"Miss Maeve!" a maid called out as I walked past her. I stopped and turned around, curiosity piqued.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Your grandpa has sent a dress to your room. Please try it on to see if it fits or if any alterations are required for the party," she informed me.
"Wow, that was quick," I said, impressed by the speed. I nodded and headed up to my room, eager to see what the dress looked like.
When I swung open the door, my eyes landed on the dress form in the center of the room. Draped in a striking black dress, my jaw dropped. "There's no way he wants me to wear that!" I was filled with disbelief.
It was a long, black, mermaid-style bodycon dress. With a high slit at one side, Simple yet elegant, but that was before I saw the back. As I rotated the dress form, I noticed a deep backless cut, just a centimetre above the hip bone, adorned with cascading beads hanging down.
"Gosh!" I whispered, astonished. "This is going to be too easy if I try to seduce someone in this. It's game over for them." I knew for sure that despite Mavis's beauty, there was no way she could match the allure of what my mother had passed down to me.
Grandpa certainly knew what he was doing. The dress was not only breathtaking but also perfectly suited for the mission ahead.
I locked the room's door and undressed, eager to try on the dress. Fingers crossed, I hoped it would fit perfectly because the dress was too stunning to need any alterations. The fabric was soft and high-quality, slipping over my skin like a second layer. The full-length sleeves only added to the allure of the dress, making me feel like I was gearing up for an exciting, high-stakes mission.
Once I was in the dress, it fit like a glove. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror, unable to contain my joy. "Oof! This is so pretty!" I exclaimed. My hair was still loose, so I pulled it up to better showcase the backless design, which was clearly intended to be a standout feature.
The look was complete, and I admired myself, a bit surprised at how stunning I looked. "Whoever it is, bro, you are so done!" I chuckled at my reflection, half-joking and half-worried that I might be falling for myself. My occasional touch of narcissism seemed to be in full swing as I enjoyed the sight of myself in such a breathtaking dress.
As the night fell and the new day rose, I felt a flutter of nerves about finally facing Fleur after a whole day of being ignored. I had spent the morning contemplating how to approach her, what to say, and how to handle the situation. At least being in the same city as her was a relief—no long-distance travel required. Still, her house was quite far, and I was dreading the journey.
The maid's call for lunch broke my focus, pulling me away from my thoughts. The family had a tradition of eating one meal together each day, so I made my way downstairs. The dining table was extravagantly set, a feast of various dishes laid out. My stomach growled in response, as I hadn't eaten anything since last night's heavy meal.
Despite my hunger, the atmosphere at the table felt cold and unwelcoming, which made me uncomfortable. The maid guided me to a seat across from Mavis. Grandpa was the only one who acknowledged me, his voice breaking the silence.
"I heard from the maid that you liked the dress," he said, his tone casual.
"Yes, I think it's suitable for the task at hand," I replied, serving myself some fruit salad. I opted for something light, knowing I couldn't handle anything heavy with the tense atmosphere around. The salad was bland, but I didn't have much of an appetite anyway.
"Your shoes will arrive by tonight," Grandpa continued.
"Thank you, Grandpa," I said, taking a spoonful of the salad. It was unremarkable, but I didn't want to linger at the table. "Also, I will be meeting a friend tonight and might come home late."
Grandpa nodded, "Do whatever you please, but be sure to be home before the party."
"I understand," I replied, quickly finishing my meal before excusing myself to return to my room. I grabbed my wallet and phone, which I had left charging, and made my way downstairs. The sooner I reached Fleur's house, the sooner I could mend things with her. I had a gut feeling she might be ready to let me off the hook today. With that optimism, I began my journey across the city.
Meanwhile, in a sleek conference room, Ambrose sat at the head of the table, visibly agitated as the older men argued over trivial matters. A sharp pain throbbed at his temples, and he rubbed them, trying to focus on resolving the issue at hand. Glancing at his watch, he noted he had another important meeting in just fifteen minutes—one that promised to generate more revenue than these pointless squabbles.
Slam! Ambrose slammed his hands onto the long wooden table, the sound echoing through the room. "What I'm saying is that we fire all of you and bring in fresh talent!" he declared, his voice dripping with frustration.
"Huh?" A collective gasp escaped the group, their faces a mix of shock and disbelief. "You can't do that, sir," one of the men protested.
"Who said I couldn't?" Ambrose retorted, his voice cold. "I've been watching the company's stocks decline for years without understanding why. Today, I've finally figured it out: it's you. So, I expect your resignations on my desk by tomorrow morning. And you!" He pointed at a younger man. "I need replacements by the end of the week. Am I clear?"
The young man nodded, visibly intimidated. Ambrose straightened his suit, his demeanor rigid, and then turned to leave the room, his assistant hurrying after him.
"Has the investor arrived yet?" Ambrose asked.
"Yes, he will be in the meeting room in ten minutes," the assistant replied.
"And what about the meeting with the girl? Did you manage to fix it?" Ambrose's tone was impatient, his frustration evident.
The assistant hesitated, unable to bring himself to admit that the calls had been unsuccessful. He was caught between honesty and hope for a miracle. Just then, Ambrose's phone rang. He answered almost immediately, and the assistant let out a deep sigh of relief.