Chapter 4
A month later, I walked into the conference room with the proposal.
Everyone was present except Mia.
She arrived with Lincoln.
Light fell perfectly on the two of them.
Lincoln occasionally bowed his head, accommodating Mia's height to hear her speak.
The man's profile was illuminated, his features sharp and defined.
His eyes were dark, his smile faint.
In that unintentional moment our eyes met, I wanted to read something different in his gaze.
But there was nothing—still the same cool indifference.
The lottery determined the presentation order. I was before Mia.
I calmly took the stage and opened my PowerPoint presentation.
I explained all my design concepts and inspiration.
During the presentation, I was completely focused.
When I stepped down, sparse applause sounded.
The most enthusiastic applause came from Nora, a young woman who had been interning with me since graduation.
Lincoln showed no expression. No one could read his thoughts.
The director tried to gauge the meaning in his expression with sidelong glances.
It was Mia's turn to present.
She naturally made eye contact with Lincoln.
They smiled at each other.
Colleagues below exchanged glances with gossipy smiles.
Nora leaned close to me and whispered, "Jane, is our team's proposal going to be rejected?"
I pulled at the corners of my mouth, forcing a strained smile.
After Mia's presentation ended, her applause was clearly much louder than mine.
The director enthusiastically applauded her.
Lincoln's lips curved slightly upward.
There was a thirty-minute break midway.
Recently, I'd been caught up in the rumors about Lincoln and Mia, barely able to breathe.
The way he looked at me was too cold, making my heart tighten.
Through office gossip, I learned more about Lincoln and Mia's past.
Lincoln had actively pursued Mia.
He unfailingly walked her back to her dorm and brought her breakfast.
All their classmates at Preston University knew how much Lincoln loved Mia.
I sat motionless in my chair.
Watching Lincoln and Mia walk out side by side, my nose tingled.
The man I'd schemed so hard to get held my most hated person in his heart.
Only Nora and I remained in the conference room.
Nora held my hand.
The thirty minutes ended.
The results were in.
Lincoln and the Zenith Group team had already left.
Our director announced the results.
Three votes total.
All three votes went to Mia.
When the results were announced, my eyes stung, welling with tears.
I forcibly held back those tears.
The director and Mia exchanged glances, expressing his approval.
Several colleagues surrounded Mia. "Mia, you're incredible."
I left with a lonely silhouette.
But Mia chased after me. "Jane."
I stopped.
Her eyes curved in a smile. "Even if you're his wife, in his heart I'll always come first."
"Everything you schemed so hard to get comes effortlessly to me."
Yes, at fourteen, Mia could easily take Jason's love for me.
Now she could occupy Lincoln's heart too.
In the distance, Lincoln was ushered into the elevator by the director, his posture lazy and casual.
Suddenly I felt exhausted.
I didn't want to fight Mia anymore.
I didn't want Lincoln either.
The elevator stood still.
The director, very observant, quickly called out for Mia and me to enter the elevator together.
The elevator slowly descended.
The director kissed up to Lincoln. "Mr. Lincoln, you and Miss Mia are a perfect match. Made for each other."
Others chimed in. "Exactly. I heard Mr. Lincoln and Miss Mia are already married. Mr. Lincoln really dotes on his wife, specifically choosing our company for Miss Mia."
I numbly listened to these flattering words, unable to summon any reaction.
Sensing a covert but burning gaze from beside me, I looked over.
Lincoln's face stiffened.
The director nudged my arm, hinting that I should say something too.
"Jane, don't you agree? Mr. Lincoln and Miss Mia are such a perfect match."
The elevator doors opened.
I calmly met Lincoln's eyes. "Indeed, a perfect match."
Panic flashed in his normally indifferent eyes, his thin lips parting as if to say something.