Chapter 174
Back then, Marina was still the manager of the Thomas Jewelry Design Division..
In Quentin’s eyes, Marina was exceptionally talented.
She was also strikingly beautiful–the sort of woman, Quentin thought, that no healthy man could possibly resist: equal parts brains and beauty.
And yet, this same Marina saw Niamh as her rival.
Which made Quentin suspect that Niamh must have some impressive qualities of
her own.
It wasn’t until Niamh finished her sketch that she noticed Quentin standing right
next to her.
“Did you need something?” she asked.
Quentin snapped back to attention, just as he was about to hand her a cup of coffee–only to realize it had gone completely cold.
“Oh, uh… no, not really…”
He took an awkward sip himself, grimacing at the temperature. “You looked so focused on your drawing, I didn’t want to interrupt. This competition’s finall round theme is so abstract. Are you planning to design a robot? But then again, maybe everyone else will have the same idea. And, well, robots aren’t exactly jewelry, ane they?”
Quentin felt he’d played it cool enough–nothing in his words should arouse Namit’s suspicion.
“I’m not designing a robot,” Niamh replied, her smile confident. “I’m creating a pair of robot–inspired earrings. Something with a futuristic edge…”
“Aren’t you worried someone else might do the same thing?”
“Not at all.” Niamh shook her head, her confidence radiating. “These earrings are designed to pair with wireless earbuds–so they’ll really highlight that whole tech–forward, sci–fi vibe.”
For the first time, Quentin realized Niamh might actually be a worthy oponent for
Marina.
“Oh, right–here, for a little brain fuel.”
He handed her a piece of chocolate, just as lunch break rolled around and he
headed out to grab something to eat.
Meanwhile, across town, Marina was still fretting over the finals.
After the last round, she’d noticed that her ideas always seemed to overlap with others–unless she outright copied Niamh.
With the Al theme this time, she knew plenty of designers would think of robots. If her work didn’t stand out, winning would be tough.
She’d already secured a spot at Luminous Divas Fashion Week. Whether or not she took home the top prize here wouldn’t change much for her career.
But she couldn’t stand the thought of Niamh winning.
Especially not in front of Jonathan.
Marina gnawed on her pen, frazzled, only seeing Quentin’s WhatsApp message an hour after he’d sent it.
Last time, during the semifinals, Niamh hadn’t done her sketches in the studio, so Quentin hadn’t been able to sneak a look at her designs.
For a moment, Marina had worried that Quentin’s cover was blown.
But now…
She stared at her phone, the glow of the screen reflecting the sly satisfaction in her eyes.
Sapphire Summit Hall.
To most people, a jewelry design competition was hardly headline news, but within industry circles, it was a major event.
This final round had drawn experts from all over–especially since the designers would be handcrafting their pieces on site. It wasn’t just about creativity anymore; it was a test of skill and technique.
Blueprints had to be submitted to the official website ahead of time, and each designer brought their own materials.
Niamh rolled her suitcase up to the grand entrance, alone and without ar assistant. “Niamh!”
She turned at the sound of her name and spotted Marina.
Marina, too, had come without an assistant.
Chapter 174
But she wasn’t alone.
Jonathan stood beside her, rolling a suitcase of his own.
“By yourself?” Marina called out, with a deliberately exaggerated glance around. “You’re a business owner now–where’s your assistant? Shouldn’t you have someone to help out?”
Niamh could tell exactly what Marina was doing–showing off the fact that Jonathan was there with her.
