[Music recommendation: Tanerélle - Boys Like You]
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As soon as the tyres of the black Rolls-Royce came to a halt in the driveway of Van Empire's entrance, the chauffeur and Alester's assistant, James, swiftly stepped out and opened the doors for father and daughter.
Crisp black shoes touched the ground on one side, while white designer heels emerged from the other. A beautiful woman stepped out, her blonde hair styled in an elegant ponytail, finally revealing herself to the public eye after a long absence.
She wore a white, knee-length bodycon dress paired with a tailored white blazer, embodying every bit of the formidable businesswoman she was. Her large diamond studs and solitaire pendant caught the light, gleaming brilliantly as a barrage of camera flashlights erupted the moment she appeared.
Alester walked around the car and extended his arm to his daughter. She slipped her manicured fingers, polished in a French tip, around his arm as they both turned towards the left, where a horde of media personnel strained forward, microphones outstretched in hopes of catching a statement.
That was when the barrage of questions began.
"Miss Vanderbilt! Are the rumours true that you were intoxicated on the night of the accident?" One report shouted, thrusting a microphone forward.
Aliana lowered her sunglasses just enough to pin him with her steel-grey eyes, and A smirk played on her lips as she answered, "Intoxicated? I'm a Vanderbilt. My blood can handle more than most of you combined, so let's cut that narrative, shall we? If I were ever to lose my balance, it would be from the sheer weight of my stock portfolio, not a cocktail."
"Was your accident purely incidental, or do you suspect foul play involving Archon Group?" another reporter shot out.
"Foul play? If anyone in this city were clever enough to actually orchestrate a hit on me, they wouldn't be working for my competitors; they'd be working for me. The only 'foul play' here is your attempt at investigative journalism."
"Can you confirm if Mr. Cillian Pierce was present at the scene before the crash?"
"Mr. Pierce's present is a matter of official report, not speculation," Ali replied coolly, shutting it down without hesitation.
"Do you believe this was a targeted attack linked to corporate rivalry?"
"Please, if there were some grant scheme behind it, then I must tell all my dear well-wishers, it's gonna take more than a car crash to take me down. Besides, pray tell me, who speeds up on a blind turn?"
Aliana replied confidently, and the reporter's eyes lit up as though she had just thrown them another bone to chew on and that bone was undoubtedly… Cillian Pierce, CEO of Archon Group.
On the other hand, Alester's eyes nearly popped at his daughter's answer, though outwardly he maintained his calm, intimidating composure.
He could already imagine a flood of conspiracy theory articles coming his way, with people speculating about Cillian targeting his daughter, and even the Archon Group getting dragged into the chaos she had just set in motion.
Sighing inwardly, he made a mental note to give his PR Department a raise for the overtime they were undoubtedly about to endure.
Stepping in, he leaned closer to whisper, "Ali, the board is waiting," subtly urging her to walk away before she fanned the flames any further.
Ali turned to her father and gave him a bright smile, "Oh, alright."
Just as Alester and Aliana were about to leave, a reporter for one desperate final scoop shouted another question over the buzz of the crowd.
"One last question, Miss Vanderbilt! There are rumours that you were seen tackling a man that night at the Ross Club. Is it true that he was your lover and that he was cheating on you?"
Alester sucked in a sharp breath, already bracing for impact. Behind him, James, Alester's assistant, mentally prepared himself for the inevitable chaos added to the list.
"You don't have to answer that," Alester whispered quickly, trying to steer her away.
But Aliana tightened her grip on his arm and smiled far too sweetly to mean anything good. "Oh no, I think I absolutely should address this one," she said, before turning to the reporters, and her expression dropped to something far less forgiving.
"First of all, let's fix your headline. I don't tackle men…I dismantle them….the ones who dare to cross me."
A few murmurs rippled through the crowd, but Aliana continued.
"The man you're so interested in was the Vice President of Volt Corporation. Someone who thought it was perfectly alright to assault a woman at Ross Club. I'm sure you all enjoyed reporting on their money laundering scandal the very next day, along with multiple charges of assault he had inflicted upon not just that woman but also his past secretaries.
Her lips curved ever so slightly, but there was no warmth in them, "So no, he wasn't my lover. I have standards… high ones at that. You might want to look them up sometimes."
A few reporters shifted uncomfortably, but Aliana continued, "And just for future reference, don't try to attach my name to men like him. It's embarrassing… for you."
Her sharp gaze behind her glasses swept across them, and she finished, "As for my personal life, if I ever decide to entertain the public with it, you'll know. Until then, I suggest you focus on facts; it might improve your credibility."
"Now, if you will excuse me, my board is waiting. Try not to make up anything too creative."
With that, she finally turned on her heel and walked inside the building, leaving stunned reporters behind who were still trying to recover from the verbal demolition.
Inside the luxurious lobby of the company, sharp heels clicked against the polished floor, instantly capturing the attention of several employees.
News of their arrival had already erupted throughout the building the moment the Rolls-Royce pulled into the driveway.
While many had strategically vanished at the first sight of the Vanderbilts, a few daring souls had lingered near the entrance. Driven by their curiosity for some juicy gossip after witnessing the swarm of reporters outside, they stayed close to the entrance while pretending to mind their own business.
But as the familiar, rhythmic strike of Aliana's heels echoed through the hall, they snapped out of their gossip-seeking mode to survival mode and attempted to blend into the limestone walls. Desperate to avoid the gaze of the she-devil walking beside the Chairman.
Even though they were terrified, the men, regardless of whether they were straight or bent, couldn't help but admire the goddess-like overwhelming presence gracing the halls once again.
However, they also knew that if they wanted to keep their jobs or their heads attached to their body, they better not linger on her appearance for too long.
Because Aliana was far more than a stunning heiress. She was the deputy CEO of Van Empire, the second-largest company in the country.
As for why she held the position of Deputy CEO instead of CEO, the reason was simple.
Her father, Alester Vanderbilt, the chairman of Van Empire, wanted her to be trained under the acting CEO before she took complete control of the company.
And despite having joined the company at just eighteen, she had already proven herself to be an exceptional businesswoman. It was as if she had inherited the perfect combination of sharp intellect and ruthlessness from her father and forefathers. Many people respected her for that.
She didn't terrorise people unnecessarily, but God forbid anyone landed on her bad side, the woman knew exactly how to dismantle a person completely.
As she turned slightly, her gaze met that of an employee who had been openly gawking at her. She offered him a dazzling smile, the kind that made his eyes go wide before his face flushed an alarming shade of crimson.
He looked like someone who was caught between either fainting or submitting his resignation on the spot.
Watching his reaction, a soft chuckle escaped her lips, catching her father's attention.
"Hm? Is something amusing?" Alester asked in mild confusion.
"Ah, nothing. It's just good to be back," Aliana replied with a faint smile, continuing towards the executive lift as if she hadn't just short-circuited a man's nervous system.
However, James and Nigel, who had joined them at the entrance, noticed the brief exchange and could only shake their heads. For they knew all too well the effect the she-sevil had on men, though anyone with a shred of self-preservation would know to steer clear of her.
'Ah, this office won't know peace for a while now,' they thought in unison as they stepped into the elevator alongside the father and daughter.
Fully aware that another round of chaos awaited them in the board meeting.