The phone barely rang twice before Alex answered with a soothing voice. “Sadie?”
“Can you do me a favor, Alex?” Sadie’s voice wavered ever so slightly, almost unnoticeable.
Alex’s response was immediate and grave. “What do you need? Just tell me.”
Sadie paused, her breath catching. “If Noah ever asks about Averi, could you… could you please say Averi is your son?” Her plea hung in the air, heavy with unspoken fears as she awaited his reply..
“You… You met with him?” Alex asked. “Did he give you a hard time?”
Sadie closed her eyes for a couple of seconds before taking a deep breath. “Yes, we met. I’m fine, I really am. You have nothing to worry about.”
“That’s good, then.” Alex’s relief was evident in his voice. “You have nothing to worry about, either. If he asks, I’ll say that Averi is mine. I’ll protect you two.”
Warmth surged in Sadie’s chest. “Thank you, Alex,” she choked out.
A beat of silence passed before Alex spoke again. This time, his tone was laced with hesitation. “So… How is the preparation of your studio coming along?”
“It’s going well. I found the perfect spot and managed to secure the lease. The company registration is almost done, too.”
“That’s great. I’ll be there when you open shop.”
“Sure thing.” Sadie smiled. “I’ll make sure to reserve a seat for you in the VIP section.”
They chatted a bit more about trivial matters.
“I’ll hang up now. Get some rest,” Alex said, though it was quite clear he didn’t want to end the conversation just yet.
“You, too. Good night.” In the end, it was Sadie who ended the call.
She had barely put her phone down when a knock came at the door. “Mommy! When are you taking me out to play?” a cute, whiny voice called out from the other side.
Sadie got up and opened the door. Averi stood there, his feet bare, his eyes bright, and his hands perched on his hips.
“It’s so boring here,” the little boy complained. “Let’s go out and play!”
Sadie crouched down to meet Averi’s innocent eyes. She knew she would be busy soon, so she might as well spend more time with her son while she still could.
“All right,” Sadie said as she patted Averi’s head. “I’ll take you out to play.”
Just as she had promised, Sadie took Laura and Averi to a nearby mall the next day. It was a rare family outing, and the three of them made the most of it. It took a few more days before Sadie’s studio was fully set up. All that remained was finding the right staff.
She posted a job advertisement online, and it wasn’t long before calls came in. Sadie wasted no time and got the recruitment and hiring process going.
“Alex! What brings you here?” Sadie looked up in surprise when Alex suddenly appeared at the studio’s door.
“I thought I’d drop by to check out your studio. Also…” Alex held up the lunchbox he was carrying. “I brought lunch.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you. Thank you.” Sadie stood from her desk and took the lunchbox with a gentle smile.
“Please, there’s no need to be so formal with me.” Alex seemed to be in high spirits as he looked around. “This place is really nice, very much your style.”
“Yeah,” Sadie replied with a light sigh. “I hope everything goes smoothly.”
It was then that the first applicant arrived. “Hello, Miss Hudson.” A young woman greeted Sadie nervously. “I’m here to interview for the designer position.”
“Yes, please have a seat.” Sadie gestured for her to sit down, then proceeded with the interview.
Soon, other applicants arrived one after another. While waiting for their turn, one of the interviewees kept eyeing Alex.
She eventually leaned close to the person next to her and whispered, “Isn’t that Alex Howe, the CEO of Howe Group? What is he doing here?”
“You’re right. I think it’s him. Maybe he and the owner of this studio…” The other person trailed off, but she didn’t really need to finish her sentence for the implication to come across.
Alex, sharp as he was, immediately noticed the subtle shift in the air. He cleared his throat and nodded at Sadie. “It looks like you’re going to have a busy day. I’ll be taking my leave now.”
“Okay, take care.” Sadie waved and watched him leave the studio. The moment Alex was gone, the whispered discussions among the young women grew more animated.
“I knew it! Those two must be connected in some way. Why else would Mr. Howe make time for such a small studio?” One of the more fashionable of the girls winked at her companion.
“I mean, who knows? Mr. Howe could well be an investor in this small business. Young women these days sure know how to use their charms to get ahead in life!”
Sadie pressed her lips together and took a deep breath. She put down the resume she had been reading and swept a cold glance over the remaining candidates.
“If you’re more interested in my personal life than the actual job offer, then I think I should end the interview here.”
Everyone was visibly shocked by the bite in her tone. They exchanged wary glances, not daring to speak another word.
“I didn’t mean anything, Miss Hudson,” one of the interviewees hurriedly said.
But Sadie held up a hand to stop her. “No need to explain. I’m looking for employees who will dedicate their attention and skills to their work, not vapid office gossip.”
“We understand, Miss Hudson,” the job applicants said.
“Good, then please wait for further notice,” Sadie responded firmly, leaving no room for negotiation.
The applicants left the studio, their spirits low, and the room quickly fell silent.
Sadie massaged her temples, feeling a surge of fatigue wash over her. As she flipped through the remaining resumes, few stood out.
However, one portfolio caught her eye-belonging to an applicant named Glenda Kelly. Her design style was understated yet elegant, marked by a creative flair.
Just then, Glenda knocked and entered the office, her demeanor composed and her gaze clear. “Nice to meet you, Miss Hudson.”
“Hello, Miss Kelly. Please have a seat,” Sadie said, her interest piqued as she began the interview.
Throughout the discussion, Glenda demonstrated professionalism and a profound understanding of design, impressing Sadie further.
Ultimately, Sadie decided to hire only Glenda.
Meanwhile, at a cafe, Kyla listened to a report with a cold smirk. “A studio? Does she really think she can make a comeback? She should keep dreaming!”
A man in a black suit across from her bowed respectfully. “Miss Wade, everything is arranged.”
“Ensure there are no mistakes,” Kyla said, taking a sip of her red wine.
“Absolutely,” the man answered before discreetly leaving.
Unbeknownst to Sadie, Kyla was plotting against her.
The next day, Sadie reviewed the job applications with a furrowed brow, finding it challenging to locate suitable candidates.
“Oh well,” she sighed, rubbing her forehead. “It looks like I’ll have to wait a bit longer.”
At that moment, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in, please.”
The door opened, and a well-dressed young man entered, his confidence evident.
“Hello, Miss Hudson. My name is Byrum Smith, and I’m here to apply for the designer position.”
Sadie looked up, assessing the newcomer who presented himself neatly and efficiently.
“Mr. Smith, please have a seat.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
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