The pristine meeting room was alive with energy, the air thick with expectancy as executives and officials took their seats around the gleaming mahogany desk. Lily felt a flood of confidence rush through her as she entered, her sharp, healthy, and serene countenance exuding authority. She had spent weeks methodically honing each point of her presentation in preparation for this moment.
The customers were sat on one side of the desk, their expressions alert and scrutinizing. Lily walked to the front and caught a sight of her reflection in the glass dividers behind her. She'd gone a long way from the woman she used to be—she was now Lily Chen, CEO, rather than everyone's wife or shadow.
As she reached the top of the desk, she gave a subtle gesture to her helper, Maya, who quickly organized her materials. This was it—her first and most critical pitch for a lucrative contract, one that could propel her agency to new heights. The customers, representing a well-known company, were all sharp-eyed professionals who had seen it all. Lily had to show them that her concept was more than simply a pitch; it became destiny.
She took a deep breath and began. "Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to share our vision. We've developed a systematic method to streamline your procedures while lowering overhead costs by 15% in the first sector."
Her voice was regular and confident, and every syllable landed precisely. She observed as the customers leaned forward, captivated, and persisted, guiding them through each part of her concept with clarity and logic.
Midway through, she felt a change in the room's atmosphere. Glancing in the direction of the sound, her sight was met by a familiar face she hadn't expected to see. Jason stood there, casting a shadow on her display. She iced over for a fraction of a second, convalescing quickly, yet her mind raced. Why did you transform into him right here?
Jason came forward, his stare unreadable, and took a seat in the corner of the room, his face nonchalant but his eyes calculating. She observed his employer's brand on his tablet, and an unsettling thought dawned on her: his company was also bidding for the same settlement.
As she persisted, she might have wanted to feel his piercing and vigilant gaze, dissecting every word she said. However, she refused to be intimidated. She arrived at this point because of her own hard work. She would not allow him to rattle her.
While she was finishing, Mr. Fitzgerald, the pinnacle patron, appeared and nodded with a modest smile. "Ms. Chen's proposal suggests an exquisite deal of promise," he continued, his tone approving.
However, before Lily could react, Jason's voice faded across the room. "Certainly," he said casually, his words flowing with familiarity. "I taught her the whole thing she is aware of."
The room fell hushed, all eyes shifting between Lily and Jason, the tension rising. Lily felt the edge of his remark, but she stood firm, meeting his gaze with unshakable resolve.
"No, Mr. Reed," she responded, her voice calm but firm. "You taught me all you know. "I've learned a lot more since then."
The patrons exchanged glances, sending a wave of astonishment and admiration through the room. Jason's expression faltered briefly, but he recovered with a tiny smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Mr. Fitzgerald cleared his throat, pulling everyone's attention back to him. "Thank you each," he said, his tone amused. "Now, if there aren't any further… interjections, I'd want to maintain with the evaluation."
Lily felt forced to acknowledge the clients as they began to ask inquiries. She responded to each one expectantly, stating her point with clarity and composure. Jason's gaze stayed fixed on her the entire time, but she ignored him, focusing her attention on the room's strength and the possibilities before her.
After what seemed like an age, the questions came to a close, and Mr. Fitzgerald nodded, signifying the end of his presentation. "Thank you, Ms. Chen." We'll make a choice within the next few days."
She tilted her head, her heart beating with a mix of pleasure and relief. She had done it, held her stance despite Jason's presence, even with his decreasing statement. Because the clients stood, she exchanged well-mannered handshakes while maintaining her cool.
Jason waited until the clients had left before approaching her with a slow, deliberate stride. She braced herself, refusing to let her shield down.
"Impressive presentation, Lily," he said, his tone light, but with a trace of derision in his gaze. "You've come an extended manner."
She raised her chin and met his stare with cold disdain. "and i plan to go even similarly."
He smirked, fingers in his wallet, as if playing up the tension between them. "You thought you may beat me, Lily? It's a specific sport. It is ruthless and competitive.
She crossed her fingers, her expression unwavering. "And, what? You saw it, and I can't handle it?"
Jason leaned in, keeping his voice quiet. "I simply don't want you to get harm while you recognise it's no longer as easy because it seems."
She took a big breath, her words measured and quiet. "I do not need your circumstance, Jason. I am not the lady I used to be. "I am right here because I belong here."
Something flickered across his face—recognize, maybe, or even wonder. However, it became a distant memory in an instant, as evidenced by his usual arrogance. "I suppose we'll see," he said, giving her one more, challenging look before exiting the room.
Lily breathed, felt the adrenaline leave her body. She had confronted him, stood firm in the face of his attempts to discredit her, and demonstrated that she was more than just his ex-wife; she had become his competitor.
Samuel entered just as she was gathering her supplies, his gaze searching the room, noting the little strain in her posture.
"Are you okay?" he inquired, his tone full of challenge.
She pressured a grin and nodded. "Jason was here." His company is bidding for the same deal."
Samuel's countenance clouded, as his protective instincts kicked in. "He just doesn't understand when to cease, does he?"
"No," she said calmly, a hint of willpower in her tone. "However, I refused to let him frighten me. "Not anymore."
Samuel nodded with joy in his eyes. "You're doing an excellent job, mei mei. "Don't let him distract you from what you're building."
They departed the conference room together and walked through her company's crowded halls. Despite the difficult circumstances, and despite Jason's continued presence in her life, she believed she was on the correct track. She had worked too hard and made too many sacrifices to let him steal her self-esteem and future.
However, as she arrived at work, a nagging thought occurred to her: Jason's agency had most certainly been aware of her idea for months. Had he recognised everyone? Had this been a perverse attempt to discredit her from the beginning?
The suspicion upset her, leaving her with more questions than answers. She knew Jason too well to dismiss the possibility that he is using the agreement to entice her back into his orbit, to regain control in whichever way he sees fit. But she had come too far to let him pull her down again.
Later that night, as she went over her notes and prepared for the next round of negotiations, her thoughts turned back to their change, to the sight in his eyes when he tried to degrade her. There was something there, something unfinished, which disturbed her.
The city lights twinkled outside her office window, a reminder of the world she had carved out for herself. The competition was tough, and the road was uncertain, but she found her place here. She was no longer the girl who had once trusted him, crushed by the weight of his choices.
And as she sat there, the silence of the night falling around her, she promised herself that she would win this contract, not just for her firm, but also to demonstrate, once and for all, that she did not want Jason or anyone else to d
etermine her worth.
The sport was on, and this time she was playing to win.