As his eyes shifted beyond Roy, spotting Sadie’s approach, Alex’s smile widened invitingly. He gestured for her to join them. “Sadie, over here!”
Roy’s gaze snapped to Sadie. “It’s you?” he exclaimed, his expression laced with disbelief.
Meeting his eyes, Sadie nodded politely, her voice steady. “Hello, Mr. Dominguez.”
Despite her calm demeanor, her grip on the champagne glass tightened, betraying a flicker of nervous tension.
Roy’s gaze darted between Sadie and Alex, his eyebrows knitted in suspicion. “What is going on between you two?” The air thickened with his scrutiny.
He had already picked up on something strange in the way Sadie interacted with Noah before.
Now, with Alex in the picture, his suspicions deepened, urging him to probe further.
A heavy weight settled in Sadie’s chest as she registered the sharp edge in Roy’s voice, an ominous premonition blooming within her.
She opened her mouth to clarify, but Alex was quicker.
“We’re close friends,” Alex said smoothly, his smile easy and demeanor untroubled as if he were discussing the weather. “If there’s one thing about Sadie, it’s that she delivers. Her business proposals speak for themselves. Mr. Dominguez, I assure you, listening to her pitch would be worth your time.”
His voice carried a barely detectable note of protectiveness, and his eyes flickered to Sadie with a fleeting look of concern.
Roy’s attention snapped back to Alex, his expression hardening. “You’ve gone to such lengths-hosting a banquet, even threatening my niece-and you expect me to believe you are just friends?”
Having encountered various personalities throughout his career, Roy was hardly the type to take someone at face value, and Alex’s explanations did little to sway him.
Roy had long understood that in the cutthroat world of business, deceit was more common than sincerity, and Alex’s demeanor suggested he was not doing all this just for a friend.
Alex’s smile faltered, freezing as he sensed the shift in atmosphere.
“I’m sorry. If there’s any need for cooperation, I’ll contact Noah directly. I see no need for middlemen,” Roy stated, his voice laced with disdain. He continued, his tone sharpening, “Miss Hudson, making connections is fine, but your attention should go toward more important matters.”
At his words, Sadie’s grip on her champagne flute intensified, her knuckles blanching with the strain. She inhaled deeply, a practiced smile masking her brewing storm. Alex’s face clouded with panic, and he stepped closer, urgency tinging his voice. “Mr. Dominguez, please, you’ve misunderstood…”
But Roy was done with the conversation. He turned on his heel to leave when Sadie’s voice, crisp and resonant, cut through the hum of the crowded banquet hall. “Everyone praises your business acumen, Mr. Dominguez, but it appears you don’t live up to your reputation.”
Roy halted, a flicker of surprise crossing his features. He was accustomed to admiration, and the sting of public rebuke ignited a flash of anger.
He pivoted slowly, his eyes narrowing, a dangerous edge to his voice. “Excuse me, what did you just say?”
Gently pulling on Sadie’s sleeve, Alex whispered urgently, “Sadie, forget it.”
He knew all too well how Roy preferred to handle things-with diplomacy rather than direct conflict.
However, Sadie shrugged off his touch, her lips curling into a sarcastic smile. “What’s the issue? Isn’t business all about using networks and leveraging connections? Don’t tell me you’ve never leveraged connections, Mr. Dominguez?”
Despite her casual tone, there was a sharpness to her words that was unmistakable.
Roy paused, his expression darkening into a scowl. His jaw tightened, and his eyes narrowed, clearly teetering on the edge of anger.
Sweat began to form on Alex’s palms as he clenched his fists tightly. Without thinking, he moved closer to Sadie, positioning himself as her shield if needed.
Despite the mounting tension, Sadie remained composed and unyielding.
“Were my actions really that unacceptable, Mr. Dominguez?” she challenged. “You judge me as if I’ve done something wrong. Is it simply because I’m a woman?” She locked eyes with Roy, her gaze unwavering.
“Here we are in the 21st century, and yet a CEO of your stature still believes women advance only through their associations with men.” With a soft chuckle, she added, “Isn’t that a bit outdated, Mr. Dominguez?”
Roy’s expression grew colder as he responded, “You think you have real talent?”
His tone dripped with disdain, as if he considered all of Sadie’s efforts a mere joke.
Anticipating such a response, Sadie retrieved a folder from her bag and presented it to Roy. “How can you judge my capabilities without looking at this?” she challenged. “Or are you worried that you might feel guilty after reading these documents?”
Roy’s squint hardened as he faced Sadie’s confident stance. He was aware that Sadie was deliberately provoking him.
Walking away would have been the wiser choice.
Yet, fueled by Sadie’s provocations, his anger surged uncontrollably.
The thought of being outsmarted by her was unbearable. Despite recognizing her strategy, Roy responded impulsively, “You’d better hope your skills match your confidence, or you’ll regret it in the end.”
Undeterred, Sadie locked eyes with him, her smile brimming with assurance. “We’ll just have to see what happens.”
Alex soon prepared the lounge for their discussion.
Roy settled into his chair, radiating authority with every movement. He casually took the folder from Sadie, ready to criticize its contents.
Sitting opposite him, Sadie remained poised and focused, bracing herself for a challenging encounter.
As Roy skimmed through the documents, his initial skepticism was evident. But with each page he turned, his demeanor shifted. His skepticism gradually faded as he became more intrigued.
The thoroughness of Sadie’s preparation and the clarity of her presentation were undeniable.
After half an hour and having gone through all the documents, Roy acknowledged that Sadie was the most innovative and capable fashion designer he had encountered. He realized her designs would likely be highly successful in the market. They were also a perfect match for the new direction his company was aiming to take.
Today’s young people sought fashion that showcased their uniqueness and style. Previously, his brand had been synonymous with traditional elegance, which failed to resonate with the younger crowd.
Sadie’s fashion designs perfectly aligned with the latest youth trends. Roy set the folder aside, meeting Sadie’s eager gaze as he said deliberately, “Your designs are exactly what our company has been searching for.”
A wave of relief washed over Sadie as she smiled brightly. “I appreciate your approval, Mr. Dominguez. I’m eager to collaborate with you.” Victory seemed just within her grasp.
Rising from his chair, Roy made his way to the door. “However, we cannot proceed with a partnership.”
“May I ask why not?” Sadie asked, taken aback, her fingertips trembling slightly. Was Roy still upset? She quickly added, “Please accept my apologies. I…”
Roy gestured dismissively, a trace of resignation on his face. “It’s not about holding grudges. I realized I jumped to conclusions about you too quickly.”
He sighed, looking back at Sadie’s earnest, yet somewhat pale face. “Noah spoke to me earlier. Any agreement should be discussed directly with him.”
Pausing, he added apologetically, “Attempting to bypass him to work directly with me would be inappropriate.”
Roy exited through the door, his parting words lingering in the air. “Miss Hudson, I regret this. While your designs are outstanding, we can’t proceed under these conditions.”
As he disappeared through the doorway, Sadie watched the door swing shut, her hand unconsciously clenching into a fist.
Despair overwhelmed her. She had hoped that her hard work would free her from Noah’s control and grant her independence. Yet, here she was, still bound by his influence.
What was her next move? Was escape from Noah’s grasp ever possible? Her hand rested on her belly, protectively guarding the growing life inside her. If she failed to leave Noah before her pregnancy became obvious, he might never allow the child to be born.
The memory of Noah’s cold expression and harsh words haunted her.
Taking a deep breath, Sadie resolved not to give up.
She had to leave, for the sake of her unborn child.
Alex approached, his concern evident. “Sadie, stay calm. I’ll speak with Mr. Dominguez. Given the long-standing relationship between our families, he might change his mind.” His voice was gentle and reassuring.
With those words, Alex hurried off, urgency in his stride.
Sadie wanted to call out to him, but the opportunity slipped away. Amidst the elegantly dressed crowd in the banquet hall, Sadie felt completely out of place. She turned and walked away.
The night air outside was refreshingly cool. Her phone buzzed-it was Alex calling.
“Sadie, Mr. Dominguez has agreed.” Alex’s voice buzzed with excitement. “He’s set up an independent project for you, one that doesn’t involve Noah’s oversight. What do you think?”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply