Glaring at his brothers—that’s what Daniel had been doing since morning.
While he was having a tantrum, the two beagles even dared to laugh in his face. As if making sure his blood would boil, all that needed to happen was for him to whistle like a kettle.
"Daniel, honey, I don’t want any angry faces at the table. The grace might leave us!" His mother, Riri, chided while slicing the ham with her knife and fork.
"Let him be, Mom. He’s definitely angry-angry at us." Ben sneered, laughing so loudly that it echoed through the whole dining area.
Stan, the beagle’s father and Daniel’s as well, snickered—obviously aware of what had made Daniel act like a betrayed man. Busy gnawing his food, he nearly choked when Daniel caught him stifling his smile.
"Why? What happened?" Riri, unaware of the evil plan, asked.
"The reunion for Batch 2009 from our academy happened last night, Mom. And guess what? Daniel showed up—even after how many times he told us he wouldn’t." Steve shared.
Under the table, he felt someone’s foot connect with the bone of his lower left leg, making him jolt. But after a brief grimace, he just laughed it off.
"Oh, really? That’s great! You should get out of the office sometimes, honey. Too much work will kill you, you know?" She nodded her head before sipping her mango juice.
"Besides, you’ve been working yourself to death for years, and I think you’re starting to forget how to take a break. It’s not healthy, baby. You sure don’t want to end up looking like your father. Look at his stomach—his clothes are practically begging to take a vacation from keeping it in for him," she added.
She pointed at Stan’s belly, making him turn to her with a deeply wounded expression. But she just shrugged him off and flipped her hair over her shoulder.
"It’s not that, Mom. Remember Stephanie Mason? Daniel’s girlfriend? I mean… ex-girlfriend." Ben leaned forward, making sure to keep his legs out of Daniel’s reach.
"Yes, of course! I remember that darling. You met her again? It would’ve been nice if you had invited her over—I miss that young lady." She smiled, completely forgetting that she had just roasted her husband's belly.
"Yes, Mom. Daniel’s mind might have slipped that idea, but guess what? He offered her a ride home!" Steve grinned like a clapping seagull, his mouth wide open as he laughed.
His eyes practically disappeared from his smile, and without even trying, his dimples popped on both cheeks.
Lifting an eyebrow so high it nearly touched the ceiling, Daniel frowned at this twisted version of what really happened last night.
This was pure slander.
"Really? Oh, how nice of you, my baby! You know what? I really liked that girl ever since you introduced her to us—" Riri suddenly laughed. "Oh, I forgot, she’s the only girl you ever introduced to us. Right, Stan?"
She nudged her husband under the table with her knee while flashing a wide grin.
Stan snorted into his food and nodded. "I can still recall how embarrassed you looked when your mom showed her your baby Gollum pictures."
Taking the deepest breath he could muster, Daniel smiled through the pain. "Can’t we eat in peace? I’ve got a meeting in an hour," he asked politely before stuffing a mouthful of food into his mouth.
"Someone's getting cranky," Ben whispered to Steve, and the two burst into laughter again.
Curling his lips in annoyance, Daniel could only glare. Murder was out of the question—at least, not in front of their parents. Otherwise, someone was getting scolded like a seven-year-old caught eating a gallon of ice cream and lying about it.
With his mood thoroughly ruined, Daniel left his parents’ house and headed straight to his apartment.
He needed to freshen up before sashaying into his office. His head was so hot, he could almost fry an egg on it—yeah, a cold shower was very necessary.
"Morning, Mr. Chandler. Want me to announce all the things you gotta do today, or shall I leave your fixed schedule on your desk?" Amanda, his ever-present secretary, asked as soon as he stepped out of the elevator.
"I already know my schedule for today, Amanda. Why don’t you buy yourself some breakfast? You look like you really need a Snickers," he lazily muttered, handing her some cash. "Go buy anything you want, and get me a creamy iced coffee when you get back," he added before stepping into his office and slamming the door shut.
From the other side, Daniel heard Amanda mimicking his voice in the most absurd way possible. He could fire her for that.
The only thing stopping him was the fact that she was his childhood best friend—and her father was his family’s most trusted man.
Besides, she was an enormous help, handling his endless phone calls, organizing stacks of paperwork, and, more importantly, being one of the few people he trusted more than his own brothers.
Rough morning. This had to be one of his worst mornings ever.
The billboard picture had finally changed from Stephanie’s face to a car ad. Better than her face, at least. But instead of feeling relieved, his expression didn’t shift in the slightest.
Since the reunion, he hadn't been able to sleep.
It had been so long since he last saw her.
Eight years. Eight long years—and now she was back, hanging around.
Although he knew she had only returned to her hometown for that stupid event,which he wished he had never attended, the fact remained.
Seeing her again, up close and personal, Daniel couldn’t help but notice how much she had changed.
How much she had... matured. Her body had become more—more of everything. Her face was just as beautiful as it had always been.
No surprise there.
Stephanie Mason never failed to attract men like moths to a flame.
But what kept gnawing at him about last night was where the hell was her boyfriend? He thought she was supposed to show up with him. Who cares, anyway?
Clicking his tongue, he walked toward his desk, sat down, and leaned back, shutting his eyes for a moment. But every time he did, Stephanie’s face flickered to life behind his eyelids, like an unskippable ad.
"What the hell is wrong with your head, Daniel?" he muttered to himself, biting at the skin on his thumb—a nasty habit. Gross.
It hadn’t been planned. Asking Stephanie to hop in his car. Offering her a ride home. If it weren’t for those beagles he had for brothers, he never—never—would have done it. Why? Because he was still mad at her.
That night, he had seen how lost she was. Stephanie was tough, but he knew she was also practical. Too practical.
And she wasn’t just any woman—she was a famous actress, adored by almost everyone. Except him, of course.
A little reverse psychology and she’d probably c***k.
Women and their abnormalities.
Aside from that, he had also noticed how tense she was sitting in the passenger seat. Her false smile. Her hardened expression. Too bodacious. Too perfect. He could see through it. Like always.
It was almost laughable—the way she sat there, silent, the entire ride.
Then, they pulled up in front of a luxury condo unit, ranging from $7.4 million to $20 million per apartment.
He wondered how much money she had stacked after starring in those four leading roles.
Shaking off the thought of her face lingering in his mind, Daniel forced himself to remember the past. How his heart had shattered into tiny pieces—pieces he had to painstakingly glue back together, night after night, day after day.
It had been pure torture.
But who could blame her? He used to be a nobody, while she was the talk of the town.
"I entered your office, slammed the door shut, and have been standing here for, I think, four years—and you haven't blinked once."
Amanda's voice shattered his staring contest with absolutely nothing. She was standing in front of his desk, holding a cup of iced coffee in her hands, one brow raised.
"Sorry—" Daniel cleared his throat, wiping his mouth with his palm as if that would erase whatever dazed expression she’d caught him wearing.
His hands moved to straighten his desk, shoving his laptop aside just in case Amanda did something tragic, like spill coffee all over it.
"Yep, and just so you know, I never skip breakfast. So no, I didn't buy myself an egg sandwich. And I hate caramel and chocolate, so I definitely didn’t get a Snickers. But—since you gave me the cash, I’m keeping it." She flashed a smug smile as she set his coffee down, placing both hands on her hips.
"Your meeting with some interested investors starts in ten minutes. Looks like you and Ben are the only ones needed. So I suggest you bring that coffee with you while I work my ass off at my desk, answering calls from all your suitors." Her smirk was all sarcasm as she sauntered out of his office.
Daniel rolled his eyes. He had no choice but to head to the conference room.
Checking his phone, he saw a message from Ben:
Can't make it on time. Sending the reps and the endorser first. Gonna crawl in later. They won’t even notice.
Shaking his head, Daniel grabbed his coffee and marched toward the conference room.
His father would be there—of course. He was the head of way too many companies, after all.
Stepping into the room, his eyes instantly locked onto the mossy green gaze of the last person he ever wanted to see again.
His body tensed, his grip tightening around his coffee cup. He was seconds from retreating when—
"My son! Come on in!"
Stan’s voice boomed, effectively trapping him.
"Where the hell is Ben? It’s already past the assigned meeting time! Did he tell you he was running late? And he let the endorser and representatives get here first?" His father’s forced formal smile barely hid his frustration as he rubbed his stomach, which stuck out against his suit.
"Yeah, Ben left me a message a few minutes ago." Daniel took a sip of his coffee, stealing a glance at Stephanie—just in time to see her applying red lipstick.
"He said that, uh—"
His voice trailed off as his brows lifted, his lower lip unknowingly clamping between his teeth.
She pressed her lips together, then—pop.
Daniel blinked.
"He said—"
Stan squinted, noticing how his son was suddenly gulping hard—and almost choking on it.
Curious, he followed Daniel’s gaze and quickly discovered exactly what—or rather, who—had his son distracted.
Stephanie Mason.
Clearing his throat, Daniel shifted his chair, positioning himself so that his back faced her.
"He's gonna be here soon, but I don’t think I can participate in the meeting today, Dad." He sucked his inner cheek before inhaling sharply. "I forgot I have a business meeting in ten minutes. I think you can handle this one alone, right, Dad? Besides, I’ll have Amanda take notes on the meeting’s highlights." He forced a constipated-looking smile and took a step toward the door.
But before he could reach the handle, Stan yanked him back by his ear.
Daniel stifled a pained grunt, his poor ear protesting loudly.
Thankfully, the investors were too caught up in their own discussions to notice that the CEO’s father was physically manhandling him.
"You, get back in here," Stan muttered lowly. "I asked Amanda for your schedule, and guess what? No other meetings before lunch but this one. So get your ass in that seat before I make you."
Massaging his violated ear, Daniel had no choice but to drop into one of the swivel chairs around the oval table—the furthest one away from her.
"Uh—Mr. Chandler, that’s my seat."
A polite yet firm voice pulled him back. One of the investors had tapped his shoulder, pointing at the chair he was currently occupying.
"Can we switch seats, Ms. Davis? Just this once. I’m not really in the mood to sit next to my father." Daniel whispered to the mid-thirties woman, hoping she’d be generous.
Ms. Davis scoffed, but the corners of her lips twitched with amusement. "Oh well, then I’ll take yours."
She moved, and they exchanged brief nods in silent agreement.
As Daniel adjusted himself in his new seat, he tried—really tried—to keep his gaze forward. But his eyes? They had other plans.
Before he could stop himself, he glanced at her.
Stephanie arched a single brow at him, her green eyes dancing with amusement, her expression completely indifferent to the fact that he’d been staring.
Like she hadn’t just caught him admiring her.
His frown deepened, and he turned away, shaking it off.
He hated making eye contact with her. It made him feel exposed—like he was still that same vulnerable, pathetic boy who had once fallen for her.
And worse?
It made him feel like a coward.
Stan snapped his fingers, grabbing the presenter’s attention so they could begin assessing the model for publication.
Twenty minutes into the presentation, Daniel’s mind was somewhere else. He barely moved from his seat, his entire body stiff and resisting the urge to turn around and see exactly who was sitting behind him.
He didn’t want to see her face again.
Didn’t want to feel her judgment, piercing him with nothing but her eyes.
He was already lucky enough to smell the scent of her silent disapproval.
Last night.
The bitter memory crawled into his thoughts.
After giving her a ride home, she didn’t even say, “Thank you.”
What an ungrateful woman.
His jaw tensed. His grip tightened around the pen he was holding. The longer he thought about it, the fuller his anger grew.
What the hell happened to her?
She used to be polite. Used to have manners. Now? She was someone else entirely.
And he hated it.
A deep crease formed between his brows, his lips naturally pushing into a pout. From an outsider’s perspective, he probably looked like a man on the verge of exploding.
What’s even happening to me?
He shouldn’t be tense. He should be proud.
Proud that she was in his territory.
Let her see what he had become. Let her be grateful—because she was about to make money thanks to the company he built.
Right. He should be relaxed. Confident.
He was a high-standard man. Practically worshipped by many women.
So why did it suddenly feel so wrong?
“Mr. Daniel?”
His name being called snapped him back to reality.
Both eyebrows lifted, he pulled himself up, forcing his back straight.
"Pardon me, what was the question again?" Daniel asked, clearing his throat, shame heating his face.
"Uh—Mr. Chandler has left the final decision up to you on whether to take Ms. Mason as the model for our company. Her manager is also here, so if it's settled, they could sign the contract right now."
Licking his suddenly dry lips, Daniel carefully glanced at his father.
Stan’s expression was clear.
It said, “Give me a damn good answer, or I’ll renounce your place and replace you with Amanda.”
Trying so hard not to look in Stephanie’s direction, he bit his tongue before giving a slow nod.
It was against what he had in mind, but he couldn’t deny the obvious—if they took Stephanie as the company’s model, their ratings and product sales would skyrocket.
But on second thought…
There were plenty of sexier, prettier celebrities out there.
Women who weren’t tangled in messy past relationships.
Women who wouldn’t turn his life into a problem.
"So... Mr. Daniel?"
"How many of us have agreed to this?" he asked, keeping his eyes on the papers in front of him, avoiding everyone else's gaze.
"Everyone has, Mr. Daniel. Including your father. But the final decision is yours."
Daniel curved his lips into a tight smirk before nodding again.
"Okay, then. She can start whenever she's needed."
With that, he picked up his pen and signed the contract, approving her as the company’s model.
The moment his signature met the paper, a heavy feeling settled deep inside him.
Like a voice whispering in the back of his mind.
This is the beginning of your suffering.
He was doomed.
Why?
That was for him to find out.
All he knew was—his life was about to become a living hell.
A nightmare he’d have to endure with his eyes wide open.