Chapter 17 Indiscretion
"Ms. Johnson, you seem to have issues with my design? Perhaps you'd like to explain what's inappropriate about it in front of Mrs. Scott?" Emily's voice remained calm and professional.
"I..." Clara faltered. She didn't understand any of the designs; she was just looking for a reason to criticize.
Layla cut her off, her tone tinged with annoyance. "Emily's design is flawless. I trust her professional judgment. Ms. Johnson, I suspect your problem is with Emily herself, not her work."
Clara quickly shook her head in denial.
Layla didn't bother giving Clara any dignity, retorting directly, "I'm well aware of your family drama. You're just the Johnson family's illegitimate daughter—you have no right to criticize in my presence."
Emily looked surprised. Had Layla discovered her identity?
Noticing Emily's reaction, Layla explained, "I initially only knew you as Jane. It was when she called you 'Emily' that I realized you're Scarlett's daughter, Emily. That's correct, isn't it?"
Emily nodded. "Yes, that's right."
"Good, very good. Scarlett would be proud to see you've inherited her talent. This gown—I'm only working with you on it. If someone continues interfering, I'll have to take my business elsewhere."
The weight of those words was significant. The resources Layla commanded were exactly what Mirage Fashion desperately needed.
And the "someone" she referred to could only be Clara.
Clara gritted her teeth, staring at Emily's composed face, hatred nearly boiling over. But she didn't dare offend Layla. She could only suppress her rage and force a smile. "Mrs. Scott, if you have such confidence in Emily, I won't intrude any further."
With that, she turned and fled, trailing resentment in her wake.
Watching Clara's retreating figure, Layla snorted. "Don't mind her. With me around, no one in the fashion design circle will dare bully you."
Emily felt warmth spreading through her chest as she looked at Layla. "Thank you, Mrs. Scott."
Layla patted her hand. "No need for thanks. Just do your best and live up to Scarlett's expectations."
After leaving Mirage Fashion, Clara applied the finishing touches to her makeup in the car's rearview mirror.
She'd made herself look like the very picture of a victim—red-rimmed eyes, pale lips, the complete image of someone pushed to her limits. After practicing her sniffles three times, she finally strode into the Windsor Group building on her stiletto heels.
Charles had just finished a video conference and was rubbing his temples while listening to his assistant's report when he glimpsed the fragile figure at the doorway. His brow immediately furrowed.
Clara again.
She'd been coming to complain about Emily every other day lately, and he was growing tired of her repetitive grievances.
Clara continued her endless chatter while Charles's mind wandered. It was only when he heard the following statement that his attention snapped back.
"People are talking about how many men she has around her. Male clients look at her strangely, too. Charles, don't you think she's... not maintaining proper boundaries? What if someone takes advantage of her? She's just a young woman after all..."
Her words seemed caring, but every word implied that Emily's personal life was promiscuous.
Charles's expression darkened completely.
"Where is she?"
"At... at the Mirage Fashion office..." Clara hadn't expected him to intervene personally, and a flash of panic crossed her eyes.
She only wanted to ruin Emily's reputation and make Charles despise her—she didn't want Charles to actually go see her!
"Charles, don't go..."
Charles ignored Clara's protests and walked straight out, the oppressive atmosphere around him making it hard for anyone to breathe.
He couldn't explain why he was angry. Emily was just an employee at Mirage Fashion. Her personal life was none of his business.
Yet Charles couldn't control the fury building inside him. This anger, this jealousy—he'd never felt anything like it before.
He urgently needed to see her, though he didn't know what he would say when he did.
When Charles arrived at Mirage Fashion and turned into the design department corridor, he saw Emily standing in the reception area, explaining the details of a gown to a man in a business suit.
The man was leaning slightly forward to listen, barely half an arm's length away from her. Emily wore a faint smile, occasionally pointing to details on the design sketch.
It was a side of her Charles had never seen before.
With him, she was always cold and sharp-tongued, but here she was, smiling warmly at a stranger.
Something exploded in Charles's chest—a mixture of rage and an inexplicable jealousy shot to his head. So the rumors were true—she welcomed any man who came her way.
"What do you think you're doing?" His cold voice crashed into the room.
Emily had been explaining a crucial aspect of the gown's cut. She turned to see Charles's gloomy face and immediately frowned. "Mr. Windsor? What brings you here?"
The male client was startled by Charles's presence; just as he was about to greet Charles, he was held in place by Charles's fierce gaze.
"Mr. Windsor, I... I just remembered I have something urgent to attend to. I'll be going now." The man didn't dare offend Charles. He scrambled to grab his briefcase, casting confused glances at Emily as he passed her.
Wasn't Clara supposed to be Charles's official girlfriend? Why was he so angry with this chief designer?
Could it be an affair?
When only the two of them remained in the reception area, Emily's expression darkened. "Charles, have you lost your mind? That was an important client!"
"Important client?" Charles sneered, advancing until their faces were inches apart. "Or is he your latest conquest? Emily, are you that desperate for men?"
Emily stepped back in shock, then fury ignited within her. "What's wrong with you? I was discussing a custom design with a client!"
"Does discussing designs require standing so close? Does it require smiling so happily? Clara mentioned your indecent personal life, and I didn't believe her. Now I see she understands you perfectly."
Emily finally understood—Clara had been spreading rumors behind her back again.
But what did her personal life have to do with Charles?
She wasn't his girlfriend. Why was he so angry?
Looking at Charles's face twisted with anger, she could only feel helpless. "Mr. Windsor, you're certainly overstepping. Who I associate with and whether my personal life is 'decent' or not—what does any of that have to do with you?"
Yes, what did it have to do with him?
But for some reason, he felt an inexplicable irritation burning inside him.
Charles gave her a cold look. "I'm an investor in Mirage Fashion, so I have every right to be concerned! I'm warning you—on my territory, control yourself! Don't soil Mirage Fashion's reputation!"
Emily couldn't help but laugh bitterly at his words. "Mr. Windsor, I'm not the one who soiled Mirage Fashion. Perhaps you should focus on managing your girlfriend instead. Tell her to spend her time improving her business skills rather than running around spreading rumors."
Charles's eyes darkened. He'd just witnessed her flirting with another man, yet she had the audacity to claim Clara was spreading rumors.
It seemed Clara was right—Emily was a habitual liar.
Looking at Emily's defiant expression, Charles had only one thought—this woman needed to be taught a lesson.