This is fashion terrorism and a violation of my expressive rights!

Mrs. Whittle sets the food on the table quietly and urges me to eat. I oblige after inviting William to sit down and have a meal with me, which he declines politely, saying that he needs to make calls while waiting for me.

After about twenty minutes, I’m unhappily seated in the living room with the fashion enforcement tablet. I can’t help but snicker at the clothes that are ‘Derik Approved.’ All of them are from high-end brands but are styles a woman in her fifties would wear.

Tossing the gadget aside, I dial Derik’s number, it immediately goes through–

as usual. He always picks up my calls, probably making sure I’m not in an emergency or something.

“I know you feel like you’re responsible for me, Derik. I understand that you’re a loyal person, but you don’t need to nitpick everything. I’m not incompetent.”

The line is quiet for about three breaths.

“Nitpick? This is not debatable, Ms. Quinn.”

I pause, realizing this is the first time I’ve ever called him by his first name.

“I am not wearing clothes made for a middle-aged woman! How will I ever find a good man if you insist on dressing me up like a nun?!”

He sighs. In my mind, I picture the permanent frown on his face turning into a grim scowl.

“Ms. Quinn, you need to appear respectable to exercise command in the corporate world.”

I release an exasperated sigh.

“I' never expect you to consider what I want, but I don’t plan on ruining my chances of having a love life just because you want to impose your control over me. Don’t do it again.”

There is a long pause that makes me break a slow, cold sweat.

“Mmm.”

He doesn’t argue any further and ends the call without another word, making me more furious.

Grumbling angrily, I storm back to my bedroom and slip into a knee-length, fitted beige dress and a pair of high-heeled strappy sandals. I put on light, neutral make-up and grab large sunglasses and a round rattan purse I bought on a trip to Indonesia when I was in my teens. The clothes I have at this house are a bit outdated, but nothing I can’t work with.

Every girl enjoys dressing up to feel good about herself, and I am no exception. It’s absurd to allow Derik, a man who only knows how to don custom-made black suits, to dictate my fashion preference.

William takes me out shopping the entire day. It’s dinnertime when we arrive back at the villa.

Chapter 4

DERIK

“I ’ll be in Tucson for the next few weeks. How’s the museum project

going?”

I lean against the back seat as William briefs me on the current state of the Tucson projects. Flying back and forth is common. It’s a relief to me that the situation at headquarters was addressed quickly.

“It’s moving according to schedule. However, the business center project under Quinn Industries is having some difficulty.”

“What is it?” I ask, shooting William an inquisitive look through the rearview mirror. He is driving us back to the Lewis Corporation building, as I’ve instructed him.

“The designs were rejected.”

Quinn Industries is a company built by Natalie’s grandparents. They’re a family of architects and engineers, the same path that Natalie has chosen to follow. The company has grown successful and has established its influence in the construction industry. Presently, it mostly runs according to the needs of Lewis Corporation, as I can’t just hand over the management rights to someone else.

I sigh.

“How’s Ms. Quinn doing?”

William steers the car into the parking lot, coming to a halt at the entrance of the company building. He takes a tablet from the passenger seat and hands it to me.

“I planned accordingly, as requested. Ms. Quinn has already blended well with her team, after just a week. I expected it wouldn’t take her long to get accustomed to it.”

“Mmm.”

I scroll over the gadget and look at the plan William has written up for Natalie’s training. It’s been created specifically to cater to her need to excel as a leader in her industry and prepare her to lead the business accordingly.

“This is good. But she can’t take this long a route. Assign her to be the project manager for the business center. Get me a change of clothes.”

William nods cooperatively as I hand the tablet back to him. He gets out of the driver’s seat and opens the door for me. It’s almost ten in the morning, and many employees having their coffee break are gathered in groups by the lobby.

“Good morning, Mr. Lewis,” greets one group of women, smiles spread across their lips. The anxiety in their gazes does not escape my attention.

I lightly nod in acknowledgment as William strides a step behind me, continuing with his briefing and reminding me of the schedule.

“Would you like to drop by Ms. Quinn’s office?” he inquires attentively as we step into my private elevator. The man has been working for me for almost five years now and has become my most trusted personnel.

“Mmm.”

Quinn Industries was established in Tucson. Many professionals in the construction industry have been seeking to gain footing in it, knowing that the owners are no longer around. Natalie is the sole heir, but still a novice. It would

be difficult for her to keep her position if I handed over the company quickly.

She needs to be well-equipped to run it smoothly.

“She has been learning under the direct supervision of Engineer Moore,”

William says, pulling my attention back to the present as my eyes land on Natalie. She’s speaking with a man as we approach their department.

“Moore?”

My brows meet.

“Yes, Mason Moore. Arthur Moore’s eldest son.”

Without speaking, I nod lightly and redirect my gaze to the woman. Her long chestnut hair is fixed into a high ponytail, revealing her lovely neck. She’s wearing a black satin button-up blouse paired with gray, flat front straight-leg slacks. Her black high-heeled shoes add a few inches to her height. She looks elegant and sophisticated in the way she moves her hands, gesturing to some papers in her hand. Her features are perfectly accented by her light makeup, too.