novelraw Chapter 83: Abstract
Chapter 83: Abstract
A week passed, then another, and soon the day of the board meeting arrived.
Lavayla felt nothing.
Ever since the rumors about a new European designer joining the company began circulating, subtle shifts had taken place within the office. Conversations would quiet when she entered a room, glances lingered a little too long, and certain smiles carried meanings that were no longer hidden. It was the kind of undercurrent she would have noticed instantly in the past, dissected, and responded to with precise calculation.
Now, she did not care.
Her attention was occupied elsewhere, consumed by something far more pressing than office politics or shifting alliances. Simply existing in this illusion already demanded her patience, and on top of that, she still had to find a way to break free from it.
That alone was exhausting.
Everything else felt insignificant in comparison.
Even this board meeting held no real weight in her mind. As she walked into the conference room, it felt more like watching a scene unfold from behind a screen. Every person, every movement, every carefully constructed expression felt distant, as though they were merely actors following a script.
Because none of it was real.
Lavayla took her seat at the second head of the table, her posture composed and her expression neutral. At the head sat the CEO, his presence authoritative. To his right was the Chief Financial Officer, composed, while the Chief Operations Officer sat to his left, already preparing to lead the discussion.
Further along were the Head of Marketing and legal counsel, followed by the regional directors. Along both sides of the table sat the senior designers and head designers.
Sorana was among them.
Lavayla did not look at her.
The meeting began shortly after everyone settled. The CEO gave a small nod, and the Chief Operations Officer straightened before speaking.
"Good morning, everyone. The main agenda for today’s board meeting is the introduction of a design collaboration initiative to support our international expansion."
His voice carried smoothly across the room. He paused briefly, his gaze sweeping across the table before lingering, just for a moment, on Lavayla.
She did not react.
A faint smile touched his lips before he continued.
"As you are aware, our company is entering a new phase of global growth. To strengthen our creative direction, we will be welcoming a distinguished designer from our European branch into our team. This initiative is not intended to replace or diminish the talent we already possess. Instead, it is meant to enhance it."
He folded his hands lightly on the table, his tone measured.
"Global design today requires adaptability. Markets differ not only in preference but in cultural interpretation, aesthetic expectations, and consumer behavior. By integrating perspectives from multiple regions, we position ourselves to create work that resonates on a broader scale while maintaining the core identity that defines us."
A few nods appeared around the table.
He continued, building on the momentum.
"This collaboration will allow us to exchange methodologies, refine our creative processes, and challenge existing limitations. It is an opportunity to elevate our standards, not only as individuals but as a collective. We are no longer competing within a single region. We are stepping into a global arena, and that requires a broader vision."
His gaze narrowed slightly.
"I expect each of you to approach this with professionalism and openness. The success of this initiative will depend on how effectively we integrate new ideas without losing the strengths that brought us here."
The room remained attentive, the atmosphere controlled and focused.
Lavayla sat quietly, her fingers resting lightly against the table.
"...While the new head designer will be welcomed into the company," the COO said, his voice firm as he transitioned to the central point of the meeting, "the position of lead authority will remain unchanged."
A subtle pause followed.
"The best creative director, Miss Lavayla Kingsley, will continue to retain her position and prestige within the company."
The shift in attention was immediate.
Every gaze in the room turned toward her, some curious, some assessing, and some carrying negative emotions that were far less concealed. Among them, Sorana’s expression stood out the most, her composure tightening as a flicker of deep resentment crossed her eyes.
Lavayla did not react.
She inclined her head slightly, acknowledging the statement without interest, her expression calm and unreadable.
The Chief Operations Officer continued, his voice steady.
"She will also serve as one of the supervising heads for the international expansion projects. All core decisions, creative direction, and final approvals will remain under her authority."
A faint ripple of murmur passed through the room.
"This initiative is a collaboration," he added, his gaze sweeping across the table once more, "but it will be structured under a unified leadership. Miss Kingsley will remain at the center of that structure."
Silence followed, heavy with unspoken reactions.
Lavayla remained still, her posture unchanged, her fingers resting where they had been from the start. The words should have carried weight. In the past, this would have been a decisive moment, one that reinforced her standing and redefined the balance within the company.
Now, it felt insignificant.
Her gaze lowered slightly.
So that was their answer.
This illusion was not trying to strip her of anything.
It was giving her everything.
Authority. Recognition. Stability. Control.
Everything she had once worked for, carefully placed back into her hands as if nothing had ever changed.
Lavayla’s eyes darkened faintly.
It was not testing her ability to fight.
It was testing her willingness to stay.
An understanding of the situation settled within her.
If she accepted this, if she allowed herself to fall back into this life, then there would be no need for the illusion to break. It would simply continue, seamless and complete, until she no longer questioned it at all.
Her fingers shifted slightly against the table, the movement small but deliberate.
Across from her, Sorana’s expression had not softened. If anything, the announcement had honed it further, her gaze fixed on Lavayla with a mixture of disbelief and restrained hatred.
Lavayla finally lifted her eyes, meeting that gaze for a brief moment.
There was no challenge in it.
No triumph.
Only clarity.
Then she looked away.
The meeting continued, voices resuming their measured discussions, but Lavayla no longer listened.
This world was not something she needed to escape through force.
It was something she had to reject.
Lavayla remained still as the discussion carried on. She waited until the Chief Operations Officer finished outlining the remaining details before he paused and looked around the table.
"If there are no further additions," he said, his tone formal, "we can proceed—"
A few of the executives shook their heads, signaling agreement.
Lavayla spoke at that moment.
"Mr. Lawson."
Her voice was calm, neither loud nor forceful.
The Chief Operations Officer turned toward her, a faint crease forming between his brows. "Yes, Miss Kingsley?"
Lavayla met his gaze steadily.
"I would like to decline the appointment."
For a brief second, the words seemed to hang in the air without meaning.
Then the reaction came.
The Chief Operations Officer frowned, his expression tightening in clear disapproval. Around the table, several executives stiffened, their composure slipping as surprise surfaced. Even the Chief Financial Officer shifted slightly.
At the head of the table, the CEO’s gaze sharpened.
Along the sides, the designers could no longer remain quiet. Low murmurs began to rise, restrained at first, then growing as confusion spread through the room. Questions passed in hushed tones, disbelief evident in every glance exchanged.
Lavayla remained composed.
She had expected this reaction.
The Chief Operations Officer leaned forward slightly, "Miss Kingsley, I’m not sure I heard you correctly."
"You did," Lavayla replied evenly. "I am declining the role."
The murmurs grew louder.
At that point, the CEO finally spoke.
"Mrs. Lavayla Kingsley," he said, his tone measured, yet carrying unmistakable authority. "Do you understand what you are saying?"
The room fell silent almost instantly.
His gaze remained fixed on her.
"I would like to know if you have a reason for rejecting this decision," he continued. "If you do, please state it clearly. We will evaluate whether it is sufficient grounds to reconsider the proposal."
Lavayla held his gaze without hesitation.
For a moment, she said nothing, as if weighing how much to reveal.
Then she spoke.
"Yes. I have a reason."
Her voice was steady, her expression calm.
"This position, this authority, everything being offered here," she continued, her eyes sweeping briefly across the table, "it has no value to me."
The statement landed heavily.
Shock rippled through the room once more, stronger than before. Even those who had remained composed could no longer hide their reactions. Confusion, disbelief, and even faint offense surfaced openly now.
The Chief Operations Officer’s frown deepened. "Miss Kingsley, this is not something to be dismissed so casually."
"I’m not dismissing it," Lavayla said calmly. "I’m refusing it."
Her gaze lowered slightly, her fingers brushing lightly against the edge of the table before stilling again.
"In the past, this would have mattered," she continued. "Position, recognition, control. I worked for it, and I understood its weight."
She lifted her eyes again.
"But that no longer applies."
"This environment, this structure, all of it is built on a foundation that I no longer stand on."
The executives exchanged glances, unable to fully grasp her meaning.
To them, her words sounded abstract, even unreasonable.
But Lavayla did not clarify.
Because she did not need them to understand.
"This is not where I belong," she said simply.
Silence followed.
At the far end of the table, Sorana stared at her, the earlier resentment replaced by shock.