Later, Laurence handed Linda a small envelope and a list of errands.
"Check on the fabric shipment," he said, handing her the details. "It's being sent by ship. I'm handling it to you so you can use the opportunity to…" he winked.
Linda smirked and nodded thankfully. "Got it. I'll go."
She followed the location Laurence gave her, navigating to a small, nondescript shop near the docks. Inside, the shop was simple, but exactly what she needed. A roll of black lace fabric waited for her, soft and shimmering under the dim lights.
Taking a deep breath, she laid it out. With the help of the fashion designers there, she began cutting, measuring, and preparing it. Two hours later, the work was done. Linda stood in front of the glass, examining the black cloth, perfectly cut and ready.
A small smile crept onto her lips, almost involuntarily. Then she gasped. For a moment, it felt like the smile wasn't hers… like it belonged to someone else.
She shook her head quickly, snapping out of it. "Focus, Linda," she whispered to herself.
Wrapping the clothes carefully, she carried them to the ship, checking the shipment herself to ensure nothing was missed. Satisfied, she made her way to the seaport. Right on time — the company trucks had finished loading. She tagged along with the last truck.
When she arrived, Megan was waiting outside their department. She sighed helplessly the moment she saw her.
"The boss is mad again," she said, shaking her head. "Ahhh! Good, Linda! Started having issues with your boss as soon as he comes back?!"
Linda let out a soft sigh. At least she had the dress. She didn't have time to worry about anyone else.
"I'll deal with it. Just another day."
Megan groaned, following her with a worried look. "I don't know how you do it… Seriously, he's going to blow a fuse for what you did! Why don't you tell me first?"
...
Linda sighed as she entered the office. She noticed he looked calmer… and colder. Seemed like his normal self. She straightened slowly at the doorway.
She hadn't seen this type of blank expression before — the dangerous kind of blank expression.
For a few seconds, she admitted Ezekiel was very good-looking. He would win many awards in the first month if he joined modelling.
Laurence, who was standing in front of Ezekiel, nodded at her.
Ezekiel shifted his gaze from his laptop to Laurence.
"How do you want your punishment? Firing or cutting a year's salary?"
Megan, who just entered, froze. She used to hear Ezekiel Lane was heartless, but she didn't think it was this bad.
"Cutting a year's salary," Laurence said plainly, as if he expected that and seemed ready to accept it.
"Good," Ezekiel nodded. "From today, you do only what your contract states. Stop meddling with models. Both of you. Nothing outside your lane."
Linda, who hadn't recovered from the shock of cutting someone's salary just like that, stepped forward.
"It's my fault..."
Ezekiel didn't even turn to her. "I didn't ask you to speak."
Linda folded her arms and sneered. "Understood."
But her calm reply only made his gaze colder. As if she just added herself to his revenge list.
"Good," he added. "Then stop creating unofficial duties to look useful."
Megan's mouth fell open slightly. That was too direct.
Laurence stepped forward a little. "She wasn't trying to..."
"I said…" Ezekiel cut in tiredly. "I don't need explanations."
Then silence...
He looked pissed and tired at the same time. He rested his back against the chair, eyes still on Laurence, not glancing at Linda even once.
"If I assign fabric inspection, it goes to the design unit. Not a model."
Laurence quickly looked away, saying nothing this time. Who was he to talk when Ezekiel was speaking? He had studied him well and knew he had two sides. One part of him would yell the life out of someone, usually when he was in a good mood or when his twin brother had successfully provoked him. The other side wouldn't talk much… but was very dangerous. The side everyone feared.
Linda tilted her head slightly. "A model handling something isn't bad if she knows about it…"
Adam nearly choked on his own saliva. He didn't expect her to speak for Laurence.
Ezekiel's eyes narrowed. He turned his chair slightly, looking at her just a fraction.
"You like stepping forward," he said. "Be careful you don't step out."
She smiled faintly. "I always land on my feet."
"Confidence without permission," he raised a brow, "is called disobedience here."
Megan whispered under her breath, "She's not backing down at all…"
Linda took the whisper as background noise. "Anything else, boss?"
Ezekiel studied her like a file he hadn't finished reading.
"Yes," he said at last. "Stay away from operational departments. Including fabrics." Then he nodded to Laurence. "Including Laurence's assignments."
"Noted," she nodded.
"I want to switch from model to fashion designer," she suddenly added, shocking them. Even Laurence looked surprised.
Ezekiel's expression was unreadable. "Fashion designer?" he asked in amusement. He didn't even look surprised.
Linda met his eyes. "Yes."
Adam frowned. He didn't know she was a fashion designer. He had investigated her deeply and found nothing special.
Ezekiel picked up his pen and rolled it once between his fingers.
"Denied."
Linda clenched her fists, trying to suppress her hatred. "You didn't even ask why."
"I don't need to." He signed a document without looking at her. "You change roles when I say so. Not when you feel like it."
Linda smiled bitterly and nodded. "So I'm just decoration?"
His pen stopped. He looked at her in amusement.
"If you were decoration," he said calmly, "you wouldn't be speaking this much."
"There's a reason why I want to switch. You think everything I do is a scheme?"
She had already made up her mind to join the fashion team. Once she finished pretending to be Lizzo and cleared her reputation, she would resign from Keystone and join another company to avoid him completely.
"I don't think," he replied. "I conclude."
She almost laughed. "Then give me the evidence of me scheming against you."
"Give you evidence?" He looked more amused. "Who do you think you are? Your smart decision is what makes you stand here — living in my house, eating my food, wearing the clothes I bought with my money and now, in my company."
Linda folded her arms. "I told you already, I didn't run to Adam's car that night and I'm not chasing you."
"I know," Ezekiel said.
He closed the file. "Let's say you're chasing something else," he added. "And you're using my company as a road."
Outside, Megan whispered, "Why does it feel like he's freezing the room…"
Linda almost burst into laughter. She dramatically looked around his office.
"You are really full of yourself, Mr Lane." She shrugged. "Then why don't you fire me?"
"Not yet," Ezekiel replied immediately. "You're still useful. For now."
"Then I think you're also useful to me," she glared at him, not bothering to hide her hatred anymore. "I'll let you keep using me, because I'll be using you to survive till I find my own way."
Adam blinked, wondering where that came from. He glanced at Ezekiel, who was now focused on his laptop.
As if he didn't hear her. "Go back to your assigned role," he added calmly. "And stay inside your boundaries."
Linda stood there two seconds more. Then she turned and walked out without a word. Since he refused to fire her… She was ready to provoke him to death.