My husbands boss is me

chapter 4

The Prescott estate was as grand as Kara remembered, but stepping through its gilded gates after so many years felt strange. Her father’s butler greeted her at the door, his expression soft with concern.

“Miss Kara, your father is in the study. He’s been waiting for you.”

Kara nodded, clutching the strap of her bag tightly as she walked through the familiar halls. The memories of her childhood lingered here the laughter, the love, and the expectations she could never meet.

William Prescott sat by the fireplace, a glass of scotch in his hand and a weary look on his face. He rose when Kara entered, his arms opening for an embrace.

“Kara,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “It’s been too long.”

She hesitated, then stepped into his arms, the weight of her heartbreak momentarily lifted by his warmth.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” she whispered. “For staying away.”

He shook his head. “You did what you needed to do. But now, I need you.”

They sat by the fire, and William explained everything. His health was failing he had cancer, stage four. The doctors gave him a year, maybe less. He needed someone to take over the company, someone he trusted.

“Kara, you’re my only heir,” he said, his voice steady but pleading. “I built Sparkle for our family. I need to know it’s in good hands.”

Kara stared at the flames, her mind spinning. The idea of stepping into her father’s world, the world she had run from, felt impossible.

“I can’t, Dad,” she said, her voice trembling. “I’m not… I’m not who you think I am.”

William reached for her hand, his grip firm. “You are exactly who I think you are. You’re strong, smart, and capable. And you have more heart than anyone I know. That’s what Sparkle needs not perfection, but authenticity.”

Kara wanted to believe him, but the scars of her past, both visible and invisible, held her back.

After leaving her father’s study, Kara drove aimlessly through the city, her mind a chaotic storm of doubts and memories. She found herself parked outside the office where Max worked. Part of her hated herself for coming back here, but curiosity and anger pulled her forward.

She hadn’t planned to go inside, but then she saw them Max and the same woman from before, laughing as they walked toward his car. They didn’t see her, but Kara saw everything. The way Max opened the door for the woman, the way he kissed her hand, the way he had once treated her.

The rage that had been simmering inside her since that night boiled over. She stepped out of her car and called his name.

“Max!”

He turned, startled, his expression quickly shifting to annoyance. “Kara, what are you doing here?”

The woman looked Kara up and down, her lips curling into a smug smile, laughing.

Kara ignored her, focusing on Max. “I just wanted to see the man I wasted years of my life on,” she said, her voice trembling with fury. “I thought I loved you. I thought you loved me. But all you ever cared about was yourself.”

Max crossed his arms, his smugness infuriating. “Oh, come on, Kara. Don’t be dramatic. You knew what this was.”

Her chest tightened, but instead of breaking, something inside her snapped. She took a step closer, her voice rising.

“What this was?” she said, her tone sharp. “This was me saving you from the gutter. I gave you that job, Max. I pulled the strings. Without me, you’d still be some loser begging for coffee at my restaurant.”

The woman next to Max gasped, and Max’s face turned red. “You’re lying,” he said, but his voice wavered.

Kara laughed bitterly. “Ask my father. He’s the one who gave you the chance because I begged him to.” She shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. “I made you, Max. And now, I’m going to unmake you.”

She turned and walked away, leaving him standing there, stunned and speechless.

That night, Kara returned to the Prescott estate with a new resolve. She found her father in his study, still awake despite the late hour.

“Dad,” she said, her voice steady. “I’ll do it. I’ll take over Sparkle.”

William’s face lit up, a mixture of relief and pride washing over him. He pulled her into a tight hug, whispering, “You have no idea how happy this makes me.”

The next few weeks were a whirlwind of activity. William announced Kara’s return to the company with a grand party, inviting the who’s who of the industry. Kara spent her days learning the ins and outs of the business, determined to make her mark.

The night of the party was electric. The Prescott mansion was lit up like a palace, and the halls buzzed with chatter and excitement. Kara arrived in a sleek black gown, her hair pulled back to reveal the faint scar on her cheek a statement that she was done hiding.

At the entrance, she spotted Max with his new girlfriend. The sight of them made her stomach twist, but she straightened her spine and walked forward.

The security guard stopped her. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but this is a private event.”

Before Kara could respond, her father appeared behind her. “She’s not a guest,” he said, his voice booming. “She’s the host.”

The guard stepped aside, and William led Kara into the hall, his arm around her shoulders. The room fell silent as everyone turned to look.

Max’s jaw dropped, his face pale as he realized what was happening. Kara met his gaze, her lips curving into a cool smile.

“Let the games begin,” she thought.