"I gave you everything you need. I sent proposals, money plans, and even showed my test model. What else do you want, Sir?" I wanted to shout at him but I controlled myself. Take a deep breath, Emily. Anger is not the solution for everything—think of him as a customer, who doesn't know what to order.
"You still miss key things, Miss Emily. In a way, you need real money to back it up and a strong past record. Go to the bank. They might give you a small loan if you are lucky."
"I know the bank is my last chance. But tell me why—I want a real reason. You know that I have good skills—I worked years on fashion projects. Last week, I talked to another money person—and I showed my idea, but they refused to fund me."
"Sorry, Miss Emily—we are very sorry. But we can't help you."
"Your words don't suffice anything at all!"
"Look, I feel your pain. But your father... Viktor rules the Leonhart group. He called you weak. We can't bet on risks. Bank is best. Use what you own as promise."
With those words, he cut the phone. Another! Fucking another!
How the fuck does this keep happening? Did Viktor put me on a bad list? No one wants to help my project now—I have designs! Why is this shit happening to me? I put my heart into this!
I hurled the phone across the room. It skidded over polished marble and thudded softly against a velvet chaise.
In the mirror, my emerald eyes blazed with fury. I raked fingers through my raven waves, feeling my porcelain skin flush hot. Viktor thinks he can blacklist me? Fine. His attempts of demoralizing me won't work. I will succeed in my work.
Should I even go to the bank? Viktor must have close ties with banks as he is a successful businessman. But I would play it smarter this time—no more begging. I knew about personal assets from OG Emily's old shady deals—offshore trusts tucked away, holding just enough seed cash for prototypes.
That meant no family leash, no Viktor's strings pulling me back. I pulled out a simple black suit from my wardrobe and changed into it. Maybe I should try some more—there has to be someone who will fund me.
But first, that chamomile tea sat untouched on the side table, its steam long gone. Suspicion prickled my nose as I glared at it. What was with this tea?
I leaned in for a whiff—bitter undertones cut through the herbs, sharp and wrong. Viktor's 'cool down' gift? I am pretty suspicious about it. Why was he pushing me to drink this tea through various maids?
Never trust anyone, and I don't trust anyone. Humans are hypocritical creatures, waiting to take advantage of you, aren't they?
I grabbed my purse, smoothed my raven hair into a sharp ponytail, and headed for the door. The suite's heavy oak swung open with a soft creak.
There, leaning against the hallway wall like he owned the shadows, stood Alexei—this novel's one of the male leads, and my stepbrother. In the novel, he hated the OG Emily because of various things—most importantly her obsession with Lily.
His ice-blue eyes raked over me, lips curling into a mocking smirk. He crossed his arms over his broad chest, that crisp white shirt strained against coiled muscle.
"Off to beg at the bank, little sister?" His voice dripped condescension, low and taunting. "That video was adorable. But we both know you'll crawl back—Leonharts always do."
I glared at him. "You are also a Leonhart, aren't you? Oh, I forgot that you are adopted." I crossed my arms over my chest, mimicking him.
Alexei gave me a cold look as he walked towards me, stopping just right in front of me. "You always like to run your mouth, Emily. Unlike our family, no one would tolerate you. That video was a small-time fame injection. It would over within a few days."
"You are the one who likes to talk, Alexei."
"Emily, you have sullied our family name countless times by doing a lot of idiotic things. And yes, I am a Leonhart," Alexei pinched his nose, "I don't think Mom and Dad will like you getting impulsive just because your ego got hurt."
"Ego?! Don't give me that!" I yelled at him. Clutching my hands, I gritted my teeth. "My designs have no match at all."
"Yes, you are a good designer, Emily. But have you thought how foolish you are?" Alexei gave me a pitiful look, making me angrier. "You are utterly over-confident, Emily. No designer reveals their designs before the production, and no one explains the mechanism of the production as well. But you did."
My face burned at his words as I pushed him—well, I tried to push him. Instead, he caught my hands and slammed me back against the wall.
"What are you trying to do, Emily?" Alexei snarled.
I gagged in disgust as I tried my best to push him. "Let me go, you bastard!"
"You are getting—" Suddenly, his eyes darkened a bit as he sniffed me.
"Don't sniff me! Are you gay or something?" If a man sniffs a woman, he isn't gay. But if an alpha sniffs another alpha, they must be gay, right? Was Alexei gay? No, he liked Lily. Besides, I don't think that the plot will deviate drastically because of my presence in this world.
"Why are you smelling like this?" Alexei whispered, sniffing me again. This time he tried to sniff my neck. My eyes turned cold at this act of his.
"Alexei, have you gone mad?! Should I call for a doctor?" I scowled, 'dodging' his attack.
"Why do you smell like this, Emily? You don't use perfume... no one has ever smelled your pheromones before. Is this your natural scent?"
"What are you talking about?!" I yelled, giving a solid kick to his crotch. He immediately released me, falling to his knees.
"You..."
"Shut up, you idiot!" I slapped him before running away. The novel was correct—Alexei is a madman! Next time, I will never be alone with him.