Chapter 8
844 Words
"What are you thinking about?"
Barbara nearly jumped in surprise when Nate suddenly spoke. She blinked several times before returning to the present.
They weren't inside that hotel room anymore—they were in Nate's office.
"N—Nothing," she answered, avoiding his gaze.
Why had her mind suddenly wandered back to what had happened between them?
Why was she thinking about it as if it had been her first time?
And the worst part was that every time she looked at Nathaniel, she couldn't get the image of his naked body out of her head.
What was wrong with her?
"You're blushing. You seem flustered."
Her eyes widened, and she instinctively cupped both cheeks.
Was she really blushing?
Hell no!
"I'm not blushing. This is my normal complexion," she replied irritably.
She caught the corner of Nate's lips curling into a faint smile, but she chose to ignore it and shifted her attention to the keycard lying on the desk.
"Anyway, that unit will be under your name. You don't have to worry about anything. I'll cover all your expenses for as long as we're married. All you have to do is cooperate whenever I need you to play your role in front of my grandfather. Are we all good?"
"Yeah," she replied shortly.
"Good. Then here's to a successful partnership."
After leaving Nate's office at Stavros Logistics Corporation, Ryan drove her back to the apartment where she had been staying.
"You're really leaving?" Rhea asked in surprise after Barbara told her goodbye.
Barbara gave her a sad smile before nodding.
As simple as the apartment was, she had been happy living there with Rhea. In fact, it had felt more like home than her own mansion ever had.
"I have to, Rhea. Like I told you before, I'm taking the company back from Celine and Luke... and this is where it all begins," she said, her voice filled with determination.
A gentle smile spread across Rhea's lips. "Well, if leaving this place is what's best for you, then I won't stop you, Barbara. I just hope that once you're gone, you'll finally get the justice you deserve for everything Luke and Celine did to you."
Barbara smiled again. "Don't worry, Rhea. The next time I come back here, I'll make sure Oceana is mine again—and everything they stole from me will be back where it belongs."
Rhea pulled her into a tight embrace before seeing her off.
Silence filled the car as they drove through unfamiliar roads.
A few moments later, the vehicle came to a stop in front of a towering GoldenScape building.
Ryan stepped out first, opened the door for her, and carried her luggage inside. They rode the elevator all the way to the top floor.
When they stopped in front of a closed door, Barbara held the keycard against the scanner. With a soft beep, the door unlocked.
The moment she stepped inside, an expansive and luxurious lounge welcomed her.
The entire living area was surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass walls, giving her a breathtaking, unobstructed view of the city skyline. From up there, even the towering skyscrapers looked like tiny pillars of light.
It felt as though she was standing at the very top of the world—both literally and figuratively.
The interior embraced a minimalist aesthetic while radiating pure luxury. The floors were crafted from polished dark Italian marble, reflecting the warm glow of a massive crystal chandelier suspended from the double-height ceiling.
Every piece of furniture was designer-made—a deep charcoal-gray velvet sofa accented with brass details, paired with abstract artworks that undoubtedly cost millions.
"We've already prepared additional belongings for you in the master's bedroom, Lady Barbara," Ryan said, drawing her attention.
Her gaze shifted toward the room Ryan had opened.
She slowly stepped inside.
A king-sized bed dressed in luxurious silk sheets immediately came into view.
But what truly caught her attention was the walk-in closet.
It was larger than most people's apartments. When she opened the glass wardrobes, neatly arranged power suits, designer heels, and luxury handbags—all in her exact size—were already waiting for her.
"How did he prepare all of this?" she asked, frowning in confusion.
As far as she could remember, only a few hours had passed since she and Nate had met.
She couldn't believe he had managed to arrange everything so quickly.
Or perhaps...
That was simply the power of a billionaire.
A small smile appeared on Ryan's face.
"Master Nate instructed us to prepare everything while the two of you were in his office signing the contract."
That fast?
Wow.
She nodded slowly.
With everything she now had at her disposal, revenge suddenly felt within reach.
And she would make sure that this time… Luke would be the one who lost everything.
Before she could fully recover from her amazement, Ryan handed her a gold card.
"Master Nate asked me to give you this for any personal expenses, in case there's anything you'd like to buy while you're out.”
- Writer
