The Temporary Boyfriend

Chapter 25: A change at Aurora

​Lyvana stood at the head of the boardroom table. She looked so elegant.

​To her left sat Sarah, and her two sales associates. On her right sat Lisette and the creative staff who do the sewing. At the far end of the table, Bertha was busy typing on a laptop.

​Lyvana leaned forward, her hands resting on the polished wood.

​"I am sure you are all wondering why I called this meeting on such short notice," she began. "Ever since my mother died, this company was handed over to me. But I haven’t really been a part of its daily life. Now that is about to change."

​She paused, scanning the room.

"Recent events have drastically increased the popularity of Aurora. To maintain this, it has become necessary to employ some new staff."

​She nodded to Bertha. Bertha stood up and walked out, returning a moment later with two men and a woman.

​"This is Nick, our new PR manager, Alex is our Legal Counsel, and Andrea, our new accountant," Lyvana announced. Then motioned for them to sit on the empty seats.

"We have also hired Stam Security Services. You will see two guards stationed at the front of the building at all times."

​A murmur went around the room. The staff looked at each other surprised, but Lyvana raised her hand to silence them. freewebnoveℓ.com

​"This company was built on innovation," she continued. "Fresh ideas are going to be welcome here. No one person has all the answers—"

​Suddenly, the door swung open. Mark stood there, frowning at the crowd.

​"What is happening here?" he demanded, his voice loud. "I am the only one with the power to call a staff meeting."

​"You don’t say," Lyvana said coolly.

​Mark’s eyes landed on her and he froze.

"Liv? Can I see you for a moment? Now."

​Lyvana got up and followed him into her office. freewebnσvel.cѳm

The moment the door closed, the click of the lock echoed in the room. Before she could turn around, Mark grabbed her shoulders and pinned her against the hard wood of the door.

He grabbed her neck loosely.

​"Mark! What the hell are you doing?" Lyvana hissed, her eyes flashing with anger.

​Mark’s face was inches from hers and Lyvana felt a rush of disgust as he run his tongue up her cheek.

"You left me in the middle of the night to... God knows where. You refuse to pick up my calls, and then you show up at work having a meeting without discussing it with me first?"

​"Let go of me," Lyvana said firmly.

​Mark gave a dry, bitter laugh. Then stared at her for a second longer before finally stepping back, throwing his hands up in the air.

​"Fuck, Liv! What are you doing?" he shouted, pacing the small space of the office. "You disappear, you call for a meeting, you even hire security...You can’t just cut me out like this!"

​Lyvana straightened her blouse and smoothed her hair. She looked at him with complete indifference.

"I’m not ’cutting you out,’ Mark. I’m simply getting involved."

"Then why are you doing things behind my back. It was you who asked me to manage this company. What about school Liv."

"I am graduating next month. Emily is almost done with our project."

Mark nodded. "You know what, let’s get married. Perhaps right after you graduate."

This was new.

"Now you want to pressure me into a rash marriage." Lyvana crossed her arms over her chest.

"This is not rash. We are already engaged."

Lyvana was doing her best to stay calm, but she was on the verge of loosing it.

"That doesn’t make it right," Lyvana replied. "I am not going to marry so suddenly. Not like this."

"Come on, Lyvana, don’t be like that," Mark said, forcing a laugh.

"Be like what?"

He hesitated, then sighed as if she were the difficult one.

"Fine. We’ll talk about the marriage later. But, Liv... I want to meet this investor of yours."

Lyvana studied him for a moment. The possessiveness in his tone didn’t surprise her anymore. It only annoyed her.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I’m your fiancé, and anything that affects you affects me. Especially some mysterious investor who shows up at midnight."

"Fine."

Mark blinked, clearly not expecting that.

"Fine?"

"Yes," she said. "You can meet him."

A smile crept onto his face.

"Good. Then we’ll clear everything up."

Lyvana turned away to leave.

"Wait."

​Mark reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a thick, gold-edged envelope. He held it out to her.

​"What is this?" Lyvana asked, making no move to take it.

​"We got invited to a party. The head of the Vanguard Global Group is hosting a massive birthday gala for his wife."

​Lyvana felt a chill run down her spine. Vanguard Global. She remembered this night perfectly. In her past life, this was the night her reputation was destroyed.

​"Everyone who matters will be there, Liv," Mark continued, stepping closer. "It’s the biggest event of the year. I’ve already confirmed our attendance."

​Lyvana finally took the envelope. "The Vanguard gala. And I suppose you want me to bring a gift that matches the occasion?"

​"Don’t worry, I asked Clarisse to handle our gifts."

​Lyvana looked down at the gold lettering on the invitation. Behind her calm face, her mind was racing. This is it, she thought. The moment Clarisse discredited her by placing a fake and cheap bracelet in her name.

​"Clarisse has great taste," Mark continued. "She said she found something perfect. All you have to do is show up and look beautiful."

​"I’m sure she did."

She tucked the invitation into her bag. She didn’t tell him that she already knew exactly what Clarisse had planned.

​

​"I have to get back to my meeting, Mark," she said, walking toward the door.

Back at the meeting, she informed them that Aurora would be hosting a runway show at the end of the month to present their new designs and officially reopen the brand. Everyone was expected to put in extra effort to ensure its success.

She spent the rest of the day with Lisette finalizing the designs so the tailors could begin working on the samples.

It was getting late, before she left, a call came from Emily.

"Someone broke into the apartment."