The morning sun glared against the glass walls of Vel's Corporation, stretching light across the marble floor of the lobby. Employees rushed about with their heads bowed, their usual morning chatter replaced by quiet murmurs. The atmosphere had grown heavier these past few weeks, ever since that scandal at the gala.
Andrew Vele's once vibrant company had turned cold. Meetings were stiff, conversations short, and smiles forced. Even Selina, who used to exchange a few warm words with him every morning, now only knocked on his door to hand in reports, avoiding his gaze whenever possible.
Andrew had noticed the shift. The air between them was no longer the same; it was filled with unspoken tension. Every time he looked at her, he saw confusion in her eyes—something that mirrored his own. She had been involved in that incident, unintentionally perhaps, but the damage was done.
Still, he couldn't deny that her presence lingered in his thoughts, no matter how much he tried to bury it beneath the weight of work.
That morning, Andrew stood by his office window, staring down at the busy streets of Los Angeles. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, and a half-empty cup of coffee sat forgotten on his desk. He had been awake since dawn, yet the fatigue on his face wasn't just from lack of sleep. It was from thinking over and over about things he couldn't change.
"Mr. Vele," his secretary's voice came through the intercom. "There's… someone here to see you."
"Who?" he asked without turning around.
There was hesitation on the line. "Miss Vanessa Moore."
For a moment, Andrew froze. His hand clenched around the edge of the desk. That name—it shouldn't have been spoken in that building ever again.
"Send her up," he finally said, his voice low and tight.
Down in the lobby, Vanessa Moore stepped out of the elevator, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. Heads turned instantly. She was impossible to ignore. Tall, elegant, and dressed in a white fitted blazer with sleek black pants, she carried herself like someone who owned the air she breathed.
Everyone in Vel's Corporation remembered her. Once, she was the woman constantly at Andrew's side—the charming, sharp-tongued executive who had an opinion about everything and didn't mind making enemies to get her way. Some whispered she was the reason for Andrew's coldness after she left.
Now, here she was again, walking through the building as if nothing had changed.
The receptionist straightened nervously. "Good morning, Miss Moore. It's—uh—been a while."
Vanessa gave a faint, dismissive smile. "It has. You can relax, I'm not here to cause trouble."
But everyone knew that trouble followed wherever she went.
She didn't wait for permission. She walked straight to the private elevator that led to the executive floor, brushing past startled employees who pretended to look busy.
When she reached the top floor, she stood before the familiar mahogany door of Andrew's office. For a second, her expression softened—just a flicker of something unreadable. Then she smirked and pushed the door open.
Andrew turned. Their eyes met.
"Vanessa." His voice was flat.
"You sound surprised," she said lightly, stepping in. "I thought you'd at least pretend to be happy to see me."
"I'm not in the habit of pretending."
She laughed quietly, walking closer. "Still the same Andrew ,cold and predictable." She placed her purse on the desk, eyeing the papers scattered around. "You've been busy, I see. Though, judging by the tension outside, things aren't going so well here."
He didn't respond. He was studying her instead. Vanessa hadn't changed much—still poised, still cunning, still dangerous. But there was something new in her eyes. A purpose.
"What do you want?" he asked at last.
"Straight to the point, as always." She leaned slightly against his desk, crossing her arms. "I heard you've been having a rough time lately. Thought I'd drop by… maybe lend a hand."
Andrew gave a small, humorless laugh. "You? Help me?"
She tilted her head. "Don't sound so surprised. I've always had a soft spot for this company. After all, I helped build part of it."
"You helped destroy it too," he said sharply.
Her smile faded for a second before returning, colder this time. "You still hold grudges, don't you?"
"I just remember facts," Andrew replied, turning back to the window.
Vanessa studied him silently. The distance between them was more than physical—it was built from betrayal, pride, and unfinished emotions. But she wasn't here to apologize. She was here for something else.
"Things change, Andrew," she said softly. "People change."
He didn't turn. "You haven't."
Her lips curved slightly. "You'll be surprised."
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Selina entered with a file in her hand, unaware of what awaited her inside. The moment her eyes met Vanessa's, she froze. The air in the room turned heavier.
Vanessa turned slowly, her expression dripping with superiority. "And who might you be?"
Selina cleared her throat. "I… work here. Mr. Vele's assistant."
"Assistant," Vanessa repeated, the word sliding off her tongue with mild amusement. "How interesting."
Andrew noticed the discomfort flicker across Selina's face and spoke sharply. "Selina, leave the file and go."
Selina nodded quickly, placing the file on the desk. She could feel Vanessa's piercing gaze following her as she turned to leave.
When the door shut behind her, Vanessa smirked. "She's cute. Not your usual type, though."
Andrew ignored her, but his jaw tightened.
Vanessa smiled knowingly. "You don't have to say anything, Andrew. I can tell. You've always been bad at hiding your emotions from me."
He turned then, his patience thinning. "Vanessa, whatever you're doing—stop. This isn't your place anymore."
She looked at him for a long moment, and then her tone softened unexpectedly. "Maybe not. But you and I both know this story between us isn't over yet."
Andrew's eyes darkened. "It was over the day you walked out."
"Was it?" she whispered.
The question lingered in the air like a ghost.
Then, without another word, Vanessa picked up her purse, her heels clicking as she walked to the door. Before leaving, she turned slightly.
"I'll see you around, Andrew. Don't be too cold. It doesn't suit you."
The door closed behind her.
Andrew exhaled slowly, his hands gripping the edge of his desk. His mind was a mess of memories he thought he'd buried—memories of love, betrayal, and ambition. He didn't know what Vanessa wanted this time, but he could feel it in his gut—her return wasn't coincidence.
Meanwhile, outside, employees whispered as Vanessa swept past them like a storm. She didn't glance at anyone. Her expression was unreadable, but deep in her eyes, a spark glimmered—cold and deliberate.
She stepped into the elevator and pulled out her phone. The screen lit up with a message:
"He didn't suspect a thing."
Vanessa's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Perfect," she murmured.
The elevator doors slid shut, leaving behind a tension that would soon spread far beyond Vel's Corporation—because Vanessa Moore had just returned, and she was about to change everything.