"Sir, are you sure you want to push through with this divorce?" Gus asked hesitantly, his voice tinged with both concern and desperation. Across the massive oak desk, Alanis Hamilton sat in his leather chair, eyes closed as if the question were beneath him.
It was because the Hamilton organization needed the Blackwood's to boost their company. If his boss cut ties with the Hamilton's daughter, they're doomed because they'll undergo bankruptcy.
Yes," Alanis said coldly, his deep voice devoid of emotion, cutting through the tension like a blade.
Gus swallowed hard, feeling the sweat gather on his brow. "But, sir... can't you just endure her..." He hesitated, searching for a less offensive word but finding none. "Her attitude? Just until things stabilize?"
The sharp snap of Alanis's eyes opening made Gus's breath hitch. Those piercing black eyes, cold and predatory, locked onto him. For a moment, Gus regretted his daring. But desperation had made him bold, just like everyone else in the company who depended on this fragile marriage.
"Yes," Alanis said coldly, his eyes still closed and voice void of emotion.
"But boss, can't you just endure her bullshit or bad attitude and push through with the marriage?" Gus asked and almost regretted why he spoke because right now those black eyes stared at him like a predator about to pounce on its prey. He gulped. He had just been as desperate as everyone else.
When Senior Hamilton ran the company, it had flourished, but his wife's disastrous mismanagement had nearly destroyed it. Now, the burden of reviving their empire rested on Alanis's shoulders. And their only lifeline? Harlow Blackwood the heiress of the world's wealthiest family.
Every man coveted Harlow, yet Alanis treated her as disposable. It was baffling.
Plus it was no news that Harlow Blackwood was head over heels for Alanis Hamilton. She had initiated the marriage herself, so why then are they both getting a divorce after only a night of being married?
Was his boss impotent for her to leave him?
Was he so little down there? Gus shook his head. He had seen the size of that thing in his trousers and it was huge. But why did a girl who is obsessed with a man dump him?
Was she scared of it?
Alanis was in the worst mood already. If it's the divorce that woman wants, then he would give it to her. He knew she was madly in love with him, it's only a matter of time before she came crawling back to him.
"Don't worry Gus, she'll be back before midnight. It's just one of her stunts." He said confidently and his assistant nodded.
"Sir, I just thought to inform you about the trending news online. It says the Blackwood heiress dumps the heir to the Hamilton empire." Alanis opened his eyes to stare at the man.
"Get rid of such news immediately." He ordered.
"Yes sir, Gus said and walked away.
Now alone in his office, he relaxed back on his chair. He really didn't need the Blackwood to grow his family's business, he could do it all alone. The Blackwood heiress had only caught his attention and now, he cannot stop thinking about her.
That big mouth had called him ugly. Alanis sighed. He Alanis Hamilton was anything but ugly. He couldn't wait for her to come crawling back.
.
.
Harlow, now in her bedroom searched through her cell phone only to receive a text from her long-lost friend Layla. It has been years since she last spoke to her.
Back then when she married Alanis, she had cut all ties with the people that actually loved and cared for her. She wanted to focus on her new family, to grow her home, and make her husband fall in love with her.
She had been so lost in that, that she lost touch of reality. In the end, she had lost a good friend like Layla and had lost everything she ever owned. Layla moved to another country and started a family like she always wanted, both people lost contact and never spoke ever again.
"I know it's your honeymoon and you might be with your husband now. But how was your night Harlow, keep me updated." Harlow smiled at her text. Layla sounded excited.
"Did the deed happen already with that cold man? How was it?
It was the same text she sent years ago, but Harlow couldn't respond because she was being ridiculed by the Hamiltons. Her worst mistake had been signing that deal. She would never sign it ever again.
Harlow replied to the text, "We're divorced." It wasn't up to a second that she started receiving a series of texts from her best friend.
"Are you okay Harlow?"
"Did that bastard or his family lay a finger on you?"
"Do you want me to deal with them?"
Her endless text kept coming and coming and coming and Harlow smiled.
She sent the video she had asked that servant to record of the Hamiltons kissing her feet. Layla watched the video with wide eyes.
"Meet me at our usual spot in an hour." Layla sent her and Harlow laid back on her bed. Harlow felt fulfilled. She knew she had a lot of battles ahead of her, but she would conquer them all. This time, would never let anything happen to the ones she loved anymore.
She only wished she had returned to the time she lost her mother and at least saved her. But even she knew there was nothing she could do. She was a child at the time.
Harlow hurried into the bathroom to bathe. Once she was done she walked into her closet.
In the closet, she was greeted by the rows of dresses, a myriad of colors she'd barely noticed before. When was the last time she'd worn anything but white? For ten years, she had dressed in the color he claimed to love, erasing herself to fit the mold they'd crafted.
Harlow's fingers lingered over a striking blue dress tucked in the corner, and a thrill of rebellion rose within her. Smiling to herself, she slipped it on, letting the soft fabric settle against her. Today, she would no longer be the docile girl in white.
She had competed with Claudia back then for his love and affection. In this life, Claudia can have that man if she wants, after all, Garth loves her very much.