The dining hall was silent with only the clinking of utensils against multiple plates, Alice could barely swallow her food as she rushed to finish and return to her bedroom.
Tomorrow was a crucial day in the book and she needed to plan it out.
Suddenly Bethany spoke up, her voice unnecessarily loud.
"So Dad, I will be visiting white store house tomorrow for some fabrics." She announced, slightly eyeing a nonchalant Alice.
"Okay, I am not sure we will meet though, But take your time." He replied, giving her a small smile of assurance.
"Why are they making you do so much when you just started this week?" Her mother queried, so much concern in her voice.
"Mum, it's because I am in charge of our summer line. After proving myself today, Bruce told me to take charge instead of the head designer. The woman is rather outdated anyway. " She replied proudly.
Her arrogant smile grew wider when Alice looked up at her, a confused expression on her face.
'Yeah, you heard that right. I give orders to the head designer of a company I just started working at yesterday.' Bethany thought.
'But that isn't how it happened in the book.' Alice wondered.
Bethany had suggested the design but had allowed the head designer to take the credit. Bruce had found out much later and was immediately moved by her kindness which was why he had taken the initiative to follow his heart and ask her out though she was his employee.
"Wow, that wonderful news. It calls for celebration." Her mother exclaimed and immediately ordered a maid to get champagne.
"What do you think Alice?" Bethany asked mockingly.
Alice simply looked up from her food and faked a wide smile.
"It's a great achievement though I feel a little bad for your head designer but congratulations nonetheless." She replied.
Before Bethany could reply, their father Interjected.
"I don't think you should have snatched the project from your team leader." He started.
"I didn't snatch it dad. Bruce simply thought it will be better if I handled it since I created the design." She argued arrogantly.
"That is also a mistake on his part." He deadpanned.
"What do you mean a mistake, mine?" Mrs David asked barely hiding her irritation.
Even peter who had been aloof to what was happening was now listening attentively.
"She is just starting. It's no way to start working in a company by being in a position to give your boss orders. Her head designer is her boss and a project being taken from her won't change that. To have a good time working and for maximum efficiency, you must have a good rapport with your colleagues. I will advice you to go back and humble yourself before her, infact she sounds like a good person if she allowed you to present your idea and take credit for it. She could have simply said it was teamwork and you can do nothing about it." He lectured looking straight at an annoyed Bethany.
"Father, I didn't intentionally take anything from her, it just so happens that I am better than her and that is in no way my fault." She snapped rudely dropping the fork on the table.
"One design doesn't make you better than her Beth, she had helped that company grow into what is is now and that take a lot of talent. You are good too bit they are some things that only experience can produce. Speaking of being better, I heard Caroline Pierre is starting next week, I am very sure you know she is tough competition. The only edge you will have over Caroline is in your rapport with your colleagues since everybody knows that girl is a rude brat, it will be a shame if you also turn out to be one." He replied, this time his tone softer. Hoping she could see he was only looking out for her.
"Father, I have defeated Caroline and I can do it again. I can build good rapport with my colleagues but this project, I have already accepted it and I can't disappoint Bruce. I am sorry." She replied, standing up to leave the dining hall.
David only nodded his head in understanding before he replied.
"If that is what you believe and Bruce is your boss, his feelings shouldn't really matter if you are not breaking any company rule."
Before she could reply, he had dropped his fork, pushed his chair and stood up.
The conversation was over as Bethany stomped her feet to her room while he majestically walked out of the dining hall.
Alice looked at their mother and Peter who immediately stood up and followed Bethany, her mother hissing under her breath.
Slowly, she tidied her plate and the others before she also left the dining room to her own bedroom.
She knew better than to go comfort her and if she were being truthful to herself, her views were the same as her father's and she really needed all the sleep she could get.
********
"Alice, are you ready?" Valdez asked.
"Sir, I am not feeling so well. Can we postpone it to tomorrow?" She asked crouching over, clutching her stomach.
Valdez rushed to her side, holding her shoulders.
"What's wrong darling?" He asked, worry written all over his face.
"It's nothing. I just don't think I can stand traveling in a car today." She replied trying her best to sound in pain.
She had to stop them from going to white's fabrics today or at least before Bruce's company went.
In the book, Adam's company had visited white fabric earlier than Bruce's and there was a mishap on his staff's part where he had leaked their design to a worker at white's fabric. When Bruce's design which looked similar to Adam's beat Adam's at the market, Adam believed it was because Bruce had gotten the information from the staff at white. He sacked the worker that had leaked the design and had since then harboured ill feelings towards Bruce.
Those Ill feelings and the constant taunt by Adam to Bruce were what turned such close friends to competitors and in a bid to win, Bruce had unintentionally sent Charles to his death. What was a healthy competition became a toxic one and Adam though wouldn't admit it even to himself blamed himself for Charles's death and to relieve his guilt, he channeled his anger to destroying Bruce and sadly ended up destroying himself.
'There is no way I will allow history repeat itself, even if I have to resort to petty tricks, I will.' She thought.