcus swirled his champagne. "Just like he trusted me once. But you... you've managed to lose everything he built in record time. At least I had to work for years to orchestrate this."
The room blurred as tears threatened to spill. Dad's face flashed in my mind - his pride when he'd announced me taking over, his faith in my abilities. All shattered because I'd fallen for pretty words and false promises.
"Daddy's perfect little princess." Tiffany's voice dripped with venom. "Not so perfect anymore, are you? He gave you one responsibility - one - and you couldn't even handle that."
I looked at Jason in hope to find some sense of relief. But he didn't even meet my eyes and his silence cut deeper than any words could.
"Tell me, Sienna," Marcus leaned closer, "how will you face him after this? How will you explain that you gave away his legacy because you were desperate for love?"
The truth of his words pierced through me. Dad had trusted me with everything he'd built, and I'd failed him completely. The weight of that betrayal pressed against my chest until I could barely breathe. I
I managed to get out of the room almost impossible to catch my breath back, feeling like something is stuck in my throat. I could hear the party being continued as if nothing ever even happened there.
Tiffany cracking a joke about my 'incompetence' and the room filling with laughter.
With tears soaking my face I walked as fast as I could. Feeling completely lost I decided to do the first thing that came to my mind and took my phone out
