Adam finally closed his file. "Then the meeting is adjourned."
The board members stood and bowed, bidding him goodbye. But Ezekiel only nodded at them, focusing on his laptop.
....
Somewhere else in the building. At the modelling practice hall, the long mirror wall reflected Linda and two other models walking one after another. Their heels clicked elegantly on the polished floor.
Madam Eliza stood with a thin stick in hand. Her posture was straight and beautiful, her eyes stern, the kind that made them glad they had chosen her. Sometimes, it pays not to judge a book by its cover.
"Again," she said. "Put your shoulders down. Free your neck, too stiff. Don't fight the walk, let it carry you."
Linda, wearing the highest heels, walked again. Her movements were balanced and smooth. Anyone could tell she had been in this line for a long time, and it hurt that she had such a bad reputation. What people loved most about her was her powerful aura.
Her hips didn't swing too much. Her gaze didn't wander like the other two models. Every step looked like she was walking toward a target, not an audience.
Megan clapped quietly from the side.
"That's it! That's it! Don't kill them completely, leave some air for others to breathe!" she smiled. "Rodah, you just wait and see," she murmured.
Madam Eliza raised a brow at her. "Let's meet on what she will wear for tomorrow's training."
Megan adjusted her glasses and nodded."I've already chosen a dress for her. I'll show you."
Madam Eliza nodded and moved her gaze back to Linda. "Yes. Better. Much better! You stopped forcing elegance. Now the runway is yours."
Linda turned at the end line and walked back — calm face, straight spine, practising the way she would enter a bar full of wolves and wild cats.
At the entrance, Laurence folded his arms and watched the performance silently. He already understood the walk, she wanted to walk like Lizzo.
"Yeah, you got it. That killer aura," he murmured. "Are you sure you aren't Lizzo?"
Madam Eliza noticed him and frowned. "You're blocking my air, young man. What do you want?"
Laurence smiled slightly, he nodded at Linda "May I borrow her for a second?"
Madam Eliza looked at Linda, then at him, then waved lazily. "One minute. If she loses rhythm, I'll charge you."
Megan leaned close to Linda. "Go. Secret agent meeting."
Linda rolled her eyes and walked toward him. They moved a little aside, near the glass corner of the hall. Laurence looked front and back first, making sure no one was close.
"You have to go early tonight," he said quietly. "But there's a problem."
He unlocked his phone and showed her a photo of a woman in a black lace dress. She looked elegant yet dangerous. Her face was hidden behind a seductive black lace mask. The design was sharp and rare, not something sold publicly.
"Lizzo," he said. "That dress is important. Entry identity level. I've searched everywhere, and there's no auction or resale record. It was a private gift from a fashion designer friend."
Linda studied the dress for a few seconds. "Send it to me," she said.
Laurence blinked. "You have an idea?"
"Send it."
He quickly shared it with her phone. "Done." He sighed in relief. "You see? Both of you have many things in common," he chuckled.
Not far from the corner, two figures passed by the glass corridor — it was Ezekiel and Adam. Adam was talking about logistics, but his voice faded when he noticed them.
Laurence and Linda sare tanding close with their phones up?
Ezekiel looked at them and raised a brow. His expression was hard to read, but Adam knew he would hate this even more…
Why would she exchange numbers with another man in a marriage? Even if it's a contract marriage, she should respect the one year and date after the contract ends, at least that's what he believed.
"Boss…" Adam glanced at Ezekiel.
Laurence saw them and quickly bowed.
"We're almost done," he said innocently.
Linda already saw them and didn't bother to look up. Her attention stayed on the dress photo saved on her screen. Her goal at that moment wasn't reputation, it was revenge.
"Stop meddling in someone else's business," Ezekiel said calmly, looking away. "Let's go."
Adam nodded and followed behind. He knew his boss expected Linda to cheat someday, but the fact that she didn't even bother to look guilty, or even look at him, was crazy.
After looking at the picture for a while, she lifted her head.
"Do you know where I can borrow a sewing machine?"
"A sewing machine?" he asked in amusement, looking at her from head to toe like he misheard. "You sew?" This time Linda looked surprised.
"Why are you shocked?" he chuckled. "Because models don't usually ask that. They ask for stylists, not machines."
Linda sighed softly. She was used to that tone, people assuming things about her without really seeing her.
"I used to be my boss's favourite" she said simply. "I worked in a fashion house for years before joining modelling"
Laurence looked at her with great interest. "Wow?"
"I wanted to build my own fashion shop one day," she continued. "But I couldn't afford machines, materials, or rent space. So I took my second dream job instead, to make money first." Then she smiled bitterly. Who knows…
"It would destroy everything instead," he said, finishing her thought.
Linda chuckled and nodded. The man seemed to understand her, and she found it interesting. All women wish to be understood anyway.
Laurence sighed.
"Mean people always attack pure souls." He shook his head. "Girls like you are rare. Do you know that?"
Linda didn't answer. She felt uncomfortable — she wasn't used to praise.
"Yes, I know a small place," he continued. "A private studio owned by an old tailor. They rent machines hourly. She's nice, and her people will help you make things faster."
Linda's eyes lit slightly. "Really?"
"Yes." He nodded, still amused. He found Linda a mystery he wanted to understand.
"Thank you," she said, warm and real this time. "At least now… I know two people care if I'm okay." age murmured.
Laurence heard her, he smirked and bent slightly to her height. "One cares. One wants a revenge partnership bah?"
"That's enough for me," she replied. "I just don't know how to sneak there, but don't worry, I'll get back to you."
She turned to go back inside and nearly bumped into Megan.
Megan stood there with folded arms, eyes narrowed like a guard dog. She looked from Linda to Laurence and back again.
"What are you two planning behind my back?"
Laurence raised both hands."Illegal fashion activity."
Linda deadpanned. "Borrowing a sewing machine."
Megan squinted harder. "That sounds even more suspicious."