The drive back was smooth, with Sadie holding Averi, resting against the seat, fatigued but relieved.
As soon as the car pulled into the driveway, Sadie’s phone rang.
“Miss Hudson, I have great news!” Pierre Ballard, Sadie’s assistant, could hardly contain his excitement. “The online rumors have completely subsided. Everyone now believes Byrum was solely responsible, clearing our name.”
A wave of relief washed over Sadie, easing her nerves.
“What about our partnerships? Are they reinstated?”
“They are, and even better,” Pierre said. “Mr. Lawrence from Lawrence Group personally reached out to apologize for the misunderstanding and affirmed their commitment to strengthen our partnership. And there’s even more exciting news. Several prominent companies that were previously on the fence are now keen to work with us. Miss Hudson, your resilience has really paid off!”
Sadie’s hand trembled with emotion as she clutched the phone, overwhelmed by the turn of events.
The rapid resolution of the situation couldn’t solely be attributed to Byrum’s exposure.
Sadie knew someone must have been orchestrating things behind the scenes.
Instinctively, she turned to Alex, her eyes conveying deep gratitude. “Thank you so much, Alex.”
Alex cleared his throat, his smile slightly awkward. “It was nothing, really.”
Convinced of her suspicions, Sadie felt a surge of appreciation. “Alex, why don’t you come up for dinner? I’d like to make something simple to thank you for all your help.”
After a brief hesitation, Alex agreed. “Alright.”
The three of them went upstairs together.
Post-dinner, Alex departed, and after putting Averi to bed, Sadie lay down but found sleep elusive.
The following morning, Sadie arrived at the studio early.
“Good morning, Miss Hudson.” Pierre greeted her with palpable enthusiasm. “Great news! I stayed late last night and finalized all our partnerships. The contracts are signed, and we’re ready to start coordinating today.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Pierre,” Sadie responded, her voice filled with relief.
“It’s my pleasure, really. It’s what I’m here for,” Pierre replied, clapping his hands excitedly. “This was a team effort.”
As the initial excitement diminished, Pierre’s demeanor shifted, showing hesitation. “Miss Hudson, there’s one more thing…”
“What is it?”
“It’s about Wall Group…” Pierre said cautiously. “They’ve requested that you handle the negotiations personally…”
Sadie’s smile faded slightly.
Wall Group, Noah…
“Why would… Why do they…” Her voice faltered as she picked up the collaboration proposal, her fingers quickly flipping through the pages until she saw “Wall Group” emblazoned across the document.
Sadie never expected Wall Group, a giant in the industry, to offer a partnership with her budding studio.
Just the previous day, her excitement had been so overwhelming that she neglected to inquire about the crucial detail-who were their partners?
“Exactly, Miss Hudson! Wall Group! It’s the kind of chance most can only imagine,” Pierre exclaimed, unaware of the change in her expression. “Our studio could skyrocket to incredible success with this deal!”
An unseen force seemed to constrict Sadie’s chest, making it difficult to breathe.
Wall Group. That implied Noah was involved.
After painstakingly rebuilding her life after her divorce, the last thing she wanted was any reconnection with him.
Sadie said with a strained voice, “Pierre, about this partnership… is it possible… to back out?”
Pierre’s smile vanished.
“Back out? Miss Hudson, are you serious? We’re talking about Wall Group here!”
“I understand… but…” Sadie inhaled sharply. “It just doesn’t seem right for us. The penalty… can we afford it?” she asked, getting straight to the point.
Pierre’s expression darkened. “The penalty… unfortunately, it’s beyond our means…”
Sadie shut her eyes, taking another deep breath to steady herself.
Noticing Sadie’s distressed look, Pierre grasped the gravity of his mistake. His voice shook as he murmured, “Miss Hudson… I’m so sorry… I thought this was an opportunity…”
“That’s alright, Pierre. I need to be alone to think this through.”
Relieved yet regretful, Pierre hurriedly exited the office.
Silence enveloped the room as Sadie remained alone, clutching the collaboration document so tightly that her nails threatened to pierce the paper.
With eyes closed, she allowed herself a moment of respite.
When she reopened her eyes, they had a newfound clarity. Sadie knew avoidance was no longer an option. She had to confront the issue, even if it was the last thing she wanted to do. Taking a deep breath, she picked up her bag, resolved. She exited the studio and made her way directly to Wall Group.
The bustling grand lobby of Wall Group was filled with rushing people, but Sadie’s arrival seemed to stop them in their tracks.
“Is that… Sadie?” someone murmured.
“Yes, that’s her! Wasn’t she supposed to…?”
“Three years gone, and just like that, she returns?” Speculations began to swirl around the lobby like wildfire.
At that moment, Tina stepped out of the elevator, and when her eyes landed on Sadie, the file she was holding dropped with a loud clang. Her expression was one of pure shock.
“Sa… Sadie?”
Spotting Tina, Sadie managed a weak smile. “Tina.”
Rushing forward, Tina grasped Sadie’s arm, inspecting her closely. “It really is you! What happened these past three years? We all assumed you were… “
Her voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken thought lingering in the air. With a fleeting shadow crossing her face, Sadie responded lightly, “I needed some time alone to sort things out.”
“To sort things out? For three years?” Tina’s skepticism was obvious.
“What’s the real story, Sadie?”
“Let’s not dwell on the past,” Sadie said, her voice soft but firm. She had no desire to revisit those difficult years, especially not within the walls of Wall Group.
“But…” Tina began, eager to get more details, only to be silenced by Sadie’s determined look.
“I’m here today because I have something to take care of,” Sadie said, quickly changing the subject.
“What’s the matter?” Tina’s tone was laced with concern.
“It’s about…” Sadie paused for a moment. “About a collaboration.”
Upon hearing what Sadie said, Tina eagerly pulled her along. “Come on, Sadie, let’s head to the meeting room first. I’ll call the person in charge right away.”
Guided by Tina, Sadie entered the elevator, feeling the weight in her heart increase with each floor they ascended. To her, Wall Group was less about business and more like a source of personal anguish.
The elevator doors opened, and Tina led Sadie directly to the designated meeting room.
“Here we are.” Tina pushed open the door, only to halt abruptly at the sight of the occupant inside.
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.
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