Chapter 020
Two weeks later
“I take back everything I said before, you are a genius,” Damien murmured against my ear as I stood in front of the press, poised and confident
True to my word we were able to complete the euphoria project in a week, finalize the designs, convince the board, and make
the collection live
A smile graced my lips as I recalled how I had jumped around in Damien’s apartment when I realized how many sales we made in a week. The moment led to a hug neither of us expected, that said, something was happening between us.
Damien was everything I never had. Someone loyal, sweet, kind, and just, perfect. Yet, somehow, he didn’t feel right for me
Which was stupid, because, the one who was supposed to be right was….
He was going to be engaged to someone else in two days. My heart clenched at the thought.
“Silver designer! The euphoria was a success and Clava has kicked off, how do you feel about this?”
“Being one of the top designers in the country, how do you keep up,”
Is it true that you are getting married in a few days?”
1 froze at the third question
Marriage I was getting married to Damien. The lie had twisted in so many ways and now, I felt stuck because someone had
leaked to the press.
Damien promised to handle it, but “Are you okay?”
“Yes, we are getting married,” I said as I caught sight of someone in the crowd. Our eyes locked and she rolled her eyes. “I also
have important news to share,” The camera flashes increased Whispers rang through the room and everyone’s eyes flickered
with excitement at my words.
I never thought I would be able to command a room, yet here I was. “My new company, Dulia will be releasing its first collection today I sincerely hope for a positive response from everyone. The project name is Entangled and it’s specifically for women who feel stuck and yet somehow manage to come out beautiful, amazing, and talented.”
The crowd erupted into applause and Damien helped me down the stairs. Several guards surrounded us, leading us out of the
press conference and camera flashes continued
As we walked toward the car, I caught sight of Greta pacing back and forth, biting her nails. She spoke before I could.
*Julia Julia, everything is ruined”
I froze, my heart sinking into my stomach “What happened?”
-the- you need to see it for yourself” She showed me her tablet and as I registered the images, it slipped from my grasp and hit the ground
Despite being cracked, the image on the screen taunted me. My fists tightened at my sides as Damien picked it up, a string of trustrated words escaping his lips
“How could we be so careless? Of course, he would do this”
I stumbled feeling as if a rug had been pulled underneath my feet because Atlas Volkan had cheated me again. He had teleased the designs for Dulia before me
How how did he get it? How could this be happening? Only our private team worked on that project!
How could he
he still have so much power?!
“Julia” Greta rushed after me as I took quick strides away from everyone.
-25 BONUS
“I told you, Julia Damien’s voice came. “Atlas has no limits. He couldn’t bear to see
new company”
success and now, he’s targeting your
“We’ll need to research to know if it’s-”
“Enough,
11, Greta. My voice cracked and I swallowed a sob “Stop defending him. The products were posted from his company’s profile! He’s the freaking CEO, of course, he knew
“Yes, Greta,” Damien said and his phone pinged. He pulled it out and sighed.
“What? What’s wrong?” I asked as he massaged his temples.
“The investors for Dulia want to pull out I also found this,” He showed me several pictures of one of our team members speaking to Atlas. “He had a mole on us, Julia, What other evidence do you need?”
“Julia Greta tried to speak but I held my hand up.
“Enough” I spat I have had enough of Atlas Volkan. I have moved on, yet he? He thinks he has the right to play Fine Two can play that game.”
with my life?
I didn’t wait for them to register my words, I entered one of the cars and gave the driver a location. I was going to speak to Atlas and this time, he would listen.
When we arrived at Volkan Industries, My knuckles had turned white, I was seething and struggling to breathe without screaming in frustration
He had crossed all his limits.
“Ma’am? You can’t come in without a-‘
I pushed the secretary aside and barged into Atlas‘ conference room. All the businessmen seated turned to see me, standing
Atlas Volkan himself. at the door, glaring at the idiot who sat at the head of the table
The secretary
scurried in, eyes
widened. I am so sorry sir! She pushed me aside, I will call security now-
“Leave Shirley,” Atlas instructed, standing up.
Several pair of eyes remained on me as I marched over to Atlas and without a second thought, slapped him across the face
His eyes widened and I half expected a more violent reaction than tracing his cheek. He gestured at the men to leave, before turning to mne
“Care to explain?”
I slapped him again, still struggling to find words, but when I raised my hand the third time, he caught it, his eyes softened as
huma be reached for my cheek, “Are these tears?”
slapped his hand sway and shoved the pictures in his face “You hurt me, insulted me, humiliated me You chose to marry my sister, you treated me like crap for years and started acting like a jealous freak later on I turned a blind eye to everything ” i stepped forward and lie stumbled into the wall
His eyes widened enough for me to notice and Atlas seemed genuinely confused “Is this about the wedding? I already have
I
“I forgave every mustake you made I overlooked it, so swept it under the rug and 1-1 tried, Atlas‘ I tried to erase you from my lide but your pointed at him, my body shaking as he picked up the photos, frowning at them.
I
“You still came after this! After the only thing I had Thist This is all I have Atlas! Are you even human?”
DIUSACU past me DILU IULNCU DIE UUMI MI HIS WAYILAISE PUMA, USIMAS pisseny a summLA MAEL
windows closed and he approached me, sucking in a deep breath.
“How many times did you recite this? I mean, how many hours of practice did it take?”
LILL
I froze, raising an eyebrow. He thought this was an act? Why is he unfazed after seeing an image of him and that person?
My stomach twisted. Why was Atlas acting like he was innocent?
“Look, I know you are desperate to stop the wedding, right? This is your final act?” A small smile found its way to his face. He stuck his hands into his pockets. “The room is soundproof. You can beg as much as you want, I will forgive you but you will have to put in a lot more effort.”
For a few seconds, I remained in the same spot, struggling to comprehend what was happening
He thought I was… begging him?
He didn’t look like someone who stole any design, he looked like a delusional man waiting for an impossible dream
No. It was an act. As always. This time? I would not fall for it.
“Today was Dulia’s launch. It was supposed to go live a few minutes ago.”
Atlas rolled his eyes and plopped down on the chair. “And?”
“The designs were leaked.”
He froze for a split second. “That’s what you get for trusting an incompetent man like Damien. See? All your effort, wasted!”
I marched over to him and pressed my hands on each side of the chair’s armrest “How many times did you practice this,
Atlas?”
He frowned, his forehead creasing at my words. “What?”
“Drop the act. I saw the news. My designs were released by your company.”
“What?”
“You didn’t just steal my designs, Atlas. You didn’t just steal my dreams to get back at me, you stole the only thing I had left…”
“Hold up, there must be e some misunderstanding somewhere because I have been-
“Stop lying to
o me I snapped and the chair turned over, Atlas caught me before I could hit the ground and we ended up on
each other
The words died in my mouth as he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. “I could have forgiven you for everything.” Something flickered in his eyes as our eyes locked. “But this? This is where I draw the line Atlas ”
“He’s fooling you Damien is–he’s lying to you, Julia! Why would I overlook the euphoria project and then attack the-”
“Because you’re unpredictable” I snapped as our lips brushed. “It’s what you freaking do, Atlas! You’ve done it before! You are so desperate to have your cake and eat it as well”
I stood and turned to him, wiping my tears. “But I’ll make you a promise Atlas,” I closed the distance between us and I could feel his breaths on my skin before I spoke
“You will pay for this before dawn.” He shook his head and a sob finally escaped my lips. “I promise you on the love I had for you that you will pay for this
ני
