Chapter 7
The client's representative stood up, his face serious. "It's unfortunate, Ms. Steele. We do admire your talent, but we can't work with a designer accused of plagiarism."
With that, he led his team out of the conference room.
Liam looked around at the executives in the room. "So, who won this time? Gabriella or Mia?"
The answer was obvious.
Mia stared at Liam, her mind replaying the warmth of his arms around her last night.
It had been him. Only he could have stolen the designs from her USB while she slept.
"You took my designs and handed them over to her, didn't you? Why, Liam? Why would you do something like that?" Mia demanded.
Liam met her accusing gaze and slowly stood up, as if it was nothing.
He said, "Mia, haven't you figured it out yet? Everything in this company belongs to me, including you. Your talent, your dedication, everything you are. If I want to give it to someone else, I will."
Gabriella swaggered over and stood next to Liam. "Well, looks like I'm the only head designer around here now. Tough luck."
Mia just stood there, feeling utterly hollow, as if every ounce of strength had been sucked out of her.
She curled up on the living room couch, her phone lighting up with a message from Liam.
Liam: [You're coming to Gabriella's promotion party tonight. Don't even think about skipping.]
Mia let out a bitter laugh and replied: [No way.]
The next second, her phone rang. It was Liam.
"About the house out in the suburbs that your parents left you? I heard they're planning to tear it down," Liam said, his voice casual.
Mia stiffened, sitting up straight. "Liam, what are you getting at?"
That old house was the place that held all her childhood warmth, the last thing her parents had ever left her.
Liam's tone was light. "Turns out I know a few people over at the planning department. Whether that house gets demolished or not? That's all up to me."
"You wouldn't dare," Mia snapped. She never imagined Liam would stoop so low as to exploit her vulnerability against her.
"You can try," Liam sneered and said.
He casually delivered his ultimatum, "Seven o'clock, hotel banquet hall. Don't be late."
Mia gripped her phone so tightly her knuckles turned white, feeling frozen to the core.
By seven, she walked into the banquet hall in a plain black dress.
Her entrance made the lively crowd freeze for a moment.
After what happened today, everyone's eyes flicked between her and Gabriella, who looked absolutely triumphant.
Liam's lips curled into a smug grin when he saw her.
Gabriella sauntered over with her wine glass, flashing a fake smile. "Ms. Steele, happy to see you here."
A few stifled chuckles rippled through the crowd.
Mia didn't bother to respond. She just made a beeline for the restroom.
She splashed cold water on her face again and again, hoping the shock would help her think straight.
Just then, Mia spotted Gabriella's reflection in the mirror.
Gabriella lounged against the doorframe, arms folded. "So, does it feel good getting stomped on?"
Mia turned off the faucet, dried her hands with a paper towel, and refused to get dragged into Gabriella's drama.
"I stole your designs." Gabriella shrugged, not even trying to deny it. She smirked. "All I had to do was drop a hint, and Liam just gave me your USB drive, no questions asked."
Gabriella leaned in close to Mia's ear, her voice low and taunting. "See? He gives me whatever I want."
Mia crushed the paper towel in her fist, her nails biting into her palm.
She turned on her heel to leave.
"Don't go!" Gabriella called out, then suddenly reached out and gripped Mia's wrist in a vice.
Mia scowled and tried to yank her hand away. "What the hell do you want?"
Gabriella's face twisted into a creepy grin. "Just one last move, and I'll have him completely under my spell."
Before Mia could react, Gabriella suddenly pulled out a small knife and dragged it viciously across her own left cheek.
Gabriella let out a piercing scream as blood poured down her pale face, the sight absolutely horrifying.
Mia was frozen in shock, her mind just short-circuited.
Gabriella winced from the pain, but her eyes sparkled with the thrill of her plan working perfectly.
"If I don't throw myself into the game, he'll never get over those damn nine years you two shared!" Gabriella hissed.
With that, Gabriella suddenly jammed the blood-soaked knife into Mia's hand before Mia even knew what was happening.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway outside.
Gabriella burst out of the restroom, yelling, "Help!"
Mia instinctively rushed after her, only to see Gabriella slumped into Liam's arms, who had just rushed over after hearing the commotion.
Liam held Gabriella, her face smeared with blood, and his gaze locked onto the knife dripping with blood in Mia's hand.
"Mia, how could you do something so vicious? Is this because I promoted her? You really had to go and destroy her face?" Liam shouted.
Mia snapped out of her shock and hurriedly dropped the knife to the ground.
More and more people arrived, hearing the commotion, and froze at the sight before them.
Gabriella, her face covered in blood. Liam, furious. And Mia, standing there with the blood-stained knife at her feet.
"Oh my god, Ms. Steele... She really did it..."
"That's insane! She actually went for her face?"
"All that just because she got her position stolen? That's twisted!"
Gabriella collapsed in Liam's arms, wailing in pain. "Mr. Reed, it hurts, it hurts so bad! I don't want the director position anymore, please. Just tell Ms. Steele to let me go, make her stop!"