Treat Me As A Stranger

"Mrs—Ms. Vance!"

Silas's voice struggled to pierce the deafening roar of the paparazzi. He shoved his way through the surging wall of reporters, his usually immaculate suit wrinkling as elbows and heavy camera lenses battered him from all sides. He stumbled forward, almost losing his footing on the unforgiving pavement before stopping a few feet away from Valerie and Jace.

Valerie blinked against the relentless camera flashes. She pushed away Jace's shielding hand and peeked out from his protective embrace. Recognizing the breathless secretary, her expression hardened.

"What is it, Mr. Reed?" she asked, her tone crisp and steady.

Silas took a second to catch his breath. He straightened his tie, looking out of place amidst the celebrity chaos. "Ms. Vance, Mr. Thorne asked you to come over."

Hearing this, Valerie arched a brow. She shifted her gaze past the panting secretary, looking down the street. Over ten meters away, the sleek black Maybach sat idling like a predator waiting in the shadows. The tinted windows made it impossible to see inside, but she could feel the oppressive weight of Dominic's stare locking onto her. He was watching her every move.

Her lips curled into a cold, indifferent smile. "I'm sorry, Mr. Reed. Please relay this message to Mr. Thorne." She paused, letting her words slice through the surrounding clamor. "To avoid unwanted speculations, I think it's best for him to treat me as a stranger if we meet each other from now on."

Before Silas could process the firm rejection, the mob surged again. The paparazzi hurled a fresh volley of questions, thrusting microphones dangerously close to Valerie's face.

"Valerie, is it true you and Jace are dating?"

"How does Mr. Thorne feel about this?"

Sensing the escalating danger, Jace tightened his grip on her wrist. The sound of screeching tires echoed down the block, signaling the imminent arrival of his fan club. "Let's get in the car first," he urged, his voice low and urgent.

Having delivered her final word to Dominic, Valerie had no desire to linger. She gave a curt nod and let Jace drag her toward his roaring blue Maserati. She slipped into the passenger seat and yanked the seatbelt across her chest just as a massive wave of shrieking fans flooded the street, swarming the exact area they had occupied seconds ago.

Looking through the glass at the terrifying mob of teenage girls and aggressive reporters, she let out a long breath. If they had stayed even a moment longer, those overly eager fans would have torn her to shreds.

Jace slammed on the gas. The Maserati lurched forward, its engine growling as it sliced through the city traffic. He expertly navigated the winding streets, taking sharp turns and utilizing narrow alleys until the persistent pursuers were nothing but dust in their rearview mirror.

The chaotic noise of the streets faded into the hum of the engine. Valerie turned her head, fixing Jace with a pointed look. "You should avoid heeding Melanie's suggestions in the future."

When Melanie promised a surprise for her post-divorce freedom, Valerie assumed it would be a quiet dinner or a nice gift. She never expected her friend to orchestrate a massive, risky publicity stunt on the steps of the Civic Hall. Her temples throbbed at the thought of the impending internet storm. She was about to become the center of a ridiculous rumor involving one of the country's hottest stars.

Jace gripped the steering wheel, remaining unfazed. A rebellious smirk played on his lips. "In my opinion, Melanie's idea is brilliant."

Valerie let out a breath of exasperation. "Did you pick up her bad habits after hanging out with her for so long?"

"Don't wrongly accuse me, Val," Jace replied, his tone shifting. He brought the car to a smooth halt as the traffic light ahead turned red. He turned to face her, the playful smirk gone, replaced by a solemn, fierce expression. "I just can't stand another person bullying you. Even if that person is Dominic Thorne."

His unexpected loyalty tugged at her heart. The genuine concern in his eyes was a stark contrast to the cold indifference she had grown accustomed to over the past three years. A warm, genuine smile touched her lips.

"Don't worry," Valerie assured him, her voice laced with newfound steel. "No one can bully me."

She used to bite her tongue and swallow the Thorne family's cruel mistreatment, clinging to the naive hope that her silent endurance might one day earn Dominic's affection. Those days were over. Her eyes held a determined glint. She was done being a pushover.

Back on Civic Hall Street, Silas stood frozen on the sidewalk. He watched the blue Maserati speed away, blending seamlessly into the dense city traffic until it disappeared altogether. The swarming paparazzi and shrieking fans had already bypassed him, sprinting down the block in a futile attempt to chase Jace's car.

Left standing alone in the clearing, Silas swallowed hard. He turned around and faced the idling black Maybach. The walk back to the vehicle felt like marching toward an execution. He had no idea how he was going to deliver Valerie's message without triggering an explosion.

Opening the passenger door, he slipped inside and shut out the street noise. The silence in the cabin was suffocating.

"Mr. Thorne," Silas began, keeping his gaze fixed on the dashboard. "Ms. Vance didn't want to come over."

In the backseat, Dominic's expression was a mask of dark, terrifying ice. His knuckles were bone-white against the leather armrest. "I'm not blind."

He had watched the entire scene unfold. He had seen his newly divorced wife willingly get into a flashy sports car with a young, handsome male celebrity, driving off with an intimacy that made his blood boil.

Silas pursed his lips, bracing himself for the impact. "Ms. Vance asked me to pass along a message to you."

Dominic's somber expression flickered. The suffocating tension in the car eased a fraction. "What did she say?"

A fleeting thought crossed Dominic's mind. I suppose she's not tactless. At least she knows to let Silas relay a message to explain herself.

Silas gripped his knees. "Ms. Vance said that to avoid unwanted speculations, she thinks it's best for you to treat her as a stranger if you two meet each other from now on."

The temperature inside the Maybach plummeted. Dominic's face instantly darkened into a terrifying mask of fury. The simmering wrath he had been trying to contain erupted, filling the cramped space with a volatile, suffocating pressure.

"Very well," Dominic sneered, his voice dripping with venom. The words sounded like grinding stones. He leaned forward, his eyes blazing with unhinged rage. "Do not mention her in front of me ever again!"

Silas trembled in his seat, his heart hammering against his ribs. "Yes, Mr. Thorne."

He clamped his mouth shut, not daring to make another sound. Having worked as Dominic's right-hand man for years, Silas knew how to read the room. At this exact moment, his boss was radiating a burning, dangerous wrath that could scorch anyone who dared to speak out of turn.

"Start the car!" Dominic barked, the sudden volume making the driver jump.

The chauffeur's hands shook as he gripped the steering wheel. "R-right away, Mr. Thorne. Apologies, sir."

The Maybach lurched forward, its tires biting into the asphalt. Dominic remained silent in the back. He leaned against the plush leather seat, his venomous eyes fixed grimly on the dispersing, disappointed crowd outside the window. His jaw was clenched so tight it looked ready to snap.

A short while later, the roaring engine of the blue Maserati echoed through a spacious, private parking lot. Jace slid the vehicle into the only available VIP spot and cut the engine.

Valerie glanced out the window, recognizing the towering architecture of the building before them. This was the headquarters of Phantom Entertainment. She turned back to Jace. "Did Melanie tell you to bring me here as well?"

Jace unbuckled his seatbelt and flashed her a dazzling, innocent smile. "She's just concerned about you."

The sheer wattage of his practiced charm was blinding. Valerie found it difficult to look away from his striking features, but she refused to fall for the act. She narrowed her eyes, delivering a light, pointed warning.

"Don't go overboard, Jace. Do you think I won't dare to lay my fingers on a younger man or make a move on my own subordinate? Is that why you're trying to captivate me with that bewitching smile?"

Phantom Entertainment had been established five years ago, but it was only in the last two years that the agency had skyrocketed to success, producing several top-tier male celebrities. Jace was their crown jewel. What the public didn't know—and what the Thorne family certainly didn't know—was that Valerie was the secret, outright owner of the successful agency. Jace was, essentially, her employee.

Instead of backing down, Jace leaned in slightly, a mischievous glint in his eyes. He clicked his tongue. "If you wish to have me, I'll gladly offer myself to you. I'll take a shower and lie on your bed, waiting for you to make a move on me."

Valerie stared at him, rendered speechless. The brazen, shameless teasing caught her off guard. A faint flush crept up her neck as she struggled to find a comeback to his unpredictable banter. Realizing he was a menace she couldn't easily mess with, she pushed her car door open.

"Let's just go inside," she muttered, quickly ushering him out of the parking lot to escape the stifling dynamic.

They walked through the grand entrance and stepped into the pristine corridors of the company. Because Valerie preferred to stay behind the scenes, most of the staff members bustling around had no idea she was the big boss. However, seeing the agency's top star personally leading her through the halls, the employees stopped and bowed, greeting them with polite, curious smiles.

They navigated the sleek hallways until they reached the heavy double doors of a lavish private office. Jace stopped in his tracks, leaning against the doorframe.

"Val, Melanie is waiting for you inside. I'll ask someone to send some snacks over for you two."

Valerie eyed him suspiciously. "What's the matter? Weren't you an expert in causing trouble earlier? Are you running away now that it's time to settle the score?"

Thanks to his and Melanie's orchestrated spectacle, maintaining her low profile was now a pipe dream.

Jace merely grinned, reaching out to push the door open for her. "Melanie came up with this plan all by herself. You should settle the score with her."

Valerie chuckled, shaking her head. "Fine. Go home and get some rest. Why'd you come to put on a show even during your day off? It's not like the company will give you an award for your dedication."

"I don't mind, as long as you won't blame me." With a final, charming wink, Jace wisely slipped away to attend to his own schedule.

Valerie stepped into the expansive, lavish office and pushed the heavy doors shut behind her. She rounded the corner and paused. Melanie was casually lounging on an expensive designer sofa, her legs draped over the armrest in a posture that screamed relaxed defiance.

"Do your fans know about how ungraceful your posture is in private?" Valerie asked dryly.

Unfazed by the arrival or the mockery, Melanie immediately sat up. Her eyes sparkled with wicked excitement. She held up a glowing tablet and beckoned wildly with her free hand. "Come quickly, Val! You're trending!"

"Weren't you the one who made that happen?" Valerie retorted, walking over.

Melanie grabbed Valerie's wrist and yanked her down onto the sofa. She shoved the tablet directly into Valerie's hands, gleefully revealing the explosive results of their morning stunt.

The screen was flooded with articles, forum threads, and thousands of comments. The boldest headline screamed that Valerie was Jace's tragic, long-time secret crush. The internet was melting down, spinning wild tales of unrequited love and sudden freedom.

"Look at this," Melanie said proudly, tapping the screen. "What do you think about this trending topic? Let's see if those people will still dare to make fun of you for being obsessed with Dominic in a one-sided relationship!"

Valerie stared at the screen, her mind spinning. The sheer scale of the media explosion was massive. She was currently trending nationwide.

Melanie crossed her arms, a triumphant smirk on her face. She admitted that she had orchestrated the entire dramatic spectacle for one sole purpose: to shatter the humiliating, long-standing rumors of Valerie's pathetic obsession with Dominic Thorne. Since Valerie had suffered in silence under the Thorne family's thumb for years, Melanie wanted her to walk away with her head held high, rubbing her newfound worth in the faces of her haters.

"You can rest assured because I've arranged everything," Melanie continued, her voice vibrating with excitement. "Today was Jace's turn. I've already talked to Carter. I'm going to ask him to show up when he returns from his advertisement shoot later this week. We'll drag him into the fray and bury the Thorne family's reputation!"

Valerie was stumped. Another massive top star? The chaos would be astronomical.

But Melanie wasn't finished. She sat up straighter, her eyes gleaming with another grand idea. "Aside from that, we also have to hold a party to celebrate you becoming single again! Since you've finally ditched Dominic, we need to go big. I've already preemptively booked an entire banquet venue for tonight. It's expensive, but it's the perfect place for you to finally flaunt your hidden, immense wealth to the world!"

Valerie slowly lowered the tablet. She turned her head and pointedly narrowed her eyes at her friend.

"Are you paying for the venue?" Valerie asked.

Instantly, the triumphant, beaming smile on Melanie's face froze. The boastful energy vanished from the room, replaced by a sudden, heavy awkwardness. Melanie shifted on the sofa, shamelessly offering a sheepish grin.

"Um... Well, this celebration won't be meaningful if I'm the one paying."

Valerie snorted, her disbelief warring with amusement. "Why are you pretending to be generous when you don't have the money?"

Melanie puffed out her chest, recovering her bravado in a heartbeat. "I may not have the money, but you do!"

At a total, exasperated loss for words at her friend's financial audacity, Valerie leaned back against the plush cushions. She stared at Melanie, the architect of today's media circus and tonight's massive bill. She let out a long, heavy sigh, quietly wondering to herself why she had a friend like her.