Chapter 74

Valerie’s POV

I pulled into the spacious lot outside my luxury shopping mall, BB Beauty’s flagship location in San Francisco, and parked my sleek black sedan. Stepping out, I adjusted my designer sunglasses and smoothed the front of my tailored coat. As a top model and the CEO of BB Beauty, I moved with absolute confidence—no one could mistake me for anything less than the queen of this domain.

I strode toward the glass doors, where uniformed staff members awaited. The moment they spotted me, they bowed their heads in unison. “Good day, ma’am,” they intoned in perfect synchronization before returning to their duties. The lobby gleamed under bright chandeliers, marble floors reflecting the hush of wealth and refinement. Only San Francisco’s most elite clientele shopped here, so order and elegance were paramount.

I swept my gaze across the reception desk. “Where’s the manager?” I asked briskly, ignoring their polite salutes.

The secretary rose from her s