Chapter 3

A light drizzle was falling when we arrived in Paris.

Cedric and his group had gotten off the plane early, climbing into a stretch Lincoln arranged by the summit organizers.

They hadn't waited for me.

Cedric sent me a text:

[Get a cab to the hotel yourself. If you still haven't learned to reflect on your behavior, you don't need to attend this summit either.]

I stared at the screen, a mocking smile curling at the corner of my mouth.

I walked out through the airport's VIP passage.

A black Rolls-Royce Phantom was already parked at the curb.

The driver respectfully held open a long black umbrella for me and opened the car door.

"Welcome to Paris, Miss."

"The Four Seasons Hotel George V," I instructed once I was seated.

Coincidentally, that was the same hotel Cedric and his group had booked.

Using their studio's company funds, of course.

By the time I finished checking in at the lobby, I saw Cedric and Genevieve step out of the elevator with the rest of the team.

They appeared to be heading to tonight's pre-summit cocktail reception.

Genevieve was wearing an extremely form-fitting silver backless evening gown, her arm looped through Cedric's.

Cedric, meanwhile, had changed into an even more elegant tailcoat.

"Well, well, if it isn't our Miss Sierra, who insisted on that private suite?"

One of the draftsmen on the team spoke up with a sneering tone.

He'd been secretly infatuated with Genevieve for a while, so naturally, he was hostile toward me.

Cedric stopped in his tracks and looked at me coldly.

I was dressed in a simple trench coat, carrying nothing but a small travel bag.

I stood out awkwardly against their elaborately dressed group.

"What are you here for?"

"I already told you—if you don't apologize, you're not coming to tonight's reception."

"That's a gathering for elite architects. Someone like you, who just does interior renderings, would only embarrass me if you showed up."

"Cedric, don't be like that."

Genevieve resumed playing her role as the sympathetic older sister figure.

"It wasn't easy for Sierra to come all this way."

"Though honestly, Sierra, tonight's reception does require formal attire. Dressed like that... security won't even let you through the door."

I ignored Genevieve entirely and simply looked at Cedric.

"Are you sure it's better if I don't go to tonight's reception?"

Tonight's pre-event reception, in fact, was being hosted by the Paris branch of the Vance Group.

As the heiress of the company, I was actually supposed to attend as a mystery guest.

"I'm absolutely certain," Cedric said without a moment's hesitation.

"You're way too emotional right now. I need to network with the big names in the industry. I can't let you ruin my chances."

"Just go back to the hotel and reflect on yourself."

With that, he led his team away.

I immediately pulled out my phone and called my best friend, Roxanne.

Roxanne was the top PR director at the Vance Group, and the only person who knew about my hidden identity.

"Sweetie, you've landed?"

"I have," I said, my tone calm. "Roxanne, can you check if Cedric Thorne's studio has any important meetings scheduled at tonight's reception?"

"Let me see... oh, here it is."

"He's been pulling every string he can, trying to get a meeting tonight with our group's Executive Director for the European region."

"He's hoping to land next year's 'Thames Light' landmark project for the Vance Group in London."

"Why? Are you going to help him make the connection?"

"No." I gazed out at the cold rain outside the window.

"Tell the European Executive Director not to meet with him tonight."

"Also, send me the surveillance access for the VIP lounge at the reception."

"Understood. Sounds like someone's about to have a very bad night."

Roxanne let out a light chuckle and hung up.

Back in my top-floor presidential suite.

I opened my iPad and connected to the surveillance feed for the VIP lounge at the reception.

On screen, Cedric and Genevieve were sitting on a sofa.

Cedric's expression was grim. Clearly, his request to meet the Executive Director had been denied.

"Don't be discouraged, Cedric."

Genevieve leaned against his shoulder, her finger tracing circles on his chest.

"The Vance Group's threshold has always been high. With your talent, they're bound to notice you eventually."

Cedric sighed, pulling her closer by the waist in response.

"If only Sierra had half your sense."

"She acted like an absolute lunatic on the plane today. I genuinely regret bringing her along."

"Then why haven't you broken up with her yet?"

Genevieve tilted her head back, her eyes lidded with feigned innocence.

"She's boring, sure, but she's obedient, easy to control, and doesn't ask for much."

"And most importantly, she has a real talent for drafting."

"Those award-winning pieces of mine from before? The base drafts were all things she stayed up all night finishing."

"Keeping her around is useful to me, for now."

Cedric's voice carried with unusual clarity through the empty lounge.

"And what about us?"

Genevieve bit her lip, feigning a wounded expression.

"You're my muse, of course."

Cedric lowered his head and kissed her deeply.

I watched the two of them entangled on the screen and pressed the record button.

Three years.

I had finally seen this man for exactly what he was.