It was another busy morning at the Ross Imperial office. The building was buzzing with activity as the company prepared for the day's meetings and events. Among the clamor and flow of employees, Vivienne Ross stood at the entrance, dressed in her signature designer outfit, her sharp heels clicking as she made her way toward the meeting room. The air of entitlement surrounding her was unmistakable. Today, she was on a mission.
With Luna out of the picture for a few days, Vivienne had taken the opportunity to network, pulling strings behind the scenes, trying to sway people to her side. Her goal was simple secure her daughter Camille's and her son's future in the company, by any means necessary. And now that Luna had returned, Vivienne felt an urgent need to make her presence felt before any progress she made was undone.
She strode toward the meeting room with an ass of authority, fully expecting to walk in without question. But as she reached the doors, two guards stationed at the entrance stopped her in her tracks.
"Apologies, Mrs. Ross, but we've been instructed not to allow anyone who isn't on the board inside the meeting room," one of the guards said politely, though his firm stance left no room for negotiation.
Vivienne's perfectly painted lips tightened into a thin line. "Do you know who I am?" she snapped, her voice dripping with disdain. "I'm wife of Company's CEO. I don't need permission to enter a meeting room in my own building."
The guards, remaining professional, didn't flinch. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but Miss Luna has made it clear that no one board member or not can disturb this meeting unless they're officially scheduled to attend."
The rejection was too much to take for her to take. Vivienne was too proud and not used to being dismissed, especially in her own domain. Her eyes flashed with irritation, her cheeks flushing with anger.
"This is ridiculous!" she hissed. "How dare she lock me out of my own daughter's future office? I raised her! I gave her everything!" She began to pace in front of the door, casting scathing looks at the guards, who continued to stand their ground. Inside, she was boiling. ' This is all Luna's doing, clearly trying to keep me out, trying to humiliate me.' Luna thinks she's won this round, Vivienne thought bitterly. But soon enough, she'll learn who's really in control.
Seething, Vivienne knew she had to act, and quickly. She couldn't let Luna continue to sideline her, not without putting up a fight. But today wasn't the day for a direct confrontation no, that would come later. For now, she needed to gather support, and there was one person she could always rely on to stir up some drama John.
She pulled out her phone and, with a deep breath, hit John's number. Her voice shifted into a tone of fragile innocence as the phone rang. When John answered, she immediately broke into sobs.
"John," she whimpered, "I just don't know what to do anymore. Luna doesn't care about me. She won't even let me into the meeting. Can you imagine? Her own mother, treated like some kind of outsider! She doesn't care, John, she doesn't respect me. I gave everything for her, and this is how she repays me."
John's voice on the other end was filled with concern, just as she'd expected. "Vivienne, calm down. What happened? Tell me everything."
Vivienne dabbed at her eyes, though they were dry, and continued in her melodramatic tone. "I've been locked out of her meeting, and she told the guards not to let me in. Can you believe that? It's humiliating, John. I feel like I've lost control of everything. Luna is so cold, so heartless... I don't know what I've done to deserve this!"
John sighed sympathetically, falling right into Vivienne's carefully laid trap. "That's awful, Vivienne. You know Luna can be... difficult. But don't worry, we'll find a way to make things right. She shouldn't be treating you like this."
"Yes, please," Vivienne said, her voice trembling with feigned helplessness. "I just need someone to support me, to remind her that I'm still her mother. I don't know how much more I can take of this disrespect."
John's voice softened. "Don't worry. I'll talk to some people. We'll make sure Luna remembers who's really looking out for her. You're not alone, Vivienne."
Vivienne's lips curled into a small smile. Exactly what I wanted to hear.
"Thank you, John," she sniffled, her tone still fragile. "You're the only one who understands me."
After hanging up, Vivienne's smile widened. Luna might think she's won by locking me out today, but this is far from over. I'll make sure she regrets trying to push me aside.
As she tucked her phone back into her purse, Vivienne shot one last glare at the meeting room door. Luna was playing a dangerous game, and Vivienne wasn't someone to be trifled with. Soon enough, she would have her revenge, but for now, she would continue to play the wounded mother at least, until the time was right to strike.
Luna sat at her desk, going over the final details of the project, trying to focus after the exhausting meeting. Her mind was running with everything that needed to be done, but a sudden ringing cut through her thoughts. She glanced at her phone and saw John's name flash on the screen 'Dad' She thought and sighed, knowing a call from him rarely meant anything good. Bracing herself, she answered.
Before she could even say hello, John's voice came through, cold and sharp. "Luna, I'm extremely disappointed in you."
Luna blinked, caught off guard. "What? What happened?"
"I can't believe you would disrespect your own mother like that," John spat, clearly gritting his teeth. "Vivienne told me everything. She came to the office today, just wanting to meet with you, and you couldn't even give her that courtesy?"
Luna was dazed. She hadn't even known Vivienne had come to the office. She tried to gather her thoughts quickly, shaking off the surprise. "Dad, wait... I didn't know she was here. No one told me....."
But John cut her off, his voice rising in frustration. "Don't make excuses, Luna. You've always been dismissive of her. She raised you, after your mother ran away, It was Vivienne who sacrificed for you, and this is how you repay her? You couldn't spare her a few minutes of your precious time?"
Luna opened her mouth to protest, to explain that she had been in meetings all day, that she didn't even get a message about Vivienne trying to see her, but she couldn't get a word in. John's words were coming fast, leaving no room for her side of the story.
"You're going to go home," John ordered, his voice firm. "You'll bow to your mother, apologize, and you won't leave until she forgives you. I don't care how busy you think you are, I will not tolerate disrespect toward Vivienne."
Luna smiled, the absurdity of the situation washing over her. The idea of bowing to Vivienne, after all these years of manipulation and emotional games, was almost laughable. She had long grown used to the drama of her family, the constant guilt-tripping, and the expectation that she owed them everything simply because they were her family they still kept her after her mom....! The smile, though bitter, was an attempt to stop herself from breaking under the pressure. She had heard it all before.
John, however, when heard her chuckling , He took the smile the wrong way. His tone sharpened even further. "Are you mocking me, Luna? Do you think this is funny?"
Luna's smile faded, but she didn't respond immediately. How could she explain that her smile was one of resignation, not mockery? How could she make him understand the years of silent endurance, the suffocating weight of always being the one expected to bend?
"Dad," she finally said, her voice quiet but firm, "I'm not mocking you. But this... this isn't something I can just 'fix' with an apology and a bow. It's more complicated than that. You have to know that...."
John wasn't interested in hearing her reasoning. "It's not complicated," he snapped. "You're making it complicated. You're going to do as I say. It's the least you can do for your mother after everything she's done for you. This is the last time I'm going to say this: go home and apologize. End of discussion."
Luna took a deep breath. She knew arguing would get her nowhere, not with John. He had always sided with Vivienne, no matter what the situation. And today was no different. There was no point trying to explain her side, no point in telling him how trapped she felt. He would never understand.
"I'll go," she said quietly.
"Good," John replied, the edge in his voice still there. "And make sure you mean it."
He hung up without another word, leaving Luna alone with the deafening silence in her office. She sat there for a moment, staring at the phone in her hand, feeling the familiar weight of exhaustion settle over her. This was her life always apologizing, always bending, always expected to give more than she had.
But as she sat there, a quiet resolve grew inside her. She would go, as John demanded, but not because she believed Vivienne deserved her apology. She would go because, for now, playing the obedient daughter was easier than fighting a battle she wasn't ready to fight.