Chapter 135: Be With Me
“Have you lost your mind? Why would you get the Damapol project?”
The words were barely out of her mouth when Marcus stepped forward to snatch the phone from her grasp.
He didn’t think there was any truth in what she said and felt she only said so to shame Olivia for failing to meet Dimitri.
“What is this? Why would Scavo Corp reach out to you when it was Olivia who submitted the business proposal?” He immediately frowned when he saw the email was indeed from them.
The smile on Olivia’s face vanished in an instant and she sat up hurriedly. “What?”
Without thinking twice, she got up as well and snatched the phone from Marcus.
She ran her eyes through the email.
It began with, Dear Ms. Hodge, I hope this email finds you well…
When she saw the keywords—congratulations on getting the project—she shrieked before she could stop herself and rushed to Andrea.
“Grandmother, look, I got it! I got it!”
Andrea shifted in her seat, taking a look at the email.
Watching the expected smile bloom across Andrea’s face, Olivia stopped fidgeting and glanced toward Alicia, biting her lower lip with a sigh.
“It seems I ade a mistake with the email they could reach me on and put yours. Alicia, you were so excited for a win that wasn’t yours, and it’s all my fault. Please don’t hold it against me.”
“It was presumptuous of her to think Scavo Corp would take a look at her proposal when you already told us Dimitri put in a word for you with his uncle.” Andrea sucked her teeth and waved Alicia aside dismissively.
Marcus bobbed his head vigorously in agreement and stepped toward her, leering at Alicia from the corner of his eyes.
“Olivia, if not for your quick thinking which led you to connect the dots, she would’ve shamelessly taken the win. Makes me wonder if she has claimed some of your wins as hers when we weren’t looking.”
Unfortunately for him, everyone was too happy with the news to pay him any heed.
“This must be it. That must be why Dimitri hasn’t been replying to your messages. He must be angry that after he got you the project, you stood him up,” Andrea suddenly muttered, her proud eyes darting toward Olivia.
Behind them, Alicia was bewildered at how the situation had turned from her victory to Olivia’s in a split second and couldn’t keep quiet.
“Olivia, you cross-checked your document several times before you sent in your pitch. You even had three professional in-house proofreaders proofread it three times. If you had misplaced your email with mine, don’t you think one of them would’ve caught it?”
“No one is above mistakes. And I’m very certain that was the case here.” Olivia didn’t even bother to look at her as she smiled stiffly.
“Face it, Alicia. You lost, and it’s time for you to return to the countryside. Don’t be such a sore loser.” Marcus sneered.
Alicia thinned her lips, her eyes subconsciously darting across the numerous eyes peering at her.
They did nothing to hide their hatred toward her.
True, it was unreal to get the contract just a few hours after submitting her proposal. But she refused to believe three professional proofreaders could really miss the fact that there was a wrong email despite each of them going through the proposal three times.
So a thought popped into her head, and she grimaced. “You always keep a copy of your proposals just in case it gets stolen after being rejected.”
Olivia froze.
“Yes, why?”
“Let’s see the proposal you sent to Scavo Corp. If you really made the mistake of using my email as yours, I’ll apologize and make a public apology, but if it isn’t and you’re just lying about my…”
Andrea finished going through the email at that moment and coldly deadpanned, “I’m going to stop you right there.”
“You’re not fooling anyone, Alicia. There’s no way you could’ve landed this when you don’t know anything about business, talk more of writing a comprehensive proposal like Olivia did.”
“Now that we’ve gotten the contract, you will honor your part of the agreement and leave. Is that understood?”
Alicia parted her lips to say something, but closed them again.
What did it matter?
Whatever she said right now would only be treated as her last futile attempt to snatch Olivia’s glory.
But even though everything they said was true, she knew the email really was for her.
How?
Because the email hadn’t said anything about a business proposal. It instead commended how impressive her résumé was and then proceeded to say they thought she was the perfect fit for the job.
Olivia hadn’t sent in a résumé, but her business proposal.
That same evening, Andrea made her sign over her email account to Olivia, claiming it would be a hassle for Scavo Corp if they informed them about the change of emails.
Andrea spent the next few days making it seem like Alicia was leaving of her own volition.
At the same time, she coated everything with the party they were throwing to celebrate getting the contract.
It was something the entire town wanted, so having gotten it, Andrea wanted to bask in the limelight and let everyone see she had an impressive granddaughter who was not only dating a member of the Scavo family, but also had sway over him—so much that he was willing to give her such a huge contract.
The night of the party, Alicia stood by the food, stirring her martini with a fruit stick while composing a “let’s get divorced” message for Derek with her left hand.
She was distracted when someone rushed past her, screaming, “Olivia, Dimitri Scavo is here!”
Soon, Olivia rushed out from where she was and hurried toward the man who strutted in, his face heating up when he saw the party.
It had been three days, and he was too scared and ashamed to return to the Scavo family house.
So, after days of not returning Olivia’s calls, he realized the only way to return to the Scavo family house with his pride still intact was to drag Olivia with him to apologize to his uncle.
As Olivia stood before him, her eyes widening with a bright smile, he reached out to grab her by the neck and began dragging her out of the function with a growl.