4
The sun was just beginning to rise when Amanda arrived at Matthews Couture's headquarters, an hour earlier than usual.
The office was still quiet, save for the soft hum of the building's air conditioning and the faint sounds of the city awakening outside.
She had come in early, eager to prepare for the afternoon meeting about the new collection.
As Ericka's assistant, she wanted to make sure everything was perfectly lined up for the CEO, especially for something as important as this.
She had already reviewed the schedule, but now it was time to go over the final details of the deal.
The soft glow of the office lights flickered to life as she entered, the space looking sleek and professional, yet strangely empty at this hour.
Amanda made her way to Ericka's office, setting her bag down on the desk and pulling out her laptop.
She had already printed the schedule for the afternoon meeting, but she knew that going over the details one more time wouldn't hurt.
She opened the documents and began scanning through the closing deal for the new collection.
The meeting was critical, and she needed to ensure that everything was on track and that nothing had been overlooked.
As she reviewed the documents, Amanda's mind raced through the specifics: the numbers, the designers, the final alterations to the fabrics, the contracts, and the potential partnerships.
It was a massive deal, one that could reshape the direction of Matthews Couture, and she wanted to ensure it was the right fit for Ericka.
But as she went through the fine print, something caught her eye.
It was a small detail, something she hadn't noticed in her earlier review: a clause about the exclusivity of the collection.
The contract stipulated that if Matthews Couture went forward with the closing deal, they would be required to exclusively carry certain designs from the collection for the next year, with no room for additional collaborations or customizations for that time period.
Amanda furrowed her brows, rereading the section again. She had seen the clause before, but now, for some reason, it felt off. It didn't make sense. Ericka was all about innovation and partnerships—she wouldn't want to limit the brand's potential like this, not without a second thought.
Amanda leaned back in her chair, pressing a finger to her lips as she considered the implications. Could it be an oversight? Did the designers really expect Matthews Couture to bind itself to such an agreement? No, Ericka would have caught this.
Her phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. She glanced at the screen. It was a message from Ericka's personal assistant, Lily.
Good morning, Amanda. Ericka's on her way in a little early today. She has a few things she wants to go over before the meeting at 2 PM. She'll be there in about 10 minutes.
Amanda's heart picked up. It was rare for Ericka to come in early, especially on a busy day like today. She quickly reread the clause once more, then opened the email she had received from the designers earlier that week. Nothing had changed. The clause was still there.
She shook her head. Something wasn't sitting right with her, but there wasn't much time to dwell on it now.
She had to get everything in order before Ericka arrived.
She quickly made notes on the contract, highlighting the section about the exclusivity clause, and placed it next to her computer.
She could bring it up to Ericka during the meeting, but only if she felt it was necessary.
As she took a final look at the calendar for the day, she was reminded of how much this opportunity meant for her—how much Ericka had already taught her in just a few short days.
The last thing she wanted was to disrupt things or draw attention to a potential flaw in the plan, especially if it wasn't something Ericka had noticed herself.
But Amanda's instincts told her that something wasn't right.
She just couldn't shake the feeling that the deal was more complicated than it seemed.
With her hands slightly trembling, Amanda straightened up as the sound of the elevator doors opening echoed from down the hall. Ericka was here.
Taking a deep breath, Amanda grabbed the stack of papers, holding them in her hands as she walked out of the office, preparing herself for whatever the day had in store.
Ericka stood at the front of the office, her posture as poised and confident as ever, her sharp gaze taking in everything at once. She caught Amanda's eyes and gave her a small, knowing smile.
"Morning," Ericka said, her voice smooth, but with a faint edge that Amanda couldn't quite place.
"Good morning," Amanda replied, her voice betraying the small rush of nerves she felt. "I've gone through everything for this afternoon's meeting. I just—there's a detail in the closing deal I think we should revisit."
Ericka arched an eyebrow, her gaze flicking to the papers Amanda was holding. "What's the issue?"
Amanda hesitated for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts before speaking.
"I noticed a clause in the contract—about exclusivity.
It's asking for a full commitment to carry certain designs for a year, with no room for other collaborations or customizations.
I thought that might be something worth reconsidering. "
Ericka's expression didn't change, but the sharpness in her eyes increased, the smallest hint of something unreadable flickering behind them. She stepped closer, her gaze fixed on the documents Amanda had presented.
After a moment of silence, Ericka spoke again, her voice low and calm. "I see. You're right. I didn't catch that. Thank you for flagging it."
Amanda felt a small relief wash over her, but a new tension began to grow as she saw the way Ericka was reacting. There was something in the way she didn't immediately address the potential setback that sent an unspoken signal to Amanda.
"Don't worry about it," Ericka added softly, her tone shifting slightly, as if she were trying to reassure her but also keep things at arm's length. "We'll deal with it in the meeting. It's nothing we can't manage."
Amanda nodded, her fingers still clutching the papers as the weight of the moment sank in.
There was so much more to uncover, and yet, all Amanda could do was stay alert, waiting for the pieces to fall into place.
Something was off—about the deal, about Ericka—but for now, all Amanda could do was follow her lead.