Jane's POV
It's been five years. Five long years since I left my past life, and everything that ever brought me pain.
The woman who boarded that flight wasn’t me—not really. She was broken. Betrayed. Discarded like trash by a man she loved and a woman she thought was family.
Now? That woman no longer exists.
I’m Tasha Rivers now. CEO of River Lane Talent. And today, I own the biggest talent agency in London.
"Three A-list stars, Tasha! Three!" Zuri squealed, twirling around my office with her iPad held high like a trophy. "Their managers said no one else had the range, the strategy, or the edge you bring. Girl, you're literally that woman."
I smiled as I adjusted the cuffs of my white silk blouse and leaned back in my chair, taking in the familiar scent of vanilla and coffee that always seemed to linger in the River Lane building.
I can't believe I built this from scratch in five years!
"Well, we're not just selling dreams," I said. "We're building legacies. These stars will thank us in five years when they’re not just relevant—they’re unforgettable."
Zuri beamed, cheeks flushed with pride. She was more than an assistant. She was the sister I never had.
The confidante who held my hair when I cried, who stayed with Dior when I worked late, who helped me pick a new name and a new face to wear when the pain got too heavy.
"Speaking of unforgettable," she said, tapping her screen. "You have Dior's parents and teachers meeting at 3PM. And you promised to take her to the salon on Friday, don’t forget she's a princess and she deserves the best blowout money can buy."
I chuckled. "I wouldn't dare forget. She gave me a two-hour presentation on why she needs gold beads for her birthday”
Zuri laughed. "She gets it from you. The dramatics! You both make me want to have a child but not now, I'm not ready to be a mom, babysitting Dior is enough!”
My heart warmed at the thought of my daughter—our daughter. Dior Rivers.
Born via surrogacy, created from my egg and the sperm I stole from a man who would never forgive me if he knew.
But Dior was the best decision of my life. She saved me from becoming a monster. She gave me something to live for.
Zuri's iPad buzzed and she frowned "Hmm. We just got a submission. Someone’s offering a lot of money to be signed under River Lane."
"Anyone worth our time?"
She hesitated. That wasn’t like her, Zuri never hesitates, anything that'd bring money legally, she's always in.
"We can pass," she said quickly. "Too much drama, too many scandals. Bad for our brand."
I arched my brow. "Zuri. Don’t play this game with me. Who is it?"
"Tasha—"
"Say it, it's a yes or no thing, besides we've worked so hard for five years! We need all the recognition we can get”
She sighed heavily, then flipped the iPad to show me the screen.
There she was. Smiling in a red carpet photo, dripping in diamonds paid for by the life she stole from me.
Daphne Taylor, Kelvin's sister or should I say wife.
Her profile was stacked with awards, magazine covers, and glowing reviews. But beneath the surface? She was rotting.
"She’s a mess, Tasha. Drug accusations. A rumored affair with her producer. Her last film flopped. She fired her old manager after slapping him on set. She’s hanging by a thread."
I stared at the screen. Five years. And this is how fate brought her back to me?
"And she's offering us money?" I asked, voice low.
"Yes. A huge retainer. Enough to build a second studio if we wanted."
I leaned forward, elbows on the glass table. "Do you know what that means, Zuri?"
"It means she's desperate."
"It means she's sinking. And I get to be the one to hand her the anchor."
Zuri blinked, stunned. "Tasha... you're not the same girl they destroyed. You have a life now. A daughter. Revenge won't heal everything."
"This isn’t about healing," I whispered. "It’s about finishing."
She looked down muttering words and clenching her fist, she always said I was too stubborn.
"Accept the deal," I said, standing. "And schedule a meeting."
