Morning at Alen Corporation started like any other—noise, movement, and the low hum of people pretending they weren't already tired.
But the energy felt slightly different.
Not louder.
Just distracted.
Alen Corporation – Strategic department
"Have you seen the news?"
"That's literally all anyone is talking about since morning."
A group of employees stood near the coffee machine, phones in hand, replaying the same broadcast clip over and over again.
"…Brun Moreau confirms his only daughter, Ivanna Moreau, will be publicly introduced at a private high-profile event…"
One of them leaned back slightly.
"So she really existed all this time?"
"Apparently."
"And no one knows her face?"
"Not a single picture."
A girl frowned.
"That's kind of insane. Imagine living like that."
Her colleague shrugged.
"Or imagine being so important you don't need to be seen….oh my just like in rom com books."
That line made the group giggle for a second.
Then they went back to talking again,sharing different rom com plot about the hidden heiress and trying to guess who it is.
Selena's Workspace
Selena sat behind her desk, system screens open in front of her.
Reports. Data analysis. Project projections.
Everything moving perfectly just as she wants it to.
She is all about perfection.
Daniel stood up from his work space and walked to Selena desk,
"Hey Selena… there's a slight delay in the East division report."
Selena didn't look up.
"I'd get it fixed."
"Alright." Daniel replied crouching down to the empty seat close to her.
Selena just glanced at him and went back to tapping on her system.
"Sooo… everyone is talking about the announcement." Daniel started
Selena paused her typing.
Just slightly.
Then continued.
"I know."
"That's it?"
Selena finally looked at her.
"What else should it be?"
Daniel blinked…with a hint of surprise and something flashed in his eyes not noticeable..and he smirked.
"Interesting.." he thought.
"Nothing. Sorry."
He stood up with his hands in pocket and walked back to his desk.
Selena turned back to her screen.
But her eyes stayed on one line longer than necessary before scrolling again.
Adrian's Office – Late Morning
Adrian was reviewing a contract when his phone buzzed on the desk.
Once.
Then again.
He glanced at it.
Chloe.
He picked it up immediately.
The message read:
Chloe: "Velvet Lounge – 8:00 PM. Don't disappear after 30 mins like last time. I actually want to see you properly this time."
Adrian stared at it for a moment.
Then replied:
Adrian: "I said 30 minutes."
Almost instantly—
Chloe: "You always say that 🙄 just come."
He didn't respond again.
Instead, he placed the phone down and returned to his work.
Tessa entered shortly after.
"Good morning, sir. I hope you had a good evening. Your day looks quite packed—shall I walk you through it?"
"Noted. Clear my evening—I have something to attend to at 8 p.m."
Tessa nodded slightly.
"Noted, sir. I'll handle it right away."
She placed a folder on his desk.
"Sir… I think you'll want to see who sent this."
Adrian didn't look up.
"Explain."
Tessa opened the folder.
"Brun Moreau."
That made him pause slightly.
She continued,
"The invitation just came in . The heiress announcement event."
Adrian leaned back in his chair slightly.
"So it's confirmed."
"Yes."
She slid the envelope forward.
"And you're invited."
A beat.
Adrian picked it up.
Clean design. Expensive paper. No unnecessary detail.
He opened it.
His eyes scanned once.
Then again.
Tessa watched him carefully.
"You'd have to go with a plus one sir."she added.
That made him pause.
"Unusual."
"Very," she agreed. "Brun doesn't usually allow guests to bring partners to events like this."
Adrian closed the invitation.
"He's controlling attention."
Tessa nodded.
"Yes."
A silence settled.
Then—
"You'll go?" she asked.
Adrian stood up slowly.
"Yes."
No hesitation.
No extra thought.
Just certainty.
Strategic department – Afternoon
By afternoon, the announcement had fully taken over the building.
Not loudly.
But constantly.
It had become background noise people couldn't ignore.
Even during meetings.
"I think this will affect market confidence," one manager said.
Another shook his head.
"No, it will increase curiosity investments."
"That's not a real term."
"It is now."
A light laugh followed.
Across the table, one of them glanced at the screen again.
"I still can't believe she's been hidden all this time."
"Rich families do that," another replied. "Protect assets, control exposure."
"Or maybe she just never wanted attention."
That made the table go quiet for a moment.
Then someone said,
"Yeah right. No one that powerful avoids attention by choice."
Selena – Later That Day
Selena stood by the window in the break room looking down at the city below.
Movement everywhere.
She exhaled softly.
Then returned to her workspace.
Her phone buzzed.
A message from Bruno.
"It is confirmed and I also sent the invitation to Adrian ….lets see what he'll do"
She didn't reply immediately.
Instead, she placed the phone down.
And went back to her work.
Velvet Lounge – Evening
The place was loud and buzzing with people with different agenda.
Chloe arrived early and was already seated when Adrian walked in.
She smiled immediately.
"You came."
"I said I would."
"You always say that but most time you flip at the last minute."she said with an eyeroll secretly checking him out.
He sat down across from her.
Chloe leaned forward slightly.
"So… i heard about the revelation of heiress of Brun corporation ?"
"Yes."
Her eyes lit up.
"You were invited,right?" She replied a little bit too eager.
"Yes."
"And?"
"And nothing."
She sighed.
"You're so boring sometimes."
"I'm not here to entertain you."
"I know," she said softly. "That's the problem."
A brief silence passed.
Then Chloe changed tone slightly.
"Plus one invitation too?"
"Yes."
She raised a brow.
"Who are you taking?"
"I haven't decided."
"Hmmm….why are you hesitating?"
"I'm not hesitating."
"Okay then …why don't I be your plus one then."
"Why?"
Chloe leaned back and replied ,
" Because you don't have one….obviously." She said dramatically.
" What if I say that I have someone in mind not you ."
"Well… whoever it is, they better be interesting enough to sit next to you for that long."
Adrian didn't respond.
But his gaze shifted slightly toward the window.
Strategic department – Night
The building was quieter now.
Only a few lights remained on.
Selena was still at her desk.
Finishing reports.
Unbothered.
Controlled.
The world outside kept talking about Ivanna Moreau.
But inside her space—
It was just work.
And silence.