Chapter 2 The Last Rejection

Nora Ryan, the stunning billionairess and CEO of Ryan Estates, sat poised behind her massive mahogany desk, her eyes sharp and unyielding as they locked onto Kelvin, her business partner. Kelvin stood before her,tall, handsome, his hopeful gaze fixed on her like a man clutching at a fragile dream. In his hands, he held a ring, fingers trembling ever so slightly. He smiled nervously, gathering his courage, but Nora could feel the raw, anxious energy radiating from him.

"Leave my office right now!" Nora's voice cut through the thick silence,firm, commanding. Her right hand sliced through the air, pointing unwaveringly at the door. Her furious stare pinned Kelvin in place, and his confident posture crumbled, his eyes dropping to the floor, shame and disappointment washing over his face like a cold wave.

"Are you deaf, Kelvin?" Her voice sharpened, rising with a fierce edge. "I said you should walk out of my office."

For a heartbeat, Kelvin was speechless. Then, swallowing his pride, he found his voice, his eyes pleading as they met Nora's. "But... what have I done wrong, Nora?" His voice was strained, thick with hurt and confusion.

Nora's expression remained as icy as ever. "I don't need your ring," she said quietly, but her words were sharper than any shout. "And I don't want to marry you."

Kelvin's gaze dropped helplessly to the ring nestled in his palm, a burning heat of embarrassment spreading through him. He had believed,no, he had known that Nora loved him, that she would accept him without hesitation.

"I love you, Nora," he began desperately. "You're all I..."

"Stop," Nora snapped, cutting him off like a whip cracking in the air. Her anger boiled over, her voice a low thunder. "I have decided. Not. To accept your ring. You can't force me. Besides, you're far from the only man I've turned down." Her stare pierced him like a dagger. "So, Mr. Kelvin, I suggest you use the door."

Kelvin's POV

I exhaled slowly, fingers reluctantly closing the ring case before slipping it into my suit pocket. Rising, I met Nora's gaze just for a moment and then looked away, unable to bear the cold finality in her eyes. I moved quietly to the door, opened it, and paused, stealing one last glance at her.

Our eyes locked, a silent farewell hanging heavy in the air. Then, I stepped out, closing the door softly behind me. Every step away from her office felt like sinking deeper into defeat and humiliation.

Driving away, my mind spiraled through memories and doubts. Nora was the only woman I had ever loved. I thought she felt the same,the stolen smiles, the shared laughter during meetings. I had been so blind.

Now, I carried the sting of rejection like a wound that refused to heal. How could I face her again? Would the guilt and shame haunt every interaction, every glance?

She was young, beautiful, and untouchable, a legend among billionaires for rejecting their proposals. High standards, unyielding. Who would be the man to finally meet them?

As the city blurred past my window, I wondered if I was just another name on her long list of rejected suitors. The raw vulnerability I felt was suffocating. I needed time. Time to heal. Time to move on.

Nora's POV

Leaning back in her swivel chair, Nora exhaled deeply, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips as Kelvin's failed proposal replayed in her mind.

Who does he think he is? she thought bitterly. How dare he show up with that cheap ring? It didn't matter if he was a billionaire or not, she had everything she could ever need, and she depended on no one.

Smiling at the memory of their business smiles and laughter, she reminded herself firmly: Just because he smiled with me, that doesn't mean he owns a place in my life.

She was content in her singlehood, free from commitments, free from control. Just her and her empire. I just taught him a lesson he won't forget, she mused. And hopefully, he'll pass it on to the others so they don't fall into the same pit.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

"Please, come in," she said, straightening instantly and turning her sharp gaze toward the door.

Emma, her ever-efficient assistant, entered with a warm smile.

"Sorry for the delay on those documents, Nora," Emma said. "You were busy with your partner, I understand."

"That's fine," Nora replied, reaching for her pen. She quickly signed the papers, offering a grateful smile.

Emma gathered the signed documents and paused at the door.

"One more thing, Miss Nora," she said, turning back. "The long-awaited investor dinner is tomorrow night. Just a reminder."

Nora nodded, a spark of excitement lighting her eyes. "Thank you, Emma. I almost forgot. I'll be there. Hope to see you around."

As Emma left, Nora leaned back once more, a genuine smile brightening her face. The investor dinner was always a highlight, a night where business and opportunity intertwined beneath glittering chandeliers. Every time she attended, she met new potential partners-and sometimes, old ones.

Nora's POV

Tomorrow, I won't mingle with any billionaire, she thought with quiet resolve. All my male partners seem to fall for me, forgetting the real reason we work together. But I don't blame them. Their proposals remind me-I am still the beautiful, untouchable Nora Ryan, the woman everyone in the city talks about.