Peter’s eyes sparkled, clear and bright as gemstones rinsed in spring water.
“I just wanted to thank you…”
Niamh tilted her head, bemused.
“You gave me such an amazing studio to work in. Shouldn’t I be the one thanking you?”
“No.” Peter shook his head firmly, his voice unwavering. “It’s me who ought to thank you… Thank you for still wanting to be my friend.”
Niamh could guess, at least in part, what Peter had been struggling to say. After that wave of vicious online rumors, she’d been left completely isolated. But she understood why Peter had hesitated–he’d had his own reasons.
“Don’t worry,” she said softly. “No matter what happens, we’ll always be friends.”
She grinned at him, holding out her fist for a bump.
Her smile was radiant, like a rose in full bloom.
Peter tried to smile back, but it came out more like a grimace than anything joyful. Still, he reached out and tapped his fist gently to hers.
Always friends…
The words landed like a punch to his chest.
With the professional workspace at FY, Niamh’s work on the crown moved faster than ever–everything came together in half the time.
She was in the break room, pouring herself a cup of coffee, when a familiar voice rang out behind her.
“Niamh, it really is you! I knew I wasn’t mistaken!”
Genevieve and Melanie Lowe had both worked with Niamh back at FY.. er memory, though, the two of them had always trailed after Marina, following her every command.
“Are you back working at FY?” Genevieve asked brightly.
“Excuse me,” Niamh replied, sidestepping between them without answering.
“Hey, Niamh-” Melanie called after her, but Niamh was already gone, coffee in
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hand.
Genevieve and Melanie watched her retreat. After a moment, Genevieve pulled out her phone and dialed Marina.
“Marina, Niamh’s keeping her guard up around us. She barely talks to me or Melanie–she just gives us the cold shoulder. How are we supposed to get close to her?”
On the other end, Marina rolled her eyes in exasperation.
“Are you two completely useless? If you can’t even handle this, how do you expect me to promote you to management?”
“Sorry, Marina…”
Genevieve lowered her head, chastened.
“Don’t just apologize,” Marina snapped. “You need to be more humble. Flatter her, make her feel important… Be sincere–eventually, even the hardest heart will soften. Just make sure you become her friend before she finishes that crown.”
At that, a sly smile crept onto Marina’s lips. She didn’t think the task was that hard; even Genevieve and Melanie should be up to it.
From the next day on, Niamh didn’t have to make her own coffee anymore.
Every morning, Genevieve and Melanie had a steaming cup waiting for her–sometimes with an elegant pastry on the side.
At first, Niamh ignored their efforts. No matter how many times she refused, they persisted, always leaving coffee and treats at her workstation.
Then one afternoon, Niamh happened to walk in just as Genevieve and Melanie were being chewed out by the team lead. The two of them, both tear–streaked and sniffling, ducked into her studio afterwards, venting their frustrations. They claimed their supervisor was impossible, picking on them for every little thing–especially
day. since they were young women–and said they got yelled at nearly ev
They both wanted to quit, but couldn’t bear to leave a company as prestigious as
- FY.
“Niamh, we know we treated you badly before,” Genevieve admitted, voice trembling. “We thought you got your job through connections, that you didn’t really have any talent…”
“But now we know better. After seeing you at Luminous Divas Fashion Week, we wore honestly blown away by your skills. You’re the real deal–and we’d love to
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Chapter 358
work with you. Maybe the three of us could go into business together, start something of our own.”
