Chapter 13
As I turned, I found Gordon standing there, effortlessly sharp in a tailored suit, his expression calm yet unreadable.
“Mr. Kingston?” I said, unable to hide my surprise.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said, offering a small smile. “But I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. You‘ ve been making waves in the industry.”
“Thank you,” I replied politely, unsure how to navigate this unexpected reunion.
“I didn’t know you had ties to this brand .too.”
“Oh, I just have a shareholders‘ meeting here,” Gordon explained, his tone casual.
“I also oversee a few of their global campaigns.”
His words struck a chord. It wasn’t
unusual for shareholders to attend brand meetings, especially when they had a
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significant stake in the company.
After all, I had attended such meetings myself back when I was Anthony‘ s wife. Evaluating a brand’s future prospects. while ensuring its growth aligned with our investments had been routine.
So, I believed Gordon, even though part of me still wondered if his presence was more than coincidental.
But his calm demeanor and matter–of–fact
explanation made me set those suspicions aside at least for that moment.
“Well, congratulations on becoming their new brand ambassador,” he added, his tone sincere. “I just heard it in the meeting, and I think it’s well deserved.”
“Thank you,” I said again, my voice softening.
For a moment, there was an awkward
silence between us. Gordon, with his usual calm demeanor, broke it first.
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“Shall I accompany you there?” he asked, gesturing toward the meeting room.
Before I could respond, my manager, Rita, interrupted with a grin. “That’s so kind. of you, Mr. Kingston. Seeing you with us. will definitely strengthen the brand‘ s faith in Valerie. After all, she’s Bright‘ s favorite now, right?”
“You‘ re right,” Gordon replied smoothly. “And since I‘ m free, I’d be happy to accompany you.”
I hesitated but eventually nodded, still trying to process his presence.
As we entered the meeting room, the air shifted instantly. The lively hum of chatter among the team fell silent, replaced by a tension so thick it was almost palpable.
“Mr. Kingston, we didn’t expect you to come here in person,” the team leader stammered, bowing slightly. “It’s an honor to meet you. If we’d known, we would have brought our CEO as well.”
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“That won’t be necessary,” Gordon said coldly. “I’m here to observe, not to
interfere.”
The leader nodded quickly, gesturing for him to take a seal. “Of course, please make yourself comfortable.”
Then he turned to me, his demeanor shifting to something much warmer.
“Miss Keith, we finally meet in person. It’s a pleasure.”
“Likewise,” I said with a polite smile, shaking his hand.
As we delved into the contract details and campaign plans, the room remained stiflingly tense.
Rita leaned toward me, whispering, “Sorry about this. Mr. Kingston has that effect on people. He’s known for being strict and
ruthless if there’s a mistake.”
I glanced at Gordon, who was intently focused on the team leader’s explanation. His icy expression confirmed Rita‘ s
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words.
But then, as if sensing my gaze, Gordon’s cold demeanor melted into a warm smile directed solely at me.
The sudden shift left me flustered, and I quickly averted my eyes, returning his smile awkwardly.
After finalizing the contract, we made our way to the lobby to wait for our ride. I intended to part ways with Gordon there, but my stomach had other plans.
Since I had had breakfast, a loud rumble echoed. I stiffened, embarrassed, while Rita stifled a laugh.
Gordon raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. Without missing a beat, he turned to his secretary. “Landon, book a restaurant for me and Miss Keith immediately.”
“Ah, that’s not necessary,” I protested, my cheeks flushing.
“Nonsense,” Gordon said, brushing off
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my refusal. “How can I let my talent starve? You need your strength to work well.”
I glanced at Rita for help, but she avoided. my gaze, offering no support. Defeated, I nodded reluctantly.
At the restaurant, the atmosphere was far more relaxed, though I could not shake my awkwardness.
I did not expect it would be only me and Gordon, since Rita and Landon needed to go back to the company.
Gordon’s presence was almost too commanding, and even the simplest act of ⚫ordering food felt overwhelming.
“Have you decided what to order?” Gordon asked, his calm voice startling me.
“Yes, I’ll have…” I blurted out the first dish I spotted.
“I’ll have the same,” Gordon said. without hesitation.
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After the waiter left, I mustered a smile. “Thank you for inviting me. I didn‘ t mean to cause trouble.”
“Don’t mention it,” Gordon replied easily. “I skipped breakfast too, so this is convenient.”
He glanced around the room, his eyes scanning our surroundings before leaning slightly closer. His voice dropped to a more casual tone. “By the way, I’ve learned a bit about your past.”
I froze, my fork pausing mid–air.
“I’m sorry for looking into it without your permission,” he added quickly, his tone apologetic but firm. “But it turns out you‘ re quite famous in London, Valerie. Or should I call you Daisy?”
My heart skipped a beat, and my breath. caught in my throat. How could he know?
Gordon’s sharp gaze softened slightly. “Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”
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I swallowed hard, trying to steady my
voice. “Why would you even look into my past?”
He leaned back in his chair, his expression. unreadable once more. “Because you intrigue me, Valerie. And I wanted to understand what shaped the person you are today.”
His words hung in the air, and for a moment, I did not know how to respond.
All I knew was it seemed I had
underestimated Gordon. Fooling someone as influential and resourceful as him was
impossible.
“So, you deliberately invited me to dinner just to confirm my story?” I asked in a cold tone, narrowing my eyes at him.
Gordon smiled faintly, unbothered by my sharp words. “Of course not. After your rejection at the party, I was simply curious. if you were telling the truth about your marriage.
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“When I found out you weren’t lying, I admire your honesty–and I liked you even more after that.”
His calm confession made my head spin. How could he admit something like that so casually?
I thought things might end there, but Gordon was persistent in a way I could not quite put into words.
He indeed did not pursue me openly, since he was far too clever for that. Instead, he seemed to always be nearby.
When I had a photoshoot, Gordon would appear unexpectedly, pretending to oversee the production, making occasional suggestions about lighting or angles.
When I collaborated with other talents on
campaigns, he showed up again, that time with a food truck, treating all the staff and talents to meals and snacks.
His actions never crossed any professional. boundaries, but they were noticeable.
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enough to spark whispers among the staff.
Soon, the Bright Agency team started calling me “Mrs. Kingston” behind my back, convinced we had a special relationship.
It was maddening, yet I could not deny the benefits that came with the rumors.
Thanks to the attention Gordon subtly
brought to my projects, I received more high–profile collaborations and
partnerships with luxury brands.
My name began to appear not just in the US but internationally, and my social media following exploded.
But with fame came the inevitable
downside. Anthony’s man finally found me after searching desperately for months.
