Twenty minutes later, Lyvana’s car pulled into the circular driveway of Windsor Corporation.

The massive glass building towered above them.

Emily turned and glanced at Lyvana uneasily. "I still think this is a bad idea," she muttered.

Lyvana kept her eyes on the building ahead.

"So do I," she admitted quietly. "But it’s the only way."

The two women stepped out of the car and entered the lobby together.

The receptionist looked up immediately. Her professional smile froze for half a second before recognition flashed across her face.

"Ms. Lyvana!"

The excitement slipped out before she quickly caught herself, lowering her voice as several employees nearby turned to look.

"Sorry... I’m just a huge fan of Aurora. Your latest collection was stunning. How may I help you today, Ma’am?"

​Lyvana offered the young woman a soft, graceful smile, the genuine warmth in her eyes instantly calming the receptionist’s visible nerves.

​"Thank you, I appreciate that," Lyvana said smoothly. "I’m actually here for an unscheduled appointment. Is Mr. Windsor available?"

The receptionist’s fingers hovered over her keyboard, her eyes darting nervously toward the executive elevator, before returning to Lyvana.

​"Mr. Windsor?" she repeated softly. Then began typing rapidly, scanning her monitor. "He... well, he didn’t log any external appointments for today, Ma’am. In fact, his secretary gave strict orders this morning that he wasn’t to be disturbed by anyone."

​She swallowed hard, looking up at Lyvana with an apology.

​"To be completely honest, Ms. Lyvana... things have been incredibly tense upstairs since the early this morning. I don’t know what’s going on, but Legal counsel has been drifting in and out of his office, and the atmosphere is... well, it’s tense. I’m not supposed to let anyone up without prior clearance."

​Lyvana did not react. She stayed calm and composed, though a faint knowing smile crossed her lips. She already knew why Mr. Windsor had locked himself in his office with his lawyers.

The damage from Catalina’s arrest, had already started catching up to the Windsor family.

​"I understand you’re just doing your job," Lyvana said calmly, her voice polite but firm. "But please call his office and tell him Lyvana Montclair is downstairs. I think you’ll find he will make an exception for me."

The receptionist hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting between Lyvana’s calm face and the private elevator. Finally, she nodded, picked up the desk phone, and dialed the executive floor.

​"Marie, I have a guest downstairs who insists on seeing Mr. Windsor," the receptionist whispered into the receiver, keeping her eyes low. "It’s Lyvana Montclair."

​There was a long pause on the line. The receptionist’s eyes suddenly widened as she listened to the frantic, sharp response from the other end.

​"Yes, sir. Right away," she said quickly, hanging up the phone. She looked back up at Lyvana, her voice trembling slightly. "Mr. Windsor said you can go straight up. Floor forty-five. His private security will meet you at the elevator."

​"Thank you," Lyvana said with a polite nod.

​She turned and walked toward the glass elevators, with Emily keeping close pace beside her. As they stepped into the elevator and the doors slid shut, the lobby below began to shrink. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

​"Are you sure about this?" Emily asked, watching the floor numbers flash by rapidly. "He is cornered, Lyvana. A cornered animal is always the most dangerous."

​"He’s not an animal, Emy. He’s a businessman," Lyvana replied. "And right now, he knows his business is all he will think about."

​The elevator chimed as it reached the forty-fifth floor. The doors opened to a sleek, quiet hallway lined with dark wood paneling. Two large security guards stood outside the double doors of the main office. They didn’t say a word; they simply opened the doors to let them inside.

​The office was in complete chaos. Files were stacked high on the massive desk, and three different lawyers in expensive suits were talking quietly in the corner.

​At the center of it all sat Mr. Windsor. His tie was loosened, his hair was messy, and his eyes were bloodshot.

​When the doors opened, he stood up immediately, glaring at Lyvana.

​"Get out," he snapped at his lawyers. "All of you, out. Now."

​The lawyers didn’t hesitate. They gathered their papers and quickly rushed past Lyvana and Emily, closing the door behind them.

The room fell into an uneasy silence.

Mr. Windsor stood behind his desk, staring at Lyvana like he was trying to decide whether to welcome her or destroy her.

Finally, he spoke. "What can I do for you Ms. Montclair."

"I have an offer for you," Lyvana said smoothly, taking a few steps forward into the room.

​Mr. Windsor let out a short, bitter laugh. He rested his hands flat on his cluttered desk, leaning his weight forward. "An offer? Let’s hear it then."

At that exact same time, the office doors opened again, and Victoria walked in.

Her heels struck the polished floor sharply.

Her eyes locked on Lyvana immediately.

"You..." she said, voice rising. "What are you doing here?" She pointed straight at her. "You got my daughter arrested."

Mr. Windsor straightened slightly. "Victoria, calm down."

"Don’t," she cut him off without looking at him. Her eyes stayed locked on Lyvana. "Don’t tell me to calm down. She humiliated our daughter. And now she’s here to gloat."

"With all due respect," Lyvana said calmly, "I did not have Catalina arrested."

Victoria let out a harsh laugh.

"Oh, please."

Lyvana met her gaze directly.

"She got herself into this situation, all by herself."

"My daughter is being dragged through the media like a criminal, and you think I’ll just stand here and listen to you?"

"Victoria, that’s enough. If you don’t shut up, I’ll call security to have you removed."

Victoria laughed bitterly, as she glared at her husband.

"Call them then," she shot back. "Because I’m not the one destroying this family. That woman is."

She pointed at Lyvana again.

"A husband-stealing opportunist who walked in and turned everything upside down."