CHAPTER 5: WHY IS SHE HERE
1457 Words
Lizzie’s POV
Morning didn’t fix anything.
It only made everything clearer. The sunlight slipped through the curtains in soft gold lines, touching every corner of my room like it was trying to make things feel warm again, but it didn’t reach me. Not really.
I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection. My eyes looked tired.
Not from sleep, from thinking.
From remembering.
Jack’s face flashed in my mind, his voice, the way he told me to leave… like I was nothing. Then Nyla, The way she looked at me Like she had already won.
My fingers tightened slightly around my hairbrush.
“Get it together, Lizzie,” I muttered under my breath.It was over.
Whatever we had, whatever I thought we had was over.And yet…It still hurt.
Not in a loud dramatic way, but in a quiet, annoying way that sat in my chest and refused to leave.
A knock came on my door before Eva pushed it open.
“You’re awake,” she said, stepping in with a small smile that didn’t quite hide her concern. “How are you feeling?”
I forced a shrug. “Fine.”
She raised a brow. “That didn’t sound convincing.”
I sighed, dropping the brush on the table. “I just… I don’t get it, Eva. One minute everything was normal, and the next” My voice caught slightly. “He just switched.”
Eva walked closer, leaning against the dresser.
“Some people don’t switch,” she said softly. “They just finally show who they are.”
I let that sink in. It didn’t make it hurt less, but it made sense.
“Come on,” she added gently. “You’ll feel better once you get out. Staying here won’t help.”
Maybe she was right.
Staying still only made me think more.
And thinking was the problem.
By the time I got to work, I had already decided one thing:
I wasn’t going to let Jack or Nyla see me broken, Not today, Maybe not ever.
The office buzzed with its usual rhythm phones ringing, keyboards clicking, voices overlapping. It was normal. Predictable, Safe. “Lizzie.”
I looked up to see my boss standing by his office door. “Come in.”
I stood, smoothing down my outfit before walking in and stopped the moment I saw her.
Nyla. Of course.
She sat there like she belonged, crossing her legs elegantly, her expression calm… almost amused.
I forced my face to remain neutral and stepped inside.
“Good, you’re both here,” my boss said, glancing between us. “I have an assignment for you.”
I didn’t like the sound of that.
“We’re in the process of securing a partnership with another company. I want the two of you to go there this afternoon and represent us.”
A pause.
“With her?” The words slipped out before I could stop them.
His eyes flicked to me.
I straightened. “I mean… okay.”
Nyla’s lips curved slightly, like she enjoyed that.
“This is important,” he continued. “I expect professionalism.”
Professional.
Right, I could do that, I had to.
The car ride was quiet, too quiet.
I stared out the window, watching the city blur past, trying to focus on anything other than the person sitting beside me.
“whats up with you”
Nyla’s voice cut through the silence like it had been waiting for the perfect moment.
I didn’t turn to her immediately.
“Is there a reason you are asking?” I asked calmly.
She let out a soft breath, almost like a laugh. “i didn't mean it for it to happen that way”
That made me look at her. Before I could speak she continued I meant for it to crush you way harder than that she said laughing hysterically
I'll admit it sting, for a moment there I was foolish to think she was being reasonable
Sebastian’s POV
“You left.” Dorian’s voice echoed slightly in the quiet space of the villa.
I stood by the window, looking out over the city without really seeing it.
“I don’t report my movements,” I said.
My tone was flat.
Dorian didn’t move. “No,” he agreed calmly. “You don’t.”
A pause followed.
Then “But you also don’t disappear without reason.”
My jaw tightened slightly.
Annoying.
I turned just enough to glance at him. “If you have something to say, say it.”
Before he could respond
The door opened. He stepped inside gracefully
“Wow,” Alaric’s voice came, casual and amused. “No greeting? I feel hurt.”
I didn’t turn this time.
“What do you want here?” I asked coldly.
He walked in anyway, like boundaries didn’t apply to him which, unfortunately, they rarely did.
“You know you shouldn't have invited me inside, now I have my free pass,” he said with a sarcasm chuckle, stopping a few steps away. “Where did you run off to last night?”
He smirked. “That’s not like you, Seb. Leaving a party? Without taking advantage of what was offered?” His eyes narrowed slightly. “You must have found something better.” you know the kind of person you are and nothing gets past me you know
My grip tightened slightly at my side.
“Careful,” I said quietly. “You’re starting to sound interested.”
He chuckled. “Maybe I am.” That is the problem.
LIZZIE POV
The building stood tall and polished, its glass exterior reflecting the afternoon sun so sharply it almost hurt to look at.
“I heard there are hot guys in this building,” Nyla said from behind me, her tone light with amusement. “Maybe I’ll finally find myself one.”
I turned to look at her, frowning slightly.
“Aren’t you already into Jack?”
She barely reacted, just gave a small shrug before walking past me, her steps smooth, confident… like nothing ever touched her.
Typical.
I followed behind, pushing the thought aside as we stepped into the building.
We stopped at the reception, and after a brief exchange, we were directed to the CEO’s secretary.
The moment we got there, he froze.
His eyes landed on me, and for a split second, something like shock crossed his face.
I slowed, confused. Do I… know him?
Before I could think further, he straightened and stepped forward, extending his hand.
“I’m Dorian.”
His voice was calm, controlled but his expression didn’t fully match it. It was like he was smiling… without actually smiling.
I took a proper look at him.
Tall. Fair-skinned. Dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. Giving an aura thats actually cold but charming and i'ld say guys here are really charming
Before I could respond, Nyla brushed past me, lightly pushing my hand aside as she took his instead.
“I’m Nyla,” she said, her voice soft, laced with flirtation.
Dorian glanced at her hand, then back at her face.
“Oh,” he said simply. “That’s a nice name.”
But his tone didn’t carry interest.
If anything, it sounded distracted.
His gaze shifted back to me.
“I haven’t gotten your name.”
There was a pause.
Like he already knew it.
“Lizzie,” I said slowly. “Elizabeth Reed.”
He gave a small nod and a quick grin before his gaze averted
Why does it look like I know him?
Nyla was pissed Dorian didn't give him much attention, and she could only groan silently
“This way. The CEO will be with you shortly.”
We were led into a spacious office and asked to wait.
Then he left.
And just like that, the room felt…quite with Nyla giving me death stare
Sebastian’s POV
The room was dark, silent but not calm.
“Why is she here?”
My voice cut through the space, low and cold.
“She shouldn’t be here.”
Dorian stood a few steps away, unbothered. “She’s from Stardom Company, Sebastian. That’s why.”
My jaw tightened slightly.
Of all people this one.
“And I don’t want to see her,” I said flatly.
Dorian didn’t respond immediately.
Then “You know that’s not an option.”
Silence stretched between us.
We need a partnership in order to make things look normal here
Normal.
The word felt almost laughable.
“And stardom is the only viable option.”I turned slightly, my expression unreadable.
What's with you ever since you met this girl Dorian questioned
I turned only giving him a death glare
- Writer
