Chapter 18

Allyson's POV

Allyson sat at the head of the long mahogany table in the boardroom of Spark Empire. The board members, a mix of old and new faces, murmured among themselves as they glanced at her. Her uncle, Richard, sat to her right, his expression stern but proud.

"Gentlemen," Allyson began, her voice steady and authoritative. "I know my return might come as a surprise to many of you, but it was always my intention to step into my father's shoes and lead Spark Empire to greater heights."

The murmuring ceased as the board members listened intently. Allyson outlined her vision for the company, her plans for expansion, and her strategies for overcoming the challenges they faced. By the end of her presentation, the room was filled with nods of approval and murmurs of agreement.

Richard leaned over and whispered, "Well done, Allyson. You've got their support."

She smiled, feeling a surge of confidence. She knew she was ready to fill in the role of CEO of Spark Empire.

Nate's POV

Nate stared at the divorce papers lying on the coffee table in his living room. The house felt emptier without Allyson's presence. He couldn't shake the image of her walking away with that motorcade, the confidence in her stride.

Rachel sat next to him, flipping through a magazine. She glanced up and noticed his preoccupied state. "What's wrong, Nate? You should be happy. You're finally free from her."

Nate sighed. "I thought I would be, but now... I don't know. I can't stop thinking about her. There's something more to this that I just can't figure out."

Rachel's expression soured. "She's a liar and a cheat, Nate. You saw the photos. What more do you need?"

He looked at her, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. "I don't know, Rachel. Something just doesn't add up."

Rachel's POV

Rachel felt a surge of panic. Nate was slipping through her fingers, and she couldn't let that happen. She had worked too hard to get him.

"I think you need a distraction," she said, trying to sound seductive. "Why don't we go out tonight? Have some fun, forget about Allyson."

Nate hesitated but finally nodded. "Yeah, maybe you're right."

Rachel smiled, but her mind raced. She needed to ensure that Allyson stayed out of the picture for good. As they left the house, Rachel pulled out her phone and sent a quick text to her private investigator, instructing him to dig deeper into Allyson's life.

Allyson's POV

Later that night, Allyson sat in her penthouse, staring out at the city skyline. Her phone buzzed, and she saw a message from Kelvin.

"Great job today, Allyson. Proud of you. Let's catch up soon."

She smiled and typed a quick reply. Kelvin had been a rock for her through all of this. She knew she could count on him. She had opened up to him on who she was and had pleaded with him not to disclose her real identity to Nate.

Her thoughts drifted back to Nate. Despite everything, she still loved him. She wondered if there was any way to salvage their relationship. But the betrayal and hurt were too fresh in her mind.

She sighed, knowing she had to focus on her role at Spark Empire. There would be time to figure out her personal life later. For now, she had an empire to run.

Nate's POV

As Nate and Rachel sat at the bar, he couldn't help but feel out of place. Rachel laughed and chatted animatedly, but he found himself zoning out, thinking about Allyson.

"I need to use the restroom," he said, getting up.

In the restroom, Nate splashed water on his face and stared at his reflection. What was he doing? His life felt like it was spinning out of control. He needed answers.

Returning to the bar, he picked up his phone and sent a text to Kelvin. "Can we talk? I need to figure some things out."

Kelvin's reply was swift. "Of course. Anytime."

Rachel's POV

Rachel noticed Nate's distant expression and felt a twinge of fear. She needed to tighten her grip on him, and fast. She excused herself and went to the restroom, dialing the private investigator.

"Find something, anything, that can ruin Allyson," she hissed. "I don't care what it takes."

The investigator assured her he was on it. Rachel returned to the bar with a renewed determination. She would not lose Nate to Allyson, no matter what.

Allyson's POV

The next morning, Allyson arrived at the office, ready to tackle another day. She was greeted by respectful nods and smiles from the staff, a stark contrast to the cold shoulders she had received before.

As she entered her office, her assistant handed her a stack of files. "These are the reports you asked for, Ms. Spark."

"Thank you," Allyson said, sitting down at her desk. She glanced at the first file, but her mind was elsewhere - Nate. 

Her phone buzzed, and she saw a message from Kelvin. "Can we meet for lunch? Something important to discuss."

Allyson agreed, hoping that Kelvin had some insight into how she could mend things with Nate.

Nate's POV

Nate sat in a café, waiting for Kelvin. He felt a mix of anxiety and anticipation. Kelvin was the only one who might have the answers he needed.

When Kelvin arrived, Nate wasted no time. "I need to know the truth about Allyson."

Kelvin sighed. "Nate, there's a lot you don't know. Allyson's been through hell and back, and she's not who you think she is."

Nate leaned forward, his heart pounding. "Tell me everything."

"I can't bro, I'd be breaking a promise if I do that but first, you need to cut Rachel lose" Kelvin said angrily.

Rachel's POV

Rachel was shocked when she found out that the CEO of Spark Empire the office was expecting that morning turned out to be Allyson. 

She couldn't believe her eyes. 

Even when Rachel called for a brief staff meeting that morning, Rachel could barely look at her face. Before noon, Rachel resigned.