They were blood sisters. Blood is said to be thicker than water, but in their case, the water was thicker.
Orla's heels exquisitely clattered against the tiles as she walked into the boardroom of Bernadoz Construction Company, a small smile of fulfillment plastered on her face.
Her warm aura elicited a curiosity that caused everyone present in the boardroom to turn their heads towards her. Everyone was suddenly interested in knowing who she was, and why she was effortlessly stunning.
Her smile almost faded when reticence crashed her from within. But she didn't plan to flop now, so she pushed back the odd feeling and maintained a smiling face.
Again, her smile grew bigger, delighted she didn't come a minute late. It was conspicuous that they had been anticipating her arrival.
Mia's eyes were contemptuously haunting her sister, but Orla pretended not to notice her when in fact, she was the first person she looked out for immediately after she stepped into the boardroom.
"Good morning, Everyone." Orla smiled, professionally extending out a hand for a handshake.
"Congratulations, Mrs Orla Barlowe." Andrew, a grey-haired man Orla had never seen before, rose to his feet and shot out his hand to take Orla's hand in his. A smile stretched his lips into two thin lines. "You were the best candidate for this project. We couldn't have given this out to someone else." Settling back on the armchair, he asked if Orla had more sheet samples with her.
Without hesitations, she grabbed her bag from the table and brought them out, handing each piece to everyone excluding her sister who was apparently not interested.
"I don't have to examine this to know its trash. I mean, why do we even want to offer her the contract? We had other candidates, the best ones. Did her husband pay you to do this?" Mia flared up, sliding out of her chair.
"Miss Sullivan. No one paid us to do this, we only work with the best, you know?" Andrew confabulated out of annoyance.
"You don't expect me to believe that, do you? With the connections that Callan Barlowe possesses in this state, who wouldn't want to offer his wife a job even though she's not close to being the best Candidate?" Resentment mixed with ire visible in Mia's words and countenance.
Wiggling her head in despair, Orla was confused. She didn't know if she should be satisfied that she got married to a big name or be slammed with sadness that her marriage with Callan would soon be over in a matter of months.
"Sentiments aside, Mrs Barlowe is the best candidate we recruited for this project and it only makes sense that we have her on this," Andrew spoke gruffly as he examined the sheets that Orla had prepared.
"We shall get back to this when she doesn't last here," Mia grunted.
Deep down she knew her sister was good. She was aware Orla was the best in her class when she was in college. Even among them all, she was the smartest, but she would never agree to that.
"And what if she does?" Pushing the files forward to the next examiner, Andrew relaxed on the plush armchair. His leery eyes intently fixated on Mia, awaiting a response from her.
He was slightly disgruntled. He had eyes for Mia the whole time, but the hateful spirit she embodied irritated him to the core. He wasn't certain he could keep up with such an attitude.
"Let's see," Mia clicked her tongue.
Orla was quiet the whole time. She had words she could utter back at her sister, but she didn't want her employers to have a bad impression of her. Swallowing those words was the best she could do for herself.
"Your designs are top-notch. Exactly the concept that we've been trying to get. I must commend your brilliance."
Everyone in the boardroom directed their gazes to Mariam, the only black woman in the room.
Her long gray curly hair was the most noticeable body feature she possessed. A pair of dark glasses sat pretty between the bridge of her nose.
"I am Mariam Armstrong, the CEO of this company." The black woman introduced herself, pulling out a hand to shake Orla.
"Oh, Ma'am. I have no idea." Orla's cheeks flushed. "It's nice meeting you," she quickly took her hand, respectfully bumping up and down.
"I am an Architect myself and I must confess that we don't come across such talent every day. Where have you been all these while?" It was still evident in her eyes that she was fascinated by Orla's concept. "This is way beyond what I want." Mariam smiled.
Mia slacked on her chair. She knew Orla had won against her there. She had to deploy other means to bring her down since firing her wouldn't work anymore.
Turning back to Mia, Mariam's lips curled into a smile. She clasped her hands together and said, "Miss Sullivan, I have found the missing piece. She has given us a nice concept to go on with the joint estate that we wanted to work with. I want her in my team and for our partnership to be beneficial you will have to approve of her too."
Restiveness and irritation smashed Mia where she was seated. She stared at Mariam, long enough to know that she had decided, and there was no going back. Sighing in defeat, she shook her head.
"Beautiful! She will sign the documents after which she will be sent to the Coordinator." Andrew chirped in.
"Thank you so much for this opportunity, I will do my best to prove to you all that this is worth it." Confidence was laced in Orla's tone. She meant it.
Aside from the fact that she wanted to prove to them that she was capable, she had a plan to be big in her career and make a name for herself so that she wouldn't be lagging when she finally divorced Callan.
All necessary documents were put together for her to sign. They all filed out of the board room after the meeting ended, but Mia didn't go with the others to their various offices. She waited behind the reception, she still had a score to settle with her sister.