Sarah strolled into the lavish Davenport Group conference room, with her heels clicking purposefully against the polished marble floor. Her confidence was unmistakable. Only a few years ago, she had been on the sidelines, an aspiring entrepreneur with a heart shattered by Michael's betrayal. Now, she was the woman every eye in the room turned to; her presence was powerful and undeniable. And there he was—Michael, looking as smug and self-assured as ever. But this time, she held all the cards.
Michael rose from his seat, extending a hand with a practiced smile. "Sarah. It has been a while. You look… incredible," he said, his tone as smooth as she remembered, but it no longer stirred anything inside her.
She accepted his hand, her fingers grazing his only for a moment. "Thank you, Mr Smith. It's good to see you, too." Her smile was charming and warm, but kept a distance in heart. She had perfected it for this very moment, and it caught Michael off guard.
"Let's get started, shall we?" she suggested, keeping her tone light. She gestured to her team to bring out the files; her attention zeroed in on the presentation ahead. But part of her enjoyed watching him shift in his chair, no doubt sensing he was no longer in control.
The room darkened as the presentation began. David, sitting beside Sarah, leaned in and whispered in a low voice only she could hear. "Ready to make him eat his words?"
Sarah's lips curved into a faint smile. "More than ready."
Sarah unfolded the presentation, and smoothly outlined every detail, every strategic move that her team had developed over years of arduous work. Her partnership with David had transformed their fledgling startup into a powerhouse. She had a keen sense for market gaps, and David's technical and social expertise filled them seamlessly.
When the lights came back on, Sarah did not miss the slight crease in Michael's brow. Davenport Group had missed this exact opportunity two years ago, and now, Sarah was showing them how it should have been done.
"Impressive, Sarah," said Michael. He nodded, and his voice was laced with something that sounded like envy. "It appears you have come a long way."
Sarah smiled and nodded with a subtle sarcasm and seeming innocence. "I have had a lot of… encouragement and challenges along the way. You know how motivation works," she replied, throwing a quick, knowing glance at David, who was quietly smiling. All these interactions between Sarah and David were obviously caught by Michael.
"Well, maybe I was that motivation," Michael signed the contract and then quipped, trying to steer the conversation his way.
She tilted her head, pretending to consider his words. "Maybe you were, Mr Smith. But motivations can change. Let's talk about business. Now business success is my motivation. " She kept her gaze steady, daring him to see past her words.
When the meeting ended, Michael lingered as the rest of the people left the room. He approached Sarah, leaning in closer than necessary. "Are you sure you're happy, Sarah? We had something real once. You don't want to forget that, right?" he murmured.
She felt David's gaze from across the room, silently reminding her of the truth she'd found beyond Michael's shallow promises. But Sarah smiled softly, masking her true feelings. "There are things we do not want to forget, Michael. But that does not mean we want them back. Life goes on. There are constantly new things and people who deserve us better."
David stepped forward and raised his voice gently but firmly. "Sarah, are you ready to head out? Mr. Doe, the driver is waiting for us".
Michael's gaze flicked to David, and he could not hide the flicker of resentment in his eyes. But Sarah had already moved past him, her hand slipping comfortably into David's as they walked out.
"By the way, Mr Smith. Let me formally introduce my boyfriend to you. It is David. He is no stranger to you. Haha.." Sara laughed mockingly. Michael was staring at her, stunned by the sudden announcement of David's role as Sarah's boyfriend.
Outside, as they stepped into the warm sunlight, David chuckled softly. "You got under his skin back there," he remarked, his tone both amused and impressed.
Sarah laughed, feeling the weight of the past lift. "It was… satisfying. But honestly, this win was never about Michael. It's about everything we built, everything you helped me believe I could do."
David turned to her with a tender expression. "You always had it in you, Sarah. I just reminded you of it."
At that moment, she realized she was no longer bound by Michael's betrayal in the past. Her path had led her here, hand in hand with the man who had been there every step of the way. And it wasn't revenge that warmed her heart—it was knowing she'd found real love and the future they were building together.