One Night With A Mysterious Billionaire (The Heiress's Revenge)-Chapter 44: I want to impress him

I woke up feeling unusually relaxed. For the past two days, I hadn’t gone to work, and Raymond had been incredibly attentive, almost excessively so. He even chose to work from his home office instead of going out, just so he could keep an eye on me. I was deeply appreciative of that, more than I let on.

As I lay there, half-buried under the soft covers, memories of his arms around me, the lazy cuddling, the light kisses pressed against my forehead and lips replayed in my mind. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I buried my face into the pillow, blushing furiously like a teenager in love.

It had been more than a month since Raymond and I signed that contract. By now, I should have been more proactive, more confident in whatever arrangement this was. In that one month, we had been intimate no fewer than three times, each encounter leaving me breathless and confused in equal measure.

Yet, I was still owing him a proper night of passion, one I had promised but never quite fulfilled. I made a mental note to change that. Now that I was feeling better, healthier, and stronger, I wanted to take the initiative. I wanted to surprise him. Just the thought alone sent a flutter through my chest.

With renewed determination, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to wash up and prepare for the office. Today wasn’t just any workday. We were going to Hyacinth Hove to submit our company’s design draft. Sylvia had called earlier to inform me that we received an email confirming our acceptance into the bid. I remembered

Raymond mentioned casually that he had listened to my pitch and would personally recommend me to the general manager so I could advance to the next phase. The memory made me smile softly.

Life had become easier, smoother, since Raymond entered it, and I wasn’t naïve enough to deny that much of it was because of him. Another reason to be grateful... and to reward him, I told myself quietly.

I dressed with deliberate care. A high-waisted pencil skirt hugged my hips with refined precision, tracing every curve before falling just below my knees, modest, elegant, yet undeniably seductive. A silk blouse clung softly to my skin, its pale ivory shade glowing against my complexion. The delicate buttons caught the light with each subtle movement, adding a quiet sophistication to the look.

A slim leather belt cinched my waist, its gold buckle discreet and tasteful. On my wrist sat a classic watch, minimalist in design, its worth evident only to those who truly understood luxury.

The same could be said for my handbag, simple, structured, expensive without screaming for attention. A tailored blazer hugged my frame perfectly, and I paired the entire look with minimal jewelry and black Louboutin heels that added confidence to every step.

When I finished checking myself in the mirror, I genuinely liked what I saw. I looked composed, powerful, and very much in control.

By the time I arrived at the office, Sylvia had already prepared all the documents we would need for the bid. This project was massive, important enough to be broadcast live. Thankfully, I had completed the designs long before I fell sick. Designing was one thing I always did right, so I didn’t bother scrutinizing the documents again before we headed out to Hyacinth Hove.

On the way there, Sylvia tried to remind me of a few things she thought I might overlook. I listened quietly, nodding when necessary. Our relationship had evolved far beyond that of a secretary and her boss; we were almost friends now. Our conversations were lighter, more honest, and I trusted her instincts completely.

Soon, Sullivan pulled up at the venue.

The moment Sullivan stopped the car, my breath caught in my throat. Though I had passed the building countless times, seeing it up close was a completely different experience. Hyacinth Hove was nothing short of majestic, towering glass and steel reflecting authority, wealth, and power.

"Is this where your boss comes to work every day?" I asked Sullivan, my eyes never leaving the building.

"Yes, ma’am. Most times," he replied. "But he has other subsidiaries under Hyacinth Hove that he visits occasionally."

I tilted my head slightly and looked directly at him.

"No wonder he acts like he owns the city."

"He does own the city," Sylvia chimed in with a smile, her gaze fixed on the building as well.

"You’d be amazed when you fully find out who Raymond Black truly is."

There was something in her eyes then, admiration, almost reverence. I narrowed my eyes at her, but just as quickly as the light appeared, it vanished, as if it had never been there at all. I wondered if I imagined it. Deciding not to dwell on it, I straightened my shoulders.

"Well, let’s get down to business."

"Yes, ma’am," Sullivan said promptly, moving around to open the door for me.

I knew I was being a little flashy, but who cared? I had Raymond. I might as well enjoy this two-year contract to its fullest. I smiled to myself and thanked Sullivan as I stepped out, Sylvia trailing closely behind me. Sylvia had never been subtle with her clothing choices, and today was no exception. Still, standing side by side, we looked like two CEOs ready to conquer the business world. Our heels clicked sharply against the floor as we walked into the lobby.

We were issued our tags and shown our seating positions before entering the dimly lit auditorium. It was packed—rows upon rows of people, many wearing name tags similar to ours. Others, dressed impeccably, were clearly company directors and industry giants, and inventors. If I counted the paparazzi scattered around, there were easily over a hundred and fifty people present.

My palms became sweaty.

I hadn’t expected this scale, this level of exposure. Trying to steady myself, we made our way to our seats, front row. I frowned immediately. I glanced at Sylvia, hoping she shared my unease, but she was all smiles, clearly relishing the attention. I inwardly sighed and rolled my eyes.

Once seated, Sylvia to my right, an odd sensation crept over me. I couldn’t explain it, but I felt eyes on me, sharp, probing, like daggers piercing my back. Then I heard a hushed snicker from behind.

My spine stiffened.

Something told me this presentation wouldn’t be as straightforward as I hoped.

"If someone didn’t know any better, they’d think she’s one of the judges today."

"Wearing the entire designer collection won’t make them pick your design. If anything, it makes it look like you’re here for some other reason."

"I swear, she must be here for something else. Who dresses like this for a pitch?" another whispered with a snicker.

Sylvia almost turned around to give them a piece of her mind, but I quickly reached out, touched her arm, and shook my head, silently stopping her from lowering herself to their level. That only seemed to amuse them more. One of them went as far as making an outrageous remark, and at that moment, I knew the only way to silence these people for good was to bring out my best. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"I bet she got in with her good looks," a man scoffed loudly. "Because I don’t remember seeing her during the first pitching session."

The comment drew even more attention. A few directors who had been quiet, minding their business moments ago, turned around to take a better look at me. Whispers spread through the hall like wildfire. Some people openly condemned me, while others boldly suggested that I had bought my way into the competition. I simply smiled and ignored them. There was no need to waste energy on people who would soon eat their words.

Soon, the lights dimmed slightly, and the stage brightened as one of the organizers climbed up to the podium.

"I would like to welcome everyone to Hyacinth Hove," he began, scanning the hall. "Today marks the final bidding for our housing estate on our newly acquired island. This project is the venture of the century for our company, and we are interested in partnering only with capable hands."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "Many investors are present today, including members of our board of directors. Our CEO, Mr. Raymond Black, is also in attendance. His presence alone shows just how important this project is to us."

At the mention of Raymond Black’s name, the hall stirred. Heads turned in every direction, and I found myself searching the crowd as well, but I couldn’t spot him anywhere.

The organizer continued, "When called to the stage, conduct yourselves professionally. Plagiarism will not be tolerated, and anyone caught will be handed over to the appropriate authorities."

A murmur rippled through the audience.

"You will each have thirty minutes to present your design and defend your proposal," he added. "A soft copy and a hard copy of your work must be submitted to the judges before your presentation begins. Use your time wisely. Good luck to you all."

The presentation began in earnest. To my surprise, when the first name was called, there was no response. After a brief confirmation, it was announced that the participant had withdrawn at the last minute.

Then my name was called, second.

My heart skipped, but I had already made up my mind to give them a show. The pressure doubled when I remembered that Raymond was somewhere in the hall. I wanted to impress him, whether he was watching or not.

I took a deep breath, gathered my courage, and stepped forward with Sylvia beside me. The hall fell silent. The only sound that echoed through the vast space was the steady rhythm of our heels against the floor as we made our way to the stage.