Chapter 129 Chapter 129

Chapter 129 Chapter 129
Greer's POV

Two days had passed since the terrifying break-in at my apartment, and the fear still lingered like a shadow I couldn’t fully shake. Every sudden noise made me flinch. Every stranger on the street caused my heart to race. But I refused to let terror win. I couldn’t hide forever. Lumina Bloom was growing too fast, and I had a new three-storey building that needed my attention. So, despite Calder’s strong suggestion to take more time off, I returned to work.

The morning sun felt warm on my skin as I stood outside my newly acquired flagship store. The beautiful building that had once been just an exciting dream was now mine. Fifteen million dollars invested in my future. I still couldn’t believe it sometimes.

Painters were already hard at work when I arrived. I had hired a professional team and given them very specific instructions. The exterior was being painted a crisp, elegant white that would make the building stand out beautifully in the upscale district. Inside, I wanted soft lemon yellow and gentle pink tones that represented Lumina Bloom perfectly: bright, feminine, hopeful, and full of light.

“Make sure the lemon yellow is soft, not too bright,” I called up to one of the painters on the ladder. “And blend the pink accents near the display areas. I want it to feel warm and inviting the moment customers walk in.”

Cassey stood beside me with a clipboard, looking every bit the professional manager she had become. She had stepped up massively since the trade fair, handling orders, logistics, and now helping oversee this massive new project. I trusted her completely.

“This is coming together so well,” she said, smiling at me. “The colors are going to look amazing with the natural lighting.”

We walked inside together, carefully stepping around drop cloths and paint cans. The ground floor was already showing progress. The walls were transforming into the exact vision I had in my head. Soft lemon yellow on the main walls, with pink feature walls behind where the product displays would eventually stand. It felt fresh, empowering, and full of life.

I had made sure my office on the second floor was completed first. Yesterday, while the rest of the building was still being prepped, I had painters and cleaners focus on both my office and Cassey’s. I wanted us to have proper workspaces immediately.

We climbed the stairs and entered my new office. It looked beautiful. The walls were painted in a calming, elegant off-white with one feature wall in soft pink. I had already furnished it with a sleek white desk, a comfortable cream chair, shelves for product samples, and a small seating area for meetings. A large window overlooked the street, filling the room with natural light. On the desk sat a beautiful vase with fresh flowers, a gift from Calder.

Next door was Cassey’s office. It was slightly smaller but equally well-designed, with the same color scheme and a beautiful manager’s desk I had chosen for her. She deserved this just as much as I did.

Cassey stepped into her office and ran her hand along the desk, eyes shining. “I still can’t believe this is real. My own office. As your manager.”

“You’ve earned it,” I told her sincerely. “More than earned it. Without you, none of this would be happening.”

We spent the next few hours working side by side. While the painters continued throughout the building, Cassey and I focused on packaging orders in a temporary workspace on the ground floor. Hundreds of orders had come in after the trade fair win, and we couldn’t afford to fall behind.

I carefully folded tissue paper around serum bottles, placing them into elegant Lumina Bloom boxes. Cassey handled labeling and adding the handwritten thank-you notes I insisted on including with every order.

“Business is booming,” Cassey said as she sealed another box. “We’ve already sold out of the gentle night repair cream again. We need to increase production.”

I nodded, feeling a spark of pride despite the anxiety still simmering underneath. “We’ll hire more people soon. Once the store is ready, we can expand the team properly.”

Between packaging sessions, I kept checking on the painters. I wanted everything perfect. The interior colors had to feel exactly right, soft lemon yellow bringing brightness and positivity, pink adding warmth and femininity. The white exterior would make the building look clean, modern, and approachable. This store wasn’t just a retail space. It was going to be the heart of Lumina Bloom.

By midday, Calder sent lunch for both of us — healthy salads and fresh juices delivered straight to the building. His thoughtfulness made me smile. Even though he was busy handling his own affairs and the investigation into the break-in, he still made sure I was taken care of.

As we ate, Cassey looked at me seriously. “How are you holding up? Really?”

I took a deep breath. “I’m scared. Every time I close my eyes, I see those men in my apartment. But I can’t stop living. This store… this brand… It's my future. I have to keep moving forward.”

“You’re incredibly strong,” she said softly. “And you’re not alone. I’m here. Calder’s here. We’ll get through this.”

Her words comforted me. We finished lunch and returned to work. I spent the afternoon directing the painters on the second floor, making sure the transition between colors was seamless. I wanted the consultation rooms to feel like safe, beautiful spaces where women could truly connect with the brand.

By late afternoon, the exterior was nearly complete — bright white and stunning under the sunlight. Inside, the lemon and pink combination was starting to look even better than I had imagined. I stood in the middle of the ground floor, imagining shelves filled with products, customers browsing happily, the soft lighting creating a warm atmosphere.

This building represented hope. Resilience. Everything I had fought for.

Cassey came to stand beside me. “It’s going to be perfect, Greer.”

“I know,” I whispered. “It has to be.”

As the painters began packing up for the day, I felt a strange mixture of exhaustion and determination. The assassination attempt had shaken me deeply, but being here, actively building something meaningful, gave me strength. I wouldn’t let fear take away my dreams.

Later that evening, as Cassey and I locked up the building, I took one last look at my new flagship store. The white exterior glowed softly in the fading light. Inside, hints of lemon yellow and pink promised beauty and growth.