Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

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.

stared at Christine's design, her thoughts spiraling back to their breakfast conversation at Camellia Manor. Christine had poured

she asked, "Sylvia, you're our MVP. Since Bailey chose you as the lead designer, what's

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

But now...

to reality, Sylvia realized Christine was concluding her

should be about rising from the ashes,

who watched Christine intently as if

have a

smile widening

"Bridget, you're up."

"Right."

her gaze flicking to Christine

had thought Christine was nothing more than a grunt, yet here she was, playing

No matter.

deal with Sylvia, then

thought of Sylvia brought a triumphant smirk to

entering the office, she saw Sylvia struggling over

trash, no matter how much you

out her flash drive, looking at Sylvia's pale face. "Good thing I prepared a digital

displayed her design. Deliberately, she had chosen camellias as her inspiration

concluded, she

ye

braving countless challenges, letting go