𝟸𝟸. "... 𝙳𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗"

California State Senator Valerie Vega Announces Resignation, Citing Personal Reasons

LOS ANGELES, CA – In an unexpected announcement, California State Senator Valerie Vega has confirmed that she will be stepping down from office, citing personal reasons for her departure. The decision, revealed in a statement earlier today, has sparked speculation about the circumstances surrounding her exit, with sources suggesting health concerns may have played a role.

Vega, who has represented California’s 26th Senate District for several years, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve but stated that it was time to step away. "This has been one of the greatest honors of my life, but after much thought and reflection, I have decided to step down to focus on personal matters," Vega said in her statement.

While she did not elaborate further, close aides and colleagues have hinted at growing concerns about her well-being, noting that she has appeared visibly fatigued in recent months and missed several public engagements. Some sources within the Capitol suggest that ongoing health challenges may have influenced her decision, though Vega has not confirmed this directly.

Her departure comes at a critical time for the State Senate, with ongoing debates over infrastructure, economic policy, and environmental legislation—areas where Vega has been a leading voice. Governor Gavin Newsom is expected to announce plans for a special election to fill the vacancy in the coming weeks.

Colleagues and supporters have praised Vega’s contributions, with Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins calling her "a dedicated public servant whose impact will be felt for years to come." Meanwhile, political insiders speculate about her future, with some wondering whether this is a temporary step back or the end of her political career altogether.

I took the cigarette out of my mouth, exhaling a slow stream of smoke.

End of her political career—just like that? After everything she did to claw her way into that seat, she was walking away. What better way to catch up on family drama than through the papers?

I pulled the cigarette from my lips again, letting out another breath as I flipped to the next page.

"Miss Vega!"

I didn’t look up.

Kendra was always on about something—a complaint, a reminder, a new problem to shatter whatever fleeting moment of peace I had.

"Miss Vega!" she called again, more insistently this time.

I took another drag, blowing the smoke into the air as she stepped forward, completely blocking the sun from my face.

I let out a sigh. "Any reason why you’re ruining my sunbathe, Kendra?" I asked lazily.

She hurriedly stepped aside. "No, I just… well, you said I should notify you when the clock hits five." That made me pause. I lifted my gaze to her. "It’s five?"

"Yeah, the sun is even setting." She pointed, and I glanced toward the horizon, watching as the sky darkened into soft amber hues.

Letting out a resigned breath, I sat up and pulled off my turban, tossing it at her. She caught it before it hit the floor.

I got up, ashing my cigarette before striding toward the house. Kendra followed behind, her voice trailing after me.

"You also said I should remind you about the dinner with the—"

"I didn’t forget." I cut her off, tossing the newspaper back at her. She barely managed to catch it, scrambling to keep hold of the pile of documents in her arms.

Reaching the sliding doors, I pushed them open, stepping into the cool air of the living room.

I let out a slow breath before turning back to her. She was already moving, hurriedly gathering the scattered papers and files littered across my space.

"And… and…" she started, quickly straightening out a file before offering it to me.

I snatched it from her hands, my eyes flicking down to scan its contents.

"The list of major competition in the city. By the way, the show was a success, and we’ve sold out—"

"Put it all in the report," I cut in, flipping through the pages.

A list of LA’s top fashion brands. The major players. My gaze skimmed the names until I hit Number 8.

𝐇𝐁 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐨𝐧.

I stilled.

"What do you know about HB?" I asked, my voice deceptively calm.

Kendra looked up. "HB is a franchise from HB Fashion. They moved from London a few years ago and have dominated the market since their arrival."

So, she took my advice after all.

"They’re known for their original pieces and—"

"You’re not a Wikipedia page, Kendra. Get to the point." She adjusted the files before answering. "It’s owned by Hillary Easton."

A slow, amused smile curled my lips. What a small world.

Who would have thought she’d come back around—this time, as my competition? Kendra hesitated. "Uh… what are you wearing tonight?"

I crumpled the paper in my palm, tossing it aside as I met her gaze.

"Noir."

➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣

I stepped out of the car, adjusting the red dress lightly as my gaze lifted to the towering building before me. The night air carried a weight to it, something unspoken yet heavy. Behind me, Tobi shut the car door, his presence a silent but steady force.

"It won’t take long," I told him, though the words felt hollow.

The doors were thrown open as I entered, my strides unhurried despite the fact that I was late—very late. But I didn’t care.

I was led to the private sector, where the guests were already waiting.

Cassian and Aziel were seated, their gazes flicking toward me the second I walked in. My pace remained slow, deliberate. If they had an issue with my timing, they didn’t voice it.

Miller was the first to rise, smoothly pulling out the chair beside him. "Miss Vega," he greeted, straightening his blazer.

"Mr. Miller," I returned, mirroring his tone.

His gaze lingered—just a second too long—before he slipped back on the business mask and I turned my attention to Cassian. He remained seated, a cigar balanced between his fingers, his eyes trained on me with quiet scrutiny.

"Mr. Cassian," I greeted.

He exhaled a slow, lazy stream of smoke. "Не думал, что ты справишься," he muttered.

Aziel cleared his throat. "Let’s begin."

Minutes passed, but it quickly became clear—I wasn’t needed here. Their conversation carried on, yet Cassian’s focus on me barely wavered. It was deliberate, and even Aziel noticed, his gaze flicking toward me occasionally.

I took a slow sip from my glass, eyes shifting to the bandage wrapped around Cassian’s arm. Was it from that night?

Why did he call me here? Did he just want to see me? Because I disappeared the moment the chaos in Italy ended.

The dinner wrapped up sooner than expected because I had arrived like an hour late. I stood outside the room, scrolling through my phone as I waited for them to finish whatever final pleasantries they were exchanging.

Then—

A hand grabbed my wrist. A sharp yank.

I was spun around, and I found myself face-to-face with Cassian’s hateful gaze. But I wasn’t surprised.

"Long time no see," I said smoothly.

"You disappeared. Ran away because you could, didn’t you?" His voice was low, edged with accusation.

"I don’t know if you noticed, Mr. Cassian, but you put my life on the line there for a moment."

"Хватит ерунды," he hissed, his grip tightening. His fingers dug into my arm. "You thought I’d never find out?"

"Find out what?" I asked back, confusion evident on my features.

"Who you work for."

The accusation hit fast, but I didn’t flinch. "What... what are you talking about?"

"You work for them, don’t you?"

"Work for who—"

"Cicatrici," he growled, cutting me off. I stared at him. I paused for a second, staring at him. You have got to be kidding me.

"You work for them," he continued, his voice a dangerous growl. "Ambushing me and—"

"Ambushing you?" I let out a short, incredulous breath. "I knew there was something up with you."

I shot him a sharp, narrowed look. "You took me to Venice. You put my life on the line."

"You made it out alive, didn't you? You didn’t die."

"You wanted me dead?" I asked, disbelief curling in my voice. His lips pulled into a slow, unreadable smirk. "I wanted you to prove yourself."

My breath caught for a second. He had saw me in the chaos.

"He sent you, didn’t he?"

"You’re not making sense—"

"I’ll slit your pretty throat if you keep lying," he murmured, his voice quiet, but lethal. His grip on my arm tightened, his eyes dark and unrelenting. "You don’t double-cross me."

The realization settled like ice in my chest.

He had left me in the chaos—on purpose. He had been testing me. Watching me. And now, he thought he knew something. But did he see me with him?

"Answer me," he snapped, shaking my arm, pulling me back to the moment.

This—this was exactly why you should never mix business with pleasure and other businesses.

A throat cleared from behind us. Aziel.

Cassian’s grip loosened, but his stare didn’t falter. For a long second, no one spoke. Aziel’s gaze flicked to Cassian’s fingers still wrapped around my arm.

Slowly, Cassian released me, stepping back with a lingering glance. "Is everything okay?" Aziel asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Of course," Cassian replied smoothly. But his gaze stayed locked on mine for just a beat longer before he turned and walked off.

I exhaled, glancing down at my arm. Already bruising. Aziel stepped forward, lowering his voice. "What... is going on?"

I didn’t answer. Instead, I straightened my dress, lifted my chin.

"Dinner was good. I’ll meet you at the office tomorrow."

And with that, I walked away, my hands tightening around my bag. I knew Cassian would be a problem but never mine and he was leaving me no choice now.

The night air was sharp, biting against my skin as I stepped outside.

Tobi leaned away from the car, his expression darkening the second he saw me. He already knew something was up.

I stopped in front of him, my voice quiet, firm. "Decommission."