After happily celebrating with the kids at the orphanage, Seraphina and Madison back to Seraphina's place to talk. Apart from the orphanage, Seraphina's home was the safest place for the two of them to talk comfortably about anything and without worrying about them getting spotted together.
Madison was going to stay with Seraphina for a few days before moving to her new residence that was currently getting a security upgrade for obvious reasons.
Changing into their night dresses, Seraphina and Madison went to the home theatre to watch Christopher's favorite movie while eating his favorite dishes that Christopher used to have on his every birthday. It was their way of remembering and celebrating the young man whom both the women had loved deeply.
Afterwards, while they were in the kitchen, placing their dirty dishes in the dishwasher and making themselves a cup each of hot chocolate, Seraphina decided to broach the topic with Madison once again.
"Did I tell you about this new guy that has joined the company as CFO?" questioned Seraphina feigning normalcy.
Madison stilled and turned her head to look at Seraphina who was stirring the hot chocolate mix in the warm milk, "Sera." she spoke her name in a warning tone.
Groaning, Seraphina placed the mixing spoon aside and said, "I am not going to back away this time because of her big, scary eyes look." she sounded determined, "It's been 18 years, Maddie. 18 years is a very long time and you have your whole life ahead of you. I don't want you to spend the rest of your life like this!"
"We have talked about this and I have told you my decision multiple times so we are not discussing this again!" responded Madison with equal firmness.
"No! We will talk about it and we will talk about it tonight." declared Seraphina and grabbed Madison's hands in hers, "Chrissy would have wanted the same for you, Maddie. Do you think he would be happy to see you like this?"
Madison looked away and tried to remove her hands from Seraphina's grasp but failed, "He also would have wanted you to live your life freely and not think about revenge. But you are not going to rest until you punish them all, right? Because that is what you want. If you can do what you want then why can I not decide what I want?"
Tears threatened to escape the confines of her eyes, "This is my way to honor his memory and love, Sera. I promised him that I would be his forever and I am just keeping my promise."
"But he's gone, Maddie." cried Seraphina, "He's dead but you are alive." this caused tears to trickle down Madison's cheeks.
"I am not asking you to go and get married today only. One day, though." Seraphina wiped Madison's tears and continued, "One day, when all this will be over, I wish for you to find someone to spend the rest of your life with, fall in love again, have a family of your own."
"But you are my family." cried Madison.
"And I want to have nieces and nephews whom I can spoil rotten and be the best aunt in the world to." Seraphina smiled through tears, "Just please think about it, okay. Wouldn't you have wanted the same if you were gone and Chrissy was alive?"
Madison did not know what to say because what Seraphina said was the truth. So she stayed silent and cried her heart out as Seraphina hugged her tight, whispering comforting words in her ear.
One day, perhaps.
══════ ∘◦♛◦∘ ══════
The next day, Seraphina arrived at the office earlier than usual to implement the next step of her plan that she had thought for Chloe. This was going to give the little canary a taste of what the people truly think about her and will make it easier for Seraphina to manipulate her the way she wanted.
She gave all the instructions to a trusted employee who was actually someone she had especially hired to aid her with her plans against Chloe. Afterwards, Seraphina went to her cabin, eagerly waiting for the little canary, Chloe, to fly in and be trapped in the cage that she had set for her.
══════ ∘◦♛◦∘ ══════
When Chloe arrived at the company, she noticed how strangely the other employees were looking at her. They kept staring at her, murmuring under their breath, and would stop whenever she would turn around and look at them.
Also, no one wished her good morning and no one came up to her to talk which was quite odd. Chloe wondered if this reaction had something to do with what yesterday's incident. That's why she tried to talk to Trisha about it but she too avoiding being around her.
Things became clearer later that day. Chloe and gone to the washroom and was in a stall when she heard a group of women talk about her. They came after her so they did not know that she was in there and Chloe took this as an opportunity to know what was happening.
"I can't believe that Seraphina hasn't fired Chloe yet." one voice said.
"I know right!" exclaimed a different one, "After what happened with Natasha yesterday, anyone else would have been out the door."
Chloe froze, the words of the women hitting her like a physical blow.
"She's such an obnoxious , spoiled little brat, I tell you." chimed a third voice, "She thinks that she is the most superior being on the planet and everyone else is below her."
"I swear, if it was up to me, I would have fired that dumb bitch at the spot." said the first voice.
"I wouldn't have hired her at the first place." chuckled the third one causing the other two women to laugh.
Chloe felt her eyes burn with tears but stayed still and continued to listen to what else the women had to say.
"She must have went to her father to cry and whine about yesterday's incident." commented the second voice, "After all, little missy has to rely on daddy to solve all her problems."
Chloe clenched her fists tight, ready to burst out and defend herself. But then, she heard the third voice say something that cut deeper than the rest, "Seriously! That bimbo has no skill."
"I tell you why Seraphina still hasn't fired her." she continued, "Seraphina is rich and famous but the Graysons obviously have more money and power. I bet you that's how she got hired at the first place. Daddy's influence."
Chloe felt her face burn with anger. She bit her lip, fighting back her tears. This was unfair because she had gotten this internship on her own merit and not because of her father!
"And she must have run back home to her daddy and whine in front of asking him to do something about it." added the first voice to which the third one responded with, "Exactly!"
"Oh god, Marcus Grayson must have talked to Seraphina afterwards and convinced her to not fire Chloe in return of something. This is so messed up!" tsked the second voice.
"I know right!"
Chloe did not come out of the stall until she was sure that the three women had left. Only once they were were gone that Chloe finally came out, tears streaming down her cheeks, her face red in anger.
It was true that she had told her father about what had happened yesterday once he came to talk to her because Elijah had told him that she looked upset. She did not know for sure if her father had talked to Seraphina or not but knowing her father, he must have.
Chloe felt belittled. She wanted to prove that she was not just a pretty face and that she has skills because of which she got this internship, "That's it! From now on I would not tell Dad about any of my problems and handle them on my own. I would prove it to them all that I am not just a pampered princess who needs her father to solve all her problems. I am capable, and I am going to prove it!"
Wiping away her tears, Chloe walked out of the washroom determined to prove her worth. For starters, she would not complain to anybody about what she heard today.
══════ ∘◦♛◦∘ ══════
Meanwhile, in her cabin, Seraphina was listening to everything that transpired in the female washroom just now. She twirled on her swivel chair, a satisfied smirk on her face after getting the exact reaction that she had wanted from Chloe.
Pride ~ An excessive belief in one's own abilities, often leading to a disregard for others.
"It's simple human nature," Seraphina mused out loud, "when you are ridiculed, insulted, shamed, you get agitated and deeply feel the urge to prove yourself."
"It is especially evident in those with excessive pride and arrogance, like Chloe. They have this innate desire to show everyone how great they are and prove the others wrong. Which is exactly what Chloe will do now."
Seraphina chuckled knowing that from now onwards, Chloe would not confide in Marcus about anything that she will have to face in the office from now. She would strive to prove to others that she is the strong, independent woman that she desperately wants to be seen as.
"Oh, little canary." Seraphina giggled and removed the earbuds she had and focus on adding the final details to her client's red carpet outfit.
Just then, her phone rang. "Hello." she answered the call with a smile on her face.
"I heard that Elijah came to see you again." the caller responded making Seraphina shake her head.
"Yes, he did." she replied, "And I know he will come again today."
"How can you be so sure?" asked the caller.
"That's how men are, sweetie." Seraphina chuckled causing the other person to scoff, "Men like Elijah are curious, nothing can stop them from satisfying their curiosity. To Elijah, I am a puzzle, a mystery that he wants to solve. It clearly reflects in his eyes and he won't rest until he finds out what he is looking for in me."
"I don't like this." said the caller in a firm voice, "Do you really have to trap him this way? I mean in there no other way you can do this?"
"This is the best way to get what I want from him." Seraphina reaffirmed.
"You think it will be that easy to trap him?" asked the person on phone.
"Oh, easier than I thought." Seraphina said confidently, "I tell you what, he will come back today and try to talk to me again."
"What makes you so sure?" questioned the other person to which Seraphina responded with a chuckle, "Woman's intuition."
══════ ∘◦♛◦∘ ══════
Later that evening, much to Chloe's annoyance and Seraphina's pleasure, Elijah visited The Seraphina Atelier again to pick Chloe up. This time, however, he approached Seraphina first.
"Hello!" he smiled looking a little nervous.
"Hello, Mr. Grayson." smiled Seraphina, "So?"
"Ah! Actually, I wanted to ask you something." he said. While Seraphina waited for him to continue, Chloe rolled her eyes and walked away to sit and wait in the car.
"Uumm, have we met before?" he asked making Seraphina smirk and tilt her head slightly as she responded with mischief shining in her eyes, "That's a rather cliche pickup a line, isn't it, Mr. Grayson?"
"No!" Elijah was quick to deny, "I did not mean it that way. I am genuinely -"
Interrupting Elijah's justification, Seraphina surprised him by saying, "Maybe." her tone coy, and eyes glittering with mischief.
"Where?" was his next question.
Leaning forward slightly, Seraphina said, "You'll have to remember that yourself." before walking away.