Chapter 361
Elara had pinned her dark hair into a sleek bun at the back of her head. A crescent–moon–shaped enamel hairpiece. held it in place, secured further by a hairpin with black tassels that blended seamlessly into her hair..
She wore a light gray tailored suit with a cinched waist, paired with loose, comfortable trousers. Her black low- heeled shoes clicked steadily against the floor with every step–each one firm, and assured.
The employees of Joss Tech were already used to seeing Elara in her sharp, capable form.
“Moming, Ms. Jones,” they greeted her warmly as she passed
However, for many of the other guests–figures from the business world invited to the event–it was their first time encountering the woman who now sat at the helm of Jass Tech. Quite a few stood at a distance, scrutinizing her with appraising eyes.
“Who would’ve thought someone who got married before even finishing college could become a company’s vice president? She spent seven years as a pampered wife in the Fisher family. I really don’t know what the shareholders of Joss Tech were thinking.”
Another person chimed in, “That just shows there’s no one left to use at Joss Tech. No wonder it’s heading for collapse.”
“Abel insisted on choosing a successor from among his children. Honestly, even picking Niamh would’ve been better. At least she grew up by Abel’s side and she’s Harvey’s childhood friend.”
“Exactly! In business, connections matter more than test scores. Niamh knows way more people in Capitol than Elara ever will.
“But seriously, how dumb is that Niamh lady? She actually exposed her own father’s scandal in front of.ryone.
One voice lowered to a whisper, “I heard Niamh was framed for that.”
“What? Who’d dare set up the second daughter of the Jones family like that?”
“Think about it—who gained the most after everything went down? Elara may be clever, but it’s a shame she used her scheming against her own blood. People like her are bound to get what’s coming to them.”
As they whispered among themselves, a uniformed staff member standing not far off took out his phone and quietly noted down their names.
Theodore had made it clear to them earlier on: anyone invited by him and Elara who still dared to speak ill of her would be tracked and dealt with–one by one.
Theodore turned around and saw Elara walking toward him. He lifted the corners of his lips in a brilliant smile, and the radiance he exuded seemed to intensify.
It was as if sunlight had spilled into his eyes, moist like rippling lake water. The look he gave Elara was filled with warmth and tenderness.
Elara glanced at his chest and quietly let out a breath of relief. “I brought you something.”
She reached into her pocket and pulled out a delicate, square–shaped velvet box. Opening it, she revealed a turquoise peacock brooch.
“When Merida went shopping with me, we saw this brooch and thought it would suit you.”
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+25 BONUS
Chapter 361
Theodore’s breath caught. “You bought this for me?”
His eyes widened, and within the dark depths of his pupils, stars seemed to flicker and swirl.
“Mm.” Elara’s cheeks flushed as she responded.
She could feel the heat of his gaze burning against her skin, and she didn’t dare look up to see what expression he was wearing.
Standing before Theodore with her head lowered, she could clearly feel his breath falling heavier aga of her head.
“Should I pin it on for you?” she asked.
“Okay.”
“His voice tightened slightly as he answered. He couldn’t help but grow nervous too.
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Not far away, Harvey stood rooted to the spot, cold air practically condensing around him. He watched helplessly as Elara pinned the brooch onto Theodore’s chest–something that, once upon a time, only he had the privilege of experiencing!
In that moment, countless memories flashed through his mind–images of her in the Fisher family’s dressing room, tying his tie, pinning his brooch…
He remembered the same shyness and nervous expression once appearing on her face, yet it was only for him.
