005

Chapter 5

“You have just two days, Dahlia. Bring me a better proposal,” Ronan Knight solemnly declared.

I just sat there, staring at him, not even a single word coming from me. I was in so much shock and confusion that I forgot I had to thank him.

“You may leave,” he said, pointing at the door.

I rose to my feet.

“Thank you, Mr. Knight,” I managed to let out, then headed for the door.

But then he called me back.

“Take your proposal with you. It's of no use to me.”

The instant he uttered those words, I lowered my head in shame. Never in my years of running a company have I faced an embarrassment like this, even as a rookie, something like this never happened, not even once.

I retraced my step with my head bowed, picked up the files and walked out.

My head was lowered as I walked from Ronan Knight's office to my car.

“Dahlia!” The last voice I wanted to hear at the moment called out to me. It was Sophia.

I ignored her, unlocked my car and got in, but then she stepped right in front of my car, stopping me from driving away.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” I yelled, finally letting out my shame, confusion and humiliation.

“We need to talk,” she said.

“I have nothing to discuss with you Sophia, get out of my way!” I yelled, barely holding back the tears threatening to spill.

“Listen, Dahlia. I know what you're going to do now, but trust me, that is a very bad idea….”

“You know nothing! Get out or I'll run you over!” I threatened.

Sophia refused to move an inch. She stood there, staring at me.

“Five minutes, Dahlia. Just give me five minutes of your time. Believe it or not, I'm trying to save you here. I shouldn't even be begging you this way….”

“Then get out! Get lost, Sophia!” I was frustrated and angry.

“You know what, Dahlia. Fuck it! There, I'm out of your way. Go ahead, drive home, confront Desmond about this. Fucking go home and alert him of my presence here today…I can get a new job elsewhere. But you, your damned sweat will be gone forever…” Sophia yelled back at me, nearly ripping her hair off, then she stepped aside.

Instead of speeding off like I wanted to, I broke down. I was tired and more confused. I didn't know what to believe, I can't even tell right from wrong.

Desmond has been the sweetest husband to me, how can I suddenly believe he is perpetrating against me. It all didn't make sense.

“I'll drive, move aside,” Sophia approached my car and without warning, she got in, pushed me aside and stepped on the accelerator.

It all happened too fast, that before I could protest, we were already out of the company.

I wiped my tears and focused my eyes on the road. I wasn't going to let her see my tears and vulnerability.

Sophia drove and finally came to a stop at a restaurant. She pulled up in the parking lot, but then instead of getting out of the car, she turned to look at me.

“I wanted you to find this out yourself. To see things yourself and take action, but you're blinded by your stupid love for Desmond…” Sophia spoke, her eyes holding so much anger and disappointment.

I didn't utter a word and simply sat there, staring at her, trying to figure out what she was up to.

“Let me guess, something went wrong with the proposal you were supposed to give the Knights today,” she started.

“Your husband is behind whatever it is. He never intended to let DAHL get the business deal. He knows you're interested in it, so he sent you to erase any suspicion, sabotaged it, and guess what, he plans to blame you for not getting the deal. It's all part of his big plan. Once you get home tonight, he'll blame you for it.” Sophia revealed, looking so sure and serious.

My jaw dropped.

“No….no….no. That's not possible, stop making up lies against my husband. Desmond will never do that to me,” I tried so hard to defend him, but deep down. I was doubtful. I didn't know what to believe anymore.

“DMD….That's the name of the company Desmond used to submit the actual proposal….Tony was at Knights Corporations today to submit it….”

The moment she mentioned Tony's name, I felt cold sweat on my face. Ronan Knight had mentioned it….It was all true.

“Dahlia, you have to act fast, or you'll lose everything,” Sophia continued.

I raised my hand, stopping her from speaking further.

“What is your position in all of these? You were also at the Knights Corporations with a proposal. How can I believe you?” I asked.

“For your own good, Dahlia. Don't mention seeing me at the Knights Corporations to anyone,” saying this, she pulled out some files from her bag, dumped them on my seat, then handed me my car keys and got out of the car.

“Wake up, Dahlia,” these were her last words before finally walking away.

I sat watching her disappear into the streets.

The moment I looked away from her, I sighed. It was all just too much.

“Should I follow Sophia's words, or should I trust my husband?” I sincerely didn't know what to do.

Curiosity got the best of me, I reached for the files she dumped on the seat and pulled them open. I found a note on the first pages with the words

“I wanted to get the deal for DAHL, but you ruined my chance with your actions today.” written on it.

I turned to the second page, slowly going through the pages, it was a well thought out plan, way more better than the one Desmond handed me.

“If the Knights give you another chance. Feel free to use this. Desmond doesn't know about it,” the last note at the final page read.

I closed the files, bowed my head and sighed.

“What do I do?” I kept asking myself, minutes of restlessness passed, I finally came to a resolution.

I stepped on the accelerator and sped home. Getting home, I saw the lights on from a distance. I figured Desmond was already back. I placed Sophia's proposal under my car seat, left the scribbled proposal randomly on the seat, and got out. I made sure to lock the car and put the key inside my handbag.

“Dahl!” Desmond called out lovingly the moment I walked into the living room.

He rushed over to me, kissed my cheeks and took my bag from me.

I didn't utter a word and let him guide me to the sofa.

“I bought a cake to celebrate. Tell me you bagged the deal,” he requested, sounding so enthusiastic.

“Desmond, I…I…something happened. I didn't get it!” I lowered my head, acting displeased and disappointed in myself.

What followed next was minutes of silence. My heart pounded nervously. I desperately prayed for Sophia's words to be wrong, but then my reality came crashing on me.

“I should have sent Tony. You've lost your touch, Dahlia. How could you mess this up? You know how much this means to me. You lost a deal that could change our lives, Dahlia….fuck!”