Chapter 5
Chapter 5
The woman standing in Rosalie’s path was Tiana West, a secretary from the Office of the Secretary under Julian’s command. On occasion, Julian would bring her along to business gatherings, and after a few such outings, her arrogance had grown unchecked.
The way she looked at people carried an unmistakable air of superiority, as if she had already secured her place as the future Mrs. Galloway, merely waiting for Rosalie to be cast aside,
“Mrs. Galloway, here you are again.” Tiana lifted her chin ever so slightly, emphasizing the unnatural plumpness of her surgically enhanced features.
Her gaze swept over Rosalie with an edge of disdain, but what stood out most was the way she deliberately stressed the word “again“, as if Rosalie’s presence was nothing more than an unwanted intrusion.
Rosalie met her gaze with a poised smile, her tone perfectly measured as she greeted, “Tiana
Tiana’s eyes flickered to Rosalie’s empty hands, a glint of contempt flashing through them. “No homemade lunch for Mr. Galloway today?” she sneered. “Did you finally figure out that he throws away everything you make?
The condescension and mockery in her voice was blatant, dripping with the kind of malice that only came from someone who reveled in another woman’s downfall.
In the past, Rosalie had held back for Julian’s sake, not bothering to engage with petty secretaries who overestimated their importance.
But now that she didn’t even care about Julian anymore.
There was no reason for her to hold back. A mere secretary was no longer worth her consideration.
A cold smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she mused, “Tiana must have mistaken my patience for weakness.
Meanwhile, Tiana was carefully sizing Rosalie up, but the more she looked, the more unease crept into her gut.
Rosalie was dressed in a sleek, perfectly tailored dress–simple yet effortlessly elegant. And even if Tiana seethed with jealousy, she had to admit that Rosalie’s beauty was unparalleled.
But beyond that, there was something else–something more unsettling. A quiet authority radiated from Rosalie, a presence sharp enough to make Tiana instinctively wary, though she refused to acknowledge why.
Tiana scoffed inwardly, ‘She’s nothing more than a trophy wife Julian married to appease his grandfather–a woman whose only skills are cooking for her husband and playing the dutiful wife, yet he doesn’t love her.
‘How could someone like her ever compare to me? I graduated from an elite university and hold a high–ranking position in a major corporation. She’s leagues beneath me.‘
And yet, despite convincing herself of Rosalie’s insignificance, she couldn’t help but let jealousy gnaw at her insides.
It was precisely that envy, laced with an underlying insecurity she refused to acknowledge, that drove her to flaunt her so- called superiority in Rosalie’s presence.
Noticing the faint smirk playing at the corner of Rosalie’s lips, Tiana was about to throw another jab at her. But the next second, a strong grip clamped down on her jaw.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Rosalie, who still wore that soft, almost polite smile–yet her gaze was cold enough to pierce straight through Tiana’s bones. Her heart gave a startled jolt.
Rosalie leaned in ever so slightly, her grip tightening, chuckling, “Did I give you permission to run your mouth?”
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Chapter 5
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Tiana’s breath hitched. In her eyes, Rosalie was supposed to be delicate, fragile, easy to push around. But right now, her fingers clamped down on Tiana’s chin with an unyielding strength, rendering Tiana completely immobile.
“Le–let go. Tiana stammered, her words garbled under the pressure of Rosalie’s grip. Her once–prized face–always maintained to perfection–now looked comically distorted, a far cry from the elegance she prided herself on.
“I have a bit of a temper, you see. Keep squirming, and I might just dislocate your jaw.” Rosalie’s tone was casual, but the glint in her icy eyes made it clear–this wasn’t an idle threat. Tiana immediately went silent, not daring to say a word.
Rosalie let out a mocking laugh. “No wonder Julián never comes home. Turns out he’s been keeping a cheap little plaything in the office.”
“You…” Tiana barely got a word out before something caught her attention–someone standing just behind Rosalie.
Her expression shifted in an instant. A flicker of calculation flashed in her eyes, but she masked it swiftly with an aggrieved look.
In a voice dripping with innocence, Tiana pleaded, “Mrs. Galloway, you’ve misunderstood. There’s nothing between Mr. Galloway and me. I’m just his secretary–attending events with him is strictly business, I swear. You’ve got it all wrong.
AD
