lanie paused just outside her office door. Not because she was hesitant to step inside, but because her assistant was standing there, grinning like he'd just won the lottery. The sight gave her a sense of déjà vu—it was exactly how he had looked last Monday, standing in the sa spot, radiating the sa barely contained excitent.
She crossed her arms, arching an eyebrow. "At this rate, I should just make you the official guard of my office. So? What good news do you have for today? Did you finally track down the source of the information leak?"
Ben's smile faltered, his expression shifting for the briefest mont before he composed himself. He took a quick step forward, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Peter Burskey is sitting inside."
lanie's eyebrows lifted.
Just yesterday, Peter Burskey had publicly announced the termination of his contract with Madam Collins—an expected move that effectively diverted the netizen's attention from the storm Peter and Madam Collins had tried to stir around her.
And now, here he was, sitting in her office, uninvited but undoubtedly with an agenda.
She was still lost in thought when Ben leaned in again and whispered. "And he's not alone. He brought his lawyers with him, which ans he's probably here to sign the contract."
That made lanie snap back to the present. She studied Ben's face, looking for any sign of uncertainty, but he seed confident in his assessnt. Before she could respond, he added, "Also, according to so inside sources, Peter pulled out the designers he had originally selected for his ntorship program from the FineArt partnership. You know what this ans!" Almost jumping now, Ben continued, "This ans that we can proceed with the original plan! Madam Collins spent the money on soone to get to know our plan and it was all a waste!"
For a mont, lanie remained silent as if weighing her options. Peter Burskey was many things, but impulsive wasn't one of them. If he had co this far, then he must have a clear endga in mind. But if he thought he could waltz in and dictate terms, he was about to learn otherwise.
"Arrange a press conference for this afternoon," she instructed as she straightened her already straight clothes. "If anyone asks, just say LuxeArt has an important announcent to make. Nothing else."
Ben's eyes glead with understanding. "Got it."
lanie exhaled slowly, schooling her expression into one of practiced indifference. She was going to need it.
lanie stepped into the conference room and her hands clenched. Seated at the sleek, dark-wood table were three figures—Peter Burskey, his assistant, and his lawyer.
Of course she knew the old man but she also knew the other two. After all, they had been quite loud in spreading the rumors about her and sending her dirty looks at the gathering previously.
Peter stood as she entered, offering her a polite smile. "lanie," he greeted, extending his hand.
She shook it briefly, her gaze shifting to the other two people. At least, they had the sense to look slightly uncomfortable under her scrutiny. Look at them now, sitting in their place so docilely, offering polite smiles.
lanie gave them a curt nod before settling into the chair opposite Peter.
Peter exhaled, rubbing a hand over his jaw as he looked at her with kind eyes, similar to the way he used to look at her when she used to visit grandmother. "First, I want to thank you for sending the proof," he said slowly, his voice carrying a weight that suggested he had spent too much ti thinking about this mont.
"Previously, even after the accuser ca forward and admitted they lied and the court ordered them to apologize and pay the damages, the blemish on my reputation was already done. People whispered. They speculated. That accusation—" he let out a slow breath, "—was like a thorn lodged in my chest. And no matter how much I denied it, doubt still lingered in the minds of the people. I could always see that question in their gazes. Will we be getting your work or soone junior's with your na stamped on it."
"But what you did... providing that evidence, clearing my na—it ans more than I can say. So, this old man is really grateful."
lanie inclined her head slightly. "It was only a stroke of luck that I ca across the evidence," neither downplaying nor telling him about Adam's involvent.. "But I knew what it would an for you. It is why I hurried to bring them to you."
Peter studied her for a beat, as if weighing her words, before nodding. "Luck or not, it changed everything. That's why I'm here. I'm ready to move forward with LuxeArt. I know the plan was originally yours when Madam Collins presented it. And I also know how important it is for the stagnating LuxeArt. So, here I am."
Peter turned to his lawyer then who smoothly picked up the conversation, pushing a set of neatly bound docunts towards her. "We've reviewed the terms, and Mr. Burskey is prepared to sign the contract whenever you are ready.."
lanie's gaze flickered down to the papers but she didn't reach for them. Instead, she looked back at Peter. "Forgive my skepticism, but I have to ask—why the sudden shift?"
Peter blinked, montarily taken aback by her question. He had thought she would jump at the chance to sign the papers. "Why?" he echoed, a frown pulling at his brows. "Isn't that why you brought the evidence to ? To prove your goodwill and clear the path for our partnership?"
lanie's lips curved into a slow and knowing smile. "Mr Burskey, would you have been willing to listen to if I didn't have that evidence? If I ca to you and claid that I did not know what happened at the ti and to please give a chance?""
Peter let out a short chuckle, shaking his head. "Of course not. How could I? At the ti, I believed you were the very person who was complicit in damaging my na. Even if you had co to with words of reason, I would have seen them as an attempt to manipulate for LuxeArt's benefit." He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "How could I have been willing to work with soone who had wronged ?"
lanie gave him a smile then and mimicked his pose as she asked," Then how do you expect to work with soone who wronged ?"
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