After Kiara left, Jason stood there for a moment, his eyes squinted as he leaned back on his chair.
He found himself staring at the door she had just walked out of, his mind racing with thoughts he didn't quite understand.
Thoughts that spur up after her questions.
Why was he so drawn to her?
Why did he keep following her around, almost obsessively?
Like some love sick puppy.
He couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't just because she'd rejected him, or the fact that she was sharp and bold enough to stand her ground against him.
There was something deeper.
But what? He couldn't quite place it. He didn't understand this feeling. This ache in his chest whenever he thought of not being with her.
He ran a hand through his hair, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
This wasn't like him.
Jason Lincoln Cole didn't lose control like this over anyone, let alone an assistant tech manager who'd slapped his ego around more times than he cared to count.
Before he could dwell on it any longer, the door creaked open, and Vincent stepped in, holding a folder.
"Sir, I've got something you might want to see," Vincent said, his usual composed tone laced with a hint of intrigue.
Jason's eyes flickered toward him, snapping out of his thoughts. "If this is about another tabloid, I'm not interested."
Vincent shook his head, holding up the folder. "It's about her—Kiara Williams. I did some digging, as you asked."
Jason's interest piqued, but he played it cool, turning his chair toward Vincent. "Go on."
Vincent opened the file and began. "Kiara Williams... disowned by her family, the Williams. They're old money, but not quite in the same league as the Lincolns. Their business is in high-end real estate development and investments. They've been good—clean reputation, steady rise in the market over the years. They're not flashy, but they've built a solid foundation over decades."
Jason leaned back, arms folded, listening carefully.
"Her father, Charles Williams, is known for being conservative with his investments. Sticks to what he knows. But the disownment, that's where it gets interesting. Kiara, apparently, stole a significant amount of money from the family and gave it to a man she was involved with. Rumor has it, he was some sort of… A nobody. A hobo, even."
"A hobo?" Jason raised an eyebrow, his voice skeptical.
Vincent nodded. "Yeah, no one knows his identity, but she was helping him out financially, which ultimately led to her being cut off. The family couldn't accept the embarrassment."
Jason's jaw tightened slightly, a distant memory stirring in the back of his mind. "Kiara Williams…" he repeated quietly, more to himself. "I remember now. There was a time... she was supposed to marry into the Lincoln family."
Vincent blinked, surprised. "Really?"
Jason nodded, though his expression was unreadable. "It was years ago. A proposal arranged by the families. I was supposed to marry her, but I rejected the offer. I didn't even meet her. Funny thing is... she rejected it too."
Vincent's eyes widened slightly. "You both rejected it?"
Jason smirked faintly, leaning forward. "Apparently, neither of us was interested in the whole family politics back then. Teenagers and all. She was disowned when she turned 18 and it was buried from the news. But I had no idea it was her..."
"So you didn't know who she was?"
"No," Jason said, shaking his head. "It's a distant memory, and I didn't care enough to dig into the details back then. The whole thing got buried."
Vincent closed the folder, looking thoughtful. "Strange how life brings people back into the same orbit, isn't it?"
Jason stared at the file for a moment, his mind racing. Kiara Williams. Disowned
A woman who had not only defied her family but also seemed determined to defy him at every turn. It made him want her even more.
Okay no that thought just made him sound like a creepy stalker.
"I can't believe I didn't put it together," Jason murmured, his fingers drumming lightly on his desk. "The Williams family. A hobo? Really?"
"That's what the rumors say. She risked everything for someone no one's ever heard of," Vincent confirmed. "It's strange, but..."
Jason waved a hand. "No. It's not strange. It's typical of her. She doesn't seem like the person who does things halfway. She probably thought she was helping someone who needed it. And she fell in love."
Vincent raised an eyebrow. "And now?"
Jason leaned back again, his eyes narrowing as if piecing together a puzzle. "Now... I need to figure out why I can't stay away from her. And clearly it seems she is no longer with said hobo."
Vincent stared at him, then said with a smirk, "Maybe it's because she slapped you and your ego can't take it."
Jason shot him a look, but he couldn't help the faint smile that tugged at his lips. "Or maybe... she's just different."
Vincent shrugged, stepping toward the door. "Different is good. But dangerous, too. Secretive as well it seems."
"Hmm."
"You have a meeting in 10 mins time."
****
Kiara's POV
I whistled to myself, barely able to keep the grin off my face.
Gabriel's stunned expression replayed in my mind, and I couldn't help but wish I'd slapped him harder.
He deserved every bit of it for the hell he'd put me through in my past life. But even so, the sound of my hand connecting with his cheek was sweet enough to brighten my entire day.
I was practically skipping as I made my way back to the office, smiling like a complete fool. My mood was lighter than it had been in days. The weight I'd been carrying around, felt a little bit relieved.
It was like I'd finally done something right.
As I stepped through the office doors, Jo glanced up from his desk, his eyebrows raised. He looked genuinely confused, which, honestly, only made me smile wider.
"Why are you so happy?" he asked, leaning back in his chair, arms crossed. His dark eyes flickered with curiosity.
"Nothing," I said, unable to wipe the smile off my face.
Jo narrowed his eyes. "Uh-huh. You're never this happy at work, especially not after going into the devil's den. No one is happy after that."
I opened my mouth to say something snarky, but before I could respond, two security guards walked in.
They looked official—stern expressions, earpieces, the whole deal.
One of them gestured toward me, and I felt my heart skip a beat.
"Ms. Williams?" the taller one said, his tone respectful but serious.
I blinked, suddenly wondering if this was about the slap.
Could Gabriel really have reported it that fast?
Had I gone too far? My mind raced, but I nodded, trying to remain calm.
"Yes?"
"Could you come with us for a moment?"
Jo sat up straighter, looking concerned. "What's going on?"
I shot him a confused look before following the security guards out of the office. We walked down the corridor, and my anxiety started to build. What the hell was happening?
We reached the lobby, and there, right in the middle of the sleek marble floor, was a huge bouquet of flowers.
No, not just huge—massive.
Roses, peonies, orchids, and lilies. It was the kind of arrangement you'd see in some over-the-top wedding or a movie.
My breath hitched in my throat as I stopped dead in my tracks.
"Is this... for me?" I asked, glancing at the security guard, who nodded.
I stepped closer to the bouquet, my fingers brushing the soft petals of a pale pink rose. There had to be at least fifty of them, nestled among other lush blooms. Whoever sent this knew exactly what they were doing.
But who the hell would send me flowers like this?
I leaned in to search for a card, completely bewildered, when I heard footsteps approaching.
I straightened up just in time to see Jason striding down the hall, his expression hardening the moment he laid eyes on the floral display.
Without missing a beat, he turned to the security guard and said coldly, "Throw those flowers away."
The guard blinked, clearly unsure if Jason was serious, but one look at his face told him everything he needed to know. He nodded quickly and started toward the bouquet.
"Wait, what?" I blurted out, stepping between the flowers and the guard. "You can't just throw them away!"
Jason shot me a sharp look, his jaw clenched. "They're an eyesore."
I gaped at him, still reeling from the audacity. "An eyesore? Are you insane?"
Jason didn't flinch. "No, just practical."
"Practical?" I snapped, crossing my arms. "This isn't your decision."
He took a step closer, his voice dropping lower. "Actually, in this building, it is. It seems you have forgotten who is the boss."
I stood my ground, heat rising to my face, Jason turned back to the guard. "Get rid of them. Now."
I frowned. I looked at the flowers. I was curious, something touched my heart as it was the first gesture I received in this life. I had never received flowers before. Hence I looked at Jason and asked, "Tell me why. Why should it be thrown away?"