FLAWLESS

CHAPTER 36

Vincent POV

As I walked through the polished halls of Falcon Group, determination fueled my every step. I had one plan set in my mind—to talk to Shelby and see if she could offer any help. It was my last resort. If Shanelle's friends couldn't do anything to make her listen, then hopefully her older sister could.

The bustling reception area faded into the background as I made my way to the elevator. Dan had done his research and provided me with the address of the company and the floor where Shelby's office was located. Armed with this information, I faced no trouble finding my way.

I stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for Shelby's floor. The anticipation coursed through my veins as I imagined our conversation. I knew I had to make her understand the severity of Shanelle's situation, even if it meant intruding into her professional domain.

The elevator doors opened, and I strode purposefully into the corridor, heading straight for Shelby's office. Her secretary, a young man almost the same age as I am, noticed my approach and raised his voice, attempting to halt my intrusion. 

"Hey! You can't just go in there!"

But Shelby, engrossed in her work, caught sight of me barging in, followed by the secretary's futile attempts to stop me.

"I'm sorry ma'am I tried to stop him. He just-" Without missing a beat, Shelby lifted a finger, silencing the secretary. 

He immediately fell quiet, his eyes darting between us. She nodded at him to leave, and he closed the door, granting us privacy.

I took a deep breath and walked up to Shelby's desk. Her gaze met mine, curiosity mingling with a hint of amusement. 

"You've got some balls, barging into my office," she said, a smirk tugging at her lips.

Summoning my courage, I replied, "It's about Shanelle."

Shelby's smile quickly faded, replaced by a bored expression. 

"What about her?" she asked, her tone cold with no hint of concern.

I wasted no time, spilling the truth. 

"Shanelle has been taking pills to deal with her panic disorder. But recently, she bought serenol from a drug dealer who works for me. She's been using it ever since, and it's pretty obvious that the pills are starting to affect her real badly."

Shelby raised a questioning brow. 

"In what way?" she inquired, her voice laced with apprehension.

"Just yesterday, we tried to talk her out of it. But before we could intervene, her nose started bleeding, and she rushed out of the house," I explained, desperation creeping into my words. 

"We need your help."

Shelby fell silent, her gaze fixed on some distant point. Moments stretched into eternity as I anxiously awaited her response. Finally, she shrugged, her voice tinged with resignation. 

"How do you expect me to help with all this? I already have enough to deal with regarding the family business. Besides, Shanelle made it clear from the beginning that she doesn't want any family interference in her life."

I understood her concerns, but I couldn't back down. I had to make her see reason. 

"I get that. But as her sister, you have a unique position. She might listen to you, even if just for a moment."

Shelby's gaze hardened, her voice tinged with bitterness. 

"You don't understand. Our family's reputation is at stake. Shanelle knew the consequences of pursuing a modeling career while keeping us at arm's length. She didn't want the family involved, and we expect the same from her. We can't jeopardize our family's name and reputation."

Anger surged within me, threatening to overflow. 

"She's your sister, damn it! Can't you see that she's in trouble? She needs someone in her family right now. She's spiraling out of control, and we can't stand by and watch her do this to herself."

Shelby glared at me for my outburst, her eyes piercing into my soul. I took a deep breath, visibly trying to calm myself down before continuing. 

"Look, I care deeply for her. I don't want her to get hurt, and I don't want anything bad to happen to her. If your family doesn't want her to involve them in any trouble, then help her now, before someone discovers her condition and leaks it to the press. We need to take action before it's too late."

With that said, I turned around and left the room without another word. My heart raced with a mixture of hope and anxiety. 

Would she listened to me and try to at least talk to Shanelle? 

Only time would tell. But as I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling that I had done everything in my power to save the girl I really like and deeply cared for. The battle for Shanelle's well-being was far from over, but I had taken a significant step forward. Now, it was up to fate, and the actions of those who held the power to make a difference.