A young man strutted in wearing a pricey suit, surrounded by an entourage. With one hand in his pocket and his gaze movingzily around the room, he oozed confidence and entitlement.
The people trailing behind him grinned at him like eagerckeys.
One of them said, “Mr. Kendall, this way, please. We’re really honored to have you at our anniversary. Mr. Smith will be here shortly.”
“I was worried I’d be intruding by showing up unannounced,” Alexander said, but his tone was anything but apologetic.
The group around him showered him withpliments and ttery.
Derek kept ncing their way. Once he got a clear look at Alexander, he tilted his head toward Reba and Jane, asking, “Doesn’t he look really familiar? He looks like Alexander, the heir of the Kendall Group.”
Reba’s hand subconsciously tightened. She thought, ‘It is him, Alexander.‘
Alexander was the ssic privileged yboy: all about living it up, always with his nose in the air. To him, apany like Primey Technologies wasn’t worth a second nce–hell, even if Primey was twice as big, he probably wouldn’t bat an eye.
Reba felt <i>a </i>shiver of unease—she couldn’t shake the feeling that Alexander hade here with her in mind.
Reba said, “Jane, I’m heading upstairs to prep for tonight’s show.” She wanted zero interaction with Alexander—if he exposed her connection to Jeffrey, it would totally blow her cover and spell trouble.
Jane nodded.
Reba had barely stepped out before Derek instantly swooped in, grabbing Alexander’s attention.
Face beaming, Derek greeted, “Mr. Kendall, what a surprise running into you here.”
Alexander nced over–a total stranger. He was about to ignore Derekpletely, but just then, he caught sight of someone hurrying off behind Derek.
He thought, “That silhouette looks familiar! He tilted his chin with a touch of arrogance toward Derek and asked, “Who is that?”
Derek followed his gaze and replied with a smile, “That’s Reba Jensen in our department.”
Alexander let out a low chuckle.
“Mr. Kendall<b>, </b>it’s such an honor to meet you,” Derek kept rambling, trying to butter Alexander up.
But Alexander didn’t even spare him a nce. He strode right past, calling after Reba as she tried <i>to </i>hurry away, “Running off so fast? Are you afraid to see me, Ms. Jensen?”
14:57 Mon, Sep <b>22 </b>
Derek paused and frowned, his face full of confusion.
Reba froze for a second but kept walking.
55 vouchers
Alexander stepped right in front of her, blocking her path. He said, “I’m talking to you. Where do you think you’re going?”
Reba had no choice but to stop. She looked at Alexander as if he were a total stranger, making it crystal clear that she wanted nothing to do with him.
Derek and the others hurried over, ncing back and forth between Reba and Alexander in surprise.
Derek asked, “Ms. Jensen? Are you talking about Reba?”
“That’s right,” Alexander replied, not bothering to hide anything. The challenge in his eyes hadn’t faded since he spotted Reba. He asked, “You seriously didn’t know?”
Reba red at him, eyes hard. She looked like she was ready to deck him if he said one wrong word.
Seeing her like this, Alexander leaned in and whispered, “That’s more like it. Honestly, I figured after the divorce, that gutsy Ms. Jensen–the one who stole my girl–would’ve disappeared for good.”
Reba grumbled inwardly, ‘Seriously, how long can he hold a grudge? Still hung up on stuff from a hundred years ago, huh?‘
Derek racked his brain for a second before asking, “Which Ms. Jensen are you talking about? The one from the now–defunct Jensen Group?”
“Of course,” Alexander replied, immediately giving Reba away without a second thought.
Reba instantly tensed up inside.
Those people at Primey didn’t know she’d been with Jeffrey, but their wedding had been a huge deal. Everyone who was anyone in their social circle had been invited. If they asked around, it wouldn’t take long for them to figure it out.
Once that happened, work wouldn’t just be work anymore. Things would get way moreplicated.
As Reba was racking her brain thinking about how she would deal with it if her identity was exposed, Alexander added, “Not.”
The others looked confused.
Alexander continued, “That Ms. Jensen from Jensen Group is way more well–bred anddylike than this one standing before me. She is graceful, polite, all the ssic virtues–this one isn’t even in the same league.”
Reba couldn’t figure out what his angle was anymore. But she was sure he was definitely scheming something.
“You guys go on and get back to your work. I’ll have a little chat with this Ms. Jensen here,” Alexander told the others, his eyes never leaving Reba, a mischievous look shing in them.
<b>14:57 </b>Mon<b>, </b>Sep <b>22 </b>
55 vouchers
“Alright, just call us if you need anything,” Derek said, picking up on the mood and wisely backing off. He turned to Reba and said, “Take good care of Mr. Kendall, alright? Don’t let him down.”
Jane <b>was </b>about to <b>say </b>something, but Reba shot her a look that said she had it under control. Jane got the <b>message </b>and left with the others. Soon, it was just Reba and Alexander left.
Alexander leanedzily against a pir and said, “So you’re really that scared they’ll find out you lost it all and <b>have </b>to work for a living now?”
“Why are you here?” Reba retorted instead of answering his question, her tone t and uninterested.
Alexander said, “Just here for Primey Technologies‘ tenth anniversary. And figured I’d check out how the <b>all</b>–powerful Ms. Jensen is doing nowadays.”
Reba couldn’t even be bothered to acknowledge him. She just strode off without a backward nce.
Alexander trailed casually at her side. Seeing she wasn’t about to stop, he said, “Didn’t your managers just tell you not to let me down? If I snitch and say you’re being rude, just imagine what will happen.”
“Do whatever you want,” Reba shot back, totally unfazed.
Alexander stopped short and said, “What if I spill the beans about you and Jeffrey?”
Reba froze.
Alexander lounged on a nearby leather couch, propping himself up casually. He said, “Bet they still have no clue about that, huh?<b>” </b>
Reba sneered, “What, you still salty over a little fight from way back?”
Alexander got all worked up. He snapped, “A little fight? Are you kidding me? You and Jessica stole my girl right in front of my crew, then straight–up decked me. Made me lose face. That was humiliating.”
Reba couldn’t even be bothered to reply.
This all happened right after high school, when Reba and Jessica hit up a bar with a bunch of friends.
There, they spotted Alexander creeping on a girl, pushing drinks on her, and getting way too physical. Reba and Jessica jumped in and taught him a lesson.
<b>Back </b>then<b>, </b>the Jensen family <b>was </b><b>way </b>ahead of the Kendall family. So all Alexander could do was mouth off, <b>especially </b>after <b>Jessica </b>gave him a well–deserved beating.
<b>Alexander </b>demanded, “Apologize to me, and let me throw a punch this time. <b>If </b>you don’t<b>, </b>I’ll make <b>sure everyone </b><b>at </b>Primey Technologies finds out who you really are<b>–</b>and that little <b>secret </b>about you and <b>Jeffrey</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>Reba </b>met his <b>gaze</b>, her <b>eyes </b><b>icy </b>and distant.
<b>Alexander </b><b>urged</b>, “Hurry up, quit stalling.”