"Oh, thank goodness you're finally here!" Nancy exclaimed, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor as she rushed to meet Eden. "I've been waiting for ages. The Kingdom executives are upstairs — and guess what? The head of Empire Malls is here too. This is huge, Eden! A turning point in your career. I can already see your dazzling debut!"
She clasped her hands dramatically, her smile bright enough to blind. Eden forced a polite smile, but her stomach twisted.
Behind her, Cynthia and Paula exchanged wary glances as they stepped out of the car, followed closely by Davin. The Commander's expression remained unreadable, though his eyes never strayed too far from Eden.
Despite their hesitation, Cynthia had agreed — reluctantly — to hear the Kingdom Hotel's proposal. Nancy had left them little choice. She'd waved the threat of breach-of-contract lawsuits like a sword, reminding them that Eden's early retirement from show business could cost them millions.
It wasn't the project itself that frightened Cynthia; it was what came with it. The Kingdom Hotel campaign was an international spotlight. If Eden's face were to be plastered across billboards and magazines, her secret — her royal bloodline — could easily be exposed to the world.
But now, there was no turning back.
"Wait a minute," Nancy said suddenly, her eyes darting around. "Where is that girl?"
Cynthia blinked. "Who?"
"That assistant you hired!" Nancy snapped, tapping her heel impatiently. "Since the conference started, she's been nowhere in sight. Does she think she can just vanish whenever she wants? I swear—"
"You mean the PA?" Paula interrupted, her tone laced with amusement.
"Yes! That clumsy little nerd," Nancy spat. "She's supposed to be here. I have no idea what's taking her so long."
Paula crossed her arms, her lips curving into a knowing smirk. "She's not coming back."
Nancy turned to her, eyebrows arching. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Well, for starters," Paula said, stepping closer, "you treat her like a full-time servant when she's only a part-timer. Second, you bark at her like she's beneath you. No wonder she left."
Nancy's face darkened. "That girl will never work in this industry again. She won't be getting her salary or her last pay."
"Oh, don't worry," Paula shot back smoothly, looping an arm protectively around Eden. "She won't be needing it. Keep your money. She's far more capable than you think."
Cynthia tried to diffuse the tension, her tone gentle. "You don't have to do that, Paula."
But Paula only gave her friend a sly grin. "I know. But someone needs to remind Miss Nancy here that she's not the boss of the world."
Nancy let out an exasperated laugh and flipped her hair. "Whatever. Let's just go — they're waiting upstairs." She marched ahead, her assistant trailing nervously behind.
As soon as she was out of earshot, Paula leaned toward Cynthia with a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You know what I think? She's probably just missing that nerdy PA of hers. Out of all the poor souls she's tortured, Eden's the only one who didn't quit on her. Now she's lonely."
Cynthia chuckled softly despite herself. "You really think so?"
"Oh, I'm confident," Paula said with mock seriousness. "It's the only logical explanation for why she's acting like a lunatic."
Eden, caught between laughter and disbelief, shook her head slightly. For the first time that day, the tension in her chest eased — even if only for a moment.
As soon as Eden stepped into the conference room, her breath caught.
Across the long glass table sat the familiar faces she never expected to see again — Ashmaria, the elegant young woman she'd met outside the mall, and beside her, the very same man who had caused the commotion earlier. Both of them looked composed, almost untouchably poised, surrounded by a small entourage of executives.
The tension in the air was palpable.
"Ah, you've arrived," said a man in a crisp gray suit as he stood to greet them. His smile was polite, but there was an edge of formality to it. "Please, have a seat."
Eden followed Cynthia, Paula, and Nancy to the other side of the table. Davin remained standing just behind her chair — a silent shadow of authority.
"I hope you don't mind," said another man, turning toward the opposite side where the elegant woman and her brother sat. "We've also invited Cynthia and her team. After all, the proposal concerns both parties."
The man — Ashmaria's brother — frowned. "We don't mind," he said curtly. "But may I ask why they needed to be here? I was told this meeting was to finalize my sister's contract with your company. This project belongs to her."
Ashmaria exhaled softly, barely resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "I already told you," she muttered under her breath, though her voice carried far enough for everyone to hear, "your sister isn't the right fit for this concept."
Her brother's temper flared instantly. "What did you just say? You've been insisting on that since the first meeting! My sister is one of the top models in the industry — she's doing your Kingdom brand a favor by even considering this."
Really? Ashmaria thought, her irritation flashing in her eyes. Why force yourselves on a project that doesn't even want you?
The man's gaze sharpened. "Did you just roll your eyes at me?" he demanded.
Ashmaria straightened, ready to answer, but before she could speak, a sharp thud echoed through the room — a folder slapped hard against the table. Everyone turned.
The woman beside Ashmaria had stood up — tall, composed, but radiating quiet authority. Even the heated brother seemed to falter under her gaze.
Eden's eyes flicked to Ashmaria, who had lowered her gaze — a small, silent signal of withdrawal. The woman's lips curved into a professional smile, but the fire in her eyes didn't fade.
"My apologies for my niece's behavior," she said smoothly. "She's still new to this business. There are… things she needs to learn."
The man across from her scoffed, leaning back in his chair. "New, you say? She acts like she owns the entire project."
The woman's smile didn't waver. "She is the project's main concept creator. This is her first major campaign, and I would appreciate your support rather than hostility."
A thin silence stretched across the room. Then, the woman let out a soft, deliberate laugh, pressing a hand to her chest in mock surprise.
"Oh, how rude of me," she said. "We've been speaking for quite a while, and I haven't even introduced myself."
She stepped out from behind the table, her presence commanding the room.
"I'm Daniella Bryant, Head of the Kingdom's Marketing Division." She gestured to the man beside her. "This is Bernard Bryant, CEO of Empire Group." Then she turned toward the other end of the table. "And this is Meynard Earhardt, CEO of the Kingdom Corporation."
The names dropped like stones in a still pond. Eden felt her chest tighten — this wasn't just a meeting; it was a collision of powerful worlds.
And somewhere in the middle of it… she was the uninvited variable.
"If you're wondering why the two CEOs are here," Daniella began, her tone confident as she walked slowly around the table, "it's because this project is a major collaboration between Empire and Kingdom. For the first time, the two giants are launching a brand together."
She stopped behind the main chair, placing a sleek folder on the table in front of Eden and her group.
"As you all know, the concept centers around royalty. And if you know our families," she said with a knowing smile, "you'll understand that we only ever aim for perfection — every detail must be flawless. Including the face that will carry this new brand."
"The project was offered to us first," the man beside the model said sharply.
"Yes, we're aware of that," Daniella replied, her voice calm but firm. "But it wasn't offered exclusively. We're looking for a fresh face — someone who embodies the concept completely."
The man leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Are you implying my sister isn't suited for it?"
Finally, you figured it out, Ashmaria thought, rolling her eyes inwardly.
"No," Daniella said smoothly before her niece could speak. "What we're saying is that we're keeping our options open. As I mentioned, we only want what's best. So if you don't mind," she glanced at the CEOs, "we'd like both candidates to do a short photo session based on the concept. Afterward, we'll decide who best represents the brand—"
"Excuse me, sir."
The soft but clear interruption came from Eden. All eyes turned toward her.
"Yes?" said Meynard, the Kingdom CEO, flipping open the file before him. "Miss… Eden Claire?"
"Just Eden," she said with a polite smile.
"Well then, Eden—do you have something you'd like to say?"
"Yes." She drew a quiet breath. "If I may… I don't think the photo session will be necessary. I truly appreciate the offer and the opportunity, but I'm afraid I'm not the right person for this. I've never done anything like this before, and honestly, I think she deserves the project more. She has experience, and I believe she'll do far better than I ever could."
"That," said the man beside his sister with a smirk, "is something I completely agree with."
"Wait—what are you saying?" Nancy snapped, leaning forward. "Did you forget what could happen if—"
"Stop it, Nancy," Paula cut in sharply. "She doesn't want to model. Why are you forcing her?"
"Well, there you have it," the man said smugly. "If she refuses, then my sister is clearly the only option left."
Ashmaria's eyes narrowed. She still couldn't stand the arrogance of the siblings. No matter how polished they looked, she knew they didn't fit the brand's vision.
"I think we should take a short break," Daniella interjected calmly.
"I agree," said Meynard. "Let's all cool down for a moment. We'll reconvene in thirty minutes."
"I'll talk to her first," Nancy volunteered quickly.
"Very well," Meynard replied as he rose from his seat. Bernard Bryant followed suit, both men exiting the room with quiet authority. Daniella turned to Ashmaria, whispered something in her ear, and the young woman immediately stood and followed her out.
As soon as they left, Nancy rounded back to Eden, her tone turning sweet but insistent. "Eden, listen. You're wasting such an opportunity—"
But before she could continue, Eden pushed back her chair.
"Where are you going?" Paula asked.
"Restroom," Eden said simply, her expression neutral.
"I'll come with you," Cynthia offered, concern flickering in her eyes.
"I'm fine, Mama." Eden smiled faintly. "I'm not going anywhere far."
The moment she stepped out of the conference room, one of Davin's men approached her.
"Princess," the man said in a low voice. "Are you heading somewhere? I'll accompany you."
"I'm just going to the restroom. You don't have to follow me," Eden replied, glancing around the lobby. "I don't see the Lieutenant Commander here. Not to pry—but did he…"
"Oh, no, ma'am," the man quickly answered. "It's his personal rule never to enter the Kingdom Hotel while on active duty. He's waiting outside the building."
"What kind of rule is that?" Eden muttered, half to herself, shaking her head. With a small sigh, she followed the attendant's directions and walked toward the restroom, unaware that someone else had quietly noticed her leaving the hall.