Niamh arrived at the Monarch Grand Hotel, heading straight for the Peony Room,
Inside, the table was already full. Most of the guests were men in sharp suits, and among them, only one woman stood out–Giselle Westmore. She was also the only familiar face for Niamh.
It was Giselle who had introduced Niamh to this business opportunity, rumored to be a major government project.
Niamh didn’t dare let her guard down. From her tailored dress to her poised demeanor, she was the picture of professionalism.
Giselle had assumed everyone had already arrived once Niamh walked in, but Director Lawson interrupted, “Let’s wait a little longer–I’ve invited another group.”
“Who is it? Why didn’t I hear about this?” Giselle asked, her tone tinged with
irritation.
Before she could finish, the door swung open.
Jonathan and Marina stepped into the room, catching Niamh’s eye.
Jonathan and Marina looked just as surprised to see Niamh as she was to see
them.
Neither side had been told the others would be present at this meeting.
“What’s the meaning of this, Director Lawson?” Giselle’s expression soured. “I wasn’t told the person I referred would have to compete for the project.”
Though he held the title of director, Lawson was clearly wary of crossing Giselle. He put on a placating smile. “It’s out of my hands. Orders from above… Miss Rivers and Ms. Thornton are Aldenville’s most promising young designers. The leadership wants them to collaborate–combine their strengths and cover each other’s weaknesses.”
Niamh and Marina exchanged a look, both realizing immediately that whoever made this decision clearly had no idea about the tension between them. If they had, there’s no way the two would have been paired up.
Lawson’s assurances did little to improve Giselle’s mood. She remained stony–faced, clearly displeased on Niamh’s behalf.
Giselle knew Niamh’s true identity as BYC, a designer leagues ahead of Marina. In her opinion, Marina couldn’t hold a candle to Niamh’s talent.
19:54
Chapter
The stakes were high. Aldonia would be hosting the Aurora Forum: Silk Road Global Symposium in November, with sixty countries sending delegates. The cultural ministry wanted Niamh and Marina to collaborate on sixty pieces of jewelry reflecting Aldonia’s heritage, as gifts for the foreign guests.
Neither Niamh nor Marina wanted to miss this chance to showcase their studios‘ abilities, so both reluctantly agreed to work together.
“Fine, fine, a collaboration it is,” Giselle huffed. “But what about Mr. Thomas? Since when are you interested in jewelry design?” Her words dripped with sarcasm as she looked Jonathan up and down.
Giselle didn’t know the exact details of the relationship between Niamh, Jonathan, and Marina, but her intuition told her enough. She didn’t care for Jonathan or
Marina.
“Mr. Thomas is clearly here as a chaperone,” Director Lawson joked. “As far as I’ve seen, wherever Ms. Thornton goes, Mr. Thomas is never far behind.”
Jonathan’s lips curled into a faint smile, but he didn’t say a word, as if tacitly agreeing. His gaze, however, slid quietly toward Niamh.
Niamh kept her head down, focusing on her meal. She didn’t look at Jonathan, nor at Marina. She seemed completely unbothered by Director Lawson’s remark–or perhaps she simply didn’t care.
Jonathan’s brow creased ever so slightly.
“If these two studios are working together, shouldn’t there be some kind of structure?” Giselle pressed. “Where will they be working? Isn’t shuttling back and forth a waste of time?”
Niamh could tell from Giselle’s assertive tone that Giselle still hoped she’d land the entire project on her own.
But Giselle’s concerns weren’t unfounded. Joint work meant both studios would need to meet frequently, and the question of where to hold meetings or work sessions was a practical issue.
“Well…” Director Lawson scratched the thinning hair on his head, searching for an
answer.
