Designers scrambling to curry his favor were a dime a dozen; there was no way he could give everyone a chance.
Still, seeing Niamh in FY’s signature piece suggested she had some connection to the higher–ups at FY.
“And you are…?”
Niamh handed her card to Liam Grant.
The name and brand caught Liam’s attention–he vaguely remembered hearing
about her.
“Peter mentioned you to me,” Liam said.
Niamh paused, glancing instinctively at Peter, a surge of gratitude welling up inside
her.
Peter, engaged in conversation across the room, caught her gaze and lifted his wine glass in a silent toast.
Jonathan, watching the wordless exchange between Niamh and Peter, tightened his grip on his glass, his knuckles turning white.
Devon leaned in to introduce Niamh for Liam’s benefit. “Miss Rivers is Mr. Peter’s girlfriend. She’s quite a talented designer, though personally, I still prefer Ms. Thornton’s work.”
Once again, Niamh was publicly compared to Marina. The sting was familiar, but that didn’t make it any easier to bear.
But there was no use dwelling on the fact that Marina’s work had outshone hers. The outcome was settled, and wallowing in disappointment wouldn’t change a thing.
All she could do now was carve out a new chance for herself–and seize it with everything she had.
“Miss Rivers has flawless technique,” Devon continued, “but design is about inspiration, about that spark. Her work is a bit too textbook, too rigid. Ms. Thornton’s, on the other hand, is alive with intuition–a natural gift that shines through, revealing a designer’s soul and boundless talent.”
As Niamh listened to Devon’s critique, she caught Jonathan’s cold, almost mocking smile.
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18:43
Chapter 148
Every compliment for Marina felt like a confirmation of Jonathan’s earlier warnings.
But Jonathan barely seemed to care about Devon’s words. His attention was fixed on Niamh, watching to see how she would react to the criticism.
Niamh listened intently, open and humble.
Jonathan’s gaze lowered, shadows flickering in his deep eyes.
Marina’s smile had long since grown stiff, though she kept it plastered on her face. She was the only one who knew that Devon had actually mixed up her and Niamh’s designs.
Every lavish word of praise Devon offered was, in truth, meant for Niamh.
Behind her back, Marina’s hands dug nervously into her palms.
In the end, Niamh’s persistence paid off–Liam Grant decided to give her a shot.
The morning after the gala, before dawn even broke, Niamh drove out to Ironhaven to visit the region’s most reputable gemstone supplier, AOD.
AOD wasn’t the biggest mining company, but they had a stellar reputation for unearthing rare and uniquely beautiful stones.
Niamh had already arranged a meeting and went to the factory in person, where she selected a top–grade Burmese star ruby.
For someone like Mrs. Grant, such a ruby wouldn’t be all that rare–but this particular stone contained a rare, heart–shaped inclusion inside. Niamh thought it would make a perfect anniversary gift.
Unfortunately, the supplier’s price was sky–high. Niamh didn’t have the funds to pay in full, so she put down a deposit and asked them to hold the gem for three days.
That afternoon, Marina arrived at AOD accompanied by Jonathan.
“I want that ruby with the heart–shaped inclusion,” Marina said to the staff.
“I’m sorry, but that stone’s already been reserved,” the attendant replied.
They didn’t reveal who had reserved it, but Marina instantly guessed who it was.
“Jonathan, can’t you help me?” she pleaded, tugging at his sleeve.
“Don’t worry,” Jonathan said, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat before turning to the staff. “The person who reserved that ruby–is her name Niamh?”
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