Lila peered at Nora's face intently, as if searching for something familiar in her features.
"What happened to the Hayes you knew? Are they perhaps Lawrence and Stella Hayes?" Nora immediately blurted out with desperation.
The question made Lila's lips part slightly in shock.
"Are those your parents?" Lila asked and Nora could swear she saw dread in the sophisticated woman's eyes.
But immediately it had appeared, it vanished like it was never there. Then Lila tried to compose herself and heaved a soft sigh.
"Your parents..." She had just begun when the two women heard a familiar footsteps approaching.
Ethan appeared, and his usually stoic expression grew even colder at the sight of Lila.
Lila's face, however, lit up immediately and it was evident she had completely forgotten about Nora.
"Ethan, there you are!" Lila exclaimed, moving forward with open arms.
"What are you doing here?" Ethan asked sharply, his tone stopping her mid-step.
The bright smile on Lila's face went down drastically.
"Is that how you greet me after all this time?" She asked, her voice sounding hurt.
"We are at work, and I'm extremely busy." Ethan replied coldly.
"Well, actually, I'm here for business." Lila said, recovering quickly and turning towards his office.
Her reaction gave Ethan no choice but to follow her, leaving Nora standing there, with a confused look.
"What was she about to tell me? She clearly knows about my parents... But what does she know to have that dread in her eyes for me?" Nora thought, her heart pounding in fear.
Something in her gut told her there was more to this situation than met the eye.
"I need to check that file... the one with my parents' names." Nora decided firmly, her hands trembling slightly as she sat back at her desk.
"Hayes... What happened to them while they were here? Did they ever work here?" She whispered to herself, remembering the recognition in Lila's eyes.
Meanwhile, in Ethan's office, Lila had barely settled into one of the leather chairs when Ethan spoke.
"What exactly are you doing in my company?" He demanded, remaining standing.
"We no longer have any business together. Your presence here is unexpected and unwanted." He added firmly.
Lila's perfect fingers tapped against her bag.
"Really, darling? Is this how you treat someone you once shared so much with?" She asked in a sweet voice but her eyes were piercing as she stared at the man.
"Don't you remember? We were lovers, Ethan." She reminded him softly.
"We were nothing of the sort." Ethan denied coldly.
Pain flashed across Lila's features.
"After what happened between us?" She asked incredulously.
"You mean that silly one-night stand?" Ethan gritted out, his hands clenching by his sides.
"Silly? Wait, Is that why you ended our professional relationship? Cut all ties with me and wouldn't even allow me to reach you?" Lila asked as if she was just realizing the reason for his past actions towards her.
Ethan let out a dry chuckle.
"It took you so long to realize. I cut ties with you because you are a cunning schemer." He stated bluntly.
"Ethan, I wouldn't..." Lila wanted to protest but he cut her off with a raise of his hand.
"Despite my clear refusal, you found a way to get me into your bed. Now, tell me, what more do I need to know about you being a cunning schemer?" He asked through gritted teeth.
Lila stood up abruptly.
"You should know I did that because I loved you!" She exclaimed, her perfectly controlled facade beginning to slip.
"Because you kept pushing me away!" She added, her voice trembling with emotion.
"The feeling wasn't mutual, Lila. You knew that. So why torture yourself?" Ethan pointed out, his voice remained cold.
At that, Lila's eyes flashed dangerously and she stepped closer to his desk.
"You don't understand, do you?" She asked, her voice dropping to a whisper, her nails digging into the wooden surface of his desk.
And instantly, Lila's composure had completely transformed. She had gone from being the emotional woman to an angry vengeful one.
"I need to get back to work, you should leave." Ethan maintained.
"I always get what I want, Ethan." She stated, her voice low but menacing.
Then, a knowing smile spread across her face.
"I heard about your deal with LL Enterprise." She said smoothly, watching as Ethan's jaw tightened.
"That merger you have been working on for months..." She continued, examining her nails casually.
"It would be a shame if something were to... complicate things." Her voice laced with false sympathy.
Ethan's expression darkened as he stepped around his desk.
"What are you implying, Lila?" He asked, his voice dangerously low.
Then she leaned forward, her smile growing wider.
"Oh, you know exactly what I mean. One phone call is all it takes. One conversation about certain... inconsistencies I have noticed in the proposal." She stated with a knowing look.
Ethan's hands gripped the edge of his desk angrily.
"You wouldn't dare." He growled.
"Wouldn't I?" Lila retorted, raising a challenging eyebrow.
Then started moving towards the door with calculated grace.
"If I can't have you..." She whispered, turning back to face him.
"I will make sure to destroy everything you have built."
"Starting with that billion-dollar deal you are so proud of." She maintained deathly.
However, Ethan's deep, dry laugh made her pause.
"You seem to forget who I am, Lila. I have crushed bigger threats than you." His voice was calmly dangerous.
Lila's smile only widened.
"Ah, but have you checked who sits on LL board now?" She asked sweetly.
The slight twitch in Ethan's eyes was all she needed to see.
"That is right." She purred and for a moment, the acclaimed ruthless Ethan who most wouldn't dare to cross, was rendered speechless.
"Tell me, Ethan, how does it feel knowing the one person you have wronged now hold your empire's fate in their hands?" She threw the final blow.