Chapter 9 Whispers of the past
Kayla’s POV
The drive back to my mansion that night was quiet, but my mind wasn’t. The city lights blurred outside the window, reflecting off the glass like fading stars.
No matter how much I tried to focus on anything else, one name kept replaying in my head.
Adrian Ward.
I wasn’t thinking about him, not in the way people would assume. I was just… wondering. Wondering how he ended up in the interior design sector.
The last I remembered, he’d been obsessed with finance—markets, stocks, investments, and profit margins. He was the kind of man who’d roll his eyes if I started talking about color palettes or architectural balance.
So how did he end up here?
I leaned back against the car seat, crossing my arms. It was strange. Adrian had never been close to his family, so it couldn’t have been their influence.
Had his company fallen apart so badly that he had to find a new path? Or was this some new trick of fate to test how far I’d come?
“Ma’am?” Maya’s soft voice broke my thoughts from the passenger seat beside me.
I blinked and turned toward her. “Yes?”
“I’ve updated your appointments for tomorrow. You have a brief with the architects from Manhattan Heights in the morning, a lunch meeting with Mrs. Cullen, and a review call with the contractors at DreamSpace by four.” She glanced at me carefully. “Should I cancel any of them? You’ve had a long day.”
I shook my head. “No. Keep them. I’m fine.”
Maya hesitated but didn’t argue. She knew me well enough to know that burying myself in work was my way of dealing with things.
When we finally pulled into the driveway, I stepped out, my heels clicking softly against the marble path that led to the mansion doors. The night breeze was cool, but my thoughts were still burning.
I had barely settled into my study when my phone buzzed. It was an unknown number, but the voice that came through was familiar.
“Miss Brooks,” the host from the charity gala said in a cautious tone. “Good evening. I hope I’m not calling too late.”
“Not at all,” I replied, though I was already guessing the reason for the call.
“I… wanted to apologize for something,” he continued. “I realized tonight that Adrian Ward’s inclusion in the association came as a surprise to you. If I had known you both had a history, I would have informed you ahead of time.”
I frowned slightly, twirling a pen between my fingers. “So, you knew?”
“Well… it became rather clear after the whispers during the gala,” he admitted quickly. “But please understand, I truly didn’t know about your connection before his addition. I was handling other administrative matters and assumed it would be a welcome contribution.”
I took a slow breath, then said calmly, “Whether or not you knew about our past, as one of the top members of the association, I should have been informed before any new inclusion…especially one as significant as Adrian Ward. That’s just basic courtesy and professionalism.”
“I agree completely,” he said quickly. “If you’d prefer, I can have his membership revoked first thing tomorrow.”
I paused, considering it for a moment. It would have been the easy choice to simply erase him from my professional circle. But I knew how that would look.
People would say I couldn’t handle seeing him, that I was still bitter, that he still had power over me. And I refused to give anyone that satisfaction.
“That won’t be necessary,” I said finally. “Leave things as they are.”
“Are you sure?” He asked carefully.
“Yes,” I said firmly. “Removing him now would make it seem like his presence bothers me. And it doesn’t.”
The host exhaled audibly, clearly relieved. “Understood, Miss Brooks. Again, I truly apologize for the inconvenience.”
“It’s fine. Have a good night.”
When the call ended, I set my phone down and leaned back in my chair. I wasn’t sure which annoyed me more… the fact that Adrian had entered my professional world, or that people were beginning to notice it.
As if on cue, Maya came in again, her tablet in hand and a nervous look on her face. “Kayla, there’s something you should see.”
“What is it now?” I asked wearily.
She walked over and handed me the tablet. “People have been doing some digging since the gala. The news about you being Adrian’s ex-wife isn’t a rumor anymore. It’s everywhere.”
I stared at the screen. There were headlines on entertainment sites, business blogs, and even social media platforms.
“The Untold Story: Kayla Brooks and Adrian Ward’s Failed Marriage.”
“From Love to Rivalry: How Kayla Brooks Outsmarted Her Billionaire Ex.”
I sighed, closing the tablet. “Of course. The internet never sleeps.”
“Should I go ahead with the lawsuits you wanted earlier?” Maya asked gently. “We can easily take down most of these with privacy claims.”
I shook my head slowly. “No. Leave them.”
Her eyes widened. “Leave them?”
“Yes,” I said. “The more we fight it, the louder they’ll get. Let them talk. The rumors will die down once people get bored.”
Maya nodded reluctantly, though she still looked worried. “Alright. I’ll let the legal team know.”
When she left, I turned to my desk and pulled out a set of blueprints. Work always had a way of silencing the chaos. Within minutes, I was sketching outlines, adjusting room dimensions, and finalizing finishing touches on the DreamSpace Project.
DreamSpace had been in motion for fifteen months — a collaboration between Brooks Atelier and one of the country’s top construction companies.
The goal was to build and sell one of the most luxurious estates in the world, with eco-friendly structures and artistic architecture that would set a new global standard. It was the kind of project that could make or break reputations.
I lost track of time as I worked, my pencil gliding across the pages in rhythmic strokes. It wasn’t just about being the CEO.
I couldn’t sit back and give orders while others created the dream. I had built Brooks Atelier from the ground up, and I still designed, measured, and reviewed every blueprint that left my office.
A knock came at the door, soft but persistent.
“Come in,” I called, without looking up.
One of the maids stepped in, holding a tray. “Dinner, ma’am.”
“I’m not hungry,” I said quickly.
“But you haven’t eaten all day,” she said softly. “Please, just a little—”
“I said I’m not hungry,” I interrupted, though my tone was calmer than harsh. She nodded and quietly left the room.
It wasn’t long before Maya returned, arms folded. “You didn’t eat again, did you?”
“I will later,” I said, keeping my eyes on the blueprints.
“You said that yesterday,” she replied, walking over. “And the day before that. Kayla, you can’t keep pushing yourself like this.”
I sighed, setting my pencil down. “Maya, the DreamSpace Project is entering its final phase. If I fall behind now, we could lose our lead. I can’t afford that.”
She frowned. “You’ve already achieved more than anyone expected. You’ve built an empire. Maybe it’s okay to slow down a little.”
I looked at her, a small smile tugging at my lips. “That’s the thing about ambition, Maya. It doesn’t stop. No matter what people think I’ve achieved, I know there’s still more ahead. I’m not done yet.”
She watched me quietly, her expression softening. “You sound like the woman I met four years ago. The one who swore she’d turn her pain into power.”
“I did,” I said simply. “And I’m still doing it.”
We both fell silent for a moment. Then Maya said gently, “You’re handling this whole Adrian thing well. I didn’t think you’d be this calm.”
I leaned back, staring at the half-finished design on my table. “I am calm,” I said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m comfortable. I won’t lie… working alongside him will never feel easy. But I’ve moved on. What happened between us is in the past. I’m not the same woman he left behind.”
Maya smiled faintly. “Still, I’d bet he’s regretting it now.”
“Maybe,” I said, standing up and stretching my arms. “But that’s not my concern. All I care about is that I don’t let his reappearance shake me. He’s part of this world now, whether I like it or not. So, we wait and see how things go.”
Maya nodded. “Then we’ll be ready, whatever happens.”