This was a private club.
Niamh took a moment to smooth her hair and adjust her suit, nerves fluttering in her stomach. She’d changed into a sleek black business outfit–she looked a bit like a college grad heading into her first interview, and truthfully, she felt just as
anxious.
Clubs made her uneasy, and with good reason. The last time she’d been in one, she’d crossed paths with Daniel, which had led to no end of trouble.
But today, Niamh was meeting with an angel investor.
She’d been dreaming of leaving The Thomas Group for ages, though she never once considered going back to FY. She wanted to start her own jewelry design
studio, to build her own brand from scratch.
She trusted her skills as a designer–she had some experience under her belt–but running a business was a whole new world. Money? She had a bit squirreled away, but building a luxury jewelry label was a long game, and her savings were barely a drop in the ocean. And on top of everything else, her medical bills were still looming over her.
Lana had added her to a group chat for angel investors, and Niamh had reached out to a few promising contacts. None of them had seemed particularly interested in her or her project.
She knew how tough it was to get anything off the ground, and she’d braced herself for disappointment.
But, for once, luck was on her side.
Briefcase in hand, Niamh made her way down the carpeted
investor had specified.
way to the suite the
Azure Dream Bay was nothing like The Gatsby Club. For all its status as a “private club,” it was all sharp lines and business formality inside–no hint of entertainment or excess, just a low hum of serious conversations. There weren’t any drunken men leering at women in the corridors; no one like Daniel in sight.
Niamh felt herself relax, just a little.
She’d originally suggested meeting at a restaurant, but the investor had brought up concerns about keeping her proposal confidential, so here they were.
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Chapter 133
She knocked, stepped inside, and found the investor already waiting for her.
His name was Marcus Lawson, and he wasn’t in Lana’s group chat–he’d reached out to her directly. Niamh wasn’t naïve enough to believe in fairy–tale luck, so she’d been cautious. But Marcus had surprised her–he actually knew the industry.
He’d invested in several up–and–coming designers before, and he clearly understood the world of luxury goods. He seemed genuinely interested in helping young entrepreneurs make their mark.
They talked for nearly five hours. Marcus was impressed with her vision and her business plan, but said he’d need time to consider how much he wanted to invest.
They walked out of Azure Dream Bay together. Marcus offered her a ride home, but Niamh politely declined.
She took a cab back to her apartment, while Marcus got into his car and headed for
the heart of Aldenville’s business district.
Even at night, the CBD was a forest of gleaming steel and glass, all towering buildings and dazzling lights–a monument to ambition and wealth.
Standing tallest among them was the 120–story Neville Corporation building.
Marcus swiped in and took the elevator up to the executive office.
“Mr. Neville, I took care of everything you asked,” he reported.
Julian stood at the window, back straight, gazing out over the city’s glittering skyline.
“She didn’t suspect anything?” Julian asked quietly.
showed Miss Rivers
Marcus paused, considering. “I don’t think so. I played it straight. Neville Corporation does own a venture capital firm, and everythi was legitimate. There’s no way she’d guess I was sent by you.”
“Good,” Julian murmured, though his expression remained troubled.
Niamh hadn’t suspected he was the one helping her from behind the scenes. Maybe it was because Marcus had played his part so well–or maybe, Julian thought
bitterly, she’d simply forgotten about him altogether.
Julian let out a weary sigh.
“Mr. Neville?” Marcus asked, concerned.
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Chapter 134
Julian turned to face Marcus.
