Dear Immortal Tyrant

Lina was used to this kind of insult. She had her mother to thank. No one's insults could beat the body-shaming comments from her own mother. Lina had developed a tough skin from her own mother's bullying. 

Lina was rather amused by Priscilla.  This woman hadn't changed one bit.  It was deja vu. Her jealousy once again radiated through her slurs. It was quite funny.

Instead of stooping to Priscilla's level, Lina revealed a friendly smile. Her eyes lit up in recognition.

"You must be the new Senior Vice President of DeHaven Conglamorate's subsidiary. Congratulations on the enormous promotion!" Lina chirped, tilting her head innocently as if she didn't hear the insult.

Priscilla paled in response, blinking with a blank expression. Lina suddenly took a step closer, going as far as to shake Priscilla's hand. Priscilla glanced down at their adjoined hands in pure confusion.

Instantly, whispers began across the floor.

"How ungrateful…"

"The Boss' wife is too kind."

"How can she insult the Boss' wife like that?"

Priscilla froze at the defensive stares coming her way. They were all coming to the kind-hearted woman's aid. Who was to say they had even done it in the office? Her clothes looked perfectly ironed, not even a wrinkle was in sight! Her hair was perfect and proper as if she combed it this morning. 

"Shame on the Director, I thought she was better than that. Here she was, preaching about how women should uplift each other, but look at the way she talks."

"Exactly, you'd think she's in love with our Boss or something."

"Yikes, I wouldn't want to be in her shoes." 

Unable to refute, Priscilla shakily nodded her head.

"Thank you for your kind words," Priscilla managed to say to Lina through her gritted teeth. She was certain this was going to spread to Kaden. Maybe he'd be so furious with her, he'd throw her out. He'd hate her. Despise her, even. But at least that meant he'd feel something for her.

"Work hard." Lina patted Priscilla on the shoulder and brushed past her like it was nobody's business. She knew this affected Priscilla the most. Priscilla wanted to see Lina in pain from the insult. Embarrassed, even.

With Lina's indifference, Priscilla not only humiliated herself, but worsened her reputation. Instead of adjusting her collar, Lina left it as it was. If she fixed her shirt now, people would really think there was a hickey there. Besides, they'd need to come up close and personal to witness it in detail.

Lina knew she had won this battle, again.

- - - - -

After pardoning Estella for the day, Lina told the chauffeur to drive to the art exhibits. There, she began to tour the abstract and modern displays for small pieces that could be used for Kaden's desk. After seeing two items she liked -one consisting of a bright yellow geometric sculpture and the other was a red decoration that resembled a small and contorted flame - she purchased them.

Lina was never one for modern things. Her soul was old and she gravitated towards vintage items like wooden bookshelves with aged books and tours of museums to remember the rich history.

Soon, she arrived home, and not a few minutes later, so did Kaden.

"I went shopping for presents!" Lina said the second he walked through the door.

Kaden was yanking off his tie like a delinquent in school. At the sound of her preppy voice, he paused. His dark gaze swept over her from head to toe. He heard there was a commotion with Priscilla and Lina, but she didn't seem to be affected by it. 

"Priscilla's dead body will be found in the river tomorrow morning. They'll say it's suicide." 

Lina's smile fell. Before she could respond, he approached her and took the bag from her hands.

"What's this?" Kaden asked, taking out her tiny sculptures with disbelief. 

"I think Sebastian and Priscilla are fated…"

Kaden stilled. His entire body went rigid with the news. Shoving the items into the bag again, he placed them into her hands.

"They shouldn't be. If so, she wouldn't be so aggravating," Kaden snarled.

Kaden grabbed her hand and began to pull her into the dining room. When she left the office, he ordered the chefs to prepare an early dinner. He knew she hadn't eaten much the entire day. How she fathomed to stand with so little food in her system boggled him.

"Go ask Sebastian if he likes Priscilla," Lina insisted. "She insulted me, but received humiliation in return."

Lina didn't want Kaden and Sebastian's relationship to be ruined. She knew they were good friends. Maybe, his only friend. Well, minus Holton. Sebastian's family had been nothing but loyal to Kaden throughout all the generations. He was a heartless man, but she didn't want him to ruin generations of loyalty because of a single woman.

"An eye for an eye," Lina reminded him. "You've already sent her to one of the hardest subsidiaries of your company."

Lina had to admit she was heartless, but not blind. She saw the value in Priscilla. As venomous as that woman was, Priscilla was all bark and no bite. Priscilla herself understood how high she had climbed in the pyramid. Would she risk all these years of hard work for love?

Lina didn't believe Priscilla was that kind of person.

"If the offense repeats after the consequences," Lina slowly said. "Then I want her gutted and tossed to the dogs."

At this, Kaden pressed his lips together and narrowed his eyes. Rough words he never wanted her to say. Somehow, it fitted her perfectly. She was behaving like a true DeHaven now.

"It will be done as you wish," Kaden responded with a curt nod.

Once that conversation was behind them, Lina persisted with the bag of presents. "These are for your office desk."

"They're hideous."

Lina frowned. She peered into the bag and pulled out the bright yellow one. "I thought they were lovely and would add a pop of color to your office, which is more dreary than the dark eras."

Kaden scoffed in disbelief. "I do not need this piss-yellow—"

Lina's eyes grew wide with disbelief.

"It's a lovely gift." Kaden took the bag from her, kissed her on the head, and decided to just keep the ugly thing. It'd make her happy. 

"And look," Lina eagerly said, "I even bought a picture frame from a cute little vintage shop. Maybe we can place a photo of us in here."

"Now that is a present I want—" Why the hell was it so damn colorful?

Kaden squinted at the bright blue picture frame. Was she trying to infest his life with horrible colors? Sooner or later, his office was going to be brighter than candy land. From her excited expression, he could do nothing but begrudgingly take the frame from her hand.

Kaden grumbled out a reluctant, "Thank you."

Then, Kaden turned to Theodore. "The Madam is cold. Start the fireplace. And use this as firewood."

Kaden handed Lina's presents to Theodore, earning a sharp protest from her. She snatched the bag back, glared at him, and snatched her hand back.

"Rude." Lina went as far as to stomp on his feet whilst storming past him to the dining table. She heard his soft laughter under his breath, her anger nearly melting away.

  "Theodore, don't forget. The fuel for the fire is in the Madam's hands. Use it when she places it down."

Lina furiously turned around, her eyes burning brighter than any fire they could stoke. 

At the sight of the scorned woman, Theodore could only bow his head and hide his amused smile.

"With all due respect, Master, you might have to sleep in the cold if we stoke the fireplace today."

Kaden hummed in response. A night on the couch to keep his office's integrity in place? 

"Deal."