The reply
1178 Words
Ryan Thompson hated interruptions, particularly after six. He'd just traded his bespoke suit jacket for a plush cashmere cardigan and poured two fingers of Aberlour when his private email buzzed.
He frowned, leaning against the marble countertop of his study bar. He’d expected the contract addendum, but the subject line included a "Design Revision Question." That was Sophia’s territory, the frivolous details he paid handsomely to ignore.
He opened the email. It was concise, professional, and efficient—a welcome contrast to the rambling, effusive emails Sophia occasionally forwarded from her vendors. He quickly scanned the attached budget, confirming the sound dampening cost. Necessary. Protect the house, he thought.
Then he reached the paragraph that pulled him up short.
> ...I recall reading your foundation recently sponsored the new wing at the Metropolitan Museum focusing on Modernist Art. To subtly weave your personal philanthropic narrative into the evening, would you prefer a custom-designed miniature art deco keepsake (a replica of the fountain pen from the collection you donated) over the standard candles? >
Ryan paused, sipping his scotch. Sophia had never looked beyond the surface shine of his life. She focused on the cost of the diamond watch, not the reason he could afford it. But this Emma Taylor... she saw the structure, the leverage, the legacy he was trying to build. She hadn't just glanced at his public profile; she had synthesized it.
Just then, the heavy oak study door opened with a soft click. Sophia, still in her yellow sundress, floated in, carrying two glasses of chilled white wine.
"Ryan, darling, you're home!" she chirped, her expression eager. "I thought you might need this. I've been organizing the final details, and I have such exciting news."
Ryan forced a polite, brief smile, sliding his phone face-down on the counter, concealing Emma's email. "Thank you, Sweetheart. Long day."
"I know, honey. But guess what? I just ordered the most divine monogrammed lavender candles for the favors. They are going to smell beautiful, and they perfectly match the roses Emma is using. It's such a lovely personal touch, don't you think?" She handed him a glass of wine, her eyes bright with the expectation of praise.
Ryan took a shallow sip, the lavender scent already feeling cloying and small. He looked directly at Sophia, his tone softening slightly, delivering the directive like a gentle correction.
"That's sweet, Sweetheart, but actually, you need to cancel that candle order," he said. He watched her face freeze, the expectant smile slipping. "The planner, Emma, had a better idea,something that aligns with our image and my reputation. It's a more strategic social statement."
Sophia blinked, her confusion momentarily overriding her eagerness to please. "Cancel... but they're already ordered. And candles are so elegant."
"Cancel them," Ryan repeated, his tone firming just enough to end the discussion. "It's about the legacy, not the scent. Just deal with the cancellation and focus on the main centerpieces, please. I need a quiet moment in here now. I have to review some contracts." It was a familiar, impenetrable shield.
Sophia's face fell, but she quickly recovered, nodding submissively. "Of course, darling. I'll take care of it." She gave his shoulder a quick, barely-felt squeeze,a gesture he barely registered and drifted back out, closing the door softly behind her, leaving the white wine untouched.
Ryan retrieved his phone...
(Ryan's email reply to Emma is also updated):
To: Emma.Taylor@EliteEvents.com
From: RThompson@Private.com
Subject: RE: Urgent: Anniversary Planning – Retainer and Design Revision Question
Ms. Taylor,
Thank you for your follow-through. The sound dampening addendum is acceptable.
Regarding the favors: Your idea to incorporate the art deco pen replica is highly perceptive. I agree completely,it aligns perfectly with the social statement we need to make. Please proceed immediately with the design and production of the keepsake, securing the necessary contracts before Monday. Do not delay.
I trust your judgment on these high-level details. If any further logistical or financial questions arise that require a decisive answer, please contact me directly. Do not hesitate to bypass the standard channels.
We should arrange a quick ten-minute consultation next week to review the full strategic flow of the evening. Are you free for a call on Tuesday at 7:30 AM?
Ryan Thompson
Entrepreneur
~~~~~~~~~
Emma didn't have to wait long. It was barely eight o'clock when the notification chimed. She had been pretending to read, but her attention was pinned to her phone.
She saw the subject line first:
RE: Urgent: Anniversary Planning – Retainer and Design Revision Question from RThompson@Private.com.
Emma’s heart gave a single, hard thump against her ribs,not from excitement, but from the grim, cold satisfaction of a hunter securing the kill.
She opened the email. The first sentence confirming the sound dampening was expected, a professional clearance. But the next few lines were the victory.
> Regarding the favors: Your idea to incorporate the art deco pen replica is highly perceptive. I agree completely,it aligns perfectly with the social statement we need to make.
>
The word perceptive was a reward, a direct recognition that she hadn't just been effective, she had been seen. Ryan Thompson, the titan, understood her value was intellectual, not just aesthetic.
But the final two directives were the true prize:
> Do not hesitate to bypass the standard channels.
>
and, most importantly:
> We should arrange a quick ten-minute consultation next week to review the full strategic flow of the evening. Are you free for a call on Tuesday at 7:30 AM?
>
Emma reread the phrase "bypass the standard channels" slowly. It was an official decree, a permission slip from the source of power, directly undermining Sophia's role. He hadn't asked her to simply cc Sophia; he had actively authorized the exclusion of his wife from all 'decisive' matters concerning their anniversary.
She glanced at the proposed time: 7:30 AM. It was brutal, professional, and intimate. Sophia was likely still asleep, or perhaps just starting her gentle morning routine. Emma would be in Ryan's ear while the house was quiet, while his mind was sharp and focused solely on his business agenda. It was a time that signaled priority.
Emma smiled, a slow, predatory curve of her lips. The "ten-minute consultation" was nothing more than a scheduled seduction, disguised as corporate strategy.
She typed her reply immediately, her fingers flying across the keys. She didn't need to check her schedule; Tuesday morning was now sacred.
To: RThompson@Private.com
From: Emma.Taylor@EliteEvents.com
Subject: Confirmed: Tuesday Consultation - Anniversary Strategic Flow
Dear Mr. Thompson,
Tuesday at 7:30 AM works perfectly. I will prepare a detailed agenda for our ten minutes to ensure maximum efficiency.
I look forward to discussing the strategic flow.
Sincerely,
Emma Taylor
Lead Event Architect, Elite Events
Emma leaned back, the laptop cooling on her knees. The trap was set. She had moved from high-priced service provider to a confidante on his payroll in a single evening, all under the guise of ensuring the event was a powerful statement of the Thompson brand's prestige.
The countdown to their first private interaction had begun.
- Writer
