"I am reassigning the project to..."
"No...!" Her voice came out loud. "You can't do that." Stopping her boss from finishing her sentence.
"Why not?" Then, a high-pitched woman spoke behind her, joining her in the CEO's office. "You already messed it up. You don't deserve to be the lead on this project."
Oh! Great! Not her.
Not her worst enemy. Not the thorn in her side.
Why was she even present in this meeting?
"I haven't messed it up, Linda. It was just a misunderstanding." She answered back, glancing at the stunning beauty with her perfectly painted face, beautifully done hair, and a business suit that spoke volumes about her professionalism.
"Stop with your excuses, Sophia." Linda stood beside her with a sly smile on her lips. "Just admit it. You're not fit to do the job," She added, confidently and arrogantly, as if she were ready to push her aside with any means necessary.
Admittedly, it was her fault that the Morton Group rejected their initial proposal. But it didn't mean that it was over. She still planned to fix that.
So far, all her efforts to get another appointment with the headstrong project manager of the Morton Group had gone in vain. Regardless, she was not yet ready to surrender.
Especially, not to her.
"And who is?" She had had enough of this woman, who had always undermined her ever since she started working in this company. "You?" This time, she was not taking any crap from her.
Initially, she thought that becoming beautiful and successful would finally spare her from bullying. But she assumed wrong. She realized that as long as someone was threatened by her presence, she would not be free from those who wished to take her down.
"Who else?" Linda placed her hand on Jenny's desk as if to demand her attention. "I'm a senior executive. I have more experience, and I'm more fit for this project than a nobody pretending to be somebody." Clearly, diminishing her capability.
The last thing she wanted was to question Linda's seniority and credibility. Frankly, she acknowledged the older woman's significant contributions to the company. But it didn't necessarily mean she would let Linda talk shit about her.
If anyone deserved this project, it was her. She had worked hard in perfecting this project. Day and night. For months. For her, there was no one more qualified to handle this endeavor than her.
"Jenny, I promise... I can still convince Mr. Kingsley... Please, give me... a few more days." Trying very hard to sound convincing. But her voice still betrayed her as she heard a slight hesitation.
She believed she still had a few tricks up her sleeve. She just had to come up with a better plan.
Besides, she needed to secure this business venture because it was her ticket to get entry to the Morton Group. But, of course, they didn't need to know that.
"Please, Jenny, give me one more chance." She begged her boss, the CEO of the Sinclair Group, when Jenny avoided looking into her eyes.
For years, she had learned to read her telltale signs when her boss was having difficulty deciding.
With pleading eyes, hands clasped between her breasts, she appealed to her friend's good graces.
So far, it had not failed her as Jenny sighed exasperatedly. "Fine. You win. But this is your last chance." Warning her. But that was also what she said the last time. "You know I can't afford to lose this contract."
Of course, she was well aware of that. She didn't need reminding about this project's importance to the company. Although the Sinclair name had already established the business in the local market, having a connection with the Morton Group would open doors for them on a global scale.
"Ugh! I don't know what you see in her." Linda muttered angrily as fumes escaped from her nose. "But I just know you'll gonna regret it." Then, she stormed out of the office, making sure that she left a trail of turmoil in her wake.
"Well, don't make me regret this." Jenny stood up from her desk and dropped the file back into her lap.
"You won't. I promise." Assuring her boss that she had this under control.
"Wait! I've got an idea." Jenny stopped her before she could speak. "Why don't you accompany me to the gala?"
"That seems to be a great idea." She seconded her boss's suggestion. "Anyway, what gala?" She might have agreed to it, but she had no idea what it was about.
"We are invited to the Morton Charity Gala. Now and then, the Morton family organized charity events like this for a particular cause."
"Oh, I heard that the Morton Charity Gala was usually the talk of the town." It had been for decades.
Last year, Jenny also invited her to attend with her. But she was not ready then to meet the Morton just yet. Therefore, she declined, making up some excuse not to go.
This time, it was different.
"They definitely threw some of the most incredible parties I had the privilege to see. I heard they were making this year the best." Her boss told her.
"Strangely enough, the Morton matriarch is having another birthday party."
"Didn't she just throw one massive birthday celebration a few months ago?" She remembered reading something about it.
"I guess she wanted another one." Jenny shrugged. "You know how these rich people's minds work."
Although Jenny was the CEO of the Sinclair Group, she actually didn't come from an affluent family.
Jenny met her husband, Dennis, in one of his military missions. They fell in love at first sight. Soon, they got married. Eventually, she joined the company and proved her worth through hard work and perseverance.
"I know." She definitely had a good idea. She even experienced it firsthand, remembering everything that the Morton family had done to her, her parents, and her son.
"Anyway, besides the birthday party, they are also organizing a charity event and donating the entire proceeds to the hospital." Jenny pulled two cards from her desk drawer, handing one to her.
"Why don't you take one of my paintings and donate it to the auction? You can use that to get in the good graces of the Morton family." Her boss suggested.
"I think that will work." She stared at the black invitation with a gold engraving.
"But there is a rumor spreading around that the matriarch of the Morton is searching for a new wife for the Don." Jenny winked at her. "Maybe you'd like to apply for the role."
It was a joke.
Of course, she could tell from the smirk on her boss's lips. But still, the idea stuck in her head.
"I'm sure that is just some stupid rumor." She knew how these kinds of stories spread and formed wings. Then, one story became another as the words passed from one mouth to another.
"I'm sure the Morton family had a reputation to uphold." She knew it too well. "They will not just pick up some random stranger to be part of their family."
As far as she could remember, they preferred one of their kind.
She had met Oliver's father, but had no clue what his mother was like or the other members of his family. She had tried to look them up on social media and various news platforms, but except for the Mafia Dons, Maximus Morton, and then his son, Oliver, nothing was mentioned about the rest of the family. It was as if they could control what went out to the press.
Not one picture of their family was posted online.
It was probably why she didn't suspect that Oliver was part of such an elite family. His family was truly an expert in keeping their lives private, protecting their secrets, and preventing the airing of their dirty laundry.
"Still, I think you have a chance. You're beautiful, intelligent, creative, and talented." Jenny looked her up and down, assessing her as if she were one of her masterpieces.
Of course, she had changed significantly from the girl that she used to be. At least, physically. But there were still moments where the insecure, rejected, and abandoned fat girl reared its ugly head, reminding her of who she truly was behind her façade.
"Can we just get back to business?" She laughed at the way her boss stared at her. "And stop looking at me like that." She pointed her fingers at Jenny's eyes. "You look like you're ready to sell me to the highest bidder."
"Hmm..." Jenny raised her eyebrows as if she had just given her a brilliant idea. "That could work too."
After a few more banters, they discussed their plan for the Charity Gala. Then, she finally excused herself and left her boss's office.
As she settled into her seat behind her desk, she noticed a notification on her phone, which she had left by accident at her office earlier.
It's Dianne. I hope you remember me.
It's my birthday. I hope you can come.
The details were included in the message as she scrolled down the screen.
"Oh, I forgot all about her." She mumbled, but truthfully, she didn't take her invitation seriously at that time.
Nonetheless, she recalled the sweet lady and felt bad, thinking she might have to disappoint her. It turned out that her birthday was the same day as the Gala.
As much as she wanted to go and visit her, she couldn't be in two places at once.
Closing her phone, she decided to message the nice cleaning lady later.
At the moment, in the privacy of her office, she stared at the photo on her desk and began reliving the past.
The day she met him.
The day they started secretly dating.
The day they moved in together.
The day everything fell apart.
Now, the day for her revenge was fast approaching. And she could not wait to avenge her family and her child.