Felix was about to leave the office when I looked at him and spoke up：“Felix, once the Dickerson Group contract is signed—let's get married.”
My words hung in the air. He froze for a moment, then turned to me：“Beulah, I've already told you about this.”
“Work comes first. That's not negotiable right now.”
He looked at me, his voice carrying a familiar chill：“Once the contract is signed, I'll give you an answer. Naturally.”
I smiled and didn't push further.
Just stalling. That's all it ever was.
He was never going to marry me. All he'd ever needed was someone who could close deals for him.
I watched him walk out and let the smile stay on my face. I knew now that all of it had been a dream.
And the dream was over.
Since that was how things stood, there was nothing left to say.
Over the next few days, Vera bought lunch for colleagues every single day, making sure everyone heard her take credit for landing the Dickerson Group deal. Talking up how hard she'd worked, how much effort she'd put in.
When Ian told me, I just smiled.
I knew this was Felix building her up on purpose.
Vera had no idea that this particular contract wasn't a gift for Felix. It was a nightmare.
But none of that was really my problem anymore.
That afternoon, a Dickerson Group representative came to the office. Following my instructions, the new contract already contained a number of revised clauses.
Vera didn't read a single one. She signed it on the spot.
I knew that contract inside and out.
The quality standards it demanded were steep. If Felix tried to meet them honestly, there'd be no profit margin left.
And I knew exactly who Felix was. For money, he'd risk everything—cut corners, use inferior materials without blinking.
All I'd done was double the penalty for breach. If this order fell through, his entire company would be in trouble.
Before, because it was my mother's company on the other side, I'd always kept a close watch on things. I'd even helped Felix find alternative suppliers so he could avoid using cheap substitutes and still turn a profit.
Now, I didn't need to bother with any of that.
I'd already spoken to the suppliers. None of them would be filling orders for Felix anymore.
The moment the contract was signed, Felix stood up in front of the whole company and announced that Vera had single-handedly closed the Dickerson Group deal. Effective immediately, she was the new sales director.
Every pair of eyes in the room turned to me.
They all knew perfectly well that I was the current sales director. And Felix Henson's girlfriend.
Felix looked straight at me：“Beulah, you have to admit—Vera did an outstanding job this time.”
“She landed the Dickerson Group contract. No one's better suited for the position.”
I listened, then smiled：“Felix, that contract. Wasn't I the one who negotiated it?”
The question shifted something in his expression.
Vera immediately burst into a tearful protest：“Bea, I know you're Felix's girlfriend!”
“But you can't just steal my credit like this!”
“Everyone here knows I'm the one who signed that Dickerson Group contract!”
Before the tears on her face had even dried, Felix turned on me, his tone flat and cold：“Beulah, you're really going to stand here and steal credit from someone under you? Go home. Get some rest.”
They fed off each other seamlessly, line for line, as though Vera really had closed the deal all by herself.
