Chapter 33 Summoned to Lily’s Office
“Tomorrow night at T Bar, Manager Jack and I are treating everyone to karaoke. Everyone must attend!” Lily’s gentle voice drew cheers from the group.
Emma joined in with a clap.
After her speech, the big boss stretched his neck and stood up.
The three walked together into the elevator to go upstairs.
Sarah, who had been an intern, was now assigned as Lily’s assistant and followed along.
Having a department manager with an assistant sparked all sorts of rumors in the design department.
Soon, whispers spread that Lily and Liam were exes. Some claimed they had reconciled. Others said that Liam had transferred her from the branch office to headquarters out of love. Still others insisted that Lily was only after money and had broken up with him after he was injured. Now that Liam had achieved success, she had returned.
“Is Mr. Hayes looking for love?” Iris whispered, glancing furtively toward the manager’s office.
Emma didn’t respond.
Is he rejecting me because of Lily?
“Hey, say something!” Iris watched her in silence, sensing that something was off.
“I was just thinking… since the boss took my seat, maybe I should take this pink cushion home as a decoration.” Emma forced a smile.
Iris burst out laughing.
Emma glanced helplessly at the “Honey” contact in her phone—still no message.
He saw the group chat. Is he upset?
She messaged Ryan: \[What’s the boss been up to lately?\]
Ryan: \[Work.\]
Emma: \[Tell me the truth.\]
Ryan: \[Work, truly. He’s even coming in on the weekend.\]
“Does he really need to work this hard as the boss?” she muttered under her breath.
“He works to keep us employed. Isn’t that just how it is?” Iris said, returning from the break room. “Why are you asking?”
“Trying to seduce the boss,” Emma replied.
Laughter bubbled from their workstations as they raised their coffee cups for a light clink and sipped slowly.
“Ahem…” Ryan’s soft cough echoed behind them.
The two spun their chairs around in fright, noticing Liam and Lily were approaching.
Ryan shot Emma a knowing glance—she was overheard.
None of them spoke, pretending nothing had happened.
Lily had somehow gotten word that Liam wasn’t interested in anyone. In the past fortnight, he hadn’t so much as glanced at Emma; this posed no threat to her, so she looked relieved.
Ryan quickly ushered the two of them into the manager’s office and closed the door.
“The boss heard you say you were going to seduce him,” Iris said.
“I know.” Emma nodded.
“I can feel Lily’s anger. Trust me; the moment Mr. Hayes leaves, you’ll be the first she calls into her office.”
“It can’t be that bad…” Emma smiled bitterly.
Sure enough, the moment Ryan and Liam left, Lily summoned Emma to her office.
“You’re a real fortune-teller, Iris.” Emma exclaimed helplessly.
“Good luck, Emma.” Iris patted her on the shoulder.
⸻
Lily swiveled in her chair, savoring the comfort of the executive office.
“Emma.”
“Manager Lily.”
“Don’t be so formal. Just call me Lily.”
“Alright.”
For the next ten minutes, they talked about trivial matters, which struck Emma as odd.
Why doesn’t she seem bothered at all?
⸻
On Saturday, Emma slept until noon.
By the time she arrived at Hunter’s shop, it was three in the afternoon.
She carefully ironed the finished suit jackets and the two white shirts.
Lifting a sleeve, she traced the collar where a hand-embroidered tulip pattern was stitched.
“You must have put a lot of effort into designing these two suits,” Hunter remarked, examining the garments closely with a coffee cup in hand. “Your talent shouldn’t be confined to being a junior designer at his company.”
“I just want a peaceful life; working as a designer is enough for me.” She chuckled and lowered her gaze slightly.
“Why not join me? I’m getting on in years.” He continued; his meaning was clear—he wanted Emma to take over his studio.
Emma froze.
Is he really handing over such a massive operation to me so easily?
The studio had operated for decades and boasted immense prestige. Monthly profits hovered in the tens of millions every month.
“Did you add some alcohol to the coffee, Grandpa Hunter?” she said jokingly, carefully folding the garment and tucking it into the bag.
Hunter chuckled.
⸻
After having dinner at the shop, Emma changed into a dress of her own design. The V-neck accentuated her collarbone, and the skirt featured a fishtail silhouette with a side slit. A pale gold pearl clasp adorned the slit, simple yet luminous. She wore the diamond necklace that Hunter had given her a few days earlier.
The dress flattered her slender figure and gave her an air of elegance.
At eight o’clock, she slid into her car and headed toward the T Bar.
But as soon as she pulled out, she was rear-ended. The driver behind her was David.
They stood by the roadside while his assistant handled the accident.
“Where are you headed?” David asked, looking as energetic as ever.
“Department dinner,” Emma replied, and pretended to check her watch. “I have to go now. The tow truck is already on its way.”
“Alright.” His lips curved slightly as he said no more.
She grabbed a Chanel-style jacket from the passenger seat, picked up her handbag, and hurriedly slipped into her white high heels.
After nodding to David, she hailed a taxi and left.
“It would cost over a hundred thousand dollars, boss. Just to exchange a few words with her?” his assistant looked astonished.
“It’s not like you’re paying for it,” he chuckled.
⸻
Emma arrived at the T Bar on time.
The music in the private room was deafening, and everyone had already started drinking.
Scanning the room, she found a random seat.
“What’s that?” Ethan appeared out of nowhere, spotting the bag. “Custom-made clothes! Emma, I had no idea you were this wealthy! A single piece costs at least tens of thousands of dollars!”
“It’s just the bag the clothes came in.” She murmured and sipped her cocktail.
She opened the bag, revealing her jacket.
Ethan tried to open it, but she stopped him. “No!”
“Fine!” He held back.
“Emma!” Luke Stone, the finance manager, approached her.