She did not speak to be heard; there was no need to walk fast to show urgency, nor an absolute necessity to smile to command admiration.
With every step of her red bottom heels, the marble floors of Rue de Rêve's tallest tower quivered, not from sound, but from reverence from all those who dared to look up at her. A silhouette of poise and unfeeling heartlessness, completely wrapped in custom black velvet, she draped a silver-and-gray coat over her shoulders like it was sewn from royal mist.
Her perfume was rare, scarcely perceptible, but it lingered like a warning.
Faith Vergara
Chairman of the Board of Rue de Rêve Fashion and designer for the most powerful fashion house in the country-was no mere woman; she was a brand. A cyclone. A measure.
She made icons, ruined careers, and molded power as others molded dresses.
On the top floor of Rue de Rêve Tower stood an enormous boardroom; silence settled there the instant her heels clicked against the polished marble floor. No one dared breathe too loud.
Clean lines, high collar, no creases in sight. Silver hair swept into a tight knot at the nape of her neck, lips painted the same shade of crimson once named after her by Dior.
She paced down the corridors as if she owned time. And she did.
Her assistants pushed open double glass doors to the boardroom, and everyone inside stood as one. Eyes down. Shoulders stiff. The very air seemed to whisper: the queen had come.
She passed before them without looking.
"Where is she?"Faith asked as she walked up to the head of the table, voice calm, smooth, cold calm.
Her nervous assistant, Bonnie, cleared her throat. "M-Ms. Hope is on her way now, Madam Chairman."
Faith raised an eyebrow, and her eyes darted to the antique clock on the wall. "She's late by five minutes," came the disappointed reply. Somehow, that was worse than anger.
"I didn't raise her to be late."
And with those words, the entire atmosphere seemed to summon the woman behind the door.
Poised. Beautiful. Deadly.
Always in control. Always perfectly composed.
Today, she wore a minimalistic but striking soft ivory pantsuit. A single gold pin-the Rue de Rêve emblem-glowed from her collar as she walked in with her frame perfectly tailored into every line of the suit.
Hope Vergara.
Three years her junior, Cameron's little rival already is presiding over Rue de Rêve. Three years younger to Cameron, yet president already of Rue de Rêve. Almost in equal standing to her mother, far ahead of her older brother. Not that she demanded it, it's because that she really deserved it. And she earned it.
Not only talented, she possessed terrifying precision, immense intelligence, and the kind of effortless ease that real prodigies have with things. Her suit was tailored by skilled hands, hugging her frame like it had been sewn onto her skin. Half-twisted at the back, her hair fell in soft black waves of splendor. She had her mother's eyes - sharp, glassy, unreadable.
The Jewel of Faith Vergara. Her most favored child. The future of the fashion world for her.
"Mother", nodding in silent respect with a faint smile, she had said.
Faith did not smile but softened her gaze just a shade. "You're late".
"I was confirming the Milan acquisition. They signed."
There was a pause, then Faith nodded, slowly. "Good. Sit."
Hope sat at her mother's right hand. The only place reserved for blood, not for board members. She crossed her legs, her fingers rested in a steeple under her chin, prepared.
The room was tense. No one dared speak unless permitted by Faith or by Hope. The meeting started, charts were discussed, numbers analyzed. And during one of the directors' presentations about the recent losses of their company because of increased competition, Faith's attention turned elsewhere. To someone else.
"Where is he now?"she asked, voice steady, emerald eyes fixed on Hope.
Hope did not hesitate. "In his studio. Says he is focusing on what you asked him to do. But... no updates. No demand on budget for hiring people. Nothing."
Faith narrowed her eyes just a fraction.
"Cameron's never been quiet before. He always makes sure to give an update on every task I give him,"she muttered, reclining slowly. "He better not be distracted."
Hope remained unmoved. "He's not. He knows his task; I am sure he is doing everything to find Luc."
Faith's fingers drummed slowly against the mahogany. "That Luc is becoming a problem. He's unpredictable, mysterious, and somehow... always one step ahead. You'd think catching a ghost would be easier."
Hope's voice remained impassive as she slid a portfolio across the table. "We will find him. Cameron promised. And if he fails—"
As Faith opened the portfolio and found it full with photographs of Cameron, surprise sprang up in her. Hope had taken a good initiative as always. Without a word, Faith had expected nothing less from her daughter.
Clearly, Hope had hired someone to tail him. Everything he was doing: from leaving the company, driving in a car, talking to people, spending time in his studio, to walking in the streets, was being documented.
One picture stood out among all others in the portfolio and grabbed the gaze of Faith, who stared at it with a cold yet inquisitive glimmer in her eyes.
"I'll cut him off,"Faith finished with a now-cold tone. "And let you handle it."
Faith slid that one photo over to Hope's side of the table. Hope smiled politely as Faith continued, "For now, find out who this girl is that he has been giving gifts to."
What the two of them didn't know was that hunting Luc was far from Cameron's mind. Because he was Luc.
But from Faith's and Hope's eyes, it was all moving as per their plan.
"I'm going to assume she's just another girl he might want in his bed, Mother," said Hope.
Faith took a sip of her tea and closed the portfolio in front of her, directed her gaze to Hope, and patted her head.
"Alex says the only places Cameron goes after work are his studio and Chester's. He's investigating people connected to our real problem and working on it. We both know he loves vying for your attention, Mother, and he is ready to do anything for your validation and approval of him."
Faith smirked at what Hope said. "Pathetic, isn't he?"she said, "But good for us, let him keep thinking he has time."
When Faith raised her hand, everyone in the boardroom looked at her, silent.
"I've heard enough."She looked at the Vice President and the Director with a cold voice and a fierce look in her eyes. "You two, fix that problem," she said, pointing toward the declining sales numbers flashing on the LED screen.
She stood, Hope did the same and walked beside her mother. Silent, graceful, calculating.
As far as they were concerned, the empire was still theirs and Cameron was just a pawn being sent to war.
A war they thought they understood.
They didn't.