Chapter 11: A New Day, A New Challenge

Liya’s Villa

Liya woke up again at 5:30 AM, the soft light of dawn filtering through her curtains. She shuffled to the balcony of her room, taking a deep breath of the fresh morning air.

“Humm, one more day,” she murmured, her gaze drifting to the sky, which was painted in delicate pinks and blues.

“Pretty,” she added, a small smile breaking through the remnants of her earlier stress.

With a renewed sense of purpose, she freshened up and got ready to go to Kate’s center. After a quick trip downstairs to the kitchen, she prepared her special juice and then left the villa, her mind already shifting to the day ahead.

At the center, she immersed herself in an hour of aerial yoga with Kate, the stretching and floating helping to clear her mind. After the session, she returned home, changed, and grabbed her bag to head to downstairs.

Liya outfit

"In the Kitchen

“Good morning, dear,” Ella greeted her warmly as Liya entered.

“Good morning, Ella. You made breakfast again? I told you not to do that, right?”

“Oh, dear, it’s just a habit of mine. You’d probably get late every day if you made breakfast for yourself, so let it be.” Ella smiled, her affection evident.

“Yeah, but what do we have for breakfast today?” Liya asked, letting a hint of gratitude show.

“Sandwich and your juice. Have it,” Ella replied, gesturing to the table.

After finishing her meal and exchanging pleasantries with Ella, Liya left for SL.

At SL

As she entered the building, everyone greeted her. She nodded and headed straight to her office.

Two Hours Later

Ashia burst into the office, holding a large iced tea and a stack of papers. “There you go.” She placed the iced tea on the table. “Sign all these papers today itself.”

“Okay. Is everything ready for the meeting?” Liya asked, looking up.

“Yes, everything is ready, and Mr. Baez will also be here,” Ashia replied.

“Good. Also, make sure to bring my lunch today; I don’t have time to cook.”

“Got it.” Ashia nodded and left the office.

At 12 Noon

Ashia returned with lunch, and the two of them shared a quick meal together. Afterward, Liya took a 30-minute nap to recharge.

Fifteen Minutes Before the Meeting

“Everything is ready for the meeting,” Ashia said, her tone efficient.

“Okay,” Liya replied, still feeling the remnants of fatigue.

“Mr. Baez is waiting for you in the meeting room,” Ashia informed her.

“Okay,” Liya said, standing.

“Also, Mr. Zack De Rossoé and Mr. Jonas have arrived and are also waiting for you in the meeting room.”

“Okay, let’s go.” Her expression was blank, her focus narrowing as she steeled herself for the encounter.

As they walked down the hallway, the sound of her heels clicked against the floor, echoing the tension in the air. Ashia opened the door for Liya, and as she stepped inside, everyone greeted her—except for Zack, who remained silent, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that unsettled her.

Meeting Room

“Li, it’s good to see you again. It’s been ages,” Vin Baez said, a warm smile spreading across his face.

“Yeah, it’s been,” Liya replied, forcing a polite smile as she took her seat.

“Let’s begin the meeting. Ashia, start,” she instructed, her face expressionless, betraying none of the emotions roiling beneath the surface.

As Ashia began outlining the agenda, Liya’s thoughts swirled. She needed to maintain control, to stay focused. The presence of Zack in the room was a reminder of unresolved issues, but she refused to let that affect her. She was determined to steer the meeting in the direction she needed, even as the weight of his gaze lingered on her.

Today was about business. Tomorrow could wait for the personal matters that loomed on the horizon.

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