novelxo Chapter 165
Bridget clutched the flash drive in her hand, feeling smug. After all, she had achieved her goal, and the details hardly mattered anymore.
"Next time, be more careful, will you? I pulled strings to get you in here, and yet you're doing worse than Christine. At least she had colleagues speaking up for her, snagged a sweet deal. Look at you..." Freya mumbled, "Sorry," her head bowed in submission.
Bridget barely spared her a glance, brushing past and striding into the office without another word.
Moments later, Freya slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes brimming with venomous daggers. She turned sharply and nearly collided with Christine.
Christine said nothing, just brushed past. But then, she stopped, turned back, and flashed Freya a smile.
A sudden tightness gripped Freya's chest. By the time she looked again, Christine was long gone.
Was it just her imagination?
...
An hour later, in the conference room, Bailey and Eloise exchanged a few pleasantries before taking their seats.
"Let's get started. I have another engagement soon."
"Sure," Eloise replied, her attention shifting to Christine, who was poised to lead off.
Christine stood, presenting her design concept. "My theme is 'Rising from the Ashes.' I've incorporated gemstones representative of the fire element in an inverse setting to add depth..." Fire?
Sylvia gasped, her pen slipping from her grasp and rolling off the table.
She stared at Christine's design, her thoughts spiraling back to their breakfast conversation at Camellia Manor. Christine had poured her milk, urging her to eat up.
Then she asked, "Sylvia, you're our MVP. Since Bailey chose you as the lead designer, what's your plan?"
"Rising from the ashes. I felt Bailey, watching those ashes, was actually quite thrilled. Someone of her status has seen all kinds of jewels - she'll buy what truly speaks to her." Because Bailey and Eloise had personally endorsed her, Sylvia hadn't thought much of it at the time. She had shared her ideas freely.
But now...
Snapping back to reality, Sylvia realized Christine was concluding her presentation.
"I believe Bailey's life should be about rising from the ashes, seeking joy and liberation."
Her words clearly struck a chord with Bailey, who watched Christine intently as if seeing her in a new light.
Bailey smiled. "Ms. Eloise, you have a wealth of talent here."
Eloise nodded in agreement, her smile widening as she looked from Christine to Bridget.
"Bridget, you're up."
"Right."
Bridget stood, her gaze flicking to Christine with a venomous glare.
She had thought Christine was nothing more than a grunt, yet here she was, playing a cunning game.
No matter.
First, she'd deal with Sylvia, then Christine.
The thought of Sylvia brought a triumphant smirk to Bridget's lips.
Just a minute before entering the office, she saw Sylvia struggling over a stained draft.
Trash would always be trash, no matter how much you polish it.
Confidently, Bridget pulled out her flash drive, looking at Sylvia's pale face. "Good thing I prepared a digital version."
The screen displayed her design. Deliberately, she had chosen camellias as her inspiration for a necklace.
As she concluded, she turned to
ye
Bailey with a light laugh. "After braving countless challenges, letting go is when you truly grasp. Right, Bailey?"
A jab at Bailey for the awkwardness at her manor.
This necklace, mocking Bailey, would have to be worn by her regardless of how distasteful - because she was Rupert's fiancée!
Yet Bailey's expression remained
unchanged, her eyes even twinkling
with amusement. "Indeed, Ms. Simpson, you're quite right. I look forward to your 'braving countless challenges'."
Bridget tilted her head slightly. "I knew you would appreciate it."
Eloise, catching the tension, pressed her lips together. "Bridget, take a seat, please. Sylvia, you're up."
But Sylvia didn't move.
Bridget feigned concern. "Sylvia,
what's wrong? Haven't finished your
design yet? That would be such a
ove
disappointment to Bailey's expectations of you."