AC Syndicate: Isolated Files [OS]

Nice to Meet You [Alternative]

(Chapter picture by myself) / [Victoria as middle-class woman]

A few miles from the heart of London, in the large courtyard in front of a manor house, a blonde woman in her thirties dismounted from her horse, calm despite the restlessness of the two greyhounds eager to receive their mistress's love after a ride in the forest. There was no one to help the woman — in the saddle like a man, not an amazon — off her horse despite her rank. Sophie March, the head of a textile company, was a middle-class woman who did not always respect etiquette.

She had always shown a form of rebellion against the absurdity of the set of codes that had been tried so hard to instil in her. The severity, the boarding schools, nothing helped. Many bourgeois still wondered how she managed to have such a successful business. In fact, her domain was the fruit of her investment in her project. Her factories had brought her enough to afford such a large piece of land. She felt, once again, a great pride with a smile on her face when she contemplated her manor after getting off her horse. Then she smiled mockingly and contentedly when she thought of the other burghers who, envious and not understanding her success in the business world, speculated and criticised her behind her back. For, as far as they were aware, she was destined to sell her buttocks on the street for the rest of her life. Some still thought so, thinking that this success would not last long, that she would need a man sooner or later. That is, if a man wanted her. Sophie had just reached her thirties and had never been a marriageable woman because of her rejection of etiquette, which did not help her to get a husband. But that was the least of her worries. As long as she had her two Greyhounds, she could only be happy.

The steward arrived to welcome her employee who was so much the talk of the bourgeoisie. She asked her if she had enjoyed the walk in the forest. Stretching her shoulders back with her hands on her back, Sophie replied that the walk had been very good for her. After dropping her arms, she asked him to look after her dogs, thirsty from such a long walk in the woods.

"Yes, ma'am," said the steward.

"By the way, Bonnie," she called, making her stop. "Is the tea ready?"

"We're already taking the tray to your office, as you asked before we left."

"Good, very good. You can go."

Bonnie nodded to Sophie before returning inside with the greyhounds. As the hostler arrived to fetch the horse, Sophie gave him a piece of sugar as a reward. The young man took the bridle and stroked his muzzle as the blonde asked him to take care of him. He nodded in response and took the horse to the stable. With that, after a few moments of looking at the animal and the man who would take good care of him, she entered her manor. It was time to change her trousers and boots for her evening dress. She would already be ready for tonight, when the Reids and two other middle-class families were invited for dinner. The Camerons were not scheduled for the evening, currently on a trip to Scotland.

After changing, she went into her office to check her correspondence and her turnover before calculating their forecast. She also wanted to read the reports of her plant managers. Unlike most, if not all managers, Sophie was concerned about the health and well-being of her workers — a controversial fact among her peers — and she wanted to be informed of any complaints, so that she could find a solution or help if necessary. For her, if the workers were treated well, they would be much more productive. And it was also a way for her to thank them for allowing her to have the life she had fought so hard for this.