BEATRICE'S POV
"You aren't your usual self, neither is your dress… You look oddly beautiful and womanly, Betty," Lia pokes my cheeks, snapping me out of my thoughts.
Sunlight warms my face, the garden on the 12th floor of Laurent Corporation's HQ still slightly damp from yesterday's rain. The sky is clear, the sun warm, though a chill lingers.
New York and its weather are as unpredictable and volatile as the woman sitting next to me, on her fourth cup of blueberry yogurt since morning.
Her brown eyes sparkle with childlike excitement as the yogurt meets her expectations. Lia Scotts, my single best friend of seven years—the one I met in university, yet somehow, we're still inseparable, even as I lose and meet people.
Her long, wavy hair dyed navy blue contrasts beautifully against her warm skin, small face, and button nose. Almond-shaped eyes that make her look both innocent and mysterious… but at the end of the day, she's a joker. Always smiling, dancing through problems, with the occasional mental crash.
Currently, she sits in the garden, eating yogurt, while I have my usual tacos.
"Is that a compliment?" I narrow my eyes at the dress the maid dropped off early this morning—a soft yellow blouse tailored perfectly to my curves and a pleated skirt that flutters with each step.
Theodore ordered these for me, along with makeup and a gorgeous pair of emerald earrings currently hanging from my ears.
"Tell me, did you get laid or something?" she nudges me with her elbow. I press my lips into a dramatic pout. "Almost did, but he pulled away at the last moment… on my second button."
Lia nods. "Good man."
I gasp. "Excuse me?"
"A man who waits, even when you're willing, usually cares more about emotional connection than physical pleasure."
I blink rapidly. "You talk a lot for a girl with zero dating history."
She rolls her tongue in her mouth. "Oh, dearest, I'm going to have the most amazing love story."
A laugh escapes me, my shoulders relaxing. Manhattan hums distantly like an untitled soundtrack. Honestly, last night I was ready to share a bed with Theodore. Contradictory to my own words, yes, but things happen.
Yet he pulled away, buttoned me up, cooked for me, sent these clothes and earrings… without trying anything. I feel my thoughts hammering against my logic.
Lia looks at me. "Your life used to be more boring than mine, but now look at you—two of the most eligible bachelors in the West are head over heels for you."
I roll my eyes. I had told her everything that's been happening since that night. She looks amused, but not surprised.
That's Lia—never surprised by anything.
"Oh wow. So you had a make-out session with a virgin man?"
I slap her shoulder, annoyed. "Is that what you're excited about?"
"Hell yeah. Nothing excites me more than sex." She winks. I narrow my eyes. "You're too lustful for a virgin."
She shrugs. "Well, a woman must have standards. I've been asking you to get me a boyfriend for so long."
"Girl, I'm single myself."
"You have two men chasing you. One literally wants to marry you—have some shame before lying."
I open my mouth to protest, but knowing Lia, she'll throw shade. I groan like some dramatic heroine in a period drama.
"To think my best friend is being pursued by both Adrien Aurélien Laurent and Theodore Schweitzer," she smirks and winks, "I made good investments early on."
"Shut up, bitch."
"Yes, ma'am."
I let out an earth-shaking breath. The sky is still clear… too clear.
Am I seriously getting pissed that it's a clear day? I realize I'm suddenly missing Theodore and that disgustingly cute smile of his!
"But is he big, though?" She pokes her spoon. I hum, "I felt his bulge… he's big."
"How big?"
"Roughly over eight inches."
"Damn, gurllll," she shows a thumbs-up. Just what kind of conversation is this? Totally normal between two girls who've seen each other depressed, broken, half-naked, and have literally judged every male in their sphere.
"Just marry him. Worst case scenario, he cheats and divorces you with a fat alimony. Just buy a villa and find some younger guy to bang that cunt."
I narrow my eyes, licking the spoon with too much enthusiasm. "That sounds oddly like an opportunity cost analysis."
"It is. I would've married him the first time he asked. Who has time for love when the man is tall, handsome, respectful, filthy rich, powerful… and has a big dick?"
I run my palm over my face, disbelief sinking in. Why am I even friends with this opportunistic bitch?
Well, I know exactly why. Loyalty. Where else would I find someone as loyal as her? Nowhere.
"Lia, just finish your yogurt. We need to get back. Thankfully Adrien didn't come to the office—I don't want to face him."
"Why? Will it make your feelings for Theodore waver?"
I smack the back of her head. "No woman. I don't like Adrien."
"Really?" She wiggles her eyebrows.
I pause, sitting up properly. "I did have a crush on him at first, but ugh… he's a fucking jerk. Always pushing me into trouble, acting like some entitled bastard."
"Typical rich boy with daddy money."
I nod. "And yesterday, he literally broke into Theodore's villa with all those big-ass guards. Poor Lucas was single-handedly facing them."
She looks at me. "You didn't deny that you have feelings for Theodore."
I pause mid-rant, my hand frozen, blinking rapidly… She's right. I didn't deny it.
I mumble, "He feels… safe, warm, gentle… I feel like I can be anything around him, and it's only been a few days."
Lia's eyes soften as she covers my hand with hers. "That's good, isn't it?"
Memories flash—seeing him at the party, thinking how dangerous he was, to the day I broke down in tears when he opened the car door and held me… A ghost of a soft smile plays on my lips.
"He is good to me… But, Lia…" I gulp, "I am not some heiress or extraordinarily beautiful… why would Theodore Schweitzer want me like this?"
I finally say it aloud—the question I've carried inside, blocking anything from my heart.
Lia looks thoughtful. "Why does it matter?"
"Huh?"
"You're asking the wrong question, Betty." She taps her knuckle on my forehead. "You should be asking, why should you want him, despite his reputation, the risks that come with accepting his proposal?"
And everything stops.
"If you accept Theodore's proposal, he gets you. Don't underestimate your charm, intelligence, patience, and loyalty. Loyalty is the most important thing in high society. But you should ask: what does he give you in return for walking in a world where you must be cold, calculating, sharp, always on guard?"
Her words splash over me like cold water, wiping out my self-doubt. This is why she's the best in marketing—always knowing her positioning and leveraging her advantage.
A slow chuckle leaves my mouth. "You are the biggest calculating bitch I've ever seen."
She smirks proudly. "We are women in corporate America, darling. We have to be calculating bitches to make men wag their tails."
"You should be working for Adrien," I say playfully.
She scoffs. "Hell no. I hate him for making you cry."
"He isn't that bad." I wiggle my eyebrows. "Imagine working as Adrien Aurélien's advisor."
"I'd prefer working for Dominik."
"The chairman?" I nod. "Understandable. That man has more power than Adrien."
"Not about power." She smacks her lips, staring at the horizon. "He just pays more."
…
I officially disown this woman.
Whatever. I have one best friend—I can't disown her.
The rest of the day passes with me attending meetings in Adrien's place. Angel keeps glaring at me like I'm some poisonous flower blooming in her garden.
Around 6 PM, my eyes sting from hours at the computer. A yawn escapes as I lean back, my stomach growling.
"Damn. I want Biryani with Diet Pepsi…" I mumble, throwing my hands up like a defeated employee.
Suddenly, my cabin door swings open. A strong scent of gardenia fills the room. I scrunch my nose at the source.
"Beatrice Kanz." A slow, soft, feminine voice, icy blue eyes, and a pale, almost translucent face.
Ah… Rosie Laurent. She sits across from me without asking. Of course she wouldn't—daughter of the owner of this empire.
I sit up. "Ms. Laurent."
Her eyes zero in on my dress and earrings. Shock flashes across her face. "How do you have the heirloom of Schweitzer?"
"Huh?"
She paces around the desk and grabs my ear. A groan escapes me. "Excuse me, you're hurting me!"
She presses my earring harder, jaw clenched, eyes red. I can't push her away. The Laurent family would devour me.
"Let me go!" I plead.
"You gold digger. Wasn't my brother enough? Now you're stealing my Theodore!" She whispers dangerously.
Blood trickles from my ear. Another footstep fills the silence.
"Woah, woah… you have a knack for trouble, Betty."
Rosie freezes, releasing my ear. I cover it, wincing at the pain.
"Lucian!" she whispers.
He waves casually. "Hello, little Laurent."
"What are you doing here?" she growls.
I see Lucian's eyes darken as he watches me cover my bloody ear.
"Well… I came to ask my new friend if she wanted to grab some food, since I don't have a pretty girl with me today…" He smiles at Rosie. "You're really rough, little Laurent princess."
"She has Schweitzer's heirloom. I'm sure she stole it!" Rosie points at my ear.
Lucian gasps. "Oh, really? I thought Schweitzer had the best security… hmmm, concerning. But if she didn't steal, it means that crazy Theo gave it to her…"
He covers his mouth. "Rosie… did you just hurt someone Crazy Theo cares enough to give his family heirloom?"
Rosie's face pales.
Lucian leans closer to me. "Let me see."
I remove the gauze. He goes pale, slowly taking out the earring.
I whimper in pain.
Theodore gave me his family heirloom… I thought these were just emerald earrings. Fuck.
"Hold on. I'm taking you to the hospital…"
I nod as he wraps my ear with fresh gauze.
His hands grow colder with each passing moment.
Is he that worried about my wound? Maybe the Rake of Rothenburg is as soft-hearted as they say…
But at that moment, I have no idea—Lucian is more scared than worried.
Scared of how Theodore Schweitzer would react to this…