In Love with my Stepfather

Chapter 5 — She Couldn’t Trust Him

Carlos’ POV

The two older CEOs had been speaking for several minutes now, their voices echoing with half-laughed stories about women and sports — the kind of talk that made me question the purpose of our meeting. I didn’t bother contributing. Mr. Smith, bold as ever, turned the conversation toward Lauren — or more accurately, what it must be like being married to her, a legendary figure in the business world.

“Must be something, being the lover of Lauren Howells,” he said with a crooked smile, leaning back in his seat.

His next comment was vulgar enough to make me glance at him. I didn’t flinch. I’d grown used to this kind of talk. It didn’t bother me, not really. What Lauren was or wasn’t like behind closed doors was none of their business, but I wasn’t about to defend her honor like some protective husband. They could talk about her all they wanted.

I was starting to lose patience with their pointless chatter when the door opened.

Devan stepped in. Finally.

But he wasn’t alone.

He introduced his new secretary, and when I turned my head to look, I saw May trail behind him.

She looked different. Put-together. Confident. Nothing like the vixen I that had suddenly kissed me at the club last night.

My gaze remained on her for a little longer than I intended, but then I turned away like she hadn’t been worth noticing.

But I noticed everything.

The moment she saw me, she froze. Brief, but clear. Her posture stiffened. Her eyes — wide, startled — betrayed her.

She hadn’t expected to see me.

And judging from the lack of recognition in her gaze… last night was a blur to her. How convenient.

She moved on quickly, greeting the other two CEOs with perfect form, looking every bit of a professional. But when it came time to greet me, her poise slipped. She hesitated. I suspected she was gritting her teeth. I chuckled silently. It was almost satisfying.

I said nothing for a moment, watching her struggle to compose herself. Then I leaned back slightly, the corners of my mouth tugging with amusement I didn’t bother hiding.

“Miss May seems… displeased to see me,” I said coolly.

I expected a flustered reaction. I was sure she wouldn’t know how to respond to that.

But she lifted her chin, appearing neither servile nor overbearing.

“Mr. Rivas must be imagining things,” she replied.

Her voice was cold and calm.

Bored, I took my eyes off her.

I didn’t look at her again.

Not once.

Throughout the meeting, I kept my focus where it belonged — on numbers, projections, and contracts. But even without looking, I could feel her gaze on me.

Although I refused to look in her direction, every time she made a contribution to the discussion, I couldn’t help but feel impressed. She was really capable. Like mother, like daughter.

By the time the meeting ended, I had secured exactly what I came for — a favorable deal for L’Wells Corporation.

—————

May’s POV

Back at the company, I sat before my laptop, the screen glowing with the latest updates on L’Wells Corporation.

Lauren had always been the sharper one between her and my father. Even he knew it. Most of the company’s capital came from her side of the family, and she was the one who poured in more investments. That’s why she’d been president for years while my father was content with being vice president. He never minded playing second fiddle.

But now, with my father gone, everything had changed.

The position of vice president had been handed to Carlos Rivas—my mother’s second husband. I almost laughed. Bitterly, of course. My mother had a pattern. She liked her men beneath her—both in title and, apparently, in ambition. She remained at the top while they lingered in her shadow. It was always like that.

I tapped my fingers against the desk, irritated, sipping my coffee even though it had already gone lukewarm. The caffeine wasn’t doing much to calm the knot in my chest. What bothered me wasn’t just that Carlos had taken my father’s role—it was how little I could find about him.

Nothing personal. No scandal. No dirt. No history. Just a blank slate scrubbed clean, like he’d dropped into our lives out of nowhere. That kind of silence didn’t happen by accident. Either my mother paid handsomely for it, or she orchestrated it so meticulously that no one even knew to ask questions. The tabloids should’ve eaten her alive—older, powerful woman marries a much younger man—but not a single whisper made it to the surface. It was suspicious. It was calculated. It was… Lauren.

I rubbed my temples and sighed. The office was too quiet. My thoughts were loud enough. I set my coffee down and closed my eyes for a second, but it didn’t help. My mind kept circling the same thing.

My father had been content behind the scenes—steady, reliable, quiet. He wasn’t weak, just… grounded. But Carlos? No. He was nothing like my dad.

Carlos was everywhere.

He led the meetings. Made the decisions. Took charge like the company had always been his. And somehow, Lauren had stepped back. Still president, sure, but the presence she once commanded had dulled. These days, she was more ceremonial than active. Carlos had become the engine of the business.

I raked a hand through my hair, frustration crawling under my skin. How had no one noticed the shift? It was like the world had collectively erased my father. He wasn’t just a supporting actor in the company’s story—he helped build its foundation. And now, no one even said his name.

I stared back at the screen, eyes scanning Carlos’s track record. Impressive, sure. But too perfect. Too smooth. He’d slid into the company’s leadership without pushback, like the ground had been prepared long before he arrived.

It unsettled me.

I closed the laptop and shoved it away, exhaling hard. I didn’t know what Carlos’s game was, but one thing was for sure—he couldn’t be trusted.

My phone buzzed on the desk. I glanced down at the screen and picked up.

“Hey,” I said, keeping my voice neutral, though my irritation still lingered.

“I saw your note,” Jeff’s voice came through, warm and easy. “How’s your first day at work? Surviving?”

I leaned back slightly, tapping my fingers against the desk. “Fine… except I ran into my stepfather today.”

Jeff chuckled. “Already? You’ve only been back two days.”

“I know. Like the universe just couldn’t wait,” I muttered. “He’s was so smug. I had to bite my tongue not to cause a scene.”

“Don’t let him rattle you, sweetheart. You’ve got this,” Jeff said, his voice calm, steady. “And I’m here if you need to vent.”

I smiled faintly. “Thanks.”

A pause.

“What time will you be home?” he asked. “Thinking of ordering dinner.”

My stomach gave a low protest—I’d barely eaten. “I’ll be back around six. Order anything. I’m not picky.”

“Got it. I’ll take care of it.”

“Thanks, Jeff.”

“Anytime. See you tonight.”

“See you.”

I ended the call and set the phone aside, glancing at the stack of files I hadn’t even touched. Schedules. Memos. Reports. As the CEO’s assistant, there was no room to fall behind—not even on the first day.

Straightening my spine, I tucked my hair behind my ear, took a breath, and got to work.