Chapter 37
Nina was personally overseeing the office floor renovation for me.
When I walked in from the fire escape stairwell, my eyes lit up.
She had actually opened up the third and fourth floors, instantly making the space feel bright and open. The two-floor office area was gradually taking shape, and she was standing at the entrance talking to the construction crew about something.
"No wonder everyone says Lumaria is good at infrastructure development. Even a design and renovation project moves this fast?" Oscar couldn't help but exclaim. "The designer you found is definitely worth seven figures."
Nina soon spotted us. After going over the blueprints with the contact person one more time, she quickly walked over to us with a smile. "Emily, what do you think? This is basically the 3D design I showed you, right? You should have come two days later - you'd see it even more clearly."
I reached out and hooked my arm through hers. "I knew you might know a thing or two, but I didn't know you were this good? Aren't you a fashion designer?"
Since Nina knew that Oscar was aware of my identity, she spoke more freely. "Don't you know I switched to fashion design from architecture?"
Oscar walked beside us with a smile. "Nina, do you take on estate design projects? I'm not asking you to oversee it like this - I know you don't have the time. I just need the blueprints. Name your price."
Nina had her usual proud look, chin lifted high. "I really don't have the time, and I don't have time to do the blueprints either. Mr. Lopez should find a more professional designer."
Oscar looked at me with a hurt expression. "Emily, the designer you found is kind of cold."
I gave Nina a knowing smile and half-joked, "Maybe if you changed your name, she'd say yes."
If nothing else, Nina had clearly developed a physical aversion to members of the Lopez family. Even the same last name wouldn't work, let alone Oscar's current identity.
Oscar sighed. "Alright, I guess I'm just catching strays here. Looking at the progress, you can move in within a month. As for hiring, I have a professional HR person. If you need help, I can introduce you."
This was actually something I needed. I'd brought back core team members and professional technical staff from Solstice, but it wasn't enough for my needs. "Send me her contact info later. Looking at this progress, we should start recruiting at the same time, though the gap isn't huge."
I'd already worked out terms with some other people. Once things started here, they'd come right over - experienced, easy to work with, and more cost-effective.
I looked over all the work in progress. Nina's introduction was even more detailed, with specific notes on when each detail would be completed. I nodded with satisfaction. "I knew I could count on you. Don't keep watching over it constantly - don't let it interfere with your own work."
Nina smiled brightly, her face beaming. "My company has people handling things now. I can go days or even weeks without going in - online work is convenient. Oh, right, I told you before about the Crownlight Reception that Sophia ordered a gown from our company to attend. They sent me an invitation too. It's all society ladies and their daughters. Want me to take you along for fun?"
The so-called Crownlight Reception was a party that a former big shot threw for his daughter at Silver Haven Hotel, inviting family members of business elites - women only. Many were women bringing their daughters.
That time, Sophia and I were both brought along for the first time. Watching Sophia follow behind Isabella, I looked down at my old clothes that didn't match the occasion at all. I could only step back bit by bit, hiding in a corner, hoping I could become invisible.
Sophia would never give me that chance. She stood in front of me with a circle of girls in fancy little dresses, chin held high, her smile sweet as honey. "Let me introduce you - this is my sister, Emma. This is her first time coming with my mom, so she might not know everyone."
She looked at me with a bright smile. "Emma, don't be shy. There are some desserts over there. You've never had them before - we'll take you over."
Voices came through, quiet but clear. "Since when does Sophia have a sister? Dressed so tacky, and she actually came to the Crownlight Reception?"
"Could she be an illegitimate daughter?"
"Maybe she was taken in."
I stepped back half a step. My faded sneakers stood out even more among the circle of pretty high heels. I could only smile awkwardly and refuse Sophia's awkward kindness. "No need, you guys go eat. I want to be alone for a bit."
"Emma, I promised Mom I'd help you fit in with everyone. You're being too antisocial."
"Sophia, since when do you have such a tacky sister? Look at that dress she's wearing - did she pick it up somewhere? Is she your real sister?"
"Some people just can't fit into certain circles. You can't force it."
"Sometimes tackiness is contagious. Let's go, let's go. Hanging around people like this brings down our whole vibe."
One cutting remark after another came at me, making fourteen-year-old me, with my pride at its peak, want to find a hole to crawl into.
Sophia walked up to me, leaning close affectionately, gripping my hand hard. "Emma, don't go back and say I left you behind. Come on, come with us."
Whether it was kindness or hidden malice, my instincts never lied. My face flushed red, and I used all my strength to shake off her hand. The next second, she fell to the ground, looking so pitiful that even I was confused for a moment about whether I'd actually done something wrong.
"Emma, I..." She lifted her scraped elbow with blood seeping through, tears welling in her eyes. Without saying a word, she'd nailed me to the pillar of shame.
"Sophia, are you okay? Get up. How can you be so mean? She was trying to be nice to you, and you pushed her?"
"You dress tacky, and you're this nasty, too. How did someone like you even get invited here? What bad luck."
"Are you guys done? What kind of skill is it for a bunch of you to pick on one person?" A little girl in a white evening dress, wearing three-inch heels, walked out from behind the crowd with a proud expression. She glanced at them dismissively and walked straight up to me.
"Ms. Davis? It's my fault. I don't blame my sister." Sophia reacted quickly, unnaturally hiding her injured arm.
She just glanced at her coolly. "Stop putting on an act in front of me. Your two-faced routine doesn't work on me. Get lost."
Her hand gently took mine. "Come with me."
She led me to an empty room. With just a pair of scissors, she cut my outdated long dress into an irregular knee-length hem, then tied and cinched the loose top at my waist.
She pushed me in front of a mirror, her smile bright as sunshine. "See? You're beautiful. Why keep your head down? Don't worry about what others think. Hold your head up - you look best that way."
Nothing fancy, just regular clothes, but with my hair pulled back high, I instantly went from low-key to knockout - fierce and full of attitude.
I smiled gratefully, and the me in the mirror was also full of youthful energy.
"My name is Nina. Do you have a phone? Let's exchange contact info. Maybe we can become good friends."
Just like that, sunlight streamed through the big glass window, pouring warmth and brightness all over us.
Nina had many friends, and I was just an unremarkable one among them. But every year at the Crownlight Reception, I would be specially invited. Later, when her father was reported and investigated, and eventually resigned and retired, her good friends left one by one, but I was always there.
The Crownlight Reception still happened every year, but the host was no longer her father.
"So Emily? Are we going? The Crownlight Reception now is different from before." Nina's question, arm linked with mine, interrupted my thoughts.
"Yes, let's go. I want to see how it's different now." I nodded and agreed.