The knock came again, soft, almost hesitant.
Victoria's gaze lifted from her screen, brows knitting. Everyone knew not to disturb her this late unless it was important. "Come in," she said, her voice clipped, tired from the long day.
The door creaked open, and in walked the last person she expected, or wanted to see.
Mabel.
Clad in a sleek emerald-green dress that hugged her curves too perfectly, Mabel stepped into the office like she owned the place, her smile too sweet to be genuine. She clutched a tiny designer bag in one hand and held her phone in the other like a trophy.
"Cousin," she said, voice silky. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything… important."
Victoria blinked, sitting straighter in her chair. "Mabel," she said, schooling her face into polite neutrality. "This is a surprise."
Mabel's heels clicked as she crossed the room, eyes scanning the space. "Lovely office. Though I guess I shouldn't be surprised. You've always had a knack for… keeping things in order."
Victoria didn't reply.
Mabel perched herself on the edge of the visitor chair without invitation. "I was nearby. Daniel had a quick meeting with someone across the street. I figured, why not pop in and say hi?"
Victoria's jaw clenched at the mention of his name. So that was it. The real reason she was here.
"To what do I owe this visit?" she asked coolly.
Mabel gave a faux-innocent shrug. "Honestly? Just wanted to check on you. After everything… you know. I know it must be hard seeing us together now that it's official. But I do hope there's no bad blood between us. Family is family, right?"
Victoria's lips twitched into something between a smirk and a grimace. "Right. Family."
Mabel leaned forward, her tone growing syrupy. "I mean, we didn't plan for things to happen this way. But when love happens, you don't fight it. Daniel's just… happier now. I'm sure you've noticed."
She tilted her head with a pitiful look that made Victoria want to scream. Or laugh. Maybe both.
"I'm happy for him," Victoria said instead. "Truly. If it took dumping me for my cousin to find happiness, then I'm glad he found it."
Mabel blinked, taken aback for just a moment.
Victoria rose from her chair, walking around the desk and crossing her arms. "But next time you want to drop in for a heart-to-heart, Mabel, maybe try not to make it about you. I've had a long day, and I still have work to do."
Mabel's smile faltered, but she recovered quickly. "Of course. I just thought you deserved to know… we'll be making a public announcement next week. Engagement shoot and all. I'll send you an invite. For old time's sake."
Victoria stared at her, a slow smile blooming on her face—chilling in its calm. "Don't bother. I'll see it online, like everyone else. That should suffice."
Mabel stood, clearly rattled by the lack of drama she'd hoped for. "Well then. I'll let you get back to it. You always were a workaholic."
"And you always knew how to make an entrance," Victoria said softly.
Without another word, Mabel turned on her heel and strutted out of the office, her perfume lingering behind like an unwanted memory.
As the door shut, Victoria let out a slow, steady breath. Her hands were shaking.
Mabel strutted down the hallway with her chin high, but the moment she turned the corner and was out of view, her smile dropped like a mask. Her heels clicked angrily against the tiled floor as she reached the elevator lobby. She stabbed the button harder than necessary, her other hand curling into a fist around her designer bag.
That didn't go as planned.
She had come expecting tears, rage, or at the very least, a flicker of heartbreak in Victoria's eyes. Instead, she was met with a calm so infuriating it felt like a slap to the face.
How dare she sit there, so composed, so unaffected?
Mabel's thoughts swirled with irritation. That smug little smile, the dismissiveness—Victoria was pretending to be above it all, and Mabel couldn't stand it.
Just then, the elevator doors slid open and her breath caught in her throat.
Daniel.
He looked effortlessly charming, dressed in his signature navy suit, the top buttons of his shirt slightly undone. His expression softened when he saw her.
"There you are," he said. "I was just coming to get you."
Mabel's eyes lit up, but not for the reasons he assumed. A spark of opportunity flared in her chest. If Victoria wouldn't crack at the mention of Daniel, maybe his presence would do the job.
She looped her arm through his. "Perfect timing. I was just thinking, since we're here already, why not drop in and say hi to Victoria?"
Daniel's brows rose slightly. "You sure that's a good idea?"
"She was perfectly cordial," Mabel lied smoothly. "I just think it would be nice. Closure, maybe."
Before he could respond, another figure approached.
"Daniel," the man said with a friendly nod. "Didn't know I'd be running into you here."
Daniel turned. "Hey, Denis. Good to see you, man."
Mabel's eyes narrowed subtly at the newcomer. Tall, and irritatingly good-looking, Denis easy confidence unsettled her. She sensed instantly he wasn't just a passing acquaintance.
Denis's gaze shifted to Mabel briefly, before returning to Daniel. "I was just about to head up. Thought I'd say hello to Victoria before leaving."
At that, Daniel looked surprised. "You know her?"
"Old friends," Denis said casually. "Been trying to take her out for some time now". You know how she is hard to pin down."
Mabel stiffened.
"Well," she said sweetly, "then let's all go up together, shall we?"
The trio walked the short distance back to Victoria's office. Mabel's grip on Daniel's arm tightened as they approached the door. This was it, the moment Victoria's mask would finally crack.
Daniel knocked softly, then opened the door without waiting.
Victoria looked up from her desk again, irritation flickering briefly across her face before she masked it. But her eyes darkened when they landed on Daniel. And Mabel. Together.
Her gaze barely lingered on them before it moved—and softened—at the sight of Denis behind them.
"Denis?" she said, genuinely surprised. A hint of relief bled into her voice.
He stepped forward, smile charming. "Didn't mean to crash the party. Just thought I'd say hi before I left."
Mabel moved quickly, wrapping her arm tighter around Daniel's and stepping closer to him. "We thought we'd do the same," she said, all sugar.
But Victoria barely acknowledged her. She stood, walking around her desk.
"Well, you're right on time," she told Denis. "I could use a distraction."
Mabel's face twitched.
Denis grinned. "Rough day?"
She exhaled, glancing at the other two in her office. "Something like that."
Denis turned to Daniel and Mabel, his tone polite but dismissive. "Hope you don't mind... I was actually hoping to catch Victoria before she left the office."
Mabel opened her mouth to protest, but Daniel took the cue, nodding. "Of course. We'll get out of your way."
Victoria didn't say a word as Mabel stepped back with a forced smile. She couldn't believe it. Her moment, ruined by Denis, by timing, and by Victoria's maddening calm.
As the door closed behind them, Denis turned to Victoria.
"You okay?" he asked, concern cutting through his flirtation.
She nodded, her smile faint. "Now I am."