Cordelia sits in the main dining room, her thoughts clouded with the perpetrator’s words. It’d have been so easy if he wasn’t a damn criminal. No matter how good looking he was, he still broke into their house—and he blames it on dimension travel. Even if it was true—how would he have ended up in her father’s office? No, she wasn’t going to dignify that thought.

Cordelia would groan if she weren’t in the presence of her parents. She looks at her mother and father conversing—despite their differences in parenting (and most hobbies), the two shared a love stronger than Cordelia’s ever seen. She should have been the same—learning that lifelong love was possible for her. If her mother could get with someone—anyone could find happiness. Her wealth is more attractive than her charm—and—thanks to the tabloids—any smart person would be wise to stay away from her. It’s why she loved St. Antilla as much as she did—she could be herself. But even so, she never found success. Not like Noralyn did—what was a disastrous mistake turned out to be the lottery for her. Not that Cordelia wanted to end up with her own Landon in exchange for love, but it had to help. The way her parents worked together with the Firthe Hotels and Suites—they were a dream team. If only Cordelia could be so lucky.

She stares at her phone—left on read by Noralyn …again. She frowns, stuffing her phone into her purse.

“Cordelia, no phones at the dinner table. You know better.” Her mother scolds, pointing a fork at her.

“Yeah, I know,” Cordelia mutters, staring at the glazed chicken on her plate. Scalloped potatoes and green beans drizzled in cashew sauce—it’s one of her favourites. Coincidentally, it was her mother’s as well.

“Cordelia, did you hear me? The Stratfords are planning to drop by. Aiden will be joining them—he’s just finished his master’s degree in Psychology.”

“Wonderful—another man to psychoanalyze me.” Cordelia rolls her eyes—Aleck widening his own. Her father didn’t have to worry—it’s not like her mother would get the reference. She thought her and her father were having an outing downtown—as promised, she said nothing about Willa Corp to the woman.

“Be serious. I’ve always thought he’d be a good match. You don’t have much time until you’re thirty.”

Cordelia raises an amused brow, “What’s this, you’re sighing me up for the marriage market now?”

“No—but you’d be wise in considering it. With your attitude, you’re not going to find anyone appropriate for you—judging how you’re not going to make work of the company—at least learn to marry wealthy.”

“Merise,” Aleck steps in. “Our Delia’s got a point. She doesn’t need to marry.”

“No, I suppose not. But I worry.” She turns back to Cordelia. “Do you really plan on breezing through life with no direction?”

“I said I was working on it before you took away my tuition.”

Merise sighs, gripping onto her fork. She mutters under her breath. “I understand you’re upset with me, but the University has done nothing but encourage your bad behaviour. I even gave you an easy position to start off with, but you’re not taking that seriously either.”

“Because it’s menial work.”

“You’re not ready for management.” Her mother warns. “No one takes you seriously.”

“Merise,” Aleck interjects. “Cordelia’s trying her best.”

“How can they when the tabloids pick up on every little thing our daughter does? And she’s just fueling the fire.”

“Guys, I’m still here—or have you forgotten?”

Merise frowns. “You didn’t check the trending tags, did you?”

Cordelia made a habit to avoid social media—not that it mattered. Others found ways to get her online without her consent. “What did they say about me today?” She takes her mother's cell phone.

“I swear—if they made a fool out of our daughter again, I’ll make them pound sand.” She barely hears her father as the tag says, #spoiledbratfirthe. Below it, was pictures of Cordelia on her work break through various days of the week, looking disinterested as hell. Not that Cordelia could argue—the job itself was boring—but the comments below…

They’re just mean.

“I’ll have a meeting with the board on Monday to get behind who’s posting these,” Merise says softly. “I didn’t want to rub it in—but this is how the outside world sees you.”

“Mom, they always saw me this way. That’s not going to change.”

“I have a solution—how about Cordelia works with me? She’ll still be on the clock, and, away from public scrutiny.” Aleck adds in. “She’ll replace my secretary until all of this blows over.”

“Normally I’d say no—but I think that’s best, for now. I can assume you agree with your father, right Cordelia?”

“I do…” Her father had others act on his behalf because of this whole Willa Corp thing—wait—did he just pull her from Firthe Hotels and Suites to work for Willa Corp? Cordelia stiffens—good god—her dad saved her from hell! That also meant that she owed him one.

Guess she was going on that date after all.