"True that. n would only slow you down while you’re building your empire, Boss." Woody couldn’t agree more. "Besides," he added, "when you’re rich and powerful, you can have any man you want. I’ll set sothing up for you tonight. If nothing else, there will be plenty of pretty boys. I guarantee you’ll have more eye candy than you can handle."
Eliza gave a noncommittal nod, her mind elsewhere.
She was thinking about Shane Lockwood.
She clutched her heart, which was still pounding erratically, as a belated realization dawned on her.
For her, Shane Lockwood was no longer the man he had been when she first married into the Lockwood family—a man lying in bed, practically a living corpse.
Without her even realizing it, he had managed to stir her heart.
It was too easy to fall in love with a man like Shane Lockwood.
And for that very reason, Eliza’s resolve to divorce him only grew stronger.
Falling in love with Shane Lockwood wasn’t the problem. The problem was knowingly clinging to him when he loved soone else. That would be monuntally stupid.
She had been trapped in a prison cell for five years.
Now that she was finally free, she would never let herself be trapped in a marriage for a man.
Eliza Sutton arrived at the design departnt in the afternoon.
The mont she stepped inside, Crystal Harrison rushed over to her.
"Eliza, where have you been?" Crystal asked, clearly anxious. "Don’t you know..."
Before Crystal could finish, a haughty voice cut in, "So, you’re Eliza Sutton."
Eliza turned to see an exceptionally beautiful young woman in a black dress.
"Yes, I’m Eliza Sutton."
The young woman slamd her hand on the table and roared, "You have so real nerve, making wait all morning! Do you think you can just ignore because of your seductive wiles?!"
Eliza smiled, a hint of resignation in her voice. "Miss Lockwood, I had the morning off. Also, if I recall correctly, you didn’t have an appointnt with . I can’t accept that accusation."
The young woman, Pearl Lockwood, was a little puzzled. "How did you know I’m Pearl Lockwood? Did you investigate ?"
Eliza replied, "Miss Pearl, you bear a strong resemblance to Mr. Lockwood. That, combined with your remarkable presence, made it easy to guess you were Miss Lockwood."
"Well, you’ve got sharp eyes." Pearl’s expression softened a fraction.
"It’s simply the truth."
A smile tugged at the corners of Pearl Lockwood’s lips.
’At the end of the day, she’s still just a young girl who likes to be complinted.’
"Pearl, I see you’ve t Designer Sutton," Brenda Preston said as she walked out.
Though her words seed ordinary, she was actually reminding Pearl of Eliza’s identity.
A designer.
Just as expected, Pearl’s anger flared up again. "I hear you’re designing the gown for my coming-of-age ceremony?"
"Yes."
"Give up," Pearl said with a sneer. "A criminal like you, reeking of prison—what makes you think you’re qualified to design my gown? You’ll just embarrass ! I don’t know how you crawled your way to the chief designer position, but that doesn’t matter. I’m telling you now, you’re fired. Pack your things and get the hell out, right now!"
Eliza glanced at Pearl and asked, "And does what Miss Lockwood says actually carry any weight?"
"What?"
"About packing my things and getting out."
"Of course it does." Pearl tilted her chin up, her face a mask of arrogance. "What kind of place do you think the Lockwood Group is? We’re not so shelter that takes in any riffraff!"
Brenda Preston feigned concern. "Pearl, don’t say that to Designer Sutton. You’ll make her angry."
"Good! Let her be angry! If I were her, I’d have already packed my things and stord out!"
Eliza remained calm. "Miss Lockwood, if you’re finished yelling, I’m going back to work."
’There’s only a third of the month left, and I still owe Saul Reynolds six designs.’
’The thought of that old man and his perpetually aggrieved expression made goosebumps prickle all over her skin.’
’She had to admit it—she was scared.’
Pearl felt ignored, her authority as Miss Lockwood challenged. She was absolutely furious.
"Eliza Sutton!" Just as Pearl was about to grab Eliza, a sharp rebuke ca from behind.
"Pearl Lockwood, what do you think you’re doing?"
Pearl turned and saw Shane Lockwood approaching in his wheelchair.
A smile instantly appeared on Pearl’s face when she saw Shane. "Brother, you really do look much better. But... even if you’re healed, has your judgnt gone la? Finding a designer like *her* for my coming-of-age ceremony? Do you want to wear a gown she designed and have all my friends make fun of for slling like a convict?"
Pearl pouted, clearly displeased.
Eliza spoke up. "If Miss Lockwood is so displeased with , she can find another designer for the gown. I am also willing to resign, per her wishes."
A subtle smile played on Brenda Preston’s lips.
Pearl: "Fine, I agr—" ’I agree! Now hurry up and get out.’
"I disagree." Before Pearl could finish, she was interrupted.
Pearl stared at Shane, stunned and surprised. She couldn’t stop herself from asking, "Brother, why? With a record like Eliza Sutton’s, she shouldn’t even be a designer! She’s not even qualified to clean the toilets!"
"Pearl Lockwood, this is the Lockwood Group. It’s not your place to say who we hire or fire. You are out of line."
Shane had never spoken to Pearl so harshly. She couldn’t take it, and her eyes imdiately welled up with tears.
"Brother, how could you treat like this for so woman? Are you even my brother anymore?" Pearl shrieked in anger.
Shane said, "Secretary Irvine, take Miss Lockwood to the lounge."
Erik Irvine imdiately ca forward. "Miss Lockwood, please."
"Brother!" Pearl cried. But seeing Shane’s grim expression, she stomped her foot in a rage, shoved Erik Irvine aside, and ran away.
"Pearl!"
Brenda Preston imdiately moved to follow her.
"Manager Preston." Shane called out, his voice like ice. "Rember that you are the manager of the Lockwood Group’s design departnt, not a nanny for the Lockwood family. Your responsibility is to maintain the departnt’s normal operations and lead your designers to produce outstanding work, not to babysit children."
Shane’s words were incredibly harsh, all but grinding Brenda’s dignity under his heel.
Brenda’s face was flushed crimson, and she wished a hole would open up in the ground and swallow her.
She had never been berated like this before, let alone so thoroughly humiliated.
’This is all because of Eliza Sutton!’
’This was all her fault.’
She turned, and the look she gave Eliza was pure venom.
Eliza: "..."
’I’m speechless.’
’Pearl was the one who started it, and Shane was the one doing the yelling.’
’At best, I was just collateral damage. None of this had anything to do with , but Brenda Preston was clearly pinning all the bla on anyway.’
’The woman’s insane.’
Shane announced, "Design eting in ten minutes. We’re selecting the design for Pearl Lockwood’s coming-of-age gown today."
Pearl’s birthday was in two months, so ti was tight.
Brenda Preston asked, "President Lockwood, Pearl strongly dislikes Designer Sutton. Perhaps she doesn’t need to attend this eting?"
Shane replied, "I said everyone."
With that, Shane left without giving Brenda a second glance.
Brenda’s expression soured. She shot a furious glare at Eliza. "Don’t you get smug, Eliza Sutton! I swear I’ll have you thrown out of here!"
Eliza: "..."
’What does that have to do with ?’
’Did I ever say I wasn’t going to leave?’
’Crazy.’
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