Intentions.

Her eyes widened, it was like her feet were glued to the ground. She felt Damien's cold thumb touch her parted lips before placing his lips on it. She breathed a sigh of relief, they would get married soon but that didn't mean she was ready to kiss him when she wasn't emotionally attached to him. And she couldn't push him away because that would make their relationship seem off.

The audience in the room gasped, seeing Damien kissing a girl! Though they weren't really kissing, the people didn't know that because of the angle they were looking at them from, it made it look like Damien and Lucille were kissing. Damien drew away from her after the fake kiss, giving her a smirk before facing the reporters. "Yes, she's my woman." He claimed, and Lucille's heart hitched slightly, no one has ever claimed her like that before.

She slightly glared at him, but she was thankful he didn't kiss her for real. She was repulsed by the thought. "We are getting married in a few months," He added, erecting another round of gasps from the audience.

News of Damien, every girl's sweetheart was getting married to Lucille, a not-so-pretty girl as acclaimed by the fans. The social media platforms were going crazy about it, while most girls were jealous of Lucille and called her names, some supported them wholefully.

"…'' The silence was loud between Lucille and Damien who decided to get a coffee together because Damien had something to say to her. They were alone as Damien had rented it for a few hours to avoid his fans and have some time alone with Lucille. " You wanted to talk," Lucille finally said, breaking the silence.

Damien nods his head, not severing his eye contact with her, which she holds confidently. "Got carried away by your face," He said with a smirk on his lips, and Lucille was not about to fall for that. " Ohh, my looks are nothing compared to yours," She retorted back, hoping he would just say what he had to say so she could leave.

"Hm, true." He simply said, earning a glare from Lucille. "You are glaring at me way too much, it's not healthy." He advised, before picking up the cup of coffee to drink. His eyes twisted in displeasure at the taste of the coffee, before dropping the cup. " I wanted to apologize for my rude behavior," He started, his eyes staring into hers intently,

"Is this about how you kissed me-"

"Almost," He cuts in, and It took everything in Lucille not to glare at him. She clears her throat, before parting her lips to say, " It was still rude to do that without my permission." Their lips did almost touch.

"I wasn't referring to that, but the day I didn't show up on OUR date."

Lucille frowned slightly, this wasn't like Damien. He is apologizing? To her? Damien of all people.

"You know this is a little bit alarming." She said, making him smile for a moment. "You hurt my feelings," He pretended to be hurt by her words, Lucille made an innocent face. "I mean, I've never seen you apologize to anyone before."

"You are not anyone," Damien said, with a serious look on his face. 'What?' Lucille thought in her mind, 'no! It's one of his tricks, don't fall for it.' She pressed her lips in a thin line, before clearing her throat.

"Can I ask you a question?" Lucille asked, "Sure go on," Damien replied. "Why did you want to marry me? Why not any other girl but me? Lucille asked, Damien smirked, "I'll be frank, it's because I need a wife." he said. Lucille looked at him, somewhere confused, "Okay? But it could have been anyone, why me?"

"I chose you because you seem like the most competent wife I could have, and I knew you."

"You know me? You mean before this whole marriage thing?" Lucille asked, surprised the popular Damien actually knows her.

"Yes, we were classmates in high school, You forgot about me, I see. I was insignificant to you." He muttered, kind of looking disappointed.

"I don't think- wait, it's you!?" Lucille gasped slightly, "I knew this face looked familiar, but I thought it was because I've seen your picture countless times." Lucille laughed, "I can't believe we're actually getting married."

"Me neither, it feels like a dream." Damien smiled, while looking into Lucille's brown eyes.

'What was with him?' Lucille asked herself, she has never known Damien to be someone who smiles often but he's been smiling a lot recently. She sighed softly,

"I mean it's nice to reminisce about the old days but I have to leave because I need to go back to work." She wanted him out of her sight, for now.

"It's very unlike you to ask for permission from me," He replied, ignoring her question intentionally. "I wasn't asking for permission but okay, I'll take that as a yes." She proceeds to stand up but…

"Sit," The playful gaze was absent and he looked serious as he stared at her intently. She bit her lips, before asking "Why should I take orders from you?" God knows she would've treated his fuck up if not for their relationship. "It seems you don't love your Father as much as I thought you did," He smiled, a wicked one.

Lucille slowly takes her seat back, glaring at him from the back of her mind. She disliked him right from the start, she knew he was putting on a show and was glad she didn't fall for it. Meanwhile, Damien was starting to get annoyed by this stubborn woman, he was trying to get to her good side but it was hard for him as she questioned every single little thing.

"My dad wants us to have dinner together tomorrow, I'm picking you up by 7:00 P.m." But Lucille interjects, "Oh, are you sure you won't cancel it again? I have things to do and don't have time to waste. And I don't think there is a need for you to come pick me up, I have a car after all. " He had a look on his face like he was tired of her. 'Same here' Lucille whispered in her mind.

"Suit yourself." He Stood up from his seat and left the restaurant.

Lucille sighed, she was too tired to think. Today was very eventful as her life was partly boring before the arrival of Damien and his dad. She took the glass of water, finishing the glass of water in a gulp. She stood up to leave the restaurant. She called for a cab and left for her home.

~~

In a mansion, far away from Orlando;

Walter stood before Lucas, Damien's biological father, his head bowed slightly.

"Damien knows better than to betray me. But you, how do I know if you've really turned your back on your wife?" He observed Walter, before placing his jaw on his right hand. He had striking blonde hair, with a pair of deep midnight black eyes, the same features as Walter.

Walter calmly lifted up his head, "I am a lot more useful than you think. Don't you think it would be suspicious if I suddenly died after Damien takes over the company? Once they start investigating him, it's only a matter of time before they find out I'm not his real father, and before they find YOU. I am not asking you to trust me, just let me prove myself to you.." Walter said, with a determined look on his face.

" Does that mean you can do anything on my order?"Lucas asked with a smirk on his face, making him out as creepy. "Anything," Walter said, looking at him with a deadly serious gaze. The blonde-haired man arched his eyebrow, "Then, can you kill your alleged son's wife when the time comes?" He held Walter's gaze as if trying to sense any mischief.

"I'll prove it to you, just please give me a chance." Walter said, with his head slightly bowed. Lucas laughed mockingly. "You've been working for me, it's been years now. I'll keep you alive, so do your best not to disappoint me." Walter raised his head, "

"I take an oath right here and now, I'll never betray you, I'll prove it to you with my actions!" Walter pledged, Lucas nods with a satisfied look on his face. Walter bowed his head deeply before leaving the room.

He walked to his car and drove out of the parkway, then the building. He stopped at a cemetery, and walked to a certain grave. There was a photo of him and a young pretty woman, she was smiling brightly. He stared at her grave, and placed the flowers with him on the grave. "Forgive me, but I have to do this. For you and our child's sake." The look on his face changed, from that of sadness to anger.

~

Lucille got back to the company within thirty minutes, everyone was busy as they were about to launch a new product. Lucille earlier asked Sophia to leave the presentation to her in the absence of the former merchandiser.

She now sat at her table, thinking of cracking her brain to come up with ideas within an hour to the meeting. She even bought snacks to freshen up her mind, the memory of her and Damien almost kissing suddenly flashed through the back of her mind, and she almost choked on the chips she was eating.

"Lucy, focus, focus!" She scolded herself.

"Are you sure you can do this?" Sophia asked, feeling bad for her, "It's okay, you don't have to-"

"It's okay, Sophia, I got this." Lucille winked, making Sophia smile. "By the way, I haven't seen Ryan the whole day."

"Ah, he asked for a leave today for personal reasons." Lucille nods her head.

An hour later.

Everyone was settled into the meeting room, starting from the CEO (Chief Executive Officer.); Robinson, to the GM (General Manager.); Felicia, to the CFO; (Chief Financial Officer.)

Then the Operation manager which is Ryan, but his seat was empty as he had taken a leave for the day. While Robinson sat at the center, in front of the desk between the setting of chairs. Felicia, Sophia, and Lucille sat on the left side of the chairs.

While the Buyer; Frank who Selects and purchases the products that will be sold in stores or online, often based on trend analysis and consumer demand, the Store Manager; Louise who Oversees the day-to-day operations of a retail store, including sales, staff management, and customer service and the Visual Merchandiser; Penelope who Creates visually appealing displays and store layouts to enhance the customer experience and promote products.

They all sat down by the right side of the chair, and lastly the Fashion Designer; and Illustrator; Raynell who also sat by the right side of the chair. The rest of the team was the Marketing Manager, Production Manager, Sales Manager, and E-commerce Specialist.

"Good day everyone, I'm excited about today's meeting because we're gearing up to launch our new product line. This collection is a major step forward for us, and I want to make sure we're all aligned and ready to make it a success. Let's start with a quick update from each department." He turns to the fashion designer, "How are we looking on the design side?"

"The design team is thrilled with how the new line has turned out. We've completed all the final adjustments, and the samples have been approved. The collection really captures the essence of our brand, blending sustainability with style, which is what our customers are looking for." She said, Robinson nodded, listening attentively.

"Let's take a look at the designs," Robinson said, Raynell nodded her head, and stood up to show the sets of samples on the large screen. "These designs were of course, shared among ourselves, and these were the most voted for. This style of clothings isn't really that common among people. We thought it would be good to use this as a change and make people like the uniqueness of this style of dressing." Raynell expelled her thoughts exquisitely, and Lucille couldn't help but admire her.

Robinson nods, "Fantastic, The designs look great and unique." He turns to the Production Manager; Vincent. "How about Production? Are we on schedule?" Vincent smiled, calmly. "Yes, we are on track. We've ramped up our production to meet the expected demand. The factories have confirmed that we will receive the first batch next week, so we are right on schedule for the launch."

"That's good to hear, I want to make sure our quality control is top-notch as well. We don't want any issues with the products once they hit the shelves." Robinson said,

"Absolutely, We have doubled our quality control checks for this launch, especially focusing on fabric durability and stitching, which were highlighted in our customer feedback from the last collection." Vincent explained, earning a nod from Robinson.

"Excellent, Now, on to marketing. What's the plan to build excitement around the launch?" He asked the marketing manager; Roxy.

"We've crafted a comprehensive campaign that includes social media teasers, influencer partnerships, and a few press releases. We've also planned a launch event at our flagship store and an online livestream to reach our global audience. We're focusing heavily on the sustainability angle, as it aligns with the current market trends and our brand ethos."

"Great approach, I like that we're integrating both online and offline strategies. However, I heard that the Merchandiser submitted her resignation letter this morning. Is it impossible to find a merchandiser within 24 hours?"

"Yes, it's highly unlikely to find a merchandiser within 24 hours, However, there is someone else who could do the job of a merchandiser." Sophie paused, gave Lucille a look, who nodded at her.

"Is Lucille going to give us the presentation instead?" Robinson asked, frowning slightly,

"Yes," Lucille replied with a nervous smile, this was the first time she had tried to take on the work of another colleague of hers. She took a deep breath and took hold of the remote.

She turned off the light, and used the screen projector to share her ideas among them.

"Good day, everyone. I'm excited to present the launch strategy for our new sustainable fashion line. Today, I'll cover the product overview, target market, visual merchandising strategy, promotional plan, and performance metrics."

Lucille paused, and pressed one of the remote buttons to change the content on the screen.

Everyone listened attentively to her, while some were hoping she'd fail terribly, some hoped they were done with the meeting quickly.

"Let's dive into what makes this collection special and how I plan to maximize its impact on our customers and our bottom line. This collection includes a range of eco-friendly products: organic cotton dresses, recycled polyester outerwear, and sustainably produced denim. Each item is designed with sustainability and versatility in mind, appealing to the modern, eco-conscious consumer. The designs are trendy yet timeless, ensuring longevity in our customers' wardrobes."

She paused again, and pressed one of the remote buttons again, she faced the rest of the employees wholly, meeting their eyes one by one.

"Our new line not only meets the growing demand for sustainable fashion but also offers high-quality, durable pieces that provide value for money. This aligns with current consumer trends towards mindful spending and environmental responsibility. For example, our recycled polyester jackets are lightweight yet warm, perfect for layering, and our organic cotton dresses are soft, breathable, and ideal for all-day wear."

"There are lots of companies that produce soft breathable ideal clothes, don't you have something more unique to make these customers more hooked on our clothes than others." Robinson said, probing further for information.

Lucille nods her head, "We'll place this collection prominently in the front of the store, near the entrance, to immediately attract attention. Using mannequins, we'll showcase complete outfits to demonstrate how the pieces can be mixed and matched. We'll also use natural elements like plants and recycled materials in our displays to reinforce the sustainability message.

Educational signage will highlight the sustainable features and production process, giving customers a deeper understanding of what they're buying.Each product page will include high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and videos showing the versatility of the pieces. We'll also add a 'How to Style' section with suggestions and customer reviews to enhance engagement and encourage purchases. Our SEO strategy will focus on keywords like 'sustainable fashion' and 'eco-friendly clothing,' ensuring we reach our target audience effectively."

"And lastly, We'll start with a teaser campaign on social media a week before the launch, using sneak peeks and countdowns to build anticipation. We have to partner with eco-conscious influencers who align with our brand values to promote the collection. They'll share their favorite pieces and styling tips with their followers which benefits us in a way. Our launch event will be a combination of in-store and virtual experiences, including a live fashion show streamed online, to maximize reach.

We'll offer a limited-time discount of 10% off the entire collection during the first week to encourage immediate purchases. Customers who buy two or more pieces from the collection will receive a free eco-friendly tote bag, further emphasizing our commitment to sustainability. Members of our loyalty program will receive exclusive early access to the collection and additional rewards points for purchases."

Lucille stopped, to catch her breath. She took a bottle of water to drink from. "Our goal is to achieve a 20% increase in sales compared to the launch of our last collection. In summary, our new sustainable line is perfectly positioned to meet market demand and reinforce our brand's commitment to eco-friendly fashion. Now, let's open the floor for any questions or suggestions. Your input is invaluable in making this launch a triumph. Thank you." Lucille breathed, before bowing her head slightly.

Sophie was the first one to clap, "You're amazing, Lucille." She smiled brightly at her, the others looked impressed too, "Well, it sounds like a good plan. Though, I almost dozed off." Vincent said,

"Not bad," Raynell agreed.

"I'll give you a thumb up, you deserve it." Louise said. The rest didn't say anything, but Lucille was grinning from ear to ear.

And she waited for her dad's final say, "Let's ensure we follow our timeline for in-store setups, online updates, and promotional activities. I'm confident this launch will be a success if we all work together and execute our plan. Lucille, Good work, keep it up. Let's conclude the meeting here for today." Everyone stood up to leave the meeting room.

Lucille was exhausted from trying her best not to forget everything she had come up with, "Lucille! Wow, you are really awesome. How did you come up with that within an hour!?"

"It wasn't simple, you know. I did some research too."

"Still, wow. I'll always call on you whenever I have some problems or questions now."

"I'm going home early today," Lucille yawned, tiredly.

"Totally, you deserve it." Sophie winked at her.

Once it was time to go home, she told her father she was leaving early. She needed to rest, so she was leaving first. She decided to take a cab, and once again, she remembered the time she spent with Damien.

Wait, he said they have to go on a date tomorrow, does that mean she would have to skip work again? No way she would do that for him.