Chapter 344
Niamh was noticeably thinner than before she’d gone to Blackspire
She wore no makeup, yet her beauty was strikingly effortless
Preston Winslow couldn’t help but think she must have been through halt past few days.
Even he had felt suffocated just reading the torrent of online abuse hurled
Regret and self–loathing gnawed at him.
He hadn’t been able to help her at all.
This five hundred thousand was his way of trying, however feebly to make her
“I’m not trying to make things difficult for you…” Preston muttered under his breath
He could more or less guess what was on Niamh’s mind.
She wouldn’t take his money, and Preston suspected it had something to do with Jonathan.
Every time Jonathan’s name came up, Niamh wore the same guarded expression she had now.
Preston’s brow furrowed before he realized it. In the past, whenever he saw Niamh losing sleep over Jonathan, pining for him, he’d secretly looked down on her–thought she was desperate, had no self–respect.
But now…
Now, any hint that Niamh’s thoughts might be tangled up with Jonathan left Preston deeply irritated.
They’re divorced. Why should she care about him anymore?
He almost said it, but the words caught in his throat.
“So… what are you going to do now?”
“I’ll just find a job, I guess!” Niamh glanced back with a wry smile.
It was clearly a forced smile, but Preston found himself transfixed by it.
In the end, they agreed–if she ever truly needed that five hundred thousand, shed come to him for it, no questions asked.
Only then did Preston reluctantly take the bank card back.
Of course, Niamh would rather strike out on her own than take a regular job.
If Preston had genuinely wanted to invest in her talent as a designer, she might have accepted his offer. But, unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.
Getting a job these days was tough–especially in jewelry design.
It was a small industry, and Niamh was notorious.
Bad publicity was still publicity, but most companies wouldn’t touch her.
Her reputation was in tatters: rumors of a scandalous personal life, powerful business ties abruptly cut, and then Susy’s accusation that she’d passed off fake jewelry as real.
With all those strikes against her, the odds of landing a designer job were slim to
none.
Peter had reached out, but given her current reputation, working at FY would only tarnish his own. She’d had to turn him down.
Grand Riverview Hotel.
Niamh wore a server’s uniform, weaving through the crowd with a tray, pouring drinks and clearing plates.
She was waiting tables now.
Dreaming of making her fortune by winning a prize at the winter racing season was pure fantasy–especially since she didn’t even own a car at the moment.
She could borrow Preston’s rebuilt car for the races, but for now, she needed to get by–just a month of odd jobs to make ends meet.
The last time she’d been at the Grand Riverview, it had been as a pianist.
The lobby manager had wanted her to stay on as the house musician, but Niamh had chosen to work as a server instead.
She could play the organ, but not the grand piano.
Now, balancing two glasses of red wine, she caught a glimpse out of the corner of her eye–two women stepped through the revolving doors.
Both were dressed in haute couture, dripping with glamour and old money.
Niamh couldn’t help but think she’d chosen the wrong place to work.
20:27
Chapter 344
“No surprise Neovista Realty could swing this–buying out the swankiest hotel in Aldenville.”
“Oh, please! Ms. Thornton, once you marry Mr. Thomas, you’ll be the lady of The Thomas Group. You’ll be the one calling the shots, not us at Neovista!”
Marina and Susy entered the glittering lobby of the Grand Riverview, laughing and chatting as if the world belonged to them.
