Chapter Five
1279 Words
MAVERICK'S POV
I sat in my office, a sleek, modern space high above the bustling city streets. The skyline of New York was visible through the floor-to-ceiling windows, but my focus was on the file in front of me. I had asked my assistant to look into the background of the lady I met yesterday. Although she looks exactly like my ex wife, she denied ever knowing me and I am more than determine to know her identity.
The report has just been delivered and lo and behold, my suspicions have been confirmed. She is indeed my ex- wife, Ophelia.
I flipped through the pages, scanning the details. Ophelia has become a renowned interior designer over the past six years. Her portfolio was impressive, filled with high-profile projects and glowing testimonials. She had managed to build a name for herself from scratch, starting with nothing after leaving the city.
I furrowed my eyebrows as I read on. I had always known Ophelia was talented, but the level of her success was astonishing. She had a reputation for being innovative, meticulous, and deeply passionate about her work. Her designs were featured in several prestigious magazines, and she had even won a few industry awards.
My mind wandered back to the day I had seen her at the hotel restaurant. The chance encounter had stirred up old memories and feelings I had thought buried. I had been shocked to see her, and even more so with a child by her side. I hadn't known she had a son.
I continued reading the report, and one detail caught my eye. The reason behind her return to New York was to meet with clients for a huge project—a project that could potentially elevate her status even further in the design world.
I leaned back in my chair, tapping a pen against my desk thoughtfully. I couldn't deny I was impressed by her achievements. Despite the bitterness of our past, I felt a grudging respect for what she had accomplished.
Curiosity gnawed at me. Why had she returned to New York now, of all times? Was it purely professional, or was there something more? I felt an inexplicable urge to find out, to understand what had driven her back to the city we once shared.
"Mr. Lockwood," my assistant's voice came through the intercom, breaking my train of thought. "Your next meeting is in ten minutes."
"Thank you, Janet," I replied, pressing the button. "I'll be there shortly."
I closed the file and stood, straightening my tie. As I prepared for my meeting, my mind kept drifting back to Ophelia. I needed to know more, to understand what had brought her back into my orbit after all these years.
Later that evening, I found myself at my favorite bar, nursing a glass of whiskey. The report on Ophelia was still fresh in my mind. I couldn't shake the feeling that our paths had crossed again for a reason.
As I stared into my drink, I made a decision. I would reach out to her, find a way to meet under professional pretenses. Perhaps a business proposal, something that would allow me to gauge where she stood and what her intentions were. I couldn't let the past remain a mystery.
"To new beginnings," I murmured to myself, raising my glass in a silent toast. I knew that reconnecting with Ophelia could open old wounds, but I needed answers. And perhaps, in the process, I could find a way to heal the scars we both carried.
OPHELIA’S POV
On the scheduled day, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling inside me. This meeting could be a turning point for my career. I offered one of the hotel staff a generous tip to babysit Adonis while I went to meet the clients. "Are you sure you'll be okay, sweetheart?" I asked, kneeling down to Adonis's level.
He nodded enthusiastically, already making friends with the young woman from the hotel. "I'll be fine, Mom. Go be awesome!"
I kissed his forehead, feeling a swell of pride and love. "I'll be back soon. Be good, okay?"
With a final wave, I straightened my shoulders and made my way to the conference room. I had prepared meticulously for this presentation, and I was ready to impress. As I entered the room, I was greeted by a group of executives—but my heart skipped a beat when I saw Maverick sitting at the head of the table.
"Good afternoon," I began, forcing a polite smile. "I'm here to meet with the representatives from Stellar Design Associates."
Maverick stood up, a confident smirk playing on his lips. "Ophelia, it's good to see you. There’s been a change in plans. Stellar Design is now a subsidiary of Blackwood Group."
I froze, my mind racing to process what he had just said. "What do you mean? Since when?"
"Since yesterday," he replied smoothly. "The acquisition was finalized, and we felt it was best for you to present directly to us."
Anger flared up inside me. This was a power move, pure and simple. I clenched my fists, struggling to keep my composure. "So, let me get this straight. You acquired Stellar Design just so you could force me into working with you?"
Maverick's expression remained calm, but there was a glint in his eye. "Ophelia, this is business. You know how these things work. It's not personal."
"Not personal? Go f**k yourself Maverick" I echoed, my voice rising. "You can't just throw money around and expect to get whatever the hell you want. I won’t work for you, Maverick. Not now, not ever."
The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife. I could feel the eyes of the other executives on me, but I didn’t care. This was about more than just business; it was about my dignity and the hard-won independence I had built over the years.
I turned to my secretary, who had been silently observing the exchange. "We're leaving," I said firmly. "I refuse to work with Blackwood Group."
My secretary nodded, gathering our things quickly. As I turned to leave, I met Maverick's gaze one last time. "Just because you have money doesn't mean you can control everything, Maverick. Remember that."
With that, I walked out of the room, my head held high. As we exited the hotel, I could feel my pulse still pounding in my ears, but I felt a sense of accomplishment. I wouldn't let Maverick or anyone else dictate the terms of my success.
When I returned to the hotel room, Adonis ran up to me with a big smile. "How did it go, Mom?"
I scooped him up in a hug, holding him close. "It didn't go as planned. We’re leaving tommorrow”.
I went to the closet and organised into our suitcase the few things we had brought. I’m pretty sure that I’m not meant to stay in New York as it only tend to be cruel to me in the least way possible.
As I zipped up the suitcase, a buzz from my phone captured my attention and I reached out for it from the sofa.
It was an email. Just when I was about to read the content of the mail, a call from an unknown number appeared on my screen.
“Who could this be?” I asked inwardly and I sighed before swiping to the right side of my screen to answer.
“Ophelia McRoy, speaking”
“Good day, Miss McRoy, I’m calling from Johnson Group……”
“What did you just say?!” I exclaimed in excitement!
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