5.

The Meeting Begins

As the doors to the meeting room swung open, Daniel and Evelyn walked in side by side, their hands intertwined. Evelyn’s perfectly styled blonde hair glinted under the soft overhead lights, and her pristine white blazer and pencil skirt screamed power. Daniel, dressed in a tailored charcoal suit, looked every bit the successful man he was.

I kept my expression neutral, though my chest tightened at the sight of them together. Beside me, Cecily straightened her posture, a small, sharp smile playing on her lips as her eyes followed their movements.

“Good morning,” I said, forcing a polite tone as they approached the table.

“Good morning, Vera,” Daniel replied, his voice calm but distant. Evelyn merely nodded, her sharp blue eyes scanning the room as if it didn’t meet her standards.

I gestured for them to sit, and they took their places across from Cecily and me. My assistant, Margaret, entered the room carrying a sleek black folder filled with design samples. She placed it carefully on the table in front of Evelyn.

“These are some of our latest custom-made designs,” Margaret began, sliding the folder toward Evelyn with a courteous smile. “Each piece has been tailored to reflect elegance and individuality. Please have a look.”

Evelyn flipped through the designs, her manicured fingers gliding over the pages. For a moment, her face was unreadable, but then she wrinkled her nose, pushing the folder back as though it offended her.

“What do you even work for?” she said, her tone dripping with disdain. “This is child’s play. Don’t you have anything more... refined? Something heavier, more elegant? This looks like a school project.”

The words stung like a slap, and I felt my jaw tighten. Heat crept up my neck, but I bit down on the retort burning on my tongue. My fingers curled into fists beneath the table, but Cecily was quicker to react.

She leaned forward, her voice cool but edged with steel. “These designs,” she said, enunciating each word carefully, “are our, Vera Stones, the most sought-after jewelry brand in the country. They are designed by the Vera herself and have been featured on international runways, worn by models and celebrities alike.” Cecily paused, her hazel eyes narrowing slightly as she studied Evelyn’s face.

“If you find them lacking,” Cecily continued, her tone now icy, “we’d be happy to have Margaret show you the door. Vera and I have far more important meetings lined up today than indulging someone who doesn’t appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into these pieces.”

The room fell silent, and I had to suppress the urge to smirk at the way Evelyn’s mouth opened slightly, as though Cecily’s words had taken her by surprise.

Daniel shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearing his throat. “I’m sure that won’t be necessary,” he said, his tone measured as he glanced at Evelyn. “Perhaps there’s something we can work with after all.”

Evelyn’s jaw tightened, but she forced a smile, leaning back in her chair. “I suppose we can revisit these,” she said, though her tone lacked any real sincerity.

Margaret stepped forward, taking the folder with practiced professionalism. “Would you like to see additional options, or should we proceed with personalizing one of these designs for Ms. Emerson?”

Evelyn didn’t answer immediately, her eyes darting toward Daniel as though waiting for him to speak. He gave a small nod, his expression unreadable.

“We’ll take another look,” Evelyn said finally, her voice clipped.

I exhaled quietly, glancing at Cecily, who gave me the faintest wink. The tension in the room was still palpable, but Cecily’s boldness had shifted the balance ever so slightly.

“All right,” I said, reclaiming control of the conversation. “Margaret, please prepare the additional designs for review. We’ll ensure the final piece meets your expectations, Ms. Emerson, while maintaining the high standards of Vera Stones.”

Evelyn nodded stiffly, but the faint irritation in her eyes told me that she wasn’t used to being put in her place. As for Daniel, his expression was unreadable, his gaze flickering toward me for a fraction of a second before he focused on the table.

The meeting wasn’t over, but one thing was clear—I wasn’t going to let Evelyn or anyone else walk over me. Not here, not in my company.

--

The meeting was finally over, and I couldn’t help but feel exhausted. Evelyn left the room as soon as it ended, and I stayed behind, trying to gather myself. I looked at Cecily, and we exchanged a knowing glance. We both sighed at the same time, relieved it was over but still frustrated.

I stood up, adjusting my posture to appear calm even though I was anything but. “Daniel,” I said firmly, “I’ll let you know once the jewelry is ready.” I gestured toward his assistant, signaling for them to show him out.

To my annoyance, Daniel didn’t move. Instead, he straightened up, looking at me with a smug expression. “You’ve insulted us enough already,” he said, his tone dripping with arrogance.

Before I could say anything, Cecily stepped forward, clearly ready to defend me. “You have no right—”

I stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. “No,” I said quietly but firmly. “I’ve got this.”

I turned to face Daniel, keeping my voice steady. “You can say whatever you want about me,” I said, locking eyes with him. “That doesn’t matter to me.” I took a step closer, making sure he understood my words. “But if you insult the hard work I’ve put into this, if you belittle it, then you should be ready to face the consequences. And trust me, Daniel, it won’t end well for you.”

For a moment, he just stood there, looking like he wanted to say something. But he must have thought better of it because he didn’t respond. Instead, his assistant finally stepped in and led him out.

As the door closed behind them, I let out a small breath, trying to release the tension in my chest.

Cecily shook her head. “The nerve of that man,” she muttered.

I allowed myself a small smile. “He has plenty of nerve,” I said, sitting back down. “But I don’t think he’ll try to push us again.”

Cecily smiled back at me, her admiration clear. “You handled that perfectly.”

I didn’t say anything else. I leaned back in my chair, letting the silence settle. The problem with Daniel was dealt with for now, but I knew this wasn’t the last time I’d have to deal with people like him.