Chapter 12
“There’s something about you, Valerie,” Gordon began, his voice soft yet deliberate. “Something that lingers in my mind since the first time I met you. It’s rare, almost unexplainable.‘
I blinked, caught off guard by his sudden shift in tone. “That‘ s… quite the compliment, Mr. Kingston.
“Please, just call me Gordon,” he corrected with a small smile. “And it’s not just a compliment–it‘ s the truth.
He took a measured sip of his drink, his piercing gaze unwavering. “But really, there’s something about you, an allure that’s both understated and captivating. I can’t ignore it.”
I glanced away, scanning the lively crowd. for a distraction, hoping to redirect the
conversation. But Gordon was not finished.
“I know this might be unexpected,” he
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continued, his voice lowering, “but would you consider the possibility of a
relationship with me? I’m not just talking about work–I mean something personal.”
My heart sank. Here it comes, another Casanova, I thought in my mind.
His words were too familiar, too similar to Anthony’s sweet–talking pursuit all those
years ago.
Though it had been over a month since I left, the pain and betrayal still clung to me like a stubborn shadow.
The memories of Anthony’s lies, his
affair, and the trust he shattered made me wary of opening my heart again.
‘I still feel unresolved, I thought bitterly, suppressing the pang of disappointment that followed.
Gordon’s approach reminded me too much of Anthony–someone who barely knew me but claimed to be drawn to me.
The resemblance made my chest tighten,
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walls rising instinctively.
Politely, I smiled and shook my head. “I’ll take that as a compliment, Mr. Kingston, but I can’t accept a relationship beyond work.”
He tilted his head, genuinely curious. “Why not? Are you afraid my family won’t approve?”
I shook my head, forcing a calm tone.
“No, it’s not that. It’s because you‘ re younger than me.”
The lie slipped easily from my lips, a convenient excuse to create distance. I was
not ready for love again–not that moment, not so soon after my world had collapsed.
Gordon’s lips quivered in amusement.
“Younger? Really? That‘ s your reason? Age is no longer a limitation these days. It doesn’t matter if you‘ re older or
younger than me. What matters is how we connect.”
He leaned closer, his tone lighthearted but
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sincere. “And….”
“And,” I interrupted firmly, raising my hand slightly to stop him, “I’ve been married before. Are you sure you want to be with someone who’s divorced?”
I watched his reaction carefully, hoping the revelation would dissuade him.
Gordon blinked, visibly surprised, but his expression softened almost immediately.
“You were married?”
“Yes,” I confirmed, my tone steady.
He nodded, his gaze thoughtful. “Well, a woman as beautiful as you couldn‘ t possibly have never dated or been married. I don’t mind. In fact, I admire someone. with experience because I… I’ve never dated before.”
His confession left me stunned. “Are you
serious?”
Gordon chuckled at my disbelief. “Excuse me if that sounds unusual. I get that
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reaction a lot.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude,” I said quickly.
“No offense taken,” he replied easily.
Then, leaning slightly closer, he added in a conspiratorial whisper, “Some people even think I’m not straight because I’ve never shown interest in women before.”
I pressed a hand to my mouth, startled by
his candor.
Gordon smiled faintly. “The truth is, I’ve been so focused on work all my life. My family even tried setting me up on blind dates, but none of it made sense to me. I couldn’t understand why people are so eager to get married.”
He hesitated, then asked, “So, as someone with experience, can you tell me? What made you decide to get married?”
The question struck me like a bolt of lightning. Was he genuinely curious, or
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was this some calculated tactic?
I could not tell. Either way, it touched a
nerve.
“One more step into my privacy, Mr. Kingston,” I said coldly, my walls. snapping back into place.
He raised his hands in surrender, his smile faltering. “I apologize. That was out of line.” He took a step back, his voice softer now. “I didn’t mean to disturb you. Please enjoy the party.”
With that, Gordon turned and walked away, his head lowered like a disappointed child.
For reasons I could not fully explain, a pang of guilt bloomed in my chest. Watching him leave, shoulders slightly slumped, made me second–guess my tone.
Was I too harsh?
But no, that was for the best. I was not ready to risk opening myself up again, even if Gordon’s intentions seemed genuine.
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Still, the image of his retreating figure lingered in my mind longer than I wanted to admit.
Suddenly, Rita Brown, my manager, tapped me on the shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Valerie, what did you talk about with Mr. Kingston earlier?” she asked, her tone playful but curious.
“Nothing, just about work,” I replied casually, brushing off her curiosity.
Rita raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. “Hmm… I’ve been working at Bright longer than you, you know,” she said, crossing her arms.
“And let me tell you, Mr. Kingston
doesn’t chit–chat with women–not even with talents under his agency. Most of his staff are men, as if he‘ s allergic to
he’s
women.”
Her words caught me off guard. “What do you mean?”
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“It’s true. He’s known for being cold and unapproachable, especially toward women. That’s why it’s strange he took the time to talk to you. Are you sure it was just about work?”
I tried to brush it off with a laugh. “Come on, Rita. Is it really that strange for a CEO to chat with an employee?”
Rita nodded firmly. “It is, Valerie. Especially for someone like our CEO.”
Her words lingered in my mind, making me more curious about Gordon than I
cared to admit.
I had always assumed he was a Casanova because he approached me first, but then I wondered if I had been wrong.
“Are you starting to think about what I said?” Rita teased, noticing my silence.
“No, nothing like that,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “I’m just feeling a bit tired. Do you think we can head home
now?”
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Rita smiled knowingly but did not press further. “Sure. The party‘ s wrapping up anyway, and we‘ ve got a busy day tomorrow. Let’s go.”
“Thanks,” I said, grateful for the change in subject.
After that party, I rarely crossed paths with Gordon.
True to his word, he did not pursue me like Anthony had, and I found myself relieved.
For once, I felt like I could breathe freely without the weight of someone else‘ s intentions bearing down on me.
sk
Months later, everything changed.
My career skyrocketed, and I became a global sensation in the beauty industry.
The recognition led to an opportunity I had only dreamed of–a luxury beauty brand contacted me to ask if I would be their
brand ambassador for their latest line of
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products.
The answer was immediate. “Yes,” I said, hardly able to contain my excitement.
This was what I had worked so hard for- what I had dreamed about even during my darkest moments.
I, who had once been confined to signing contracts to buy shares of brands as Anthony’s wife, was then signing contracts to represent them as myself.
It felt surreal.
But as I was scheduled to visit the brand’s
headquarters to finalize the details, a familiar voice said casually behind me,
“Hi, we meet again.”
