Chapter 170
Now that she’d come to terms with it, Tessa knew she couldn’t let things keep going smoothly for Aurora. She needed to start planning for her own future. Sitting nearby with a soft, pleasant smile, Tessa appeared to everyone else like the embodiment of warmth and grace, but to Aurora, it felt unsettling. That smile of Tessa’s reeked of falsehood—she was definitely up to something. Aurora’s eyes flickered with a trace of coldness, but she pushed down the feeling and stayed quiet.
After breakfast, Grace and Aurora shared a car to the office. The ride was surprisingly pleasant, as if last night’s tension had completely evaporated. Aurora liked this kind of peaceful interaction, and she didn’t have the heart to ruin the rare calm. Unfortunately, the moment didn’t last long; before she knew it, they had arrived. Each went to her own office and got to work.
Aurora was already well-versed in most of the company’s operations. The only thing left on her plate was evaluating Leonard’s design capabilities. If they could strike a partnership with him, Walton Corporation’s design edge in Ravenshore would reach a whole new level. Aurora threw herself fully into work. Tomorrow was the final deadline Leonard had given her.
Meanwhile, Wendy arrived at Seafront Corporation, dressed in a custom designer outfit, with flawless makeup and stilettos clicking confidently against the floor. Seafront was one of the top architecture firms in Ravenshore, and, more importantly, a direct rival of the Walton family’s company. That was something Wendy had made sure to confirm before stepping through the door.
Over the past few days, even though Aurora hadn’t returned, Lucas's attitude toward her had clearly shifted. He was colder, more distant. That woman wasn’t even around anymore, yet she still managed to keep his heart wrapped around her little finger. How was Wendy supposed to accept that?
The manager spotted her the moment she walked in. Her striking outfit and refined aura made it easy to guess who she was.
“You must be Miss Wendy Shaws?”
Wendy lifted her chin with a haughty expression. “That’s right. And you are? I’m here to complete my onboarding.”
The manager gave a sycophantic smile. “I’m the one handling your onboarding, Miss Shaws. Please, come with me.”
Wendy slipped on her sunglasses and walked beside him toward the office. The rest of the office was abuzz, eyes discreetly following them. Soft murmurs spread across the room.
“Hey, check her out—dressed head to toe in designer brands. What’s someone like that doing in a place like this?”
“Probably some rich kid playing office.”
“Exactly. And have you ever seen the manager act like that with anyone else? Talk about sucking up.”
A woman applying makeup spoke lazily, not even looking up. Everyone nodded in agreement. One by one, curious eyes drifted toward the manager’s office, all wondering the same thing: Who was this woman, and what was she here for?
Inside the manager’s office, he politely gestured for Wendy to sit, then placed the contract in front of her.
“Miss Shaws, feel free to take a look,” the manager said with a polite smile. “We’ve reviewed your credentials overseas, and with your brother's recommendation, we gave it serious consideration. In the end, we’ve decided to offer you the position of Creative Director.”
Wendy took off her sunglasses and lazily flipped through the contract. After a brief glance, she let out a soft “Mm” and seemed satisfied. She picked up the pen and, with a bold flourish, signed her name.
Watching the scene unfold, the manager couldn’t help but grumble internally—if it hadn’t been for the mountain of money her brother poured into the company, who in their right mind would hire such an arrogant princess?
Once she’d signed, Wendy slid the contract back across the table and casually asked, “So, are we rivals with Walton Corporation?”