“You’re still his daughter by blood. Now that you’re back in the country, you can’t just refuse to go,” Queenie said.
“I’m really sorry then, for I have no father,” Nicole said harshly. It was obvious that Queenie was here today because Nicole was the Chief Designer of F&M Apparel. The Andersons simply wanted to bask in her spotlight. There was no way Nicole would let them do that.
Queenie initially wanted to fire back with a snide remark after hearing Nicole’s reply, but she held herself back when she remembered her plan. She let out a sigh. “If you attend the party, my mother will help you to clear your mother’s name of her affair over ten years ago.”
At last, a ripple marred Nicole’s calm expression when she heard that. She lifted her head to stare at Queenie, fury evident in her bright eyes. Her mother was clearly innocent, but she was forced to bear the accusation of being an adulterer due to Lydia’s lies.
“Your condition?” Nicole retorted. She didn’t trust Queenie to tell her this out of pure kindness.
Seeing how Nicole finally took interest in her invitation, Queenie’s expression turned into a pleased one. “Firstly, come to Dad’s birthday party. Secondly, you will not meet with Colton anymore after the collaboration is over!”
Nicole looked down as she mulled things over. When she looked up again, her eyes were back to their calm appearance. “Deal,” she said softly.
A meaningful smile appeared on Queenie’s face after she heard Nicole’s reply. She haughtily raised her head before swinging open the door and strutting out like a peacock with its tail feathers spread out.
Nicole watched Queenie’s disappearing figure with narrowed eyes. She didn’t believe that Queenie was here for a reason as simple as asking her to attend a birthday party. Although Queenie’s words weren’t without substance, she was sure that things were more complicated than met the eye, considering what she knew about Lydia and Queenie.
However, keeping an eye open for danger wasn’t a bad thing to do.
By the time she finished her current workload, it was time to clock out. Nicole stretched. Just as she was about to go home and see Hayden, Scarlett came in.
“Miss Nicole.” Scarlett took a step forward, a document in her hands.
Nicole noticed her hesitation when she came closer. She chuckled at the sight. “Is something the matter?” she asked.
Scarlett placed the document on the desk and pressed her lips together. “There’s a contract here, Miss Nicole. It was supposed to be signed by Miss Schmidt, but she isn’t in right now. They want the contract signed as soon as possible, and they said that since you’re the current head of the Design Department, your signature will do.”
Upon hearing that, Nicole’s gaze fell upon the document on the desk. She picked it up and leafed through it to realize that it was a contract for a custom order, and it was an expensive one at that. Typically, a custom order would be signed by the designer themselves, and the company would then receive a commission from the agreed amount. If Nicole signed this contract, wouldn’t that mean she was snatching Joanna’s client away?
Back when she worked at F&M Apparel, Nicole had run into a similar incident. Stealing other designers’ clients was not something to be proud of in the industry.
Nicole let out a low chuckle. After she flipped the document back to the first page, she stood up. “I can’t sign this. I’m not exactly a designer under Gardner Corporation. I’m under F&M. I’ll only be able to sign it if this contract is meant for F&M.” After she said that, she noticed the awkward look on Scarlett’s face. She paused for a second before continuing, “If she still insists on my signature, get her to come to me.”
Once Scarlett had gotten an answer, she let out a breath before dashing out of the office at last.
Nicole watched her go with a somewhat dull gaze. She had only been here for a few days, but the employees were already planning to set her up. It seemed that she wasn’t thought of highly here at Gardner Corporation with her status.
…
Night fell. The gigantic crystal chandelier in the Gardner Residence shone in the living room, making it still seem like it was day. There were two people conversing with each other on the couch, and next to them was Colton, who silently stared at his phone, a stark contrast between him and the pair next to him.
“Mom, look at Colton. He keeps staring at his phone. Doesn’t he know he should entertain his sister?” a girl whined as she held Anna’s hand.
Colton clearly heard her, for he put away his phone. When he looked over at the girl, he had an adoring smile ready. “You were talking all this time. I couldn’t get a word in.”
“I managed to graduate at last. Of course I have plenty to talk about,” Wendy declared, pouting.
Wendy Gardner was the princess of the Gardner Family. She was eighteen this year, which made her younger than Colton by eight years. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, and was adored by the whole family. Although she had a slight temper, she never developed into a spoiled girl as many girls from wealthy families tended to.
Anna couldn’t stop herself from chuckling as the siblings bantered. Suddenly, a thought seemingly hit her. “By the way, Wendy, don’t you still have your graduation ceremony? I remember that it’s next week. That’s quite soon. Why are you back?” she asked.
At the mention of her graduation ceremony, Wendy finally decided to announce the reason for her return. She gathered herself and looked straight at Colton. “Colton, could you get Miss Joanna to design a dress for me? I want to wear it for my graduation,” she said sweetly.
Joanna wasn’t just the director of Gardner Corporation’s Design Department; she was also rather famous internationally. Wendy wanted to be the brightest star at her graduation ceremony!
Colton typically spoiled his sister. Whatever she wanted, he would provide it, and besides, this request wasn’t an outrageous one. However, Joanna was currently out of the country.
“She’s overseas right now. It’ll be at least a week before she gets back. If it’s meant to be worn at your graduation, then the dress probably won’t be finished in time,” Colton replied honestly.
Wendy immediately pulled a long face, her pretty features distorting. She went over and tugged on Colton’s arm as she pretended to be angry. “What should I do, then? I came back specifically to ask Miss Joanna to design my dress.”
Colton regarded the family princess and laughed, somewhat exasperated. After a moment of thought, he spoke. “Why don’t you just pick a dress for now? I’ll get Joanna to make you a dress for your 18th birthday then, all right?”
Wendy’s birthday was in the middle of March, which was a month later. That would be enough time for Joanna to come back and get that dress ready.
“No, that won’t do!” Wendy shook her head, displeased. Girls loved looking pretty, especially during events such as their graduation ceremony. How could Wendy settle for less?
Seeing her daughter’s disgruntled look, Anna suddenly remembered something. She lifted her head to look at Colton. “I recall that Gardner Corporation has been working with Lisa from F&M Apparel recently, no? Why don’t you get Lisa to help instead, Colton?”
At the mention of Lisa, Wendy’s beautiful eyes gleamed. Her initially disgruntled expression turned bright, and she tugged on Colton’s arm again. “Really? Is Lisa working for our company?” As she spoke, she unwittingly pitched her voice higher. It was Lisa, after all, the Chief Designer of F&M Apparel. She was a designer that one wouldn’t necessarily be able to hire just because one had the money to throw at her. If she could wear one of Lisa’s designs, she would be able to turn countless heads!
“Lisa’s working at the company, but she’s only there because of a collaboration with Gardner Corporation. Your request is considered a private matter…” Colton said slowly as he looked at Anna.
Without waiting for Anna to speak, Wendy pulled on Colton’s arm again. “Colton, just help me ask her, okay? If she can’t fulfill the request, I won’t make you force the question again. How about that?”
Colton looked at those hopeful eyes. He had spoiled this girl since she was young. Thus, he really couldn’t quite refuse her.
“I can promise to ask her, but I cannot guarantee that Lisa will help you,” Colton replied helplessly.
Nicole had asked him for help regarding Joseph. He initially thought of leaving this matter aside for a potential favor in the future, but he hadn’t expected that he would use that favor so soon because of Wendy.
…
The next morning, Queenie brought Lydia to the Gardner Residence after Colton had left the house.
Anna was currently talking with Wendy about some idle domestic chatter when she heard Queenie’s voice in the distance. She frowned slightly, displeasure creeping onto her face. In truth, she did not like Queenie at all, and she couldn’t understand why Colton would keep this woman by his side. Women with Queenie’s background were a dime a dozen in Goldwick.
“Mrs. Gardner,” Queenie greeted as she pulled her mother forward with her. When she caught sight of Wendy, who had recently returned home, she quickly put on a smile. “Oh, you’re back, Wendy. Why didn’t you say so earlier? I could have come to see you.”
Wendy was indifferent toward Queenie. Queenie was the woman that her brother picked as his fiancée, her potential future sister-in-law, after all, so she simply nodded politely. “I only came back recently, so I haven’t told anyone.”
“Anna, we’re here today to invite you to Queenie’s father’s birthday celebration. If you have the time, we’d like you to come,” Lydia demurely stated their reason for being here.
Anna had always detested the Andersons. After all, there was a wide gap between the Gardners and the Andersons. Lydia’s reason for inviting her today was because she wanted the entire industry to laugh at Nicole!
“Don’t address me as if we’re on close terms. We’re not friends,” Anna stated coldly. She looked at Queenie through the corners of her eyes, her manicured brows knitting together. I have no idea what Colton saw in her. She’s neither capable, nor does she have an air of grace around her. Women like her are aplenty on the streets.
Lydia and Queenie nearly couldn’t rein in their expressions upon hearing Anna’s words, but Lydia pressed on. “Nicole is back too. According to Queenie, she is currently working with Gardner Corporation. That’s why I came to invite you too.”
“Nicole?” Anna asked in mild surprise when she heard that particular name. She had heard about what had happened at F&M Apparel’s annual dinner, and she remembered that Nicole was Lisa. Upon hearing Nicole’s name, Anna’s expression softened slightly. Before she married her husband, Anna had been a somewhat famous fashion designer. However, she gave up her career as a designer because she had a new family. When she finally had time on her hands, she had already lost the drive she once had during her youth.
Colton knew that deep down, she regretted not being able to continue pursuing her dream as a designer, so after Gardner Corporation had stabilized its footing, he insisted on making the corporation blaze a path in the fashion industry.
“That’s right. Lisa of F&M Apparel, and also the eldest daughter of the Anderson Family,” Lydia hastily added.
“Mom, it’s Lisa. Let’s go to the party,” Wendy said, hastily pulling on her mother’s hand when she heard Lisa’s name. If Lisa wouldn’t agree to her brother’s request, she would ask her personally instead. If Wendy could get Lisa to design her gown, she would be the talk of the town when she wore it to her graduation.
Anna knew what her daughter was thinking of course, and she gave an exasperated laugh. She looked at the two women in front of her and nodded. “All right,” she answered.
Seeing that Anna agreed at last, the smile on Lydia’s face turned even more simpering. A brief exchange later, she left with Queenie.
After working the entire day, Nicole seemed distracted as she sat inside her office. Lydia, clear her mother’s name? That was such a laughable thought. She didn’t believe it one bit.
But now that Queenie had mentioned that, Nicole wanted to see just what sinister motive they were hiding!
…
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