Because of their past connection, Victoria and Ailie slipped easily into


    conversation, as if they were back in their university days. The rapport between them was effortless.


    Before long, Ailie was pulling out two recent project proposals she''d been working on, eager for Victoria''s opinion. Victoria, as sharp as ever when it came to the stock market and business trends, analyzed them with practiced ease. Even during her years married to McNeil, she''d never taken a day off-she''d reviewed financial statements and tracked market movements from her hospital bed after giving birth.


    If not for her relentless efforts behind the scenes, the Langford family would never have achieved their current level of power and influence in Starfall City.


    Victoria wasn''t impressed with either of thepanies Ailie brought up. She dissected the pros and cons with precision, even going so far as to uncover evidence of financial fraud at one of the firms. Ailie broke out in a cold sweat-her own insider information paled inparison to Victoria''s insight. Naturally, she deferred to Victoria''s judgment.


    "Sorry to keep you waiting, Ms. Turner."


    Curtis Garcia had, in fact, been standing outside the door for nearly ten minutes, quietly listening to their conversation.


    He''d slowed his steps as soon as he heard Victoria''s analysis. When Ailie had first suggested her old college friend as his new assistant, Curtis hadn''t taken it seriously. She looked young, maybe mid-twenties, and didn''t seem to have much real-world experience. He''d only agreed to meet her out of respect for Ailie''s ster track record at the firm—if things didn''t work out, he figured he could politely decline.


    But before he''d even had a chance to interview Victoria, her conversation with Ailie had already captured his full attention.


    He waited until their discussion wound down before finally stepping in.


    "Mr. Garcia, this is the ssmate I mentioned-Victoria," Ailie said, practically beaming as she ushered Victoria forward like she was presenting a treasure.


    Curtis''s gazended on the woman standing before him—no makeup, strikingly beautiful, with a natural elegance that left nothing to be desired. Beneath her poised exterior was an air of quiet confidence, a subtle aloofness in her every gesture. Dressed in a sharp business suit, she looked less like a job applicant and more like a negotiator sent by a powerful investor.


    From the moment Curtisid eyes on her, he couldn''t look away.


    Sensing the moment, Ailie made herself scarce, slipping out and closing the door behind her to leave them alone.


    Curtis asked Victoria a few simple questions. She answered smoothly, her responses quick and incisive. He couldn''t help but give her a look of approval and decided on the spot to offer her the job.


    As they were wrapping up, Curtis''s phone rang. He didn''t bother to excuse himself, just answered right there in front of her.


    "Lunch? The usual ce? Sure-how could I turn down an invitation from Mr. Langford? I''ve still got that bottle of Romanée-Conti at the K Bar. We''ll open it today to celebrate your reunion with your lovelydy."


    He chatted for a moment longer before hanging up. As his phone screen went


    dark, Victoria caught a glimpse of the caller''s name-McNeil.


    Her brow furrowed slightly. McNeil did have a few close friends, and she vaguely recalled one of them was named Garcia.


    In six years of marriage, McNeil had


    never brought her into his inner circle. His friends knew he was married, and that he had a


    six-year-old daughter. But they had


    no


    dea who the child''s mother was;


    they just assumed McNeil had


    gotten involved with someone briefly, fathered a child, and then


    married the woman to give the child legitimacy-nothing more.


    It wasn''t exactly a secret that McNeil was the sole heir of the Langford family. If a woman turned up


    pregnant, it only made sense for the family to ept the child. In fact, most people assumed the Langfords would be thrilled if McNeil had more kids-especially a son.


    No one really cared who the mother was. But everyone knew about Violet.


    Curtis gave her an apologetic smile. "That was a good friend of mine, inviting me to dinner tonight. Ms. Turner, if you''re free, you should join us."