Chapter 3
The conference room was packed to the gills as it was the company's annual proposal meeting.
I took a seat in an inconspicuous corner and watched Zachary arrive with Serena, taking the best seats in the front row.
He wore a tailored suit, his hair perfectly styled, and he leaned slightly toward the client representative beside him as he spoke with calm confidence.
Serena sat next to him in a white suit, her makeup sharp and refined. The innocence she once projected was gone, replaced by the polish of a rising corporate star.
Her gaze was full of admiration and affection as she looked at Zachary.
The two of them laughed easily together, looking every bit like a well-matched pair.
Soon, the presentation began.
As the lead presenter for the Norwell Project, Serena stepped onto the stage. She drew in a deep breath and began explaining the design concept.
"The Norwell Project centers around an original 'eco bridge' concept. Think of it as an artery, spanning the city's worst bottlenecks to seamlessly bridge our divided green spaces."
Every word she spoke was something I'd once shared with Zachary during long nights fueled by coffee. I'd explained those ideas to him sentence by sentence, believing we were speaking the same language.
I used to think that was what it meant to be in sync as husband and wife.
Now, I understood it had been nothing more than a one-sided performance on my end, and he'd been the most patient thief of all.
Serena's presentation went smoothly, and when the final renderings appeared on the screen, a low murmur of surprise spread through the room.
When she finished, the applause was thunderous.
The host stepped forward. "Thank you, Ms. Lance, for the excellent presentation. We will now move to the Q&A session."
A man seated in the front row, clearly someone of influence, raised his hand.
It was Aaron Lindell from Cresthill Enterprises, who was known throughout the industry for his sharp eye.
"Ms. Lance, it's a pleasure to meet you," Aaron began. "That said, this project is crucial. Having a rookie at the helm feels like a bit of a gamble. If I'm not mistaken, Ms. Sutton's Riverview Gateway project set the gold standard for the industry."
The question cut straight to the point.
Serena's composure wavered for a split second, but she quickly steadied herself and glanced toward Zachary as if seeking help.
He gave her a reassuring smile and picked up the microphone in front of him.
"Mr. Lindell, thank you for your question."
He stood, sweeping his gaze across the room before letting it settle on Serena with unmistakable pride.
"My wife, Winona, is indeed very experienced in the field of design. However, architecture thrives on fresh perspectives. What stands out most about Serena's proposal is its imagination and vitality, and that isn't something experience alone can replace."
He paused, as if preparing to deliver the line he'd been waiting to say.
"To put it plainly, Winona's designs are mature, but Serena…"
He looked at Serena tenderly.
"She has a spark."
The room fell silent.
A beat later, the applause returned, louder than before.
Zachary had publicly belittled me and diminished my achievements to elevate an intern.
In that moment, the only sound left in my world was the dull thud of my own heartbeat.
Aaron lifted a brow but said nothing further and sat down.
The host smiled and continued, "It seems Mr. Yates has great confidence in our rookie. Now, does anyone else have a question?"
The room fell quiet once more.
With Zachary's endorsement as a company partner, there appeared to be nothing left to ask.
On the stage, Serena bowed, unable to hide the pride and satisfaction on her face.
I put away my phone and, just before the audience could break into applause again, reached for the microphone on the table and stood.
The movement was small, yet it drew every eye in the room.
The host hesitated. "Ma'am, may I ask who you are?"
Zachary's smile froze, while the look Serena sent my way carried a hint of caution.
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