CHAPTER 24: READY TO GAVE YOUR PEOPLE?

CHAPTER 24: READY TO GAVE YOUR PEOPLE?
I spent an hour preparing and making myself look perfect.

“You spent three hours just doing your hair,” Gavin said, sitting at the edge of the bed while checking his wristwatch. He looked sharp in his long-sleeve polo shirt that fit his build well, paired with black formal slacks and Oxford shoes. His hair was polished neatly, though his natural curls still showed.

“I had to,” I replied with a shrug.

He sighed and shrugged back, already giving up on how much time I wasted.

I turned to the mirror, feeling satisfied with how I looked. The red fitted dress I wore was made of silk, smooth and flowing, with a slight slit that let me move freely. It was sleeveless, hugging my frame in the right places. I paired it with silver jewelry, while my hair was tied up neatly, decorated with shining hair decors that added the final touch.

After a while, we were finally done.

Phew.

“Ready?” Gavin asked as he helped me into the car. We were headed to the company.

It had been… maybe two weeks since I last went there. The last time? A total disaster. I left things in chaos, and just thinking about it made my chest tighten.

“My body’s actually shaking,” I muttered, clutching my hands together. My voice trembled, and honestly, I just wanted to turn around.

“Let’s just go back. Can we?” I asked, almost pleading, hoping he would say yes.

But Gavin only shook his head gently and stretched out his hand toward me again.

“We’re already here,” he said with a soft smile. His voice was calm and reassuring like he knew I could do this even when I didn’t believe it myself. “So there’s no reason to go back now.”

Something in the way he said it made me trust him, even if I was still scared.

So, hesitantly, I placed my hand in his. His grip was firm yet warm, steady enough to make me feel like I wasn’t alone in this.

Once I settled inside the car, I let myself zone out, my eyes glued to the scenery outside. Buildings, streets, people—it all passed by like a blur. My thoughts drowned everything else.

I didn’t even realize we were already there until the car came to a slow stop.

“You can do it,” Gavin said as he turned to me, his tone calm but full of encouragement. His gaze held mine like he wanted me to really believe him. “Act like an heiress. Make me proud.”

And then, as if to lighten everything, he winked.

I felt my lips curve into a smile before I could even stop myself.

He really looked cute doing that.

He was already waiting by the car door when I looked up.

Without hesitation, Gavin offered his hand again. His grip was steady but gentle as I stepped out, my knees feeling weaker than I expected.

“You’re cold,” he murmured, his brows drawing together in a small frown.

I gave a nervous smile, trying to brush it off.
“Y-yeah. Of course. The last time I was here, I messed everything up… I didn’t even plan on coming back.”
I let out a shaky laugh, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.

“Can’t really blame the circumstances,” Gavin replied with a small shrug, almost amused. “You’re just naturally stubborn.”

The moment we crossed the entrance of the building, my chest tightened. My whole body tensed up as if every pair of eyes inside would be sharp enough to cut me down.

But then—something I didn’t expect.

People greeted me.

Warmly.

A smile here. A nod there. Some even said, “Good morning, Miss,” like nothing had happened at all.

As if I had never walked out.
As if I hadn’t left chaos behind.

Then, a voice came from my left.

“Reina?”

I froze.

That voice—familiar, heavy, and too close.

My head almost turned in instinct, but Gavin’s hands landed firmly on my shoulders, stopping me.

“Don’t,” he said, steady and calm, though his grip told me he meant it. His eyes locked on mine. “You’re the heiress. Let them face you—not from behind, not from the side. Only in front of you.”

His words carried weight, like he was reminding me of something I nearly forgot.

I swallowed hard, then nodded.

In just three seconds, the footsteps grew louder, closer.

The moment I realized who the voice belonged to, I froze completely. My breath hitched, my throat turned dry, and my heart pounded as if it wanted to escape my chest.

It was him.

The first man who dared to hold my hand… who touched every inch of me… and the very reason why I once cried myself empty.

Jake Kristoff Margaux.
My professor.
My ex-lover.

“Do you know this guy, Valerie?” Gavin’s calm voice broke through my panic.

“I—I…” My lips trembled. I took a sharp breath, forcing my eyes away from Jake. “No. I don’t.”

The lie cut through me, but what hurt more was the look on Jake’s face. His eyes shifted—mocking at first, then softening into something almost… disappointed.

And I didn’t even know if I was doing the right thing.

Was it right to avoid him?
Was it right to pretend I didn’t know him, without demanding the truth I once longed for?

“Let’s go. We still have a lot of things to do,” Gavin said, his voice firm but gentle. He gestured toward the hallway, his hand subtly telling me, lead the way.

So I did. I walked forward, leaving Jake behind.

But every step felt heavier, as confusion tangled inside me.

Why… why did I choose to treat him like a stranger?

Inside the elevator, silence pressed between us—until Gavin finally broke it.

“That was Jake, wasn’t it?” His voice was calm but certain, as though he already knew the storm I was fighting inside.

I couldn’t deny it anymore. There was no point. With my eyes fixed on the floor, I gave a small nod.

Gavin stepped closer. He lifted my chin with gentle fingers, forcing me to meet his gaze. I didn’t push his hand away. Instead, I let it linger, because in that moment, he felt like more than an assistant.