As usual, she wore a tailored designer suit that hugged her figure in all the right places, exuding confidence and authority.
“What’s going on here, Ashley?” she asked, her eyes darting between Lilian and the receptionist.
“Ma’am Lind,” the receptionist, Ashley, said, her tone shifting to one of feigned respect, “this woman barged in here rudely and is demanding to see the president without an appointment. I told her it was not possible, and she started yelling.”
Rachael’s expression turned serious as she turned to face Lilian, her eyes sweeping over her from head to toe with an analytical and piercing gaze.
“Why are you looking for Bastian?” Rachael asked, her eyes narrowing slightly, curiosity mingling with suspicion.
Who is this girl?
Could this be his wife?
Her chest tightened as so many questions were running through her head. She wondered if this person could be Sebastian’s mystery wife, who she had been dying to know. It was extremely rare to see a female badge in to look for him here or anywhere else. It’s never even happened before because he could never get too close to any woman.
So could this be Mrs Woods?
The thought alone made her feel a jolt of insecurity, jealousy, and bitterness but she tried her possible best to maintain her elegant composure, eyeing Lilian continuously.
‘Why her?’ Rachael pondered, her thoughts spiraling. ‘What is it about her? What makes her so special?’
The more she scrutinized Lilian, the more Rachael’s mind filled with dramatic scenarios that made her want to melt with envy.
She had spent years playing the role of the impeccable and devoted confidante, the woman who held Sebastian’s trust at Woods Corporation.
It wasn’t just her long-standing loyalty to Sebastian or past sacrifices that defined her protectiveness over him.
She loves this man.
She did everything to prove that she was capable of being by his side.
All she ever wanted was to be his woman.
All she ever wanted was for him to “SEE HER” even though she couldn’t touch him, feel him or go near him.
Yet, here was this unknown woman, a stranger she’d never heard of, disrupting the stability she had fought so hard to maintain.
The physical sensations she was experiencing at the moment were so strong. Yet she managed to keep a straight face amidst the onlookers at the Woods Corporation lobby.
The echoing sound of heels clicking on polished floors was apparent as more curious employees trooped in to steal glances at the unfolding drama. Their whispered comments and wide-eyed stares emphasized the glorious spectacle this was becoming.
Meanwhile, Lilian felt a rush of emotions as she assessed Rachael in return- the way she had just referred to Sebastian so intimately as “Bastian” sent an uncomfortable wave of feelings through her.
This red-haired woman was beautiful, with an aura of sophistication that screamed privilege.
Lilian was already overthinking so many things. She was a woman, after all, and she had a sixth sense.
Was this woman close to him?
Could this woman be Kourtney’s rival in love? She wondered.
Her protective instincts flared, especially for Kourtney, who had enough troubles without someone like Rachael complicating things further.
“Why do you care?” Lilian shot back, her voice dripping with malice. “Are you his personal assistant or something?”
For all she knew, this woman might just be a glorified assistant trying to play queen bee.
Rachael’s eyebrow arched, and her lips curled into a smirk.
Assistant?
She was a force of nature, synonymous with power and control in the Woods Corporation.
“Oh, Sweetheart, I’m more than just a personal assistant. I have my own empire. And…Bastian and I are close…. Very close!”
She had intentionally stressed the word “close” while watching Lilian’s expression closely to see if she would get a sore reaction. She wanted to confirm her suspicion without having to ask.
“Oh, I see,” Lilian sneered. It seems like her best friend would never catch a break from all this torment.
Would she?
“Well, now that you know that Bastian and I are really tight, you should know why I’m just trying to understand why someone like you would be so desperate to see a man like him without booking an appointment,” Rachael continued to gloat.
“Look, I have no time to book appointments. Just inform the man that I’m a friend of Kourtney Allen, and you’ll see!” Lilian echoed, her voice dripping with disdain.
She was starting to get irritated by the way the woman was flaunting her connection to Sebastian with that annoying smirk. It made Lilian’s blood boil. It was obvious this was the type of woman who thrived on attention, a perpetual show-off, and Lilian couldn’t stand it.
Meanwhile, Rachael tilted her head, her interest piqued. “Kourtney Allen?”
Just a few days ago, Sebastian had given the renowned “San Bora” land to the Allen family-A move that came as a shock to everyone in the business community, raising eyebrows and sparking rumors as they couldn’t quite understand what on earth was the connection between him and the Allens.
And now…..
Could it be???
She wanted to ask, to probe, but it seemed like she had suddenly become tongue-tied as the words were caught in her throat. Just as she was about to speak, they were interrupted by a deep male voice.
“Did I hear you mention Kourtney Allen?”
Lilian turned her head toward the voice. It was a very tall, striking man with raven-dark hair that cascaded just above his chiseled cheekbones. His piercing blue eyes seemed to hold a universe of secrets, demanding attention from everyone in the room.
And the way he carried himself screamed power and might.
He was an Adonis, and for a fleeting moment, Lilian felt her mouth go dry, but she quickly regained her composure, reminding herself that she was here to save Kourtney, not to gawk at handsome strangers.
“Yeah! What’s it to you?” she shot back, her tone laced with her usual bossiness, trying to mask the flutter of attraction she felt.
‘Great, now I sound like a teenager!’ she thought, annoyed with herself.
The man-Edwin Woods, chuckled softly, a sound that was both charming and infuriating.
“It’s nothing to me, but I’m related to someone for whom that name means the world.”
Lilian’s heart skipped a beat, and she gasped, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized him closely. She noticed his striking resemblance to Sebastian, almost like a mirror image, but with a more approachable demeanor.