Chapter 4 Walking Right into the Trap

She recognized this woman - it was Josie Sinclair, Thomas's childhood friend who grew up with him.

After graduating from college, Josie had gone abroad, and Thomas had followed her shortly after. It must have been for Josie.

Now that he suddenly came back to the country, he was probably planning to make things official with Josie.

Matilda took half a step back, putting some distance between them.

"You've got the wrong person. We've never met."

She gathered the documents on the table and stuffed them into her bag.

"Since Mr. Stuart doesn't have time to review the proposal today, I won't take up any more of your time."

She didn't want to watch these two show off their relationship, so she turned around and walked out of the conference room without hesitation.

Matilda walked extremely fast. It wasn't until she got into the elevator that her tense nerves finally relaxed a bit.

The image of that couple pulling at each other flashed through her mind, and she just felt it was ridiculous.

Back at Elevate Advertising.

Matilda went straight to the department head Jared Peterson's office and pushed open the door.

"Can someone else take over the Ascend Global Holdings account?"

Jared looked up from his computer screen, his brow furrowing.

"Switch people? Mr. Wallace is sick right now. Who else in the department can handle an account this big besides you? Plus, this is a major client - if we land it, the commission is at least a hundred thousand. You're usually the most driven, and now you don't care about money?"

Matilda bit her lower lip, hesitating before speaking.

"Ascend Global Holdings wasn't too satisfied with our proposal. I think sending a fresh face might make communication easier." She made up an excuse.

"If they're not satisfied with the proposal, then revise it! Revise it until they're satisfied!" Jared tapped on the desk. "You work in advertising - don't you understand this basic principle?"

"Mary, we're short-handed right now. I'm leaving this to you, so don't try to pass it off on someone else."

Thomas probably wouldn't know she was his wife whom he'd never met.

Matilda clenched her fingers and didn't argue further, turning back to her workstation.

After work, Matilda met up with her good friend Githa Dixon at a coffee shop.

Githa stirred the coffee in her cup, and after hearing Matilda's complaints, slapped the table.

"Ascend Global Holdings? That's my cousin's company!"

Matilda froze.

"Your cousin?"

She'd known her for so long and had no idea she was actually Thomas's cousin. She only knew she was some kind of socialite.

"Yeah, my cousin Thomas." Githa waved her hand dismissively. "Leave this to me. I'll call him right now and get you a chance to meet in person."

Before Matilda could stop her, Githa had already dialed the number.

"Thomas, I have a friend named Mary who wants to take on your company's marketing campaign. Do me a favor and meet with her."

Whatever was said on the other end, Githa kept nodding.

"Okay, tonight then, Blue Hour. I'll have her go straight there to find you."

After hanging up, Githa gave Matilda an OK sign.

"Done! Eight o'clock tonight, Blue Hour top floor, room 888. He happens to have something going on there, so just go directly."

Listening to this, Matilda felt her scalp tingle.

She was supposed to go to Blue Hour to find Thomas? Wasn't this walking right into a trap?

But for the commission, she had no other choice!

Eight o'clock that evening.

Blue Hour, top floor.

Matilda stopped in front of the private room door, her palms breaking out in a thin layer of sweat.

Pushing open the heavy door, the room was dimly lit inside, the air filled with a faint smell of tobacco and alcohol.

On the large leather sofa sat only one person.

Thomas had his legs crossed, an unlit cigarette between his fingers, his head lowered as he fiddled with a lighter.

The sound of the lighter igniting was particularly clear in the quiet room.

Hearing the door open, he looked up.

Seeing who it was, Thomas's lips curved into a mocking arc as he tossed the lighter onto the glass coffee table.

"You really are relentless."

Matilda forced herself to stay calm, walked forward, and placed the revised proposal on the coffee table.

"Mr. Stuart, I sincerely want to work with you—"

"Work together?" Thomas interrupted her, his tone full of mockery.

He stood up, his tall frame instantly bringing an overwhelming sense of pressure.

He approached step by step until he had backed Matilda into a corner.

Matilda's back pressed against the cold wall with nowhere to retreat.

"You even used Githa - you really went to great lengths to get into my bed!"

Thomas braced one hand on the wall beside her ear, leaning in close.

The crisp woody scent mixed with tobacco smell from his body enveloped her completely.

"I didn't." Matilda turned her head away, avoiding his warm breath. "Work is work. I just want to collaborate with Ascend Global Holdings."

"Collaborate?"

Thomas grabbed her chin, forcing her to turn and look directly at him.

The force in his hand was extreme, making Matilda's bones ache.

"A woman like you, full of lies and insatiably greedy - you think you're qualified to talk business with me?"

He laughed mockingly.

"Yesterday asking for money, today chasing me to the office, tonight using Githa to track me down at the club. What, you really want to be with me that badly?"

Matilda forcefully slapped his hand away.

"Mr. Stuart, you're being way too full of yourself—"

His hand turned red from the slap, but Thomas didn't care at all.

Instead, he leaned in even closer, his thin lips almost touching her ear.

"Since you need money so badly and want to be with me so much—"

He lowered his voice, his tone hoarse, frivolous and nasty.

"We happen to need a hostess here. As long as you take off your clothes and stand here for one night, I'll pay you a hundred thousand. You in or not?"