chapter 4
1096 Words
Life is a crazy b***h.
Why is the one person I'm supposed to impress with my perfect CEO vibe and flawless proposal presentation the one who drove me to the hotel yesterday?
Thinking back to how I looked the night before, eyes puffed from crying, flimsy clothes with just slippers on, I looked every inch different from the woman sitting across him now.
They say the first impression lasts longer. And I could just create another first impression. Besides, he may not even remember me.
I sat up, trying to appear more confident than I was.
"Mr. Vale," I greeted, "we appreciate you making time for us despite your busy schedule." I placed the document in front of him. "Our Solenne Collection, as the name implies, is built on quiet elegance—pieces designed for moments that matter, not moments that need attention. It isn’t mass appeal… it’s selective."
I closed the file gently, trying to act like my hands weren't wet with sweat.
He didn’t open the file immediately.
His gaze lingered on me instead, and for a moment, I caught a flicker of recognition.
“Selective,” he repeated, almost to himself, before finally flipping the document open. "It’s not for the general market."
I nodded, "Yes, that’s the point."
Silence stretched between us, broken only by the soft turn of paper.
“And you’re confident it will sell?”
“I don’t rely on confidence,” I replied, “I rely on understanding my market… and I know exactly who this is for." I paused, looking straight at him, "If it needed to appeal to everyone, I’d be worried."
He skimmed through the pages with practiced ease, stopping halfway. “Your margins are tight.”
Then, after a brief pause—
“But the positioning…” His eyes flickered back to me. “…is interesting.”
He closed the document, checking his watch. "I have other appointments. I would like to discuss the terms of this agreement with you some other time. You can make an appointment with my assistant."
He stood up and left, and I sighed in relief.
Just as I was about to deflate on my chair, he turned back, a smile tugging at his lips, "You look much better than you did last night."
I flushed, embarrassment flushing over me. I knew he would remember, who wouldn't?
Before I could reply, he was gone, again.
I flopped onto the chair, shutting my eyes in embarrassment. It felt like the ground should just open and swallow me.
Lily's tap jerked me back to reality, "Mrs. Hale, are you ok?"
I looked at her, was I ok? I'm not. I sighed, nodding.
"What was that?" She asked
"What?"
"That," she gestured towards where Mr. Vale was previously standing, "have you guys met before? Do you know him?"
I turned to face her, "Lily, if I knew the CEO of Vale Investment, the most sought-after bachelor in the city, do you think I would have any issues landing an appointment with him?"
She nodded, "That's true."
I sighed. I loved Lily. She was literally the best assistant I could ever have, and the only one Alex hadn't managed to chase away. But sometimes—only sometimes—she could be slow.
"Let's go," I said already standing up.
I might have lost face, but I still landed a potential contract. It was obvious I'd keyed him in, but the next meeting would decide if my company was going to enter the top 10 this year.
The drive back home was silent. I already dropped Lila off and was looking out the window watching the city lights. The haunting silence brought back memories I didn't want to remember. My first time meeting Alex, our wedding, and our married life. Thinking back now, it had all been an illusion on my part. There had always been cracks in our relationship, and I'd been the one desperately trying to patch something that never even existed.
When the driver slowed down in front of the gate, running around the car fast in order to open the door, I muttered a quick thanks to him before stepping out of the car. The maids had a weird look on their faces as they greeted me, whispering quietly among themselves.
I furrowed my brows in confusion, "What's wrong?"
"Mrs. Hale," one of them replied, "it's Mr.Voss. He's here with his mother. We tried to stop him, but he insisted you gave him permission."
"Alex?" It seems he really doesn't take me seriously. "I'll handle this," I said to her, gesturing towards the rest of them, "you can go."
Alex and his mother sat arrogantly on my couch. Mara clung to his arm affectionately, shedding fake tears while he tried to pacify her.
What sickening display of affection.
I sent Liam a message as I walked towards them, taking a seat across him and crossing my legs, "It seems you really don't take me seriously."
Alex scoffed, "Not like you're being serious right now. Who wakes up in the morning and decides on a divorce? If it wasn't because of Mara pleading for you, do you think I'll ever want to step foot in this place?"
"Oh," I replied facing Mara. "I guess I should thank you then."
"No need for thanks, sister-in-law," she replied, battling her eyes at Alex. "This is all my fault. I only did what I could."
How did I never notice she was this nauseating?
"Now that that's settled," his mother finally spoke, "you should apologize and compensate us for the emotional distress." She sighed as though pitying me, "even if you're emotionally unstable, you shouldn't let it affect your marriage."
Wow, so I was emotionally unstable now. The audacity.
I simply watched as they displayed their perfectly rehearsed act, checking my watch as they spoke.
"How about this?" His mother continued, "I heard you planned to hand over the company to Alex."
Alex sat straighter, and I almost smacked his head.
"Why don't you just relax for a while and let him take full control of the company?" When she finished speaking, she paused, expecting a reply, but I didn't say anything.
Alex frowned, "can't you hear mom talking to you?"
"Are you done?" I asked when he finished speaking
"What do you mean?" He asked, but before he could get a reply, Liam entered at the right moment, followed by the men I hired to throw him out in the morning.
I smiled, “You're about to see exactly what I mean.”
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