Chapter 127
The CEO's office had never been this lively before. William actually let stylists into his office and turned it into Ava's fitting room.
When Ava saw the dress displayed in his office lounge, her heart felt as sweet as if it had been filled with candy. That jerk usually didn't speak nicely, but he could still do a few things that made people happy.
The two stylists were also amazed by the elegant dress and couldn't help but praise it.
"This fabric, this cut - I'm afraid ordinary designers couldn't make this. It must have cost quite a bit, right?"
The other stylist laughed, "Is Mr. Morgan someone who cares about money? He has more money than he can spend."
"You're right. But to specially have someone make it according to Mrs. Ava Morgan's measurements, and keep it hidden to surprise Mrs. Ava Morgan - there aren't many men like that, are there?"
"Stop talking about it. He's someone else's husband. My own husband has no sense of romance."
The two stylists chatted for a while before snapping back to attention.
"Mrs. Ava Morgan, please try it on now."
Ava nodded.
The dress was carefully taken off the mannequin by the stylist and gently placed on the large bed in the lounge.
After the stylists went out and closed the door, she examined the dress closely. The fabric was soft yet substantial, in the understated luxury style she liked, and the size was just right.
Just as she was about to take off her clothes and put on the dress, she noticed a row of black writing at the waist of this pure white dress that you wouldn't notice unless you looked carefully.
She quickly picked it up and looked closer. It was written in marker pen: 'I am bitch, whore, homewrecker.'
A row of small words written tightly together, right at the seam line.
Ava put down the dress. There was no time now to think about who had maliciously ruined her dress - the launch event was about to start.
She opened the door and hurried out. The most urgent thing now was to find a replacement dress.
Seeing her come out without changing, looking panicked, the stylists didn't know what had happened, and all followed her out.
"Mrs. Ava Morgan, what's wrong?"
Ava picked up her phone and called Lucas.
"Lucas, can you bring me a dress right now? I need it for the launch event."
Lucas knew her measurements. He had plenty of dresses. Hearing that Ava needed clothes, he immediately agreed.
"Where are you? I can bring it to you now."
"I'm at the Morgan Group. How long will it take you to get here?"
Lucas checked the map. There was some traffic at this time.
"Ava, it might take about an hour. Will that work?"
An hour. Ava's heart sank. There was less than half an hour until the launch event. By the time Lucas delivered the dress, the event would be over.
"Lucas, that won't work. Let me think of another way."
Ava hung up the phone, not caring about the group of people following behind her. She wanted to go downstairs to find William. His phone wasn't going through. At this moment, she felt he would definitely have a solution.
Just as she was about to enter the elevator, Michael came out, and they ran right into each other. Seeing her panicked expression, Michael quickly asked,
"Ava, what happened?"
Ava told him the truth. "The dress I was supposed to wear was deliberately damaged. I need to find a new dress to replace it."
Michael adjusted his glasses, his face wearing a gentle smile.
"Ava, don't worry. Did you forget what I do?"
Ava had been in such a panic that she suddenly realized - Michael was in the luxury dress business. His Christian Siriano brand store should have plenty of dresses that could work in an emergency.
"Michael, please help me."
Michael chuckled, "You don't need to be so formal with me."
He immediately called his assistant to have clothes delivered.
Ava was still tense, thinking she'd have to wait a while, worried about missing the timing.
Unexpectedly, less than two minutes after Michael made the call, his assistant came out of the elevator carrying an elegant, large box, as if it had been prepared in advance, just waiting for a phone call.
"Mr. Morgan, the dress you requested."
Michael took it and handed it to the stylist behind Ava.
"Ava, go change. Don't worry. If you need anything, come find me."
Still the same phrase: "if you need anything, come find me."
"Thank you."
Ava couldn't say more and hurried back to the CEO's office to change.
She didn't make a big deal about the damaged dress. It wouldn't look good if such an ugly incident got out - it would damage the Morgan Group's image.
Michael had given her a black dress decorated with pearls, with quality no less than the previous one. After Ava put it on, she still felt a small regret - she had preferred the white one.
It seemed Michael liked black. Last time, he had also given her a black dress.
When Ava came out in the changed dress, it caused quite a stir.
The two stylists were stunned at the door.
"Mrs. Ava Morgan, this black one is also great. I think it suits you even better than the white one."
"Nonsense, I still think the white one looked better. Mrs. Ava Morgan, where was the white dress damaged? I didn't see anything wrong with it."
Ava smiled politely and had someone pack up the white dress.
Anyway, she had gotten through this hurdle. This matter needed William to investigate carefully, but she had a pretty good idea - there weren't many people who would oppose her and do something this petty.
Just as she was about to go downstairs, William's call came.
"Are you ready? The launch event is about to start. Come down now."
A large number of media had already gathered downstairs. This Morgan Group new product launch was grander than any previous one. Dozens of media outlets, big and small, were invited - basically any media with some influence.
With such a big show, everyone speculated that the Morgan Group's main product for the new season must be extraordinary.
Everyone was waiting with anticipation.
Industry insiders who couldn't attend in person were all waiting in front of their TVs to watch the live news broadcast.
Many friends William had invited came to the scene. Morgan Group employees were all waiting for the moment the launch event would begin. They had been working overtime for over a month for this launch event and were finally going to see the results. Everyone was extremely excited.
Ava emerged from the CEO's private elevator with several people. The crowd quickly made way for a path.
William looked at the person walking toward him - exquisite makeup, strikingly beautiful, but wearing something other than the dress he had specially custom-made.
His mind was full of doubts, but at this moment in front of everyone, it wasn't appropriate to ask directly. He was dissatisfied, not knowing what this woman was up to now, why she wasn't wearing the dress he gave her. That was his heartfelt gesture - he had pushed the designer so many times for it, afraid the dress would be finished late and delay important matters.
And now, she wasn't wearing it.
William glanced at his watch. The time was exactly 10 AM.
"Let's begin now."
The host went on stage first to speak.
"Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, friends from the news media, good morning. Welcome to the Morgan Group's summer new product launch event. Now, please welcome Mr. Morgan and the designer to show everyone the Morgan Group's new season masterpiece - a very beautiful diamond bracelet."
William took out the jewelry box containing the display piece and opened it. A silver sparkling diamond bracelet lay inside, looking even more stunning under the camera flashes.
The crowd exclaimed, "So beautiful."
Sharp-eyed reporters had already noticed that the diamond bracelet on Ava's wrist was identical to the display piece in William's hand. They asked in surprise,
"Mr. Morgan, doesn't the Morgan Group have a tradition where each season's new product is made as a single piece first, and only after several months will it be produced in batches? How come your designer is already wearing one?"
Other media also spoke up, "Exactly, Mr. Morgan, this isn't fair. Everyone knows that the Morgan Group's jewelry released each season is unique, worth a fortune, and hard to get. How can you just casually let the designer wear it first?"
"Mr. Morgan, did you give the designer special treatment? Doesn't this break industry rules?"