Divorced Heiress
Chapter 41

My father gathered us to make a decision about the best proposal for collaboration.

Before the meeting, I had spent the afternoon with Tristan, thinking about the moment I would introduce him to his father. It was impossible not to feel nervous, but there was no turning back anymore. Alexander needed to know about his existence. Maga took him for a walk with the chauffeur, while the meeting was taking place, so I tried to focus solely on work.

Before starting the video conference with the rest of the board, my father wanted to say a few words about the first day of Fashion Week.

"As you have noticed, there is a lot of potential in terms of designs, many brands have innovated. However, some stand out on the list of proposals. Before we begin, I would like to address Ms. Boyer." My father said from his seat, and my gaze traveled to Michelle, who was sitting in front of me. If it weren't for the attention my dad was about to give her, she wouldn't even be here.

"Sir, if it's about last night, I..."

"Ms. Boyer, let me speak." My father interrupted her, and Michelle tensed in her seat, with her eyes fixed on the boss.

"I want to remind you that you are here to take care of the contracts. What you did last night is a job that only Vice President Sarah is responsible for. We set a deadline to receive proposals from brands, and at no time did the LC company show interest in the project until you intervened. Not only does it make us look desperate, but you are also taking away the opportunity from another brand with potential and little recognition in the fashion world, who wants to grow. That was our main goal. Tell me, isn't Lancaster Collection well-known enough?"

My father's cold aura could intimidate anyone, and Michelle was no exception. Her face turned as white as paper. With my father's words, it seemed like she didn't know where to hide in embarrassment.

"Mr. Doinel, my intention was to find better options. LC is a solid company. I thought a collaboration with them would be very beneficial for Doinel. The innovation and quality of their designs far surpass any other brand. Please don't misunderstand my intentions. I thought about what would be more viable and had a small margin of risk for the company." Michelle said, although she was right about the advantages that a collaboration with Lancaster Collection would bring us, I knew very well that it wasn't the real reason she insisted on that company to present their proposal.

"I will accept whatever decision you make. I suppose you have decided to fire me."

Her wavering gaze stopped at me. She was blaming me with her eyes, as if I were really capable of doing something like that. And even though I had the desire, I wouldn't let myself be swayed by her bad intentions. I wasn't like her.

She just wanted to contradict me. She had always been resentful for taking away the position she considered hers. She couldn't stand that a "newcomer" occupied the seat she had dreamt of.

In some way, she wanted to make me feel uncomfortable in the company, maybe so I would give up my position. She tried years ago, spreading rumors about my failed marriage and an alleged infidelity on my part, with Tristan being the result of that affair. "I am well aware of that, Ms. Boyer. I believe you haven't understood my point. Our intention was always to collaborate with a new brand and help them become known. And you assume wrong. I won't take action in this matter because Ms. Petit asked me not to. I hope this serves as a warning to you. Simply focus on doing your job. You won't achieve anything by doing Sarah's job." My father said.

Michelle seemed overwhelmed with anger. It was evident how tense her jaw was.

For a moment, I felt a small satisfaction from her scolding, but I quickly dismissed it. I didn't want them to think I was getting my way, because I wasn't. She just needed a wake-up call to stop meddling where she wasn't welcome. There wouldn't be a third chance. "I apologize, Mr. Doinel. It won't happen again." She apologized, although it didn't seem very sincere. Either way, it was already her second warning, and there wouldn't be a third opportunity.

The video conference began, and soon I started presenting the proposals with the help of Jack and Abby. We all agreed on two brands with great potential, and most of them were interested in the LC.

I couldn't help but feel annoyed, but I didn't oppose it at any moment because the last thing I wanted was to mix my work with personal matters. With a bit of luck, they would discard the idea of working with a well-known company that left the other brands behind.

Although the main idea of the collaboration was to work with a new brand, opinions were divided fifty-fifty, we couldn't decide between Innova and Lancaster Collection, on one hand it was just what my father wanted and on the other hand it was almost a perfect proposal.

Then, Paul and Abby's father proposed an idea that was supported by the majority, even my father thought it was a good proposal.

"Since we've made a decision, tomorrow we'll announce it and execute the contract signing." I stayed silent, while thinking about the bad luck I've had lately.

Of course, I was the first to disagree, but Mr. Dubois' proposal was approved by majority vote.

At the end of the meeting, everyone left my father's office, but as I was about to leave, my father called me.

"Sarah, stay for a moment." My father said, leaving some documents on his desk. I sat back down and looked at him without enthusiasm.

"I know this decision is not the most comfortable for you, but you know that this will be a very important project."

"That's fine, Dad, I understand and accept it even if I don't agree, I'm separating personal from professional, otherwise it wouldn't be very professional on my part. I'll do my best to keep the peace." I resignedly said, and my father nodded with a smile. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, you can relax. The project will be in Paris, so his presence is not necessary. A representative from his company is enough."

I nodded my head.

"Of course, the CEO couldn't neglect his work in his own company. A representative was more than sufficient. On the other hand, I wanted to talk about something that has been bothering me a little, the rumors on social media about Sarah Petit and her love affairs." I sighed with frustration, remembering the new slanders, I was sure Amelia was behind this.

"I know, Mrs. Lancaster could have a lot to do with this. I didn't want to tell you, but a journalist has been following me since this morning, with Vincent's help I managed to lose him." I informed him calmly.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier? Now I understand where they got such an absurd article." He said, while searching something on his computer and showed it to me, I was greatly surprised to see the amount of slander, but I could only burst into laughter. "Leonardo Doinel, Sarah Petit's sugar daddy."

Next to the headline was the image of both of us hugging in the café this morning after our father-daughter talk.

"Sarah Petit and Vincent Lefevbre, caught red-Handed. The new conquest of the eligible bachelor?"

And as I suspected, they photographed me at the entrance of the hotel hugging Vincent.

"I must admit they've outdone themselves." I said amusedly while taking a look at the rest of the news where I was involved with my father and my cousin, I had achieved my goal.

In less than a day, my name became a trending topic and the internet users' comments were not pleasant at all.

"First with Paul, now with Mr. Doinel and his nephew Vincent, how shameless!"

"Now I understand her sudden entrance into Doinel."

"X: A divorce can't change you that much. 'Sarah after the divorce"."

"She dodged a bullet with Alexander."

"It wasn't enough with one, now there are three! And not to mention her ex-brother-in-law, who knows how many more."

I stopped reading the countless comments from the naive ones who believed everything they saw on social media. If they were told that cows can fly, they'd believe it immediately.

"Sarah, I'll use my contacts to find the person responsible for this and give them a lesson, I'll do the impossible to have all these absurdities about you removed." He said, closing the tab of the gossip page, and I shook my head.

"Dad, let them keep talking, they'll regret spreading false rumors about me on the day of my presentation." I said unconcerned, and my father didn't seem very convinced.

"Don't worry, father, I know what I'm doing, I have an ace up my sleeve."

Although I couldn't convince him completely, he nodded his head and let me go.

I wasn't too worried because I hired a journalist to find information about the person who paid the paparazzi to follow me, and even though I already knew who it was, I wanted evidence for the day of my presentation, that woman didn't know what awaited her.