Chapter 28
When Sarah arrived at the CEO's office, William was still buried in his work, not even having time to look up at who came in.
"William, you wanted to see me?"
William instinctively glanced at the door - it was closed.
This gesture made Sarah feel a bit uncomfortable. Was it really necessary to be so cautious just because she called him 'William' at the company? She'd been calling him that for over ten years.
William put down his pen with a businesslike expression.
"Sarah, you spent three years abroad and have pretty wide connections in this circle. Do you have any way to contact the designer, Lolly?"
Sarah made herself completely at home in his office, naturally hanging her bag on his coat rack and walking behind William to massage his shoulders.
"You mean SWAN's exclusive designer, Lolly?"
William nodded.
"That's her. Sarah, stop massaging. Come sit in front of me, I'm talking business with you."
Sarah reluctantly sat on the sofa across from him. With such a distance between them, she wished she could move the sofa closer.
Bringing up Lolly, she asked tentatively,
"That Lolly only releases two designs per year, and every single one becomes a global hit. But she seems to have poor social skills - doesn't connect with anyone in the design circle. Maybe because she's too ugly and doesn't dare face the public. Why are you asking about her?"
William spoke frankly,
"The competition in this industry is fierce right now. If we could bring Lolly to the Morgan Group, it would give us a huge advantage."
Sarah felt a faint displeasure. All he had in his eyes was business - he hadn't even looked at her properly, and she'd specially reapplied her lipstick before coming.
"William, isn't having me help you enough? You said yourself that my recent work has the style of designer Lolly. Our new product will definitely be a hit."
William glanced at her and said coolly,
"Sarah, those are two different things. Having you is certainly good - who would complain about having too many aces? I heard Lolly is from our country, which shows our aesthetic standards are leading globally. So the Morgan Group should also aim for a higher stage."
After speaking, William lowered his head somewhat disappointedly, his gaze returning to the pile of documents on the desk.
"I thought after spending so long abroad, you'd have some connection with Lolly. If you can't contact her, forget it. I'll try other connections - I'll find a way to reach her eventually."
Sarah became even more restless, wondering if he was looking down on her.
"William, just because I don't know now doesn't mean I can't find out. I'll ask my friends - I'll definitely find her for you within three days."
William's tone was relaxed. "No need to go to such trouble. Finding someone isn't that hard for me. If the rumors are true and she's in the country, that would make it even easier."
Sarah fell silent, looking at him with innocent, wide eyes.
"William, so can we go eat now? I've made a reservation."
Looking at her eyes, William somehow suddenly saw Ava's fox-like eyes in his mind - curved when she smiled, with a hint of deliberate seduction.
Ava found the restaurant Lucas had sent her the address for. Only after going in did she realize it was actually a couple's restaurant, with dim, warm orange lighting, different-colored roses on each table, and soft love songs playing in the background.
Walking in alone made you want to fall in love - the atmosphere was perfect.
Definitely a holy grail for couples checking in.
Ava went to the restroom first to reapply her lipstick, took out her eyeliner, and simply traced her eye corners. Just a light stroke, and those fox eyes already looked seductively alluring.
After finishing, she admired herself. What girl doesn't love beauty? She used to wear makeup too, but noticed several times that whenever she came home wearing eye makeup, William would make sarcastic remarks.
Over time, she figured out his temperament and didn't dare wear it anymore. When going out, she'd at most fill in her eyebrows and apply a daily-wear lip color. Sometimes she'd just put on some tinted moisturizer before leaving, and at home she'd go completely bare-faced.
Today, she came with a mission - she had to help Lucas ruin this blind date. This makeup was perfect for the occasion.
Her phone vibrated - it was Lucas's SOS message.
[Table seven, hurry.]
Ava made a few expressions at the mirror, then headed toward table seven with her bag.
In the booth, Lucas and the girl across from him had just sat down. They'd only ordered one set meal that hadn't arrived yet, and were making awkward small talk.
"Lucas, you were so hard to find!"
When Lucas heard Ava's voice, he looked at her like she was his savior.
"Ava, come here quick."
He waved at Ava, then introduced her to the girl across from him.
"Ms. Moore, I'm so sorry. My dad didn't know I had a girlfriend, which caused this whole mix-up. This meal is on us - hope you don't mind."
The girl looked up - what kind of drama was this? Bringing your girlfriend to a blind date, and the girlfriend was incredibly beautiful. How could anyone keep eating?
The girl couldn't save face. Sitting there, she was completely unnecessary.
"Mr. Johnson, I have something to do. I won't stay for the meal."
She left with her bag.
Leaving Ava and Lucas alone.
"Hey, she was pretty cute. Don't you want to try switching genders?"
Lucas gave her a knock on the head.
"Is that something you can just switch?"
Ava slowly unwrapped a new set of utensils.
"Why don't you just come clean with your dad? Tell him you don't like women; otherwise, he'll keep worrying about finding you a girlfriend."
"You think I don't want to? My dad probably suspects something, but he's just holding onto hope and making a fuss. So, how have you been lately? William hasn't been giving you a hard time, has he?"
Ava picked up her water glass and took a sip, her tone slightly melancholic.
"We're getting divorced anyway. He can't hurt me anymore. I don't care about anything now - I'm invincible."
Lucas scoffed with a disbelieving expression.
"I think you're so lovesick that you won't wake up easily. You won't let go until you get hurt."
"By the way, I started at the Morgan Group today. Design department assistant - a position he arranged."
Ava smiled bitterly.
Hearing "design department assistant," Lucas was so angry he started cursing.
"William should go to the hospital and get his eyes checked. You working at his company is like his ancestors' graves smoking with luck. Making you an assistant - his brain must be filled with dog shit. Has that angelic bitch been giving you trouble?"
Ava sighed, but instead comforted Lucas.
"Don't worry, I have a big gift for her, but now's not the time. Don't forget - all the work she brought to the Morgan Group was stolen from me."
Lucas snorted.
"You're really patient. If it were me, I'd give her that gift right now."
"No rush. My goal is to get divorced as soon as possible. I can't let unimportant people delay my plans."
Everything could wait until after the divorce was finalized and she was free again. Revenge is a dish best served cold - she'd never been one to swallow insults. Everyone who deserved it would get their payback, without exception.
Lucas's gaze lingered on Ava's stomach area for a few seconds.
"Don't worry, I've got your back. When the baby's born, I'll help you raise it. If you don't want to remarry after the divorce, we can live together. I've given up on love anyway."
Ava really wanted to ask what nonsense her best friend was talking about. She looked up, startled - a deep gaze was fixed on her from several seats away. The air seemed to freeze instantly, and she couldn't help feeling a chill.
William sat not far away. She didn't know if he'd heard their conversation, but judging by the distance, he could have.
Because Ava could clearly hear Sarah, sitting with William, flipping through the menu and asking sweetly if they could order the Couple's Set A.
William locked eyes with her for a few seconds, then suddenly stood up and walked toward them with long strides.
In that moment, she prepared herself for a fight to the death.