JASMINE
I was buzzing like I had chugged three energy drinks. The executive lounge outside Stephan's office suite had turned into my personal apology war room in record time.
Well, speaking about Maxwell Enterprises it wasn't just some random company, it was the king of luxury real estate and high-end commercial developments. Skyscrapers, five-star hotels, and private islands turned into exclusive resorts.
This headquarters building was basically a floating palace of glass and steel in the middle of the city.
The lounge I picked was perfect: a wide-open space right in front of the main boardroom corridor, floor-to-ceiling windows showing off the skyline, and long tables where executives usually sipped overpriced coffee and signed billion-dollar deals.
At least forty people worked on this floor alone, marketing teams, legal, finance, assistants, and even some interns who had magically appeared with "urgent files." Plenty of witnesses. Exactly what the system wanted for a "public" apology.
Rick who had somehow become my chaos partner had done his job scarily well. Silver and black balloons bobbed against the ceiling like fancy storm clouds.
A three-tier chocolate cake sat in the center with curly white icing that read
"I Am Truly Sorry, Stephan" in elegant script. Confetti poppers lined every surface. A Bluetooth speaker played soft, dramatic violin versions of apology songs on low volume. Everyone had one popper in hand and strict instructions from me which said to wait for the signal.
"Okay, team!" I clapped like a coach before a big game. "When Rick gives the thumbs-up, you all pop at the same time. Confetti everywhere. I will yell 'Surprise!' then drop to my knees with the flower. Big smiles, big cheers. Make it look sincere but fun. Got it?"
Nods all around while some people grinned like this was the most entertaining thing they had seen all year.
Others looked terrified, like they were about to witness a public execution. A few were already secretly recording on their phones. Whatever, after all, I am doing this to save my mum.
Rick leaned close, voice low. "He's wrapping up the meeting in five minutes. The boardroom door opens right into this corridor. He will see everything the second he steps out."
"Perfect." I gave him a fist bump. "You are officially my favorite corporate minion." He looked like he regretted every life choice but still couldn't say no to me.
I bounced on my toes, hoodie sleeves flopping, backward cap slightly crooked.
My heart was hammering so hard I could feel it in my throat. This was it, the big public remorse moment the system demanded. Twenty points on the line, plus a family secret unlock if I nailed it.
Just then Rick's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then gave me the signal, like a quick thumbs-up.
"Places, everyone!" I whisper-shouted.
The room went quiet except for the soft violin music. Balloons swayed. Poppers were raised like tiny guns.
Just then the boardroom door clicked open.
Stephan stepped out in a tall, sharp suit, dark hair perfect, face set in that usual "don't talk to me" mode.
The second his eyes landed on the scene, time froze.
POP! POP! POPPOPPOP!
Confetti exploded from every direction like a glitter bomb went off. Silver and black shreds rained down. Balloons bounced. People cheered, some genuinely, some awkwardly, and forced.
"SURPRISE!" I yelled, throwing my arms wide.
Stephan stopped dead, his eyes wide. Mouth slightly open. The man who never looked rattled looked like someone had just slapped him with a fish.
I closed my eyes dramatically, pressed both hands to my cheeks, and groaned in the most over-the-top way possible.
"Oh my God… here we go. I am about to ruin my entire image in front of forty strangers. RIP to my dignity. It was nice knowing you."
(Host, you can do it. Speak from the heart well, from the script I gave you. Genuine remorse. Now.)
The system sounded almost proud. Gross.
I dropped to one knee with my joggers bunching awkwardly, pulled a single red rose from my hoodie pocket the one Rick had grabbed from the lobby flower arrangement, and held it out like I was proposing.
"Stephan…" My voice cracked on purpose. I channeled every dramatic K-drama I had ever binged.
"I am so sorry. For everything. For the lies, the affair with your…" I paused not wanting to embarrass myself.
"I am sorry for forcing you into this marriage, for every time I humiliated you and made you feel like you weren't enough. I was selfish, cruel, and broke us. And I hate that I hurt you so much. Please… forgive me."
Silence filled everywhere as I waited for him to speak. Stephan just stood there. Staring as his brain had blue-screened.
I peeked up through my lashes. Still nothing.
My stomach dropped. Oh no. Did I overdo it? Was the kneeling too much? The flower too cheesy?
I swallowed. "I know I shouldn't have done this here. In your office. In front of everyone. I should have thought twice, but I thought this would show how sincere I am. I am sorry for embarrassing you like this too."
Still, there was nothing from him, the tiniest twitch at the corner of his mouth.
A very slow smirk, the kind that made my skin prickle.
He stepped forward. One slow step and then another. The crowd parted like the Red Sea.
Slowly he bent down, plucked the rose from my fingers, twirled it once, and looked at it like it was a weapon.
My heart did a happy flip. "You… you forgive me?" The smirk grew.
Before I could process, his free hand grabbed my arm and yanked me up from the floor like I weighed nothing. My sneakers squeaked on the ground.
He turned to the room full of frozen employees.
"Clean this place up. You have five minutes. If there's a single piece of confetti left when I come back out, consider your jobs gone."
Instantly they all scattered like ants already arranging whatever shot I had made them do.
(System, see this wasn't a great Idea but you just want to embarrass me.) But that is the right time for the system not to say a word.
Then without another word, he scooped me up. One arm under my knees, the other around my back. Bridal style. Again.
"Stephan…!"
He carried me straight back into his private office, kicked the door shut behind us, and dropped me unceremoniously onto the floor.
I landed on my butt with an "Oof!"
Before I could scramble up, his hand shot out. Fingers wrapped around my throat as he slammed me back against the wall. My hoodie bunched up. The backward cap fell off and rolled away.
His face was inches from mine. Eyes blazing, his voice low and lethal.
"How dare you?" My pulse thundered under his grip.
He wasn't yelling. He was whispering. And that was somehow scarier.
"How dare you come into my building, turn my office into a circus, kneel in front of my entire staff, and pretend for one second that a flower and some confetti erase what you did."
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
His thumb pressed lightly against my pulse point. "You think this is cute? You think you can waltz in here dressed like a teenager, throw a party, and make me forget the nights I spent wondering why the woman I loved turned into a stranger who laughed while she broke me?"
I swallowed hard. "Stephan, I…"
"Shut up." His grip tightened just enough to make me freeze. "You don't get to apologize like it's a game. Not after everything."
The rose was still in his other hand. He held it up between us, then crushed it slowly. Petals fell like red snow.
"But you know what the worst part is?" His voice dropped even lower. "For one stupid second… I almost believed you meant it."
He released my throat. Stepped back as he left me slumped against the wall, breathing hard.
Then he turned away, shoulders rigid.
"Get out of my office, Jasmine. Before I do something we will both regret."
I stayed there, heart pounding, petals scattered at my feet. "You are so ungrateful… I spent…"
"Jasmine!!" he yelled, making my lips shut, "Leave!" I stared at him for some seconds and rolled my eyes annoyed as I stormed out of the office.
The system pinged softly.
[Task complete. +20 points… Total points are 30/100. Family secret unlocked: Jaden is not biologically Stephan's son.]
My eyes widened.
What?