Divorced Heiress
Chapter 74

I didn't want to play along with Alexander, but I didn't deny it either. After staying silent for a few seconds, preferred that Paul believe what the man next to me was saying, so that I could play with his mind, make him think that all his efforts were in vain. - Paul, there's a problem with the sample models, you haven't hired any plus-size models. You're in charge of this and I need a solution before the designers start their work. - I went straight to the point, avoiding any conversation that didn't relate to the job. Paul's lips slightly opened, as if he knew what I was talking about, and he sat at the desk to grab a folder with the company logo and several pages.

- Of course, the plus-size models. I have contacted them already, in fact, we're just waiting for your father's signature on the contracts and they will be here soon. I haven't forgotten about it. - He said, showing the folder in his hand and a slight smile appeared on his face.

- Then give me the contracts and I'll have my father sign them. - I replied, extending my hand to take der, but Paul immediately moved it away, with no intention of giving it to me.

- I'm sorry, Sari, I'm in charge of this and the delay has been my fault. I will personally make sure Leonardo signs these documents. I want to apologize to him and the whole team. - I glanced quickly at Alexander, and he was looking at Paul with distrust, which was normal after everything we knew about him and his family.

I looked at Paul again, searching for the slightest sign that something was wrong, in order to understand Alexander's great distrust, but he seemed very calm. I withdrew my hand and nodded.

- My father is in Patrick's workshop. The sooner he signs, the sooner we can start working on the project. Mease, don't delay and don't let the collection get behind schedule. - I said before turning around and leaving Paul's office.

Immediately, I heard footsteps behind me and I knew it was Alexander following me, but soon, other footsteps joined us, and I didn't need to look back to know that Paul joined us.

- Wait, I'll go with you. We're going to the same place, right? - Before I could react, Paul walked beside me with the folder in his hand, and I simply nodded.

- You can go ahead, my wife and I will go somewhere else before returning to the workshop. - Alexander responded for me, and my body tensed when I felt his arm intentionally wrap around my waist, as if we were really a couple. I gave him a dirty look for what he had just done, but he just smiled while holding me tightly against his body.

Discreetly, I pinched his waist to make him let go and stop behaving that way without my permission; however, Alexander didn't flinch, and I only managed to make him hold me even tighter by the waist.

- You know, Sari. It's a shame that you have fallen for the manipulation of a man who didn't think abo workshop, leaving me speechless.

as his "woman" before being unfaithful to you. I thought you were smarter. - Paul shamelessly expressed himself before turning towards the entrance of the

Taking advantage of Paul's absence, I let go of Alexander's grip without any care, which was beginning to burn my skin, and I stopped at a considerable distance from the workshop where the whole team, models included, was present. I glared at the idiot who stopped in front of me.

- Don't touch me again without my consent and... - I left the word hanging in the air when Alexander interrupted me while taking a step towards me.

- And what? - He asked defiantly, and I opened my mouth to tell him that I was going to beat him up,en I closed it because it wasn't worth it, whatever I was going to say. I didn't want to waste my time with him.

When I was about to turn around and leave him alone in the middle of the hallway, he took my hand and pulled me, guiding me to the office that had been assigned to him. Of course, I resisted being dragged by him to a place where I would be alone with him, because I couldn't stand listening to the nonsense he had to say without boiling my blood, but I stopped resisting when I realized that the workers were blatantly watching us.

Alexander closed the door once we were inside, and I didn't wait for him to let go before stomping on his foot with the tip of my heel.

- You're crazy, how dare you drag me with you like that? - I spat out obviously annoyed, and Alexander did nothing but complain about the pain in his foot.- Can you be kind to me even just for a second? - He asked in the midst of his pain, and I sighed with frustration. Don't look at me as your enemy, we're on the same team, aren't we?-

- Do you have something to tell me? It wasn't necessary for you to bring me here. - I said, distancing myself from him, until I reached the window overlooking the street. I stared at the traffic, waiting for him to speak without bothering to look at him.

- Yes, I have something to say and I wasn't going to do it in the middle of the hallway in front of so many people. - He replied from his place, and I felt relieved because he understood that I didn't want to be close to him. - Didn't it seem suspicious to you, the supposed contracts that Leonardo has to sign? - He suddenly asked, and I turned to face him, not understanding what he was referring to.

- Suspicious? - I responded with another question, and he nodded his head. What could be suspicious about some contracts?

- Don't take it the wrong way, I know this is your father's company and therefore yours, but we know that Paul is not right in the head. He hires conventional models, but suddenly there are contracts that require Leonardo Doinel's signature missing. - I analyzed his words for a moment and understood his mistrustful look in Paul's office. He had managed to plant doubt in me, since Paul didn't even let me take care of that folder. - I've been working in the same industry for years, you know that, and I had never seen such a thing. I don't think it's because he's doing his job poorly, considering he has been in charge of one of the overseas companies for years. - What Alexander was saying made sense to me, and soon, the worry appeared uncontrollably.

But come on, we were talking about my father here, he had more years in the industry than Alexander Lancaster himself, and I knew he wouldn't sign anything he found questionable.

- Alexander, I understand your concern, and you managed to make me worry too, but we're talking about my father, he wouldn't let himself be deceived so easily. - I replied, trusting my father's business acumen. As much as we knew how cruel Paul was, he was not foolish enough to have us sign a document for any purpose that benefited him and his family. Paul knew very well that no one could deceive Leonardo Doinel. Is that all you had to say?-

Alexander raised his eyebrows, and his eyes silently locked onto mine.

- Who in their right mind can trust Paul after everything he's done? - He asked incredulously, adding fuel to the fire. Of course I didn't trust Paul, but there were limits I couldn't cross, and maybe that was why he hadn't dared to make a move against us. - At this point, I don't trust anyone. - I said bluntly, and one of his eyebrows arched before he walked slowly.

- Not even me? - Hearing his softly spoken question, I looked at him with amusement on my face as I walked towards him, closing the remaining space between us, enough to be face to face, to tell him to his face.

- Not even you. I responded sincerely, and his indignant look amused me. - Anything else to add? I have work to do.-

- Yes, I have one more thing to say. I impatiently glanced at my wristwatch and waited for him to continue talking so I could escape from that office that was beginning to suffocate me. - I understand that you don't trust me now, and I don't intend to argue about it. I know you hate me or think you hate me, but my actions will speak for themselves, don't you see? I regret what I did and what I didn't do, but what I regret the most is losing you as a woman, now I just want your forgiveness.-

A chill ran down my spine as I heard every one of his words, or maybe because I was irritated by how close we were to each other, but I hid my emotions behind a furrowed brow.

- Alexander, that's enough, turn the page. You want my forgiveness? Fine, I forgive you, but stop talking about me or us every chance you get. The only thing that connects us is our son, you won't get anything more from me, our marriage ended years ago. Don't you see? I'm better off without you. - Without waiting for his response, I left his office without looking back, without looking at him.I took a breath of air when I closed the door, intending to calm my racing pulse that had spiked without me realizing when. I took a deep breath as I returned to Patrick's workshop with the intention of finding Paul and asking him for the contracts my father was supposed to sign, but I was surprised to realize that he wasn't there.

I didn't want to interrupt anyone with the visit of the test models, the only person I called was Vincent, who was near the entrance with his arms crossed and a unfriendly expression, not taking his eyes off Abby who had joined the group and was chattering away while comparing herself to each of the models.

Vincent, upon seeing me, dropped his arms to his sides and let out a sigh of relief as if his savior had arrived.

-Your friend is getting crazier by the minute. He said as he left the workshop to meet me.

-What's wrong? Are you okay?- He asked after looking at my face for a few seconds and I nodded in response.

-I'm fine. Have you seen Paul?- I asked him immediately without wasting time, and Vincent looked at me confused.

-He left a moment ago. He told us there was an error in the contracts and Leonardo's signature was missing, that's why the curvy models were missing, but everything has been resolved now. He replied, the confusion on his face mixing with his serious expression. -My father reviewed and signed, right?- I asked, still feeling a bit occupied in my heart, and Vincent nodded, even more confused.

-What's going on? Is there a problem?- I shook my head, unable to repeat Alexander's words of distrust in the documents, anyway, I was going to personally make sure everything was in order.

-When will the audit be ready?- I quickly changed the subject, although the main topic was still the Dubois.

Vincent remained silent for a few seconds, hesitating on whether to speak or not, with that I understood that he already had all the information and didn't tell me earlier.

-Vin, is there any irregularity?- I felt uneasy because his expression gave me the impression that there were no good news for us.

-I didn't want to bother you because you've been locked in your office these days and I understood that you didn't want anyone to disturb you...-

-Vincent...- I called his name with a warning, showing my displeasure at not being informed of this at the right time.

-There are irregularities that they have managed to mask, yes, and not only here, but also in the company led by Paul.- I was astonished to hear Vincent's response and my annoyance erupted immediately.

It was hard for me to believe that the Dubois family was committing such crimes and harming my family without any fear. This wasn't just the Doinel company, it was also the Dubois', and they were taking advantage of their power.

-The last thing I needed.- I muttered to myself before turning around and walking quickly to Paul's office.

-Sarah, no, what are you going to do?- Vincent asked from behind me, although he caught up to me in a few seconds, making me stop in my tracks.

-I'm going to Paul's office, isn't it obvious?- I said, clearly annoyed.

-Don't do that, you'll only warn him, we will make them pay for this but not like this, I will take care of the legal matters.- Vincent thought I was going to confront Paul about the audit information, but he was far from reality.

-What do you take me for? I won't warn him, in fact, I think it's better that they continue to sink themselves up to their necks so they pay a high price for the damage they are causing to my family.- I said expressionless and walked past, leaving a bewildered Vincent in the middle of the hallway.

I knocked on Paul's office door with my knuckles and opened it when I heard him say "come in".

-Sari, you came without your bodyguard.- He said when he saw that it was me, and I closed the door behind me before sitting in front of him, in the seat he had offered me the first time.

-It's not my bodyguard.- I said without any hint of emotion in my voice, it was the best way for him not to realize what was going through my mind.

-I see. He responded quietly with evident irony in his tone of voice, which I completely ignored. His eyes lifted to look at me and he gave a weak half-smile.

-You've changed so much since we came back, Sari, that man still matters to you and the worst part is that you're blinded by him. I don't see the Sarah who decided to move on with her life without the person who hurt her so much.- Paul spoke condescendingly, as if he had nothing to do with all of this.

-Paul, I'm not here to discuss my personal life. I interrupted him quickly, before he continued to spew venom from his mouth.

-I want to see if the curvy models' contract is in order. I've been a little worried that you left it for the last minute.- Paul looked confused, but nodded before standing up from his seat and searching among the documents for the folder that was previously in sight. I took a quick look at his desk and saw three identical folders, but I couldn't see their content unless I took them and checked, clearly I wasn't going to do that, I would only raise suspicion.

-Your father has already signed it and the models are about to arrive, everything is in order, it was a small oversight. You're not thinking I'm doing my job wrong, are you? Or is your ex-husband already putting ideas in your head?-

I shook my head as I took the folder that he previously refused to give me and glanced at it.

-I can think for myself. I said nonchalantly, although I couldn't deny to myself that thanks to what Alexander told me, that's what I was doing, reading clause by clause of the contract and observing the required signatures. Everything seemed to be in order, but a small detail caught my attention and made all my alarm bells ring.

In the trial models' contracts, the signature of the president of Doinel was required, and obviously, the acting president was Vincent, not my father. None of the contracts had my father's signature.

-Everything is in order, I resolved it quickly. I closed the folder with the models' contracts and left it on his desk, while I looked at his face with a slight fake smile.

-You're right, everything is in order. I deliberately lied so that he wouldn't know that I had realized his big lie, and he smiled pleased with my response.

Dad, what had you signed?

Coming from Paul, I didn't think it's something good.