VEINS OF SILENCE

VEINS OF SILENCE > Part 9

Lunch Break

The cafeteria buzzed with voices, trays clattering, and whispers that seemed louder than the usual lunchtime chatter. Celeste sat with Ivy, Adrian, and a few other employees, but she couldn’t ignore the constant exchange of murmurs circling the room.

“I can’t believe our company only got second place,” someone murmured, glancing around nervously.

“Right? No wonder the Chairman was furious. He completely unloaded on the CEO,” another replied, shaking their head.

“Is it true… that Horizon ever failed before?” a junior asked hesitantly.

“Yeah, our seniors say that about ten years ago, there were rumors that Horizon almost collapsed—but nothing ever really made the news,” came the quiet explanation.

“But is it true that Mr. Caspian Villanueva actually stood up to his father?” another voice whispered.

“Could be… They’ve never really gotten along. Maybe that’s why,” someone speculated.

“Poor CEO… The Chairman really went overboard,” a third voice added.

Adrian glanced at Celeste, noticing her tense expression. “Ignore them. Let’s just eat,” he said quietly, trying to offer some comfort.

Ivy leaned toward Celeste. “I think this is officially the worst. First, it was all about you, now it’s about the CEO.”

For a moment, the small group fell silent, merely observing their surroundings. Celeste’s face still couldn’t hide her embarrassment over the issue that had circulated, and her thoughts lingered on Horizon’s loss, a pang of regret gnawing at her as she wondered if something had been missing in her own work.

_____

Leadership Development Department

As they returned to their tasks, the quiet office once again buzzed with interns whispering and gossiping behind Celeste. Driven by curiosity about the recent controversy, some interns began digging into Horizon’s history, searching for the time it had reportedly faltered. All they found were scattered articles, none offering concrete evidence.

“Look, that’s the chairman—seems like he owns Horizon. But who are these people with him?”

“Silvergate Enterprises, huh? I didn’t know it existed like this. Seems it was popular back in the day.”

“Where? Yeah… but why haven’t I heard anything about it now?”

Celeste, busy with her own work, suddenly froze when she heard the name Silvergate Enterprises. Adrian, sitting nearby, noticed her sudden pause and grew curious about her reaction and the article the interns were reading behind her.

As he glanced at the page, he saw an old photograph of Mr. Villanueva’s grandfather alongside his father, accompanied by two other men—one elderly, the other noticeably younger. Scanning the article, Adrian’s eyes caught the name Arthur Dela Vega. His mind raced—Celeste shared the same last name. Quietly, he told the other interns to stop gossiping and return to their work, still pondering the surprising connection.

Celeste left for a moment. Adrian’s eyes followed her, his mind racing. Was it really a coincidence… or something more?

On impulse, he quickly searched the name Arthur Dela Vega.

He discovered that Arthur Dela Vega had once been the CEO of Silvergate Enterprises. Brilliant and highly capable, he had connections to the Villanuevas; Arthur’s father and Mr. Villanueva’s grandfather had been close friends. Adrian read further—Arthur had died in a car accident, and around the same time, Silvergate Enterprises began disappearing from the media. Some articles speculated that the company had collapsed, while others claimed it continued to operate, though quietly and privately.

Adrian remembered the moment when Celeste had mentioned her sibling, the hint of sadness in her eyes. And then it hit him—Celeste’s sibling was the CEO of Silvergate Enterprises.

Celeste was returning to her desk. Quickly, Adrian shut his computer, forcing himself to appear calm. He smiled at her—a small, reassuring smile that carried concern, but nothing more, concealing the whirlwind of thoughts in his mind.

_____

The Arrival

The Horizon lobby fell into sudden silence as the elevator doors opened.

Two women stepped out, their heels clicking like a metronome of authority. One wore a flowing silk dress in striking colors, her wrists heavy with gold bangles that glittered under the lights. A luxury bag rested on her arm, the kind that cost more than most interns’ yearly salaries. Beside her trailed another woman, equally polished, though with a dramatic air that suggested she enjoyed being noticed.

Employees’ whispers spread instantly.

“Who’s that?”

“She looks expensive.”

The first woman lifted her chin proudly, her presence commanding the entire floor. Valeria Villanueva had arrived—back from the States and already setting the room on fire with curiosity.

She didn’t hesitate, didn’t glance at anyone else, and didn’t bother with formalities. Valeria walked straight toward the CEO’s office, pushing the door open without knocking. Empty.

Inside, Julian appeared almost at the same time, his surprise hidden under a mask of professionalism.

“Good afternoon, ma’am,” he greeted evenly.

“Julian, darling. Always charming. Now, where’s my favorite brother hiding?”

Julian kept his tone calm. “The CEO stepped out to rest for a while.”

Valeria sighed dramatically, bracelets clinking as she waved her hand. “Typical. Always brooding when things don’t go his way. Mom was worried—she told me to come and see him.”

Julian’s eyes softened politely. “How is Tita in the States?”

“Oh, still glued to Grandpa,” Valeria replied, her voice dripping with nonchalance. “She treats him like a fragile porcelain doll. It’s exhausting just watching her.”

“I see,” Julian said. “Is there anything else you need, ma’am?”

Valeria tilted her head, her gaze sharp despite her easy smile. “I also missed Dad. Tell me—he’s here, isn’t he?”

“Yes,” Julian answered carefully. “Last I checked, he was in his office.”

“Perfect.” As the two women swept out, their perfume lingered like a warning in the air.

Julian remained behind, his hands slipping into his pockets, expression unreadable. But inwardly, he knew exactly why she had returned. Valeria Villanueva had never been one to worry about family. She was here for Horizon—and for the wealth and status it carried.

_____

That day, Valeria and her glamorous friend toured the Horizon building like queens returning to their kingdom. Every smile, every wave of their manicured hands sent ripples of awe through the employees, who whispered as if royalty had just walked among them.

At the same time, Celeste and Ivy had just left the cafeteria, heading for the elevators. But the moment Celeste caught sight of the two elegant women walking toward them, her breath hitched. Her instincts screamed at her to hide.

Without hesitation, she tugged Ivy’s sleeve.

“I left something in the cafeteria,” she muttered quickly, forcing a nervous smile.

Confused, Ivy followed her back. What Celeste didn’t know was that Valeria and her friend were also on their way to the cafeteria.

The second they entered, Celeste’s heart raced. She immediately excused herself, slipping into the restroom, leaving Ivy waiting by their table.

Not far away, the Crown Clique—Bianca, Vanessa, and Claire—had taken their usual spot. When Valeria and her companion entered, the clique’s jaws practically dropped.

Bianca leaned forward, whispering sharply. “Oh my God, who are they?”

Vanessa and Claire’s eyes gleamed as they scanned the designer dresses, luxury bag, and sparkling jewelry.

Just then, Reign appeared with a tray of coffees. She set them down with a smirk.

“You don’t know? One of them is the CEO’s sister.”

Vanessa gasped. “No way. So she’s a Villanueva too?”

The three whispered excitedly, their stares locked on Valeria and her friend. That’s when it happened—Valeria’s friend shifted her arm, and a diamond-studded bracelet slipped off her wrist and landed neatly on the floor, unseen by its owner.

Bianca’s eyes lit up with mischief. She leaned toward the others, her grin wicked.

“That bracelet… imagine if it went missing.”

Claire bit her lip. “Bianca—”

“Reign.” Bianca cut her off, voice firm. “Pick it up. Quietly.”

Reign hesitated, but under Bianca’s sharp gaze, she obeyed. In a swift motion, she scooped up the bracelet and slipped it into her hand before anyone noticed. She returned to the table and passed it discreetly to Bianca, who smirked with triumph.

As they prepared to leave, their plan deepened. On the way out, they walked right behind Ivy, who sat innocently at the table beside Celeste’s bag. With perfect timing, one of them brushed close, slipping the bracelet into Celeste’s bag without Ivy ever realizing.

Minutes later, Valeria excused herself to the restroom. Celeste emerged soon after, her nerves calmer, and rejoined Ivy. Neither of them noticed anything unusual as they left the cafeteria together, heading back to their assigned office.

For the rest of the day, everything seemed normal. Employees returned to their routines. Interns rushed to finish assignments. No one had the faintest idea of what was about to happen.

---

Dismissal Time – Horizon Exit

The atmosphere shifted as employees lined up at the building’s exit. Security guards were conducting bag inspections, stopping everyone before they could leave. Confused murmurs rippled through the crowd.

“What’s going on?” someone whispered.

“There’s been a report of a missing item,” a guard explained. “No one leaves until we check.”

More whispers followed, curiosity spreading like wildfire.

“They say it’s a limited-edition bracelet.”

“Yeah, it belongs to Ms. Valeria’s friend.”

“Oh no… this is serious.”

In line, Ivy sighed, impatient. “Ugh, I just want to go home already.”

Celeste forced a smile. “Almost our turn. Just a little patience.” She didn’t admit how drained she was herself.

Ivy’s bag was checked first—clear. She was waved through. Then it was Celeste’s turn.

A guard unzipped her bag, rifled through it, and froze. Nestled inside was a sparkling bracelet—the exact one reported missing.

The crowd gasped.

Celeste’s eyes widened in shock. “W-What? That’s not mine!”

The guards exchanged looks, tension thick in the air. Ivy turned back immediately, her jaw dropping. Adrian, who had been behind them, rushed forward.

“Wait—there has to be a mistake,” Adrian said firmly.

But whispers surged louder around them.

“Wasn’t she in the middle of that issue the other day too?”

“First that, now this? Trouble follows her.”

Before Celeste could process the nightmare, Valeria’s furious friend stormed forward. The moment she saw the bracelet, her anger exploded.

“That’s mine!” she screeched, grabbing Celeste by the hair and yanking hard. “Thief! Do you have any idea how much this costs? It’s worth more than your salary!”

Celeste cried out, tears stinging her eyes. “I don’t know how it got there! I swear, I didn’t steal it!”

Adrian immediately pulled the woman’s hands away. “Ma’am, please. Celeste would never do this. There must be another explanation.”

“Liar!” the woman shrieked. “Call the police! Arrest her now!”

The scene was chaos—employees gawking, interns whispering, guards frozen in hesitation.

Then, Valeria appeared.

To be Continued...