“Mira…”

“Mira.”

“Mira!”

I jolted back to consciousness.

For a moment, I didn’t know where I was.

Then I looked around the table in my father’s office, and the familiar surroundings hit me all over again.

The large, hard maple table.

The expensive leather chairs.

The huge window overlooking the city.

This had once been my favorite room in the entire building.

I thought back and remembered when my father would bring me to his meeting room, introduce me to his associates, and sit me on his chair while he conducted his meetings.

To think this same office now felt unfamiliar sent chills down my spine.

A wave of nausea rose within me.

I swallowed it down and forced myself to focus on the meeting taking place around me.

The business meeting continued, with nobody noticing I wasn't really paying attention. All I wanted at that moment was to excuse myself from the room to get some air.

I tried to push the memories away when I heard someone mention my father's name.

“From the investigation, we can conclude that Mr. Blakes was involved in a terrible accident. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time since there were no clues…”

Mr. Chris said.

Before he could finish his statement, I interrupted him in a low voice

“My father wasn't in the wrong place.”

As low as my voice sounded, it cut through the room.

Everyone went silent.

There were no whispers.

Just straight silence.

I slowly lifted my eyes toward Mr. Chris.

“Someone put him there.”

My father's associates exchanged uncomfortable glances with one another but said nothing.

No one could say anything.

Mr. Chris sat up, cleared his throat, and adjusted the papers in front of him.

“We understand that this is difficult for you, Mira, but…”

“I know my father, and he wasn't careless.”

My voice was slightly higher this time.

Still nobody spoke a word.

Mr. Chris eventually proceeded with the meeting

as though I hadn't spoken,

ignoring my gaze throughout the entire meeting.

The meeting finally came to an end, and everyone dispersed one after another,

until I was completely alone in the office.

I stared at the door after the last person walked out.

Then I turned around.

My eyes slowly moved around the room.

Memories came rushing back.

My father laughing.

His voice calling my name.

His hand resting on my head whenever he was proud of me.

I felt my eyes sting.

I quickly blinked away the tears.

I pulled out a checkered handkerchief, wiped my face, and decided in my heart to remain strong. I was going to uncover the truth.

I walked towards his desk and began searching through his belongings.

Most of the things were exactly where he had left them.

His watch

Some old documents.

A few pens.

Then I noticed something at the back of the cabinet.

A safe.

I immediately remembered it.

My father had bought this safe years ago, and proudly told me that it was almost impossible to break into.

He kept his most valuable things inside.

I crouched in front of it and examined the keypad.

A password

I tried the first thing that came to mind.

Nothing.

I tried another.

Still nothing.

I frowned and tried a few more combinations.

None worked.

I was almost ready to give up when a thought suddenly crossed my mind.

My birthday.

I entered the numbers.

The safe clicked.

My eyes widened.

It opened.

I stared at it for a few seconds before reaching inside.

There were several documents.

Old business records.

Contracts.

Files containing past projects and collaborations.

Nothing seemed unusual.

Until I found something underneath the documents.

“A key…”

I thought to myself.

I picked it up and turned it over.

As I looked at the key, I saw something engraved on it.

“317”

My brows furrowed.

“What could that mean…?”

A location…?

A clue…?

A password...?

A room...?

Where was I supposed to start my search from?

I stared at the numbers, trying to make sense of them.

A million thoughts ran through my mind in a split second.

“Why would my father hide a key?” I thought.

I searched through the remaining documents, hoping to find something that could explain it.

I found nothing.

I thought about asking Damon.

But something stopped me.

I didn't know what it was.

Maybe instinct.

Maybe fear.

Whatever it was, I slipped the key into my pocket.

I decided to keep it to myself until I knew exactly what I was dealing with.

I closed the safe and left the office thinking about my next step.

One thing was certain.

My investigation had just begun.

It was 7 p.m. when I hurriedly picked up my bag and left the building.

After my father's death, my elder brother, Damon Blakes, inherited his company and was doing an amazing job running it.

Father had always involved Damon in the business and taught him everything he needed to know, which made taking over much easier.

Everyone expected me to follow in my brother's footsteps and join the family business.

They wanted me to be a part of the empire my father built.

But that wasn't what I wanted.

I wanted a life of my own.

I wanted to earn my own money.

I decided to follow my own path and face whatever life had in store for me.

I arrived at the hotel and headed straight to Julius Bar.

It was the first place I had applied to, and luckily, they accepted me.

As I prepared to start my shift, I went to the locker room, changed into my work clothes, put on my name tag, and stared at myself in the mirror.

My mind immediately went back to the key I had found in my father's office.

317…

Where was I supposed to start looking?

I sighed and walked out.

For the next few hours, I focused on work.

I took orders.

Served drinks.

Cleaned tables.

Smiled when I had to.

But my mind was somewhere else.

I returned behind the bar, sat down, and plugged in my earbuds as I stared blankly ahead.

With a million questions running through my head, I was so lost in my thoughts that I barely noticed the murmurs coming from the entrance.

I was jolted back to reality when I looked up and saw a tall, handsome man walking into the bar.

He wasn't overly muscular, but he carried himself with confidence.

Almost immediately, people began looking his way.

I rolled my eyes internally and looked away.

I didn't pay much attention to the crowd and continued drowning in my thoughts until a cocktail drink was ordered.

I picked it up and carried it to table six.

After placing it down, I turned to leave.

“Hey, mama.”

I stopped.

I slowly turned around, and it was him.

The man from the entrance.

I didn't respond.

I simply gave him a polite smile and walked away.

A few minutes later, he appeared at the bar.

He sat directly in front of me.

I continued what I was doing.

He gave me a flirty look.

I ignored him.

He cleared his throat.

I ignored him again.

Finally, after ignoring him twice, I looked up.

“Can I help you?”

He smiled.

I wasn't amused.

Stop bothering and following me around.

I'm not one of those girls you can just flirt with whenever you feel like.

His smile disappeared slightly.

“If you continue, I won't think twice about reporting you to the manager,” I said.

He looked genuinely taken aback by my sudden outburst.

As someone who has always been favoured by women, rejection was a feeling he wasn't used to.

He stood up and turned to leave, and then his eyes caught my name tag.

“Mira Blakes.”

He stopped.

I looked at him.

Something had changed in his expression.

“Are you the late Vincent Blakes’ daughter?” he asked.

My eyes narrowed.

“Yes, I am… Got a problem with that?”

I crossed my arms.

He smiled calmly, stretched out his right hand, and introduced himself.

“My name is Cole Bennett. As in Bennett Industries.”

I knitted my brows when I heard the surname, ignoring his outstretched arm.

Bennett Industries had been one of my father's biggest rivals for years.

And now their only son was standing right in front of me.

The same son people described as charming, wealthy, and incapable of taking relationships seriously.

He gestured for me to take his hand, but I ignored him.

His eyebrows lifted.

He seemed amused by my reaction.

Before I could say anything else, his phone rang.

He glanced at his screen before stepping away to answer it.

I watched him leave before returning to my work.

I carried on with my shift, and time passed. Eventually, my shift ended. I changed back into my clothes, took my bag, and walked out of the hotel.

The night air hit my face as soon as I stepped outside.

After taking a few steps, I noticed someone standing nearby.

I stopped.

“Cole Bennett.”

Why was he standing outside? I wondered.

He looked directly at me.

“We need to talk, Mira,” Cole said.

I folded my arms and tapped my foot on the floor impatiently.

“About what?”

His expression became serious.

“Your father.”

I froze.

My body went still.

For some reason, I suddenly felt like whatever he was about to say would change everything.