Betrayal is not Defeat

Chapter 4

It's been weeks already, and working in the Monreal company has been going smoothly so far.

There have been several meetings, and I seized every opportunity I got to make them see that I was once a daughter and a worker of a fashion genius.

“Alright everyone.” Mr. Pedro was addressing the workers in a small hall. “We are supposed to finalise the design direction for winter by this time. Ms. Sophie, can you tell us about the reigning forecast?”

“Of course Mr. Pedro. So based on the main themes this season are Urban Armor And Soft Rebellion. I see a lot of structured layering, and a return to tactile fabrics.”

I didn't even lack the confidence to express my thoughts on every question that was thrown at me by Mr. Pedro. Why would I?

While the meeting was still on, Alexander Monreal was seated without saying anything, just observing.

My words flowed like a river, but my eyes couldn’t help flicking to where he sat. His arms were crossed, his look fixed on me, like I was the only thing worth watching in the room.

God, the way he looked at me… it was unsettling, like he was undressing my thoughts. He smiled at every question I answered. I could tell he was loving my creative responses.

Soon, the meeting was over and everyone was dismissed…everyone except me.

“Ms. Sophie, I would like to see you before you go.” Alexander gestured at me, but he did so with a straight face. Mr. Pedro was the last to leave as he gave me a curious glance while he closed the door.

Why was I the only person that was asked to wait after the meeting? I thought he was loving my creative responses during the meeting.

Alexander leaned behind his chair, looking at me. He didn’t say anything for a beat. He just looked at me. And damn it, I looked right back.

The silence between us was heavy, but alive.

“So tell me, were you holding a top position in the Lanchester company? Because I didn't see any in your resumé.”

The question sounded typical based on my performance in the meeting. If I were in his shoes, I would have asked the same question too.

However, I had removed the position I held at the Lanchester company from my resume to avoid any suspicion about why I left.

I was actually the Deputy C.E.O. But I paused for a minute and said, “No, I was not, sir. I was just an employee of the company.”

Alexander stood, slowly, like a man who knew the power of each movement. He circled the table, approaching me until there was only a little space between us.

Then, he tapped his fingers in a light manner on the desk.

“Well,” he continued, his voice calm and firm, “you might not have held a top position in Lanchester on paper, but your creative responses say otherwise.”

I looked at him, unsure of where he was trying to drive to with that.

I tried to breathe. “I… just know what I’ve lived.”

He tilted his head slightly, eyes locked on mine. “And what have you lived, Sophie?”

My name on his tongue sounded too intimate, too smooth.

“I lived in fabric rolls and sketch pads. Grew up being trained to do this, to forecast the trend. It was not a big deal for me at some point.”

My heart flutterd a bit, not romantically, but with pride. But his gaze softened, just slightly, but the fire in it never went cold.

“That explains it,” he said, his voice quieter now. “You carry it in your blood.”

“Thank you, Mr. Alexander.” I replied while humbly lowering my eyes.. “It means a lot.”

He nodded convincingly. “Keep doing this. If you continue this way, then I will need to find a way to expand your role in this company.”

Expand my role? That could mean anything, but coming from him, it was a promise that did not sound empty.

I walked out of the hall after we were done and I felt a lightness I hadn’t felt in a long time.

***

Lisa was already resting on the sofa, and scrolling through her phone while sipping from a glass of orange juice when I returned home.

“Sophie, What's up? You look extra bright today,” she teased me, raising a brow as I kicked off my heels and sat beside her.

“I laughed and rested on her shoulder. “You won’t believe how today’s meeting went.”

“Really, another meeting… try me.”

I started narrating the entire scene with Alexander. From the way he’d watched me during the meeting to his compliments afterward, and how I could barely think straight around him.

“Lisa, I swear, he said he liked my approach. That I bring clarity, vision, and that I naturally feel trends,” I said, my voice rising slightly with excitement. “Do you know what that means? That’s not something anybody says casually.”

Lisa laughed lightly, but I didn’t miss the brief gesture in her eyes. Of course, she was listening, but something else was behind her half-smile.

“So what do you think, will he promote you?” she asked, sipping from her glass again.

“Hmm.. I don’t know yet. He did say something about expanding my role, but even if it’s just more recognition for now, I will take it.”

Lisa nodded, letting me talk. But as I continued, the corners of her smile became clearer.

The way I described his behavior towards me, smiling, his unusually complimentary, it wasn’t the first time I had come home with stories like this.

Yet, Lisa didn’t say anything. But deep down in me, I knew she was thinking about something which made me curious.

“That’s really great to know, Sophie,” she said instead, putting her glass down and standing. “You deserve it.”

Just then, the doorbell rang.

Lisa glanced in the direction of the door, turning to me. “Are you expecting anyone?”

I shook my head with confidence. “No, I don't remember.”

With my response, she walked over and opened the door, revealing a man in a delivery uniform holding a small-sized gift box wrapped in a charming-looking way.

“Delivery for Miss Sophie,” the man said, reading off a label.

Lisa blinked, then accepted the box. “Thank you.”

She closed the door and turned back toward me, holding the charmingly wrapped package like it was a ticking bomb.

“I thought you said you were not expecting anything?”

“I was not.” I said, looking absolutely puzzled.

She handed it to me. The wrapping was clearly expensive. Someone had taken time with this. I turned it in my hands, finally seeing a small card attached beneath it. I opened it slowly.

After I did, I saw a very simple message. Lisa's eyes were not leaving anytime soon.

“What does it say, read it out loud.” She was so curious at that moment.

“For a beautiful look, and a mind that shines brighter.” I read out as my eyes widened.

Lisa was filled with smiles. “Wow, who would send this?”

“I don't know yet.”

Immediately, I looked beneath the writing on the paper to know who would send this to me. In no time, I saw a name… it was him.

I then tossed the paper aside as Lisa quickly picked it up to see who sent the gift. I had already begun opening the gift to see what was inside.

“A Jewelry? And it's pure gold!” Lisa was stunned. She was already having goose bumps.

My eyes were wide open in surprise, the gift was not just a gift, it was a very expensive one which made me wonder….

Why on earth will he buy me such an expensive gift?