Chapter 1. Farce

"Today will be the last time I see him, today everything will end."

Thea Lark fixed her eyes at the tall building in the main street. Many people in office suits were walking out the glass door, and some others were entering with their professional attires and conceited looks. All of them seemed proud to be part of that company, and to be his employees, the great Dion Hesse employees.

"This is the last time," she whispered as she saw the entrance and the big name of Empire Corp right outside the main glass door.

A few months ago, she would be scared and hesitant to come and see that man. Now only a firm and resolute expression with nothing else to lose was reflected in her beautiful blue eyes.

This time she had come to end everything. She didn't care a damn about what that man would think of her and her family. Thea hadn't come to give a face to anyone anymore. Not even that man. She had enough.

She walked with steady steps, a straight back, and with her simple and not that expensive clothes. The people passing by looked down at her, as she was wearing something ordinary and cheap for the high-class office.

That morning, she only wore a long black hoodie covering her head and hair and a pair of blue jeans with white sneakers. Simple and ordinary, but strange for the people in that street. She would be one of them some time ago, with their beautiful clothes, but now she couldn't care less.

Her long black hair hid part of her face, but the big shades hid the color of her eyes and half of the white and her pure as porcelain skin. The red color of her lips was the only brave enough to show off in front of that people.

Only a few steps more and she will be in front of that impressive entrance, however, she stopped and fixed her gaze at the top of the building.

'Will he let me in?' she thought and gulped, then a sudden ring from her phone woke her up.

"I am at the entrance, I will go inside now… I have the papers with me. Wait for me to return," she said in a low tone and hung up quickly, then again with her face turned to the entrance she nodded. 'It's time.'

Her shoulder carried a long black bag and her delicate hands held the handle with strength, almost twisting it. Inside was her future, her new step in life.

"This will be the end of this stupid farce," she muttered.

Her feet moved as her heart pounded with a strong beat.

She walked through the glass door, but she didn't approach the reception desk. Her eyes were fixed on the corner, where she just stood silently. She pressed a number she had memorized on her phone and waited.

The woman in the reception looked at her suspiciously, signaling the security guard to stay prepared if she were to make any trouble. However, Thea didn't move from her spot, the phone was on her ear, and every few seconds she typed the same numbers again.

The call didn't connect. She tried several times more before someone finally answered. Her heart pounded, and she bit her lips when hearing the breath of the other person on the phone. However, before he could say a word, she spoke quickly but clear without any hint of emotion.

"I am downstairs at your office building. Come and get me, or I will call grandpa and make a scene right here," she hung up and waited on the couch near the entrance. Her hands were on her knees while she was tapping with her feet on the floor. She counted the seconds that were already reaching a minute.

The guard and receptionist looked at her with caution, ready to approach and throw her out, but she didn't show any reaction.

"Miss…"

The receptionist was ready to go to her. The woman looked suspicious and many employees had seen her with weird looks. Then, as the guard was about to ask her to go out the building, the private CEO's elevator door opened. The sound was distinctive and many executives that were on the first floor turned to see the person.

A man with an expensive suit and black-rimmed glasses came out with sweat on his forehead. He was out of breath too.

"Miss... Miss Lark, CEO Hesse is waiting upstairs." Vin Lu, the Personal Assistant of Dion Hesse, bowed to the hooded woman on the couch. Even with the executives and directors who had been greeting him, he didn't care to even say a word to them. But the woman...

Thea stood up and followed the man, not minding the stunned faces of the receptionist and the guard. Not even the small talks behind her or the curious glances that had no more mocking in their eyes.

Assistant Vin led her to the lift, but didn't dare to say a word to her for the rest of the travel. Then the metal doors opened on the top floor.

Thea walked faster, the indiscreet glances of the employees and secretaries on her body were disturbing, but she didn't care.

Some gasps of surprise resounded when she was led directly into the CEO's office. Usually, no one was allowed inside, only about five close people were permitted, and now the unkempt woman was led inside.

"Who is she?"

"No idea, did you see her face?"

"I couldn't, that hoodie was covering it."

"She must be someone important for PA Lu to get her personally. She can even enter the CEO's office."

"Could she be a relative?"

"Maybe, I don't think she is our CEO's girlfriend."

"What? How can she? Look at her poor appearance, and also he was with Miss. Gray last time, didn't you hear? It was all on TV."

"Oh my! Really?!"

"Yes, it was a huge scandal, she might be our future Mrs. Hesse."

"But…"

"What?"

"I heard the CEO was married, isn't that true?"

"Shh… don't say it, we are not allowed to comment about that."

"But…"

The gossips in the office were frequent in Empire Corp, but the employees knew better to keep quiet on the important things, or they could stop thinking of working there for a long time.

Thea walked into the office, 'the same as always.' Thea thought.

The little but clean furniture of dark colors. The calm ambiance and the desk with only a computer and some files on it. Just the same as she remembered.

PA Lu closed the door quickly. After all, the CEO was about to explode in anger, and he didn't want to be there to be made a collateral of his ire.

"Who gave you permission to come here?" The voice came from the tall man watching the city view from the body-sized window. He looked majestic in his black suit that fitted perfectly on his muscular body. Thea looked at his back and bit her lips, then she breathed to calm the shiver on her hands.

"I came to deliver something. Please sign it for me to go quickly, I don't wish to be here either."

Thea didn't care about his rude tone and dangerous aura anymore. She had known him for so long to be used to his manners, though it was difficult to bear every time.

Then, without waiting for a response, she took out the papers from her bag and threw them onto his desk.

"… you don't demand me anything."

The man was containing his anger in his voice, but it was difficult not to notice. Then he turned around slowly, letting her see the most handsome face she had ever seen. Strong features, piercing gray eyes, and upturned nose. His tall and muscular body was a perfect fit in his black suit and even if he was angry, he had the kind of aura that could make any woman fall to her knees. She would be head over heels for him if she hadn't known him for so long.

"You don't have any right," he continued while glaring at her.

"Look at them, it is for your own benefit," she smirked and stood there without any expression. Now she didn't care about the man, as he had never cared about her before.

He took small steps towards the desk and read the documents, his eyes looked at them with interest, but hidden inside was much more anger than in the beginning.

"What is this?"

"Divorce papers..."