22

22
Arlene
“You seemed to know who that was.”
I finally broke the silence, my curiosity bubbling over as I leaned back in the leather seat of the car.
The stranger’s face remained vivid in my mind - a sculpted jawline, piercing eyes, and an aura so commanding that it had rattled me in ways I hadn’t expected.
Matilda’s hands rested on the steering wheel, but her gaze flickered toward me in amusement. “Liam Walker,” she said simply, her lips curling into a slight smile, as if the name alone carried the weight of explanation.
“Walker?” I repeated, the name triggering a distant memory. “You mean the Walkers?”
“Yes.” She nodded. “The older brother of Lucas Walker.” Her tone shifted, becoming more sardonic. “The arrogant billionaire who’s been labeled as both brilliant and insufferable. I mean, Lucas might be unbearable in his own right, but Liam? He’s in a league of his own.”
This was strange. Matilda seemed to say this with so much respect and admiration - a tone she usually reserved for me alone.
But then… he looked super familiar.
The realization hit me like a jolt.
Liam Walker. Of course. He was the man who had stood at Daisy and Lucas’s wedding, his expression unreadable as I caused a scene. The one who had stared at me with a flicker of amusement in his otherwise indifferent eyes.
I remembered seeing that gaze again in my sleep. It was a brief moment, but it stirred something in me.
Lucas had only mentioned him once in passing, calling him the “black sheep” of the Walker family who’d left for Spain and seemingly cut ties with the family empire.
I nodded to myself, the pieces clicking into place. His aura, calm, almost calculating, had left me feeling both unnerved and strangely captivated. It was rare for someone to make such a lasting impression on me, but Liam Walker had done it effortlessly.
“You gave him a wad of cash,” Matilda said, interrupting my thoughts. Her tone was laced with amusement. “That’s probably the first time anyone’s done that to him.”
“Well, it’s happened now,” I replied curtly, not wanting to dwell on the interaction any longer. I shifted the conversation. “How is Daisy?”
Matilda raised an eyebrow, surprised at my question. “She’s been... difficult. After being demoted to intern level, she’s taken her frustration out on everyone, colleagues, superiors, even the janitor.”
I sighed, a mix of sadness and exasperation washing over me. Daisy had always been headstrong, but it seemed life was hitting her harder than she could handle. I didn’t want to care, but some small, buried part of me still did.
I mean, my childhood was with her. I was her sister, her protector - until her mother attempted to take my life.
I couldn’t help but believe she was her mother’s daughter. Someone who laughed, cared, and pretended to love me, only to want me dead.
The car pulled to a stop in front of Gomez Industries, the towering glass building reflecting the late afternoon sun. Employees greeted me with polite bows as I stepped out, their respect a stark reminder of the power I now held.
I made my way straight to the boardroom, where the associates from Thailand were waiting. Negotiations were intense, but I had prepared for this moment. The stakes were high, this partnership would solidify Gomez Industries’ presence in Asia.
Hours passed as we discussed terms, hammered out details, and finally reached an agreement. The signing ceremony was a spectacle, with reporters flashing cameras and asking questions. I maintained my composure, answering them with calculated precision, knowing every word I said would be dissected in tomorrow’s headlines.
And that’s the best part - because Cole Martinez would be in the mud.
I could already imagine the headlines: “The President and CEO of Gomez Industries and Arlene World has finalized a partnership with a Thailand associate, just minutes after rejecting a proposal from Cole Martinez Companies.”
After the associates shook my hand, I escorted them to the lobby, exchanging pleasantries until they left. The weight of accomplishment settled on my shoulders. Another victory for Gomez Industries, and of course, another blow to my stepmother.
As I turned to head back to my car, a familiar figure caught my eye. Daisy.
She stood a few feet away, her arms crossed and her expression set in a scowl. Her fiery gaze was fixed on me, filled with the kind of resentment only a sibling could muster.
Well, I had pulled her off the status that made decisions and signed deals.
“You must be feeling all high and mighty, managing every company in the Gomez name,” she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she walked towards me.
I sighed, turning to face her fully. “Your mother submitted some designs to Dad,” I said evenly, ignoring her jab.
Daisy shrugged, clearly unimpressed. “And?”
“She claimed you created them,” I continued, my voice calm but pointed.
“And?” she repeated, raising an eyebrow.
“They were subpar,” I said bluntly. “I expected better from someone who talks so much about her supposed talent.”
Her smug demeanor faltered, and she frowned. “What are you trying to say?”
“They’re trash,” I stated, my voice cold. “Work like that won’t generate a single dollar. If you want to prove yourself, you’ll create new designs—under my supervision.”
The designs were nice, but I knew too well Daisy had no hand in creating them.
Her face flushed with anger, her lips parting as if to argue, but no words came out.
“Get your things and meet me in the office in thirty minutes,” I continued, my tone leaving no room for debate.
I turned to leave but paused, glancing over my shoulder. “And Daisy? This isn’t home. Here, I’m your boss. Disrespect me again, and I’ll fire you. I don’t tolerate insubordination.”
I didn’t wait for her response. I climbed into the car, Matilda shutting the door behind me before taking her place in the driver’s seat.
As the car pulled away, I caught a glimpse of Daisy through the tinted window. She stood rooted to the spot, her fists clenched and her face a storm of emotions.
Let her stew in her anger. If she wanted to play in the big leagues, she’d have to learn the rules. And as much as I hated to admit it, part of me hoped she’d rise to the challenge. To say no to a world she doesn’t belong to and face the reality of the ones she wanted.
But if she didn’t, I wouldn’t hesitate to leave her behind. The Gomez empire wasn’t built on sentimentality, and I had no intention of letting it crumble, not for anyone.