Chapter20 Aweeklater.Theawalkedintothevenue,dressedinastunningblack,backlessmermaidstylegownthathuggedherfigureperfectly,invitationinhand Thehallwasdazzling,illuminatedbybeautifulcrystalchandeliershanging fromtheceiling,castinga cool,shimmeringlight. Nicolas hadsomebusinesstohandle,soheaskedTheatowaitforhimatthevenue. Theauctionhadntbegunyet,soTheafoundaquietcornerand settleddownwithaglassofwine.Shewasjustabouttotakeasipwhensheoverheardaconversationnearbythatpiquedherinterest. WevealwaysknownJakewastalented,onemanremarked.HesaccomplishedsomuchatHendrixGroupatsuchayoungage.Lookathim.Hestrulyastandout. Whosthat womanwithhim?Hisrumoredfiancéelhiscompanionasked ThatshisassistantfromAvonVentures,thefirstmanreplied.Shesasmartone.Theyvehandledbigprojectstogether.Unlikehisfiancée,whojustsitsathome,causingdramaandstirringuptrouble. Exactly,thesecondmanchimedin.Iheardhisfiancéeissopettythatshenearlydestroyedtheassistantsreputationoverjealousy Thefirstmanscoffed,Awomanlikethatjealousandmanipulativewontgetfarinlife.Nomatterhowgoodlookingsheis,Iwouldntwanther Aloudcrashsuddenlyinterruptedtheirconversationasawineglassshatteredonthefloor.Bothmenturnedinsurprise. Theasmiledsweetly.Oops!Igotsocaughtupinyourconversation.Bytheway,isJakeheretonightwithhisassistantIdlovetomeether.Imabigfanofstrongwomen. Her softtoneandbrighteyes,pairedwith hernaturallycaptivating looks,leftthemencompletelycharmed.Theyhadnoideathattheyhadjustinsultedhermomentsago. Eagertoplease,thementoldherwhereJake andMadelynwere, falling overthemselvesto behelpful. Theathankedthemwithagracefulsmile,butassoon assheturnedaway,herexpressionhardened. Shegrabbedabottleofredwinefromapassingwaiter.ShewasdeterminedtoseehowboldJakeandMadelynweretotakecreditforherhardwork. TheprivateroomwhereJakeandMadelynwerestationed wasaVIPsuite,secondonlytothepresidentialsuite. Evenbeforeentering,Theacould seethebuzzofactivitythroughthedoor.Theroomwas packedwithpeopleeagerte curryfavor. AtthecenterofitstoodJakeandMadelyn,baskingintheattention,theirfacesglowing withpride. Madelynworeasleekbusiness suit,herlightmakeupaccentuatingherdelicate yetdeterminedlook.Shecertainlylookedthepart Fromtimetotime, sheandJakeexchanged affectionateglanceslookingliketheperfectcouplemadeinheaven. Theatooka deepbreathandfeltatightnessinherchest.Butitwasntheartbreak ;itwaspureanger. Jakehadneverbroughthertoeventslikethisbefore.Hehadalwayssaiditwashumiliatingenoughrelyingonhisfianceesconnections,andbringingheralong wouldonlyinviterumorsandfurtherembarrassment.. 111 P 842% 20-16Thu,Oct24 Chapter20 Because ofthat,TheahadusedherBeresiannametosignallthoseimportantcontracts,alwaysplacinghersignatureafter Jakes Sheneverimaginedthatherthoughtfulgesturewouldturnintoanopportunityforthesetwotoshamelesslyclaimcreditforherhardwork. Justthen,amanwithgrayinghair approachedMadelyn,extendinghishandwithawarm,respectfulsmile. Hello,youmustbeChloe ,right?he said.Weveonlycommunicatedthroughemailuntilnow.Itsapleasuretomeetyouinperson.Ivecompletedthedesignforthebraceletyoumentioned,andIllhavemyassistantsendittoAvonVenturessoon .Ilookforwardtomanymorecollaborations. Madelynsmiledsweetlyandreplied,Thankyou.JustwriteMadelynastherecipientsname. Theaseyetwitched.ThatmanwasarenownedjewelrydesignerfromSarlimar.AvonVentureshadarawgemstoneline,and itwasTheawhohadworkedtirelesslytosecurethiscollaboration Backincollege,shehadstudieddesignandalwaysdreamedofmeetingthisdesignerinperson,hopingtoacquireoneofhispiecesforherself Withoutthinking.Theacalledout,MissTerell,dontyoufeelevenalittleashamedtakingcreditforsomeoneelseswork?Hervoicewasntloud,butitwassharpandforcefulenoughthateveryoneintheroomturnedtowardher,curious.Jakewascaught offguard,buthi sinitialshockwasquicklyreplacedbya darkexpression. Madelynsexpressionwentthroughanevenmoredramaticchangefirstpanic,thenguilt,followedbyasubtleflickerofmalice Jakespokeupfirst,hisvoicelacedwithirritation.Thea,whyareyouherecausingtroubleagain? MurmursbegantoripplethroughthecrowdaspeoplestartedtorecognizeThea.Wordslikejealous,vicious,andjustaprettyfacefloatedaroundtheroom. Madelyngraduallyregainedhercomposureandsaid softly,MissRowland,IaskedMr.Hendrixtobringmehere.ManyofAvonVenturespreviouscollaboratorsareattending,andhethoughtitwouldbeeasiertocommunicateifIcamealong. Therewasnootherintentionbehindit.Ifyoureupset,youcanblameme,butpleasedontcauseascene.ItwouldntreflectwellonAvon Ventures. HerselfeffacingattitudecastTheaasthetroublemakerin theeyesoftheothers,makingtheelegantTheaseemmore like at villain. ButTheastoodtallandstraight,showingnosignofembarrassmentorpanic. ShemetMadelynsgazeandsmiledcoldly .IdidntsayIwasheretocause trouble.ImChloe,andIjustwanttoknowwhyyoutwothinkitsokaytoimpersonateme,claimcreditformywork,andacceptgiftsmeantformefromclients. Stoptalking nonsense,Jakecutinharshly.Thenhistonesoftenedashetriedtocontain thesituation.Thea,enough.Thisisnthelping Sensingsomethingamiss,thedesignerturnedhissharpeyestoMadelynMissTerell,whatsgoingonhere? IgnoringJake,Theasteppedforward,herquestionsrelentless. Madelyn,sinceyoureclaimingtobeChloe,whydontyoutellthedesignerthe annualoutputofAvonVenturesrawgemstoneplantatHalidenMountain? LasttimeIcommunicatedwithhimaboutsomeissues withtheproductionline,hesuggestedsomesolutions.Ionlyadoptedtwo.Whatwerethey? Also ,howaboutthecontractconcernsMr.Spencer raised lastmonth ? 2/3 O 20:16Thu,Oct24 Chapter20 回味42% Witheachquestion,Madelynsfacegrewpaler.Shestammered,unabletoformacoherentresponse,tearsbrimminginhereyes.Herpitifulexpressionwasenoughtomakeanyonefe elsorryforher. Jakecouldntbearitanymore.Herushedforward,grabbingTheasarmanddraggingheroutoftheroom.Thea,ishumiliatingMadelynlikethatwhat youwanted?Happynow? Hewasbreathinghard,hiseyesredwithanger.ItwasasifTheahadcrossedanunforgivableline. Theashookoffhisgrip,herexpressionunchanging.Happy?HowcouldIbehappy?Nowyourepanicking,huh ?WhydidntyouexpectthisdaytocomewhenyouhandedovermyhardtimedachievementstoMadelyn? Werenotevenrelated.Ihavenoreasontostaysilentand pretendImokaywithyoustealingmyworkand gettingallthepraise Withoutflinching.Theaswungthewinebottleinherhand,hervoicecalmbutfirm.Ifyoudontwantmetosmashthisoveryourhead,stepaside.