Ashley had just flown back from her getaway in Thailand, totally clueless about everything that had gone down with Valerie. She spent the whole day crashing out at home, recharging before diving back into her usual grind at the office.

The launch of Evera Beauty House had been a win. Sure, the products didn’t vanish off the shelves overnight like The Empress Line had, but sales were climbing steadily, and the numbers looked promising. With the market giving her such good vibes, Ashley ...