The door creaked open, and Sophie stepped inside. Her lips curled into a mocking smirk the moment she saw my disheveled state."Still can't handle your liquor, yet you insist on playing the hero," she sneered.
Leaning weakly against the sofa, I let out a sigh."I only drank because she said she might give us the deal."
"And yet, she didn't," Sophie retorted icily. Her words hung in the air as she abruptly fell silent, as though something had just crossed her mind.
A pang of unease gripped me. In a low voice, I asked,"Did I ruin it?"
"Yes," There was a hint of blame and helplessness in Sophie's tone."Forget it. What's done is done. I should never have brought you along."
Regret and self-recrimination surged within me."I didn't even want to come in the first place," I countered, unwilling to admit defeat.
"Oh, you have such a bad temper!" Sophie scoffed, a flicker of anger flashing in her eyes.
"Not as big as yours," I shot back, unwilling to let her have the last word.
"really? Dare I compare myself to the one who flipped a table and insulted Lydia?" she retorted with biting sarcasm.
I froze, my mind buzzing."What? I cursed at her too?"
"Yes!" Sophie rolled her eyes, her tone full of disdain.
A chill ran down my spine as remorse and dread crept over me."No wonder Lydia refused to give us the deal," I murmured, my voice barely audible."What should I do now?"
"Tomorrow, you pack up and leave. Just looking at you is infuriating," Sophie snapped coldly, her gaze filled with contempt.
"Is there really no salvaging this deal?" I asked, my voice tinged with desperation and anxiety.
"What do you think?" Sophie sneered."Have a good rest and go back to Eldoria tomorrow." After that, she turned and left the room.
I slumped onto the sofa, consumed by regret and helplessness. The faint scent of tobacco lingered in the air, mingling with the chaos of my thoughts. The ashtray on the table was overflowing, a reflection of the disarray in my heart. The clock on the wall ticked relentlessly, each second mocking my failure. After what felt like an eternity, a knock broke the oppressive stillness.
Earlier, Theo Westbrook had noticed I was awake and had left the room key card in the slot, locking the door from outside. Dragging my weary body to the door, I opened it to find Lucas Steele standing there. Dressed in an impeccably tailored suit, his lips curved in a sardonic smile, as though he held all the cards.
"Lucas Steele, what do you want?" I croaked, my voice hoarse, each word grating as if torn from the depths of my throat.
"I came to check on our hero," he replied, his tone dripping with mockery, his gaze sharp with derision.
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I said nothing, merely turning back to sink into the sofa, a storm of frustration brewing within me. Lucas followed me in, shutting the door behind him. Waving a hand dramatically, he remarked,"What a stench."
"Do you have any idea what you've done with this deal?" he began, his voice laced with barely concealed anger.
"Yes," I muttered, my heart sinking as I braced myself for the worst.
"Do you even realize what this deal means to Sophie?" he pressed, his tone heavy with accusation.
I met his gaze, unease coiling tighter around me."What do you mean?"
"If this deal falls through, it means Eldoria's acquisition will be in vain, leaving Vanguard Industries to shoulder the losses instead." His words struck like a dagger, piercing straight into my heart.
I hadn't anticipated the situation would spiral to such severity, and a wave of panic surged within me."So there's no way to salvage the deal?" I ventured hesitantly, clinging to a fragile thread of hope.
Lucas Steele let out a cold laugh."It can be salvaged. Lydia mentioned today that it's possible, but it depends on whether we're willing."
His words sparked a glimmer of hope in my chest."Does it have anything to do with me?" I asked, cautiously.
"Yes," he replied, his tone laced with a mocking amusement, as though savoring the drama unfolding before him."Lydia said if you spend one night with her, the deal is ours."
The image of that frigid, sharp-faced woman flashed in my mind, and an involuntary shiver coursed through me. Her icy demeanor alone was enough to send chills down my spine."Is there no other way?" My voice trembled, laden with despair.
He placed a slip of paper on the coffee table."Here's the address. Do what you will." His voice was cold and detached as he turned to leave, his stride confident, as if certain I would comply."Be there before nine."
I never imagined that one day, I would sink to the level of those I once mocked, like Charlotte Hayes, who bartered their dignity for a deal. But that woman… I couldn't bring myself to do it. Waves of hesitation and inner turmoil roiled within me. With trembling hands, I picked up the slip of paper: Serafhi Luxury Hotel, Room 686. The address felt like a boulder pressing down on my chest, suffocating me.
Sophie's face surfaced in my thoughts. Perhaps she hadn't dared to tell me directly, leaving Lucas Steele to deliver the message instead. My complexion must have been as pale as a ghost. Yes, she believed I owed her, and in her eyes, this was the repayment.
I stared at my phone: 7:26, 7:27, 7:56. Time ticked by relentlessly, each passing second amplifying the drumbeat of my heart.
"Consider it a debt repaid," I whispered, rising unsteadily to my feet. My body felt fragile, on the verge of collapse. Dragging myself to the bathroom, I turned on the shower. The steaming water cascaded over me, mingling with my tears. I cried for the mess I had created, for Sophie's mercilessness, and for my own powerlessness.
After pulling myself together and dressing, I took a deep breath and stepped out of the room. In the elevator's mirrored walls, my haggard face stared back at me. Forcing a faint smile, I stepped into the lobby and out onto the street, waiting for the ride-share I had summoned. My phone rang—Sophie. How ironic. She must be calling to confirm whether I was going. Women, when it comes to vengeance, can be terrifyingly ruthless.
The car arrived, and I climbed in. As I shut the door, I faintly heard someone calling out to me. The driver turned and asked,"Are you the passenger with the phone number ending in xxxx?"
"Yes," I replied, though unease churned within me.
"Alright, please fasten your seatbelt. We'll be on our way," the driver said with a professional smile.
Suddenly, the door was yanked open."Get out," Sophie ordered, her voice laced with urgency and anger.
I looked at her coldly."Don't waste time," I said evenly, though inside, my emotions were a chaotic storm.
She forcefully pulled me out of the car."Where are you going?"
"Where do you think? Isn't this what you wanted?" I shook off her grip and replied with icy indifference.
"Is that what you believe? Are you planning to go to Lydia? Who told you this?" Her gaze burned with fury, yet beneath it lay an undercurrent of worry.
"Enough of the pretense. I owe you, and I'll repay you. But after this, we're done. No debts left between us. Agreed?" I took a deep breath, steadying my voice, infusing it with as much resolve as I could muster.