Luna sat by the window of her room, the soft morning light spilling over her. The past two days at home had been a mixture of healing and unsettling silence. She wasn't surprised by the media frenzy surrounding her hospitalization; she had learned long ago to block out the noise. What bothered her more than anything was the complete lack of concern from her father regarding her. He was not like this for his other two children. Although she sometimes saw a flicker of concern in his eyes for her, it always got vanquished within seconds.
But days after being discharged from the hospital, not a single call.
Luna let out a bitter chuckle, shaking her head. "Typical," she muttered to herself. She didn't know why she even bothered thinking about it. Her father had always been distant, his ambitions towering over any familial bonds, or maybe just the bond with her.
But right now what gnawed at her even more was the news of her stepbrother's return. He was back in her father's fold, right where she didn't want him to be. Not that she harbored any hopes of a sibling bond; he'd made it clear where his loyalties lay. It still left her with an uneasy feeling.
She pushed the thoughts aside, knowing she needed to focus. Her time off was over, and today was her first day back at the office. The mere thought of it made her stomach twist. She hadn't trusted anyone enough to hire a new assistant after the last incident. That betrayal had left her raw, and now she had no one to bring her up to speed on the crucial, confidential updates.
As she grabbed her phone from the nightstand to check the time, it buzzed in her hand. She frowned, glancing at the screen.
The caller ID read: Ava (Kiad's Assistant).
What now?
She hesitated but eventually swiped to answer. "Hello?"
"Good morning, Miss Ross," Ava's voice came through, polite but careful, as if she was walking on eggshells. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."
Luna leaned against the window frame, her tone calm but curious. "Not at all. Is something wrong?"
"Sir CEO has requested a meeting with you," Ava said, her words deliberate. "Tomorrow. He would like to discuss... some matters in person."
Luna's stomach tightened. Kiad. It had been weeks since they last spoke. Weeks since he laid out those cold, clinical conditions for their engagement. She could still hear his voice, cool and detached, as if he were closing a business deal instead of discussing their lives.
"And he couldn't call himself?" she asked, her voice tinged with sarcasm.
Ava hesitated, clearly uncomfortable. "He thought it might be better coming through me. He's... been dealing with a lot lately."
Luna smirked, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I'm sure he has," she said, her voice light but cutting.
Ava pressed on, undeterred. "The meeting will be at his private office in RylanTowers. I'll send over the details this afternoon."
Luna sighed, her fingers drumming lightly on the windowsill. She didn't owe Kiad anything, but there was a part of her, tiny but persistent, that was curious. What did he want now?
"Fine," she said after a moment. "Tell him I'll be there."
"Thank you, Miss Ross," Ava said, a trace of relief in her voice. "I'll confirm everything shortly."
When the call ended, Luna tossed her phone onto the bed, her thoughts swirling. Kiad was the last person she wanted to see, but she couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that this meeting might matter more than she realized.
She stood there for a moment, staring out at the bustling city beyond her window. A deep breath steadied her, and she turned to get ready for the day. Whatever Kiad had to say, she'd deal with it like she always did, with her head high and her heart locked away.
Luna stepped out of her car and walked into the office building, her heels clicking against the polished floors. The familiar hum of activity filled the space, but as she entered the reception area, something felt different. She glanced at the desk and immediately noticed the change: there was a new receptionist.
The girl looked very young, probably 19 or 20 years old, with her neatly tied hair and bright red lipstick, which made her look somewhat older than she was. Luna ignored her, since she knew the place around, and walked straight into the elevators. "Excuse me!
Luna paused mid-step, turning her head slightly. The girl's voice was polite, but there was a sharpness to it.
"Where do you think you're going without checking in?" the receptionist asked, her tone teetering on sarcastic. She stood with her arms crossed, her expression a mix of annoyance and confidence.
She blinked. She wasn't used to being spoken to like that, especially not in her own office. For a moment, she considered just brushing it off and walking away, but something inside of her snapped.
The fire incident had changed her. She was no longer the same polite and soft-spoken Luna. She had learned the hard way that to be too trusting and too kind was to leave a person vulnerable.
She spun on her heel and returned to the desk, eyes narrowing slightly. "Do you even know who I am?" she asked, her voice sharp, with an edge of sarcasm.
The receptionist didn't blink. "I don't, and I don't care. Rules are rules. You need permission to enter, just like everyone else," she said, shrugging as if it was no big deal.
Luna let out a short, dry laugh. "Call your manager," she said, crossing her arms now, mirroring the girl's stance.
By now, a few employees had gathered around, whispering among themselves. Luna's sharp gaze scanned the crowd, and she realized she didn't recognize most of the faces. It was like stepping into a different company.
Finally, the manager pushed her way through the small crowd. Luna locked eyes on her, and, just like always, it wasn't her face again. How many faces were added while she was gone?
"What is going on here?" the manager asked herself, looking from Luna to the receptionist.
The young receptionist interrupted, "This woman walked in without checking in or saying a word. I tried to explain the rules, but she got upset and demanded to see you.
The manager's face grew serious as she turned to Luna. "This is a professional space," she said firmly. "We don't permit people to walk in here unannounced or without an appointment, regardless of who they are."
A spurt of anger shot through Luna's chest. She reached into her bag and pulled out her phone. She started dialing but didn't say a word.
The receptionist and the manager exchanged confused looks, but Luna ignored them both, her calm exterior masking the frustration bubbling inside her. She put the phone up to her ear, speaking in cold, measured tones. "Get me someone who actually knows how to run this place."
The crowd of employees had fallen silent, watching the scene unfold. Luna lowered the phone and shot a sharp glance at the manager and receptionist. "Let's see how this goes," she said quietly, her tone carrying a weight that made the manager step back slightly.