Ch. 46
The Heiress in Plain Sight
The following weekend arrived with an unexpected calm, the kind that made the entire city feel slower.
The calendar marked it as a special non-working holiday for schools meaning no classes, no deadlines, no intramurals, no anything. Students flooded cafés, malls, and nearby beaches, making the most of the long weekend.
But unlike them, most offices still buzzed with work.
And for once, Selene wasn't staying at home.
Her grandfather, the chairman of Valienne Holdings, a prestigious company known for its wide network of international businesses had told her the night before. His voice carried the same calm authority it always did, but this time, there was a hint of sentimentality.
"Visit the office tomorrow, Selene. We want you to start familiarizing yourself with our branch here in the city."
It wasn't an order.
It was an invitation and she gladly accepted. It had been so long since she smelled the faint scent of printer ink, polished floors, and brewed coffee.
In her old life, that environment was home filled with reports, ledgers, and strategy meetings.
A part of her missed it terribly.
Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, she thought, smiling faintly at her reflection in the mirror as she fixed her hair into a neat low ponytail.
She dressed simply in a cream blouse tucked into high-waisted skirt, small pearl earrings, and flats. No designer labels, no flashy accessories. She didn't want to draw attention.
When she arrived at the tall glass building that bore the silver name "Valienne Corporation", the morning rush was in full swing.
Employees walked briskly, clutching their folders and coffee cups, barely glancing up from their phones.
Selene took a deep breath before walking inside. Curious what kind of design the company office has.
The lobby was massive it has marble floors, mirrored walls, and an enormous chandelier that glittered above like falling stars.
She approached the reception desk with a polite smile.
"Good morning. I'm here to see Chairman Valen."
The receptionist, a woman in her early thirties with sharp glasses and an even sharper tone gave her a once glance-over.
"And you are?"
"Selene Valen," she replied simply.
The woman frowned.
"Selene...? You mean Ms. Valen?"
"Yes."
Her tone was calm, but the receptionist's brows rose skeptically. Glancing her from head to toe.
"You're here for the Chairman Valen?" She almost laughed, exchanging glances with another employee behind the desk.
"Miss, you must be mistaken. The Chairman doesn't take walk-ins. Do you have an appointment?"
"No, but—"
"Then I'm sorry, you can't just go up," the woman cut her off, her polite smile turning faintly dismissive.
If you need my ID you can have it checked... she wanted to say.
"This is a restricted building. If you have documents to submit, you can leave them here." The woman continues.
Selene stood still, gripping her bag lightly.
It wasn't the first time she'd been underestimated but it still stung. Before she could explain further, another voice joined in.
"Excuse me, miss, are you from HR? Deliveries are through the back entrance."
A man in a gray suit walked past, giving her a look of mild irritation. Selene exhaled slowly, forcing a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Of course. They think I'm an intern or some random courier. But do I look like one?
Selene asked to herself, almost getting annoyed. She stepped aside and decided to call her grandfather but before she could, the elevator chimed behind her.
A girl in high heels stepped out she's tall, perfectly styled, with chestnut brown hair curled to perfection.
Her outfit screamed luxury~ a fitted white blazer, expensive bag, and sunglasses perched on her head.
The receptionist's face immediately brightened.
"Oh! You must be Chairman Valen granddaughter, right?"
Selene froze mid-sentence.
The brown-haired girl paused too— just for a heartbeat and then smiled elegantly.
"Well... yes, that's me."
Selene's lips parted slightly in surprise.
The receptionist beamed, practically bowing.
"We've been expecting you, Miss Valen! The Chairman is already in the executive floor. Please, right this way!"
The impostor only gave a practiced laugh, pretending to brush it off modestly.
"Oh, I didn't know I'd be recognized so easily."
The staff around the area straightened up, murmuring among themselves.
Selene stood quietly, still holding her bag strap unbothered, but faintly amused.
So, someone's pretending to be me now? Father's security should be trained more... they lack efficiency.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. Not out of amusement but irritation masked under elegance.
The brown-haired girl finally noticed her, giving her a once-over type of look that stripped you down to your simplicity.
Why is she giving me an attitude?
"Hmm, you're here for an appointment too?" she asked sweetly, though her tone dripped with arrogance.
Selene met her gaze calmly.
"Something like that."
"Oh," the girl said, smiling condescendingly.
"Sorry, but they might make you wait. They're quite strict with who they let upstairs."
The receptionist chuckled politely.
"Yes, we don't usually let visitors go up without clearance."
"Understandable." Selene only nodded.
She didn't look angry, just... quietly annoyed but composed.
It would've been easy to expose the lie, one call to her grandfather and the girl's act would crumble instantly.
But Selene didn't.
There was no point.
People reveal themselves without me having to do anything, she thought.
So instead, she stepped aside, letting the little scene unfold as the fake granddaughter followed the receptionist toward the elevator head high, pretending to belong.
Selene turned her gaze toward the floor, a faint smile playing at her lips.
If Grandpa sees her first, that'll be interesting.
The receptionist and the impostor was already inside the elevator. The girl even smirked at her when the elevator closed.
Moments later, another staff member came running, breathless.
"Chairman Valen is asking if his granddaughter has arrived!"
Selene lifted her head at that exact moment.
"Sir John, you're late. Ms. Jana already assisted the granddaughter of Mr. Valen," the other receptionist said brightly, almost proud of herself.
The assistant frowned, confusion flickering on his face.
"Mr. Chairman gave me a photo of his granddaughter. Is this the same person Ms. Jana assisted?"
He showed the picture to the nearby receptionist and both of them froze.
Their eyes darted to Selene.
And just like that, the air shifted. The other receptionist's face drained of color.Every head in the lobby turned toward her.
Oh, grandpa was prepared.
Silence fell— so heavy, awkward, and deafening.
Then someone whispered,
"Then who was the girl Ms. Jana assisted?"
Selene tilted her head slightly, her voice calm, cool, and laced with sarcasm.
"Hi."
The assistant instantly straightened.
"Ah— Miss Valen! My apologies, please follow me. The Chairman and the President are already waiting upstairs."
Selene offered a polite smile.
"Thank you."
And as she walked past the stunned crowd, she could hear the whispers ripple behind her like soft static.
"Wait... she's the real granddaughter?"
"Then who was that other girl—?"
But Selene didn't look back.
Her steps were steady, her posture graceful.
Just as a Valen should be.
She had no interest in humiliating anyone especially not someone who had already done that to herself. The top floor of Valienne Holdings was entirely different it was quiet, polished, and lined with floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the city skyline.
Her grandfather and father were waiting by the conference room.
"Ah, there you are," her grandfather said warmly, his deep voice filling the hall.
"We were starting to think the lobby ate you."
Selene chuckled softly and approached to kiss his cheek.
"Almost did."
Her father smiled but noticed the faint flicker in her eyes.
"Something happened?"
"Nothing important," she said quickly, brushing it off.
"I just got mistaken for a delivery girl."
"Delivery girl? In my building?" Her grandfather's brows rose.
"It's fine," Selene assured him. "No harm done."
He hummed, clearly displeased but let it go for now.
"Next time, they'll know better."
Across the long table, murmurs floated among the executives, most of them middle-aged, wearing polite but puzzled expressions.
"She's the granddaughter?"
"She looks too young..."
"Wasn't she still studying abroad?"
Selene caught every whisper, her hearing sharp even when her expression stayed perfectly neutral.
Her father, ever composed, finally spoke to the room.
"To clarify," he began calmly, "Selene is here only as an observer. She's still finishing her studies, but my father thought it would be good for her to understand how the company operates."
A few nods followed, though the tone was faintly patronizing.
One man at the far end of the table smiled stiffly.
"Ah, of course. Observation is always good experience. Though our meetings can be... quite technical."
Another added, "Yes, perhaps too complex for a student to keep up."
Selene's brow arched slightly.
She didn't reply, but her eyes flicked briefly toward the speaker the kind of glance that was cool, measured, and faintly disarming.
Her grandfather noticed the exchange and smiled faintly, pride gleaming in his eyes.
"She may be young," he said lightly, "but I assure you, she's sharp. You'd be surprised how much she understands."
The man gave an awkward chuckle.
"O-of course, sir. I didn't mean—"
Selene tilted her head slightly.
"No offense taken," she said politely, her voice calm but carrying a hint of edge.
"I'm just here to observe... not to outsmart anyone."
That earned a few nervous smiles around the table and a small chuckle from her father, who could tell his daughter was holding back from saying something far more cutting.
As the meeting went on, talk turned to financial reports, marketing plans, and upcoming partnerships.
Selene quietly took notes, listening with an attentiveness that surprised even the company secretary beside her.
When one executive struggled to explain a proposal involving projected revenue and partnership shares, Selene almost unconsciously, murmured.
"Shouldn't that percentage be 18.7% instead of 21? The profit ratio wouldn't match otherwise."
The room fell silent.
All eyes turned to her.
The executive blinked. "...How did you—"
Selene met his gaze steadily. She doesn't want to answer but her grandfather gave her a reassuring look.
"You mentioned last quarter's total revenue was 1.8 billion, correct? If you divide that by the cost projection you just gave, the margin won't reach 21%. Unless there's an adjustment in expenses, 18.7 would be more accurate."
A pause.
Then her grandfather chuckled, leaning back proudly.
"That's my granddaughter."
Her father smiled slightly, though he shook his head in amusement.
"Selene, you're supposed to be observing."
Selene gave a small shrug, unfazed.
"Habit, sorry."
The once-skeptical executives exchanged glances now impressed, even slightly embarrassed. It was subtle, but the atmosphere in the room had shifted.
After the meeting, Selene excused herself, stepping out into the corridor for some air. She leaned lightly on the railing, looking down at the lobby below where employees bustled about.
A faint smile tugged at her lips.
It's funny, she thought.
In school, they see me as the mysterious student. Here, they see me as an unqualified child. Either way, they're wrong.
Then, from the corner of her eye, she noticed the same receptionist from earlier rushing toward her red-faced, holding a cup of coffee.
"Miss Valen! I— I just wanted to apologize again about earlier. We had no idea—"
Selene waved a hand lightly.
"No need to apologize. It was... entertaining."
The receptionist blinked.
"E-entertaining?"
Selene smiled faintly, the kind of smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Let's just say people show their true nature when they think no one important is watching. Right?"