Chapter 24
Valeria’s eyes skimmed Javier’s latest text, her fingers hovering over the screen as a faint sigh escaped her lips. With a quick, decisive tap, she fired off her reply: “I’m in this for the paycheck, plain and simple. Once I’m paid, we’re square. I don’t like owing anyone—being in debt once is hassle enough; I’m not about to pile on more.” She set the phone down, the soft clink against the nightstand punctuating her resolve as she sank deeper into her pillow.
In the sleek, shadow-draped office of the Five-Star Building, Javier’s gaze lingered on her words, the faint glow of his phone casting a cool light across his chiseled features. Since clawing his way to power, he’d grown accustomed to people bending over backwards to win his favor—fawning smiles, eager promises, a ceaseless tide of flattery. Yet Valeria stood apart, an enigma who seemed to recoil from his orbit rather than gravitate toward it. Her blunt independence piqued his curiosity, tugging at the corners of his mind. A smirk flickered across his lips, subtle and fleeting, as he opted not to press further. His fingers danced briefly over the keys—“Goodnight”—before he set the device aside, the room settling into a hushed stillness.
Meanwhile, across town, Adriana wrestled with a restless night, her thoughts a tangled storm of suspicion and spite. The mystery of Diego’s identity gnawed at her, twisting her dreams into fragments as she tossed beneath the sheets. When the first pale threads of dawn crept through her window, she seized her phone, her urgency overriding the grogginess of sleeplessness. She dialed Miranda Chavez, her best friend, the line ringing with a insistent trill until Miranda’s voice—light and teasing—finally broke through. “Adriana, shouldn’t you be lost in Dominic’s arms, swept up in some grand romance? How do you even have a spare thought for me?”
Adriana’s patience was threadbare, her tone cutting sharp and swift. “Enough games, Miranda. This is serious—we need to talk.”
The levity drained from Miranda’s voice, replaced by a keen alertness. “Alright, I’m listening. What’s wrong?”
Adriana drew a steadying breath, her words measured yet edged with caution. “Is the CEO of Starbright Group named Diego Navarro?” Her heart thudded against her ribs, each unanswered second stretching into an eternity, threatening to unravel her composure.
The silence lingered until Miranda’s response drifted through, tinged with genuine confusion. “Diego Navarro? Doesn’t ring a bell. Why’s he on your mind? Who is he?”
Relief washed over Adriana, her racing pulse slowing as a triumphant spark ignited in her chest. Her hunch had been right—Diego’s grand claims were a hollow sham. She’d known it deep down: Valeria, that insignificant speck, couldn’t possibly wield ties to Starbright’s elite. Miranda’s puzzled tone snapped her back, pressing for more. “Hey, what’s going on over there? Adriana, you still with me?”
Adriana blinked, shaking off her reverie, and slipped into a practiced tone of woe. “Oh, it’s a disaster,” she sighed, her voice trembling with feigned distress. “Dominic’s dead-set on divorcing Valeria, but she’s clinging like a leech. She’s been stalking us for days, and yesterday she dragged this man—Diego—into Star Whisper Restaurant, claiming he’s Starbright’s CEO, all to twist Dominic’s arm.” She paused, letting the weight of her tale settle, then pressed on with a mix of worry and exasperation. “We clashed with her and this fraud there—I’m terrified we might’ve crossed Starbright by mistake. I needed to check with you to be sure.”
“Valeria again?” Miranda’s voice erupted, her temper flaring like a struck match. “She schemed her way into your place as Mrs. Barnett, and now that you’re back, she still won’t let go? Hiring some poser to play Starbright’s vice president—it’s beyond shameless! With her lowly roots, she wouldn’t even get past their front gates, let alone rub elbows with the top brass. What a pitiful charade—I’ve never seen anyone so despicable!”
Adriana basked in Miranda’s fiery rant, a secret satisfaction curling within her as she maintained her mask of gentle innocence. “Miranda, don’t be too harsh,” she soothed, her tone a balm over her friend’s outrage. “It’s sad, really—she can’t win Dominic’s heart, so she’s grasping at straws. As long as we steer clear of Starbright’s real executives, we can handle whatever else comes up.”
“Adriana, why are you still so soft on her?” Miranda snapped, irritation crackling through the line. “You and Dominic are the real deal—she’s just a meddling interloper. It drives me insane! You’re too kind. If I were you, I’d crush her underfoot and be done with it!”
The call ended, but Miranda’s anger lingered, a smoldering ember in her chest. A sharp knock at her office door jolted her back to the present, and she steadied herself, calling out, “Come in,” her voice firm despite the tumult within.
The door swung open, revealing Luciana Esparza, Starbright’s HR head, her demeanor brisk yet warm. She ushered in a woman whose presence seemed to shift the room’s gravity. Dressed in a chic business suit, her hair swept back with elegant precision, she wore only a whisper of makeup—yet her beauty struck like a quiet thunderclap, commanding attention with effortless grace. Miranda’s eyes narrowed, a strange brew of recognition and unease stirring as she studied the newcomer.
“Who’s this?” she asked, her tone cautious, a thread of suspicion weaving through it.
“A new hire starting today,” Luciana replied, her voice professional yet tinged with pride as she gestured the woman forward. “Meet Miranda Chavez—she’ll be your manager.” With a graceful nod, she turned to Miranda. “This is Valeria Gordon, your new subordinate.”
Valeria stepped forward, her poise unshaken, and offered a warm, disarming smile. “Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Chavez,” she said, her voice smooth and inviting.
But Miranda’s posture stiffened, her expression distant as if snared in a web of her own thoughts. Valeria caught the glint of hostility flickering in her gaze—a cold undercurrent that puzzled her. They’d never crossed paths, yet Miranda’s recognition felt palpable, a silent accusation hanging between them. “Ms. Chavez, is everything alright?” Valeria asked, her tone gentle, laced with concern at the unspoken tension.
Miranda blinked, hastily masking her disarray with a strained smile. “Just a rough night—I’m a bit off today,” she replied, her words quick to smooth over the cracks. Yet beneath the surface, her mind churned. The Valeria she’d glimpsed in Adriana’s old photos—a modest housewife tethered to domestic drudgery—bore no resemblance to this polished vision before her. The transformation was jarring, a riddle that defied logic. The Barnett family had cast her aside, her worth reduced to mundane chores. How had she breached the hallowed halls of Starbright Group?
Adriana’s past grievances echoed in Miranda’s ears, fueling her skepticism. She turned to Luciana, her voice sharpening with disbelief. “Luciana, why was she hired without my say? As her direct supervisor, shouldn’t I have had a hand in this? Who approved her?”
