Five

Seraph 

The restaurant Brian chose was the kind of place that whispered money. Glass walls, soft jazz, waiters who remembered your name before you said it. I walked in wearing heels again. Not the ones Elena mocked. These were mine. Red -soled, sharp, unapologetic. 

My reflection in the glass doors didn't flinch this time. 

"Ms. Edward?" A hostess approached me. "Your party is waiting in the private room." 

Private room. Of course. No witnesses. 

I followed her through a corridor lined with abstract art that probably cost more than my first sewing machine. My pulse was steady . Five years ago, my hands would've shaken holding the door handle

Today, they were steady enough to sign contracts and cut ties. 

Brian stood when I entered. So did Ronan. 

So did Elena. 

My breath caught for half a second. Only half. I'd prepared for this. 

"Seraph," Elena said, warm as if we were old friends. "You look..... different. "

So they knew it was me all along. 

" Five years will do that, " I replied, pulling out the chair across from them. I sat. Back straight. Smile practiced. "Thank you for meeting me." 

Ronan didn't speak. He was watching me the way he used to when I'd burn dinner -- with thinly veiled disgust and a side of boredom. But this  look was shocking. He'd aged. Line around his eyes even though his money. Hair a little thinner at the temples. But Elena... Elena looked exactly the same. Perfect. Polished. Untouched by time or guilt. 

She smiled first. "Sister. It's been a while." 

"Sister," I echoed. The word tasted sour in my mouth. "Congratulations on coming home." 

Her smile tightened. She knew I knew. 

Brian Cleared his throat and slid a menu across the table. "Let's order first. Business is always better on a full stomach." 

We ordered. None of us ate much. The air was too thick and tense for food. 

When the plates were cleared and wine poured, Brian leaned forward. "Let's talk numbers, Seraph. Tradefare is ready to invest two billion dollars for a 30% stake in Seraph's World. We'll open stores in London, Dubai, Africa countries within eighteen months. Your brand goes global." 

2 billion. I didn't blink. I'd expected it. 

"And what does Tradefare want in return?" I asked, sipping water instead of wine. Clear head. Clear terms. 

"Creative control over expansion," Brian said. "And Ronan will join the board as an advisor." 

There it was. The trap. 

I set my glass down slowly. "Ronan hasn't been part of my life for five years. Why would he be part of my company now?" 

Brian's smile didn't reach his eyes. 

" He understands the market. He understands... You"

I laughed. Soft, but sharp enough to cut ego." He understands how to destroy things, Brian. He's very good at that."

Ronan finally spoke. "You're still bitter, I see."

I met his gaze. "Bitter? No. Healed. There's a difference." 

Elena shifted in her seat. "We didn't come here to fight, Seraph. We came to help.*

" Help, "I repeated." Is that what you call it? Five years ago you called me barren. Disgusting. A curse. Today you want to help me build an empire? "

" We were wrong, "Elena said quickly. Too quickly. Rehearsed." family makes mistakes."

" Family, "I said and let the word sink in. 

" My family died five years ago,when they watched me shift my foot in embarrassment . I don't have a family any longer. "

Brian intervened." The past is the past, Seraph. Let's focus on the future. This deal makes you a billionaire. It puts your name in every fashion magazine from here to Paris. Isn't that what you wanted?" 

What I wanted was to be loved without conditions. What I wanted was to not flinch at my own reflection. What I wanted was time back. But I couldn't say that. So I said something else. 

"I'll take the deal," I said. 

Three sets of eyes widened. Ronan's jaw tightened. Elena's smile flickered. Brian looked relieved. 

"Under one condition," I added. 

"Name it," Brian said. 

"No Ronan on the board. No contact with Elena outside board meetings. And I retain full creative control. You find it. I run it." 

Brian frowned. "Ronan's expertise... "

" Is not required, "I cut in." You said you believed in me. Prove it. "

Silence. 

Elena's nails dug into her wine glass. Ronan stared at me like he was trying to fit the broken girl he'd divorced. He wouldn't. She was gone. 

Finally, Brian nodded. "We can work with that. I'll have the revised contract sent to your office." 

"Good," I said, standing. "Then we're done here." 

I turned to leave, but Elena stood too. 

"Seraph, wait." 

I paused but didn't turn. 

" Mum's not well, "she said, voice soft." She asks about you. Every night. "

That hit harder than I expected. Mum, who'd called me a curse. Mum, who'd laughed when Elena mocked me. But she was still my Mum. 

I didn't answer. I walked out. Heels clicking on the marble. 

The night air hit me outside. New York was alive.. horns, music, people moving like they had somewhere to be. I had somewhere to be too. 

My phone buzzed in my bag. Sloane. I answered without breaking stride to my car. 

"How'd it go, boss?" She asked. 

"I took the money," I said. "But not the leash." 

She laughed. "Damn right. What now?" 

"Now we build," I said. "And we make sure everyone who counted me out watches me from the sidelines.*

We talked about work for ten minutes. By the time I hung up, I was two blocks from my office now. The city felt different tonight. Less judgemental. More honest. 

I came down from my car,after turning off my car engine.I was almost at the door when a car pulled up beside me. Black, tinted windows. The window rolled down. 

Ronan. 

" Get in, "he said. 

I didn't stop walking." No. "

" Seraph. Five minutes. "

" I've given you five years,"I said." That's enough. "

He got out of the car." Please. "

The word stopped me. Ronan never said please. Not to me. 

I turned slowly." You want to talk? Talk here."

He ran a hand through his hair. He looked tired. Not the polished CEO. Just a man. "I was wrong. About everything. About you. About us." 

I crossed my arms. "Save it for your therapist."

"I signed those papers because I was so scared," he said, words rushing out. "Scared I'd end up like my father. Scared I'd pick the wrong woman and ruin my name. Elena... She was safe. You were... too much"

" Too much what? Too obese for your liking right. Now I'm curvy now you suddenly brought out lines." 

"Noo... Noo.. it's because you were too real," he denied. "You saw through me. And I hated you for it." 

For a second, I almost believed him. I almost felt sorry. Almost. 

Then I remembered the guestroom. The separate bed. The way he'd look through me like I was glass.. 

"You don't get to rewrite history, Ronan, "I said." You chose her. You humiliated me. You signed divorce papers like I was a bad investment. You don't get to feel regret now that I'm worth something. "

" It's not about the money, "he said. 

" No, "I agreed. It's about control. You lost it. And you hate that." 

His face hardened. "You think you've won because you're wearing expensive clothes and people clap for you? Because you're curvy and beautiful? You're still the same girl who cried in my office." 

I smiled. The bitter one. The one I'd perfected in five years of silence. "No, Ronan. I'm not. And that's what terrifies you.*

I turned to go again. 

" Seraph, "he called after me." Elena's pregnant. "

I stopped. I didn't turn. 

" She's three months, "he said." It's mine. "

The world tilted for half a second. Then steadied. I'd expected this. I'd prepared for this. But hearing it still cut me deep. 

I didn't respond. I walked into my building and didn't look back. 

Inside, Sloane was waiting." The contract from Tradefare just came in, "she said, holding out a tablet." They agreed to all your terms. No Ronan. No Elena. Full creative control. "

I signed it. My signature looked stronger than it did five years ago. 

" Send a press release, "I said." Seraph's World is going global. And we're launching the new collection next month. Theme." Change."

Sloane grinned." The irony won't be lost on them. "

No," I said. "It won't." 

I went home that night and slept without dreams for the first time in years. 

The next morning, my phone exploded. Notifications, messages, calls. The press release was everywhere. Seraph's World x Tradefare. Billion dollar deal. The woman reclaims her name. 

And then... A video. 

Someone had leaked footage from the restaurant. Not the whole thing. Just the last thirty seconds of conversation I had with Ronan. Me turning away from Ronan. His voice, low but clear." Elena's pregnant.. It's mine. "

The caption read:

SERAPH EX-HUSBAND ANNOUNCES BABY WITH HER SISTER. NIGHT OF BILLION-DOLLAR DEAL. 

Sloane called." Boss, it's trending. #Seraph'sWorld #FamilyDrama. People are picking sides. "

I stared at the screen. The video had 2 million views already. Comments flooded in:

She knew all along. 

That's cold.

Ronan got what he deserved.

Elena is evil. 

And then one comment, pinned at the top, from an account with no profile picture:

YOU SHOULD'VE STAYED IN THE GUEST ROOM, SERAPH. THIS ISN'T OVER. 

I zoomed in on the profile. No posts. No followers. Created three hours ago. 

My phone buzzed again. Unknown number. Text message. 

"Welcome home, sister. We're just getting started." 

I looked up from my phone. My house door was closed. But I could've sworn I heard footsteps outside. Slow. Deliberate. Stopping right in front of my door. 

A knock. Three times 

My blood went cold. 

I wasn't alone.