Chapter 3 Equality

For the rest of the night, she had trouble sleeping.

In her nightmare, she dreamt that the kidnappers asked her why Kenneth didn't care if she lived or died. And she told them that he didn't care about her life simply because he didn't love her.

Thereafter, the kidnapper pushed her off a cliff.

Stirring awake, Selena sat upright, breaking into cold sweat.

When she looked at the pillow and the bedsheet, she found that they were drenched in sweat. She sat there, staring at an empty space for a few minutes before she took a shower, despite her injuries.

Upon finishing breakfast, Selena drove to the company.

The second she got off the elevator, she heard one of her colleagues. "Miss Adams, I've finished cleaning your office!"

Selena stopped in her tracks and looked up ahead to see what was going on.

There was this woman standing at a distance, her elegant attire accentuating her long, cascading black hair.

Selena had often seen Giselle from behind, shielded by Kenneth, but never her face.

She found herself curious about the features of the woman who held Kenneth's undivided attention.

Feeling Selena's gaze, the woman gracefully turned to face her.

When their eyes met, a realization dawned on Selena. The contrast between her and Giselle was stark.

Where Selena radiated a brightness akin to the sun, Giselle exuded the serene glow of moonlight. They were indeed worlds apart.

"Miss Adams, meet Miss Owen," a colleague introduced warmly. "And Miss Owen, this is Giselle Adams."

Giselle's eyes held a fleeting, knowing look, but she greeted Selena with a soft smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Owen."

Selena responded coolly, "It's still quite early for a visit, Miss Adams."

Giselle's composure faltered slightly, sensing Selena's sarcasm.

Even though she hated the very idea of it, she maintained her kind demeanor.

"Ken brought me here early today. My apologies."

Even though she was apologizing, she sounded so conceited.

The familiar way she referred to Kenneth wasn't lost on Selena.

Sensing the tension, the female colleague decided to lighten the mood between the two.

"Miss Owen, Miss Adams will be joining as the new Marketing Department Director. She'll hold a position equivalent to yours. However, Mr. Powell mentioned that Miss Adams will directly report to him," she said to Selena.

Selena found herself at a loss for words once more.

This was new. Even in his most defiant moments, Kenneth had always maintained decorum within the workplace.

But now, under love's influence, he brazenly brought his paramour into the company, granting her significant authority.

It wasn't just about their closeness; it was his making a major decision without considering Selena or the reputation of the Owen Group. With so many eyes on them, what would people say?

Would her late parents, watching from the beyond, be disappointed?

Kenneth seemed eager to trample her pride, reopen her wounds, and force her to confront this harsh reality.

Her emotions felt as if they were strung on a delicate thread, tugging at her with a persistent, numbing pain.

"Miss Owen, we'll likely cross paths often from now on. I hope we can work harmoniously," Giselle said, her voice cheerful, before she strutted confidently into the CEO's office.

Selena was still in a trance when Jayla Mills, her assistant, rushed over.

"Miss Owen, are you alright?"

With a complexion as pale as snow, Selena was a picture of distress. Concerned for her well-being, Jayla touched her forehead.

The touch of Jayla's hand brought Selena back to reality. Glancing at her palms, Selena noticed the indentations left by her nails.

It was uncharacteristic of her to lose her composure like that. She found herself increasingly irritable lately, especially around Kenneth.

Perhaps she was just exhausted.

"It's fine," she replied, waving it off and heading to her office.

"They are causing quite a stir this time. What's our next move?"

"We've weathered storms like this before, haven't we? Let's tackle it head-on. If they lash out at me, so be it. I can handle it!"

Glancing at her desk, Selena noted the pile of complaint documents. With a mix of frustration and amusement, she remarked, "How did a director's desk become a dumping ground for customer complaints? Distribute these to the respective department heads. Why are they even here?"

Jayla hesitated before replying, "It was Mr. Knight's directive. He claims these complaints stem from issues related to your personal life and you should handle them yourself."

Selena, amused yet irritated, picked up a random file. "A product testing issue is now tied to my personal life?"

Both women shared a laugh at the absurdity.

"Uh... Miss Owen?"

"Yes?"

Jayla seemed like she was hesitant to speak.

Recognizing her hesitance, Selena prompted, "Out with it."

Taking a deep breath, Jayla cautiously suggested, "Have you considered seeking Mr. Powell's assistance? You two are married, after all. Surely, he'd support you in this."