The door swung open, and Fidelia froze.
Sitting across the sleek glass desk was Bridget, legs crossed, laughing lightly as Sylvester leaned in, clearly entertained.
For a moment, Fidelia just stood there. She hadn't expected her of all people to be here not today, not with him.
'This changes everything,' she thought, her mind immediately recalculating her next move.
Her plan had been simple: gain Sylvester's trust, pitch her joint investment between Topnotch Investment Company and Richardson Technology Corporation, and secure his support.
But seeing Bridget here, smiling sweetly at him, made her stomach twist.
'So this is what you're playing at', Bridget.
Sylvester had been Bridget's crush back in college Fidelia remembered that all too well.
And knowing her cunning, manipulative stepsister, she was likely trying to use that little history to her advantage. The question now was would he fall for it?
---
Bridget turned, her eyes gleaming with that fake sweetness Fidelia despised.
"Well, well, what brings you here, Fidelia? You need help? Isn't the Richardson family supposed to be helping you?" she paused, smirking. "Oh wait—my bad. Your marriage is ruined, isn't it?"
Sylvester chuckled quietly at that, and Fidelia caught it. She noticed everything but chose to ignore it. For now.
"Don't rejoice too much," Fidelia said smoothly, walking closer. "I already cleared my name. Haven't checked the news? Go ahead, check your phone I'm trending. The marriage is still on the table."
Bridget's smirk faltered. She had seen the news that morning but brushed it off, assuming it was a PR stunt.
"You must be joking if you think the Chairwoman will agree after that scandal," Bridget sneered. "The woman hates mess. You have no idea how long I had to convince her to approve that marriage arrangement. Yet your idiot of a husband called it off."
Fidelia tilted her head slightly, smiling. "Well, your loss, not mine. If Andrian finds you irritating, maybe you should are just that disgusting "
Bridget's face tightened, and she shot up from her seat. "You—"
"Calm down, ladies," Sylvester interjected, raising his hands to calm them down. "This is my office, lets not turn it upside down."
"Then I'll save you the trouble," Bridget said with a disgusted sigh. "I'm leaving. My eyes are starting to get sore from the sight."
"I don't mind helping you pull them out," Fidelia replied with her usual sharp tongue.
Bridget glared, muttered something under her breath, and stormed outl brushing past Sarah, who had been standing quietly by the door, analyzing everything like a silently.
---
As soon as the door clicked shut, Fidelia exhaled slowly and turned her focus to Sylvester.
"Apologies for that little… drama," she said, regaining her professional tone. "Now, shall we talk business?"
Sylvester nodded with a forced smile. "Please. Sit."
Fidelia began her pitch smooth, confident, and well-prepared. She laid out her proposal for a mutual investment that would bring massive profit to both sides. But as she spoke, she noticed Sylvester's expression shift.
He was intrigued, yes… but also calculating.
He leaned back, tapping his pen. "Your numbers are good, Fidelia, but… the percentage you're offering doesn't exactly favor me. I think I deserve more."
Fidelia frowned slightly. "You're asking for a thirty percent increase, Sylvester. That's not a negotiation that's robbery."
He chuckled. "Come on, you can afford it. And besides, I like having leverage."
Before she could respond, her mind replayed the scene she'd just witnessed — Bridget's fake laughter, her hand brushing his arm, that whisper before leaving.
The way he smiled after.
Her chest burned.
'That bitch said something to him' Fidelia thought and she was right.
---
Later, as they left the office, Sarah leaned close to her.
"I read Bridget's lips when she hugged him goodbye," she whispered. "She told him, 'Don't accept whatever she offers you. Do that, and we'll start seeing each other often. I won't ignore you again.'"
Fidelia stopped walking. Her fists clenched.
Her voice dropped low dangerously calm.
"She really thinks she can use him to get to me…"
Sarah looked at her, silent, but her sharp eyes were studying Fidelia's every twitch.
Fidelia turned away, her eyes cold and unreadable.
"Let's go," she said quietly. "He's going to regret this." She squeezed her hand trying to calm herself down.
She didn't expect this at all. The Fool - Sylvester was still love struck and Bridget was playing him quite good for him to listen to her.
She felt disappointment wash over her as she felt it would have been a good opportunity for her now this was a dead end.
While she was lost in her thoughts as they walked out of the building, Sarah's voice brought her back.
"I got the schedule, your next appointment is with Andrian at Delightsome Restaurant"
"Let's go" She gave the go ahead.
...
They arrived and Fidelia and Sarah walked out of the car, and suddenly her phone buzzed. A message flashed on the screen.
"I heard your deal didn't work out as planned. I got Sylvester wrapped around my fingers..that's a dead end for you and guess what?.. I'm just starting…you will feel the heat soon enough"
Fidelia smiled faintly.
"Oh Bridget," she murmured, locking her phone. "You have no idea what's coming."