Chapter 2

"Ms. Samuels, the people waiting outside are Mario and his wife, Dorothy Johnson, from Future Tech."

"The Johnson family has built quite a reputation in New York over the last few years. And Dorothy's three brothers are..."

"That's enough," I said, raising my hand to cut my assistant off.

I turned my eyes toward the two familiar faces standing outside the glass door.

My office was fitted with one-way mirrors. I could see their every movement clearly, but to them, it was just a blank wall.

Twenty years. Dorothy hadn't changed a bit. It looked like my brothers had kept her perfectly sheltered in her little bubble. That innocent face of hers had only grown more refined with age.

Mario was standing next to her, looking sharp and professional in a designer suit.

"I’ve made myself clear. We are not doing business with them. Tell them to find someone else."

"If they can't, then that's their problem."

I scoffed. Though my assistant looked confused, she nodded and went out to deliver the message.

"But why?" I heard Dorothy’s bewildered voice through the door.

The next second, the two of them bypassed security and burst right into my office.

"Ms. Samuels, is there something wrong with our proposal? Why won't you even consider a partnership with us?"

"Or is it because..."

Dorothy froze mid-sentence.

Her eyes locked onto my face. Her throat seemed to tighten, and she couldn't squeeze out another word.

After what felt like an eternity, she gasped, "Vic... Victoria?"

"Victoria? It’s you!" Mario gasped, his eyes widening in pure shock.

He took a few steps forward, staring at me. "You... you’re the legendary Ms. Samuels?"

"I can't believe it. Twenty years, and you’ve managed to climb this high."

There was a mix of awe, nostalgia, and utter disbelief in his voice.

I leaned back in my chair and looked up at him with a smirk. "What did you expect, Mario? Did you think I’d be living like a stray dog, dying in some back alley overseas?"

"That’s not what I meant," Mario frowned, his eyebrows knitting together. "Why do you have to be so hostile? After all, we used to be..."

"Victoria!"

Dorothy suddenly rushed forward, grabbing my hands with forced warmth.

"Victoria, where have you been all these years?"

"The boys and I missed you so much! Are you still mad at me?"

"I know I caused you so much trouble back then, but it's been twenty years. It's time to let it go. We’re family, Victoria. We haven't had a proper reunion in forever."

"Come home with me, please."

It's been twenty years? Let it go?

Of course it was easy for her to say. She wasn't the one who spent three years in a cold cell.

She was still playing the same old naive, innocent girl. Or rather, she had been so spoiled by everyone that she never had to grow up.

"I’m not your sister, Dorothy," I said, my voice ice-cold as I snatched my hands back. "Stop acting like we're close."

Dorothy stood frozen, her eyes welling up with tears. "Victoria... are you really still holding a grudge over what happened back then?"

Even after all this time, she still acted like a fragile teenager.

"Victoria, what is your problem?" Mario barked, stepping in front of Dorothy.

"Dorothy is trying to be nice to you. She’s inviting you home, and instead of being grateful, you treat her like trash!"

"If you hadn't made that mistake back then, none of this would have—"

"Mario!" Dorothy cut him off, clutching his arm. "Don't blame Victoria. It’s my fault. It’s all my fault."

She turned back to me, squeezing out a pathetic smile. "Victoria, you probably know why we're here."

"Our company is facing a massive technical bottleneck right now, and you happen to hold the exact patent we need. Could you please just..."

"No," I replied instantly. I turned to my assistant. "Show them out."

They tried to argue, but my security team was already moving in, pushing them out the door.

I could hear Dorothy's soft whimpering and Mario's angry shouting fading down the hallway. I didn't care. I simply turned back to my laptop and got back to work.