Whirlwind Wedding: My Ex’s Adoptive Dad

Chapter 7

The custom rings were still being engraved and would be delivered the next day.

Meanwhile, Lucas's private investigator was searching everywhere for leads.

Inside Lynwood Design, Rebecca continued to target Madeline at every opportunity, emboldened by the support of deputy design director Martin Cole.

Madeline ignored every attempt and focused on her project.

Madeline gave her nothing to react to. Every underhanded move Rebecca made fell flat, only leaving Rebecca more frustrated.

At 9:30 a.m. on the day of the project presentation, Madeline finished testing the equipment in a conference room at Novara Group headquarters.

Everything was ready.

All she had to do was wait for the meeting to begin.

At 9:55, the conference room door opened.

To Madeline's surprise, Rebecca walked in.

She crossed the room in elegant heels and stopped directly in front of Madeline with a bright smile.

"Madeline, thanks for all your hard work. Mr. Cole approved a change. I'll be handling the final presentation today."

Madeline's fingers tightened, and her gaze turned cold.

"What does that mean?"

"Exactly what I said," Rebecca smiled sweetly. "I wanted a chance to gain some experience, and Mr. Cole is very supportive of giving young employees opportunities to grow, so he gave me this one. We're all working for the same company, Madeline. You don't mind, do you?"

Martin had long been at odds with the design director Madeline reported to.

He was also the person who had helped Rebecca get into Lynwood.

"I led this project from the initial client contact through the site survey and every round of revisions." Madeline kept her anger in check, her voice calm and firm. "You weren't involved in many of the critical details, including the site parameters and the client's core requirements. What exactly are you planning to present?"

Rebecca's smile didn't change, but every word carried a barb.

"This is a team project, not your private property. Why are you so upset? Are you afraid I'll outshine you and steal the spotlight?"

Several Novara employees nearby were already watching with interest.

Madeline knew that making a scene in front of the client would damage Lynwood's reputation.

She stepped into the hallway and called the design director she reported to at the Northvale office.

Her design director sounded deeply uncomfortable.

"Madeline, Mr. Cole put a lot of pressure on us, and Rebecca is Lucas's fiancée. I couldn't stop it. Let her try this once. I'll make it up to you later. I'm sorry you have to put up with it."

After that brief explanation, he ended the call.

'I'm sorry you have to put up with it.'

A few casual words were supposed to erase all the nights Madeline had stayed up late, working herself ragged on the project.

Her heart went cold.

Rebecca followed her into the hallway, refusing to let up.

"Madeline, give me the flash drive. Don't hold up the presentation."

Madeline forced down the anger churning in her chest, returned to the conference room, and tossed the flash drive into Rebecca's arms.

Rebecca couldn't hide the smug curve of her lips.

Just then, a Novara assistant hurried in with an announcement.

Creston Group was a major investor in the project, and one of its representatives would be attending the presentation.

The presentation would have to be delayed by 30 minutes.

'Creston? That's the company run by the head of the Hayes family.'

Rebecca was thrilled.

She immediately touched up her makeup and adjusted her clothes, eager for a chance to make an impression on someone that powerful.

After 30 minutes, the conference room door opened again.

A tall man in a sharply tailored steel-gray suit walked into the room at an unhurried pace.

It was Adrian.

He was supposed to be handling business out of town.

Instead, he had flown directly back to Northvale.

Madeline stared at him from across the room, stunned.

Rebecca went completely rigid, her heart pounding.

Lucas's adoptive father, at least on paper, was standing right in front of her. He was also the true head of Creston.

A reckless idea suddenly took hold.

'What if I could land someone even more powerful than Lucas?'

The Novara executive in charge hurried forward to greet him.

"Mr. Hayes, welcome. This is Miss Blake, Lynwood Design's representative for today's presentation."

Rebecca immediately approached with a gentle smile and extended her hand.

"Mr. Hayes, it's an honor to meet you..."

Adrian ignored her outstretched hand completely.

His gaze swept coolly over the room.

"Just a moment. I want to confirm something." His voice wasn't loud, but the authority behind it silenced the room. "Miss Blake, were you the lead designer on this project from beginning to end? Do you have firsthand knowledge of all the site details?" He paused. "Just answer yes or no."

The color slowly drained from Rebecca's face.

She stammered, unable to get a full sentence out.

A sheen of sweat broke out on the Novara executive's forehead, but he forced himself to smooth things over.

"Miss Blake joined the project later, but she has prepared thoroughly for today's presentation."

"Then the answer is no." Adrian cut him off and looked toward Madeline, who had remained seated in the corner. "All of Novara's survey and communication records list Madeline Quinn as the project's primary contact." He spoke in a cool, businesslike tone that carried through the entire conference room. "Creston, as the investor, wants to hear the project explained by the person who actually designed it." His gaze settled on her. "Ms. Quinn, please take the floor."

The room erupted in shocked whispers.