CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
615 Words
Chapter Twenty-three
Briella awoke the next morning with a faint smile lingering on her lips. The previous day replayed in her mind—how she had faced her family, the tension with Kendrick, and the surprising comfort of ice cream with Marcellus afterward. That small, silly moment had reminded her that she wasn’t alone, and for the first time in years, she felt a sense of peace as she prepared for work.
At Nvidia Corporation, the office buzzed with quiet excitement. Staff immediately noticed the subtle shift in Briella and Marcellus’s demeanor. They moved with an ease and synchronicity that hadn’t been seen before. Meetings went smoother, emails were answered faster, and decisions seemed effortless. A few employees exchanged whispers in the hallways.
“Have you noticed them?” one junior executive asked another. “They’re… like a team now. It’s almost like they’ve known each other forever.”
“Yeah,” the other replied. “And CEO Briella… she’s not just professional. She seems… happier?”
Meanwhile, Marcellus observed Briella from across the room, his gaze lingering longer than necessary. He noticed the way she bit her lip when making decisions, the small smile she fought to hide when a joke was made, and the faint lines of stress that still lingered from years apart. He wanted to reach out, but he restrained himself—let her lead, let her set the pace.
By mid-afternoon, Briella was preparing to leave the office, her laptop bag slung over her shoulder. Marcellus appeared at her side in the parking lot, a quiet presence that made her pause.
“CEO Briella,” he said softly. “Do you… want to get a coffee before heading home?”
She blinked at him, unsure if she should accept. “I… I think I’ll pass today,” she said lightly, forcing a smile.
“Alright,” he replied, though his eyes didn’t leave hers. “Just… take care, okay? It’s been a long few days, but… I’m glad you’re here, safe.”
She nodded, and for a brief moment, the tension between them seemed to melt. Then, as she turned toward her car, a subtle chill entered the air. Briella caught a glimpse of a familiar black sedan pulling up near the entrance. She didn’t see anyone step out yet, but a flicker of unease ran through her chest.
Marcellus noticed it too. “Something wrong?” he asked.
“I… don’t know,” she admitted, hesitating for a moment. “Just… a feeling.”
He stepped closer, protective. “I’ll be right here. Nothing will happen to you.”
The black sedan parked, and Briella’s instincts sharpened. A man and woman—unfamiliar to her—emerged from the vehicle, followed by a younger man who looked startlingly like Kendrick. Briella’s stomach tightened, and she froze in place.
Marcellus immediately moved in front of her, greeting them first. “Mr. and Mrs. Tristan? Kendrick.”
The air grew heavy. Briella’s jaw clenched. She had prepared herself for professional challenges, for corporate battles, for personal struggles—but not this. Not a sudden confrontation with the family she had tried to distance herself from for years.
Her fingers tightened around her handbag. Marcellus’s hand lightly brushed hers, a silent reassurance that he was by her side.
The trio’s presence was unexpected, but Briella refused to show weakness. She straightened her shoulders and squared her gaze at them. “What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice calm but edged with steel.
For a moment, the Tristan family exchanged glances, and Briella felt the first real tremor of what was to come.
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✨ End of Chapter Twenty-three ✨
- Writer
