Chapter 5 Get Her Bracelet Back
Sephora glanced at Rodney. “What is it?”
He had wanted to ask why she stopped playing, but something about her threw him off.
“She’s something else. A motorcycle racer as sharp as Maxwell, who practically lives on the track, and a pianist who plays like a pro. And the way she knocked Maxwell down last time? Strength like that doesn’t come without training,” he thought.
Rodney figured she was under twenty. How could someone this young be this good at everything?
But he pushed his curiosity aside and asked instead, “Did you lose a bracelet? Silver chain, with a ring in the middle?”
She hesitated, then met his eyes. “How do you know?”
“Oh, you must’ve dropped it when you hit my brother last time.”
Sephora held out her hand. “Give it back.”
Rodney blinked. “I don’t have it.”
“Then where is it?”
“With… that guy. But he’s not at Austin Plaza right now.”
Give me his number.”
She replied so fast that Rodney barely had time to think. Before he
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knew it, he had given her Lowell’s number.
“Thanks,” she said
y and turned to lehene
Rodney watched her go, then smacked his forehead. He had completely forgotten to ask what he meant to.
Bridgette overheard the voice, and it sounded like Sephora. But she quickly dismissed the idea.
“Rodney, who was that?” Bridgette asked.
“No idea. Just stay here.
“I’ll call Lanie to come keep you company,” he replied with a scowl.
With that, he walked off, leaving Bridgette alone to wait for Elaine.
Sephora felt restless.
She was finally about to get her bracelet back.
As soon as Sephora stepped out of Austin Plaza, she dialed the number. Lowell picked up, and she got straight to the point. Thinking he might still be mad about the beating last time, she softened her tone. Then she offered to buy back the bracelet.
Her timing was bad. Lowell was in the middle of a meeting and had forgotten his phone was still connected to the speakers. Sephora’s firm, urgent voice filled the room, edged with menace. The dozen executives. exchanged puzzled looks.
Lowell’s face darkened. He hung up immediately.
“We’re moving on,” he said sternly, commanding the room. “The
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Garcia Group collaboration is still on track, but we’ve got problems. I need solid answers today.”
The project manager spoke up. “Mr. Austin, we’ve tried negotiating, but they won’t budge. The scenic site was planned out perfectly, but they went ahead and built a track and even a pond right in the middle of our designated area.
“The terrain’s already tricky with the mountains, and now they’re saying both are private property. If that stands, our construction would. have to be split across two separate zones.”
“The track and pond can be moved,” Lowell said. “And let them stay private spaces.”
“I suggested that. They wouldn’t go for it.”
“Did they say why?”
“Yeah. I was told both are for the CEO’s sister. She runs on that track ll the time, and the pond has fish she’s been raising for years. She’s really attached to them, and moving the pond could kill them.” The project manager nearly winced as he said it. It sounded ridiculous, even to him
That was a multi–billion–dollar project, and the biggest obstacle was a pond full of fish. It felt like a joke.
“Try again.” Lowell rubbed his temples and ignored Sephora’s 34th
call.
“That will be all. Next time, I want results,” he demanded.
Once the others walked out, he called her back. Before he could say a word, Sephora’s sharp voice cut through.
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“Don’t ever let me see your face again. Or I’ll beat you up.”
Her words echoed in his ears. He was silent, already frustrated from work; this was just fuel on the fire.
“Come to the Austin Edifice, 49th floor.” Lowell hung up without waiting for a response and blocked her number.
She tightened her grip on her phone, fuming, “What’s his problem?”
Her thoughts went to his reckless racing last time. Sephora believed he had it coming.
Lowell had her bracelet but wasn’t giving it back. After finally getting through to him, all she got was attitude.
But soon, her frustration turned into unease.
Back then, Sephora hadn’t held back. Without protective gear, he would have ended up in the hospital.
What if he wanted payback?
Sephora hesitated, knowing how ruthless he was from the last race. What if she showed up expecting her bracelet and found a pack of bodyguards instead?
Finally, she set local police on speed dial and hailed a cab.
“Austin Edifice, please,” she told the driver.
Sephora arrived and walked straight in, only to realize the elevator didn’t have a button for the 49th floor.
She walked up to the front desk, and the receptionist asked if she had
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an appointment.
Sephora called Lowell. He gave her a passcode and told her to take the left elevator.
- up. The moment she
She did what he said, and the elevator carried her stepped onto the 49th floor, a man in a suit stood waiting, holding a small box.
“Miss, you’re here for the bracelet?” he asked.
She nodded.
“I’m Mr. Austin’s secretary. Here, check it if you want.”
Sephora took the box, opened it, and made sure it was intact.
Thinking back to the threats she had thrown at Lowell over the phone, she felt a little embarrassed. “Well, please tell him I’m sorry for what I
said earlier.
With that, she turned and left.
Outside, she glanced up at the building once more, then looked down. at the bracelet in her hands, replaying everything. “Maybe I was a little hotheaded. Beating him up on the track? Should’ve kept my cool. Snapping at him over the phone? Yeah, not great either. I should’ve just talked it out.
“Next time, if I run into him again, I’ll thank him properly,” she
muttered.
Upstairs, Lowell watched her fade into the street.
He couldn’t believe he had blocked her over something so minor. That
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was childish, so he took her number off the blacklist. Right then, her call popped up.
Her call popped up. Lowell pictured her face if she couldn’t get through. It would have been priceless.
His phone buzzed again. This time, it was his family’s butler.
“Sir Austin’s seventieth birthday party is set,” the man said. “He wants you there by ten. Mr. Garcia’s sister will be attending too. He hopes you’ll use the chance to nail the deal.”
Lowell barely registered the words. “Yeah, got it.” He hung up.
Sephora got home just in time for dinner.
At the table, Christine, Bridgette, and Gerald sat stiffly, their plates untouched. The air was thick with tension.
The moment Sephora stepped through the door, they all looked at her.
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