Con

CHAPTER 44

Elijah’s POV

“Sabrina…” I whispered as I sat in my large, mahogany–clad office, my gaze fixed on a very old photo i held in my hand.

A wave of nostalgia washed over me. The photo captured a moment frozen in time, one of laughter and innocence, with Sabrina’s bright smile lighting up the frame. A tinge of guilt spread throughout my chest as I thought about all the years I had falled her because I was never able to find her, even when I had all the money in the world.

A series of knocks interrupted my thoughts, followed by the door swinging open to reveal two familiar faces–Chris and Trevis, my closest friends.

“Morning, Elijah,” Chris greeted me, his eyes twinkling with excitement. “I’ve got some news for you.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What’s up?”

“I got the results of the DNA test,” Chris began, grinning widely. “And it turns out that Julia is actually Sabrina! Can you believe it? After all these years, we now have her back!”

I wasn’t that shocked, but I couldn’t understand the strange emotions swirling inside me. I felt relief, that Sabrina was finally found. Also confusion, as I tried to reconcile the image of Julia with my

memories of Sabrina.

“Our parents are over the moon, and they’re planning a welcome party for Sabrina,” Chris added. “You should be there.”

I nodded, my mind still reeling from the news. “Of course, I’ll be there.”

Trevis then threw down the gauntlet. “Now this news is really something else. But you know, since. Julia and Sophia are both such good designers, I’d like you to take a look at their proposals and be the one to make the final decision on which one to use for your project.”

My

y eyes narrowed as I thought about being in this tight spot. But it was my company’s project, so Trevis was right.

Chris frowned. “You have to choose Julia,” he said firmly. “She’s been lost for so many years! This is the least we could do for her after everything she’s been through.”

Something occurred to me then. Trevis hadn’t even informed me that all this time, Sophia had been an Intern in his company in Paris, and that now, she was his employee!

“Why didn’t you tell me about Sophia?” I asked Trevis, my voice tight.

Trevis shrugged, looking grumpy. “You never mentioned your wife’s name,” he retorted.

I exhaled slowly, trying to calm myself. This situation’s getting out of hand.

“Fine,” Trevis finally said, breaking the tense silence. We’re having a meeting soon to vote on the

better design for the project. Hopefully, you’ll be able to attend the meeting and make your decision then.”

1/5

I nodded, my mind racing. I need to figure out wh

change everything.

to do. Julia or Sophia? This decision could

A few days later, as I was taking a short break after the day’s tasks and meetings, my phone buzzed with a notification. I glanced at it and saw a message from Trevis. He had sent over two designs and a video of the presentation.

Sophia’s presence on stage was magnetic. She stood confidently, presenting her design with such passion and clarity that it was hard not to be captivated. I felt a surge of pride watching her. Her dedication and talent were undeniable.

I never thought she could be this good. Why hadn’t I given her a chance to be part of my company when we were still married?

I had underestimated her abilities, and now she was obviously shining and on her way to becoming the amazing woman that she had always been,

I switched my focus to the designs. At first glance, they seemed quite similar. Both were elegant, innovative, and had that distinct edge we were looking for. I made a mental note to delve deeper into the details later.

Just as I was about to continue walking, my phone buzzed again. This time, it was a message from Julia.

heads–up, I’ve discussed some of my thou

Elijah, I heard from Chris that you’d be coming to vote. I really hope my work will be favored. Just a

with Sophia. But I assure you, I haven’t plagiarized anything. I’m not sure if Sophia got her ideas from me, though.

I stopped in my tracks, rereading the message. Julia’s words stirred confusion and concern within me. The similarities between the designs suddenly took on a new light. Had Sophia really drawn inspiration from Julia’s ideas? Or was it merely a coincidence?

I typed a quick reply to Julia, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Thanks for letting me know, Julia. I’ll take everything into consideration.

As I reviewed the designs once more, I couldn’t shake off the nagging thoughts. Plagiarism was a serious accusation, even if Julia hadn’t outright claimed it. Trust and integrity were paramount.

But Sophia’s work is far superior, I think. It’s comprehensive and very professional, and she explained it really well.

I made my way to the Urban Next Design Studio office, still thinking about which proposal to pick. What would best suit and benefit our project? Which one would resonate more with our target market?

Arriving at the venue, I took a deep breath, straightening my tie as I walked to the front of the room. Plagiarism was not to be taken lightly. It gnawed at me, conflicting with my certainty that Sophia would never stoop to such a level.

After Trevis introduced me, I stepped up to the podium and gave a few general words about the project, why the design was so important, and what we were looking for in this development.

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“Ladies and gentlemen,” I continued, my voice steady, “Today we’re also set to evaluate the efforts and achievements of our talented individuals…”

I scanned the room and saw Julia beaming up at me, I smiled at her, thinking that if she were Sabrina, we had a lot of catching up to do. But there seemed to be no warmth or affection within me for her. Maybe it’s because we need to get to know each other again.

My gaze then wandered to Sophia. She sat with a composed demeanor, her eyes fixed forward, never once meeting mine. She didn’t appear anxious about the outcome. Instead, her focus seemed to be elsewhere, and it struck me that perhaps she was more concerned with my presence than the decision itself.

Nevertheless, in my mind and in my heart, I knew that it was Sophia’s proposal that stood out more. But as I opened my mouth to announce my decision, I suddenly saw that architect approach her and whisper something in her ear. She smiled brightly at him, and it made my blood boil.

That damn Craig Miller, I thought furiously.

In that instance, I changed my mind. I changed my decision. “I believe that Julia’s work not only meets but exceeds the commercial viability needed for this project,” I finally said. “Her proposal will be perfect for our luxury resort.”

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