Chapter 3 They Once Had A History

Natalie tapped her finger, clicked the mouse, and scheduled the email for delivery.

Suddenly, the elevator chimed.

Seated nearby, she instinctively turned her head and immediately spotted a familiar figure.

The man had broad shoulders, a lean waist, and strikingly sharp features. His suit, tailored to perfection, accentuated every sculpted line of his frame. He was the same man who had shared a passionate night with her two nights ago.

"Wow, isn't that Connor Hughes, the sole heir to the Hughes Group?" exclaimed one of Natalie's colleagues.

The moment Connor entered the office, an electric buzz filled the air.

"Connor!"

Natalie looked up just as Vera Dawson, the director—normally composed and distant—greeted him. Today, however, a rare smile graced her lips. Her usually pinned-up hair now cascaded in loose curls, softening her icy beauty with a hint of allure.

But as Natalie took in Vera's carefully made-up face, a chill ran down her spine.

The long, dramatic eyeliner accentuated Vera's gaze, making her eyes eerily similar to Natalie's. It added an unexpected touch of seduction to her usual piercing stare.

Vera had never been one for makeup. Her natural poise was so commanding that Natalie, with her lively and expressive demeanor, had never considered any resemblance between them.

Yet now, it was undeniable—a revelation that felt like a slap, leaving her shaken.

She had been so foolish.

Once the office door shut behind them, the atmosphere gradually settled.

But the whispers did not.

"Can you believe it? That's Connor Hughes, a man of power and influence in high society. For him to personally come here… He must really value our director!"

"Obviously. After all, they once had a history," Kaitlin chimed in, her voice laced with intrigue.

Her words instantly drew everyone's focus.

She deliberately put on a spectacle—ordering coffee, requesting shoulder massages—before finally clearing her throat, surveying the room, and lowering her voice.

"Our director and Mr. Hughes were once the ultimate campus couple, admired by all. But the Hughes family? Their wealth and influence are on another level. Even affluent families struggle to get their attention. Three years ago, a contract sent our capable and independent director overseas. Rumor has it they had a bitter falling out, yet look at them now. Clearly, their story isn't over."

At those words, Natalie felt as if the ground had been ripped from beneath her.

Everything suddenly clicked.

Three years ago, Vera's abrupt departure led to that fateful night when she spent the night with Connor. Now, Vera was back, had secured a position in the company, and—by some cruel twist—ended up as her superior.

For the past three years, she had been a clueless fool, clinging to Connor's fleeting moments of kindness, mistaking them for something real. But now she realized the hard truth.

She had never been anything more than a replacement. What a cruel joke!

"Natalie!"

Natalie jolted from her daze, meeting the disapproving gaze of Jaynie Martin, their team leader.

"I've called your name three times! What's going on?"

Pushing aside the turmoil in her mind, Natalie rose to her feet. "Sorry, Jaynie, I haven't been feeling well..."

She had planned to use this moment to resign, but before she could say another word, a stack of documents landed in her hands with a sharp thud.

"Take these to the meeting room. You're leading this case, and the director is waiting!"

Natalie froze for a moment, caught off guard. Without thinking, she blurted, "But my role is in design. Wasn't Kaitlin supposed to present?"

"Kaitlin?" Jaynie scoffed. "The only thing she's good at is spreading rumors. What else could she possibly contribute?"