Chapter 7
Last month, the studio's dividend showed up in my bank account: 590,000 dollars.
Turns out, cooking is pretty lucrative.
Horizon Group's annual appreciation dinner was set for the end of the month.
I decided not to go myself and had Oliver represent Epicurean Studio instead.
But David called me.
"You're really not coming?" he asked.
"I'm not really cut out for these kinds of events," I replied.
"You just don't want anyone to recognize you," David said.
"Something like that," I admitted.
"I'll arrange a private suite for you. You can slip in through a back corridor straight to the VIP lounge, no need to set foot in the main hall," David offered.
"Why go to all that trouble?" I asked.
"Because some top decision-makers from the brands will be there. Five minutes talking face-to-face beats a month of emails. If you're thinking about going international this year, this is your shortcut," David explained.
He had a point.
Epicurean Studio's plans for the rest of the year definitely included going global, especially breaking into the Japanese and Southeast Asian markets.
Horizon Group already had strong networks in both areas.
"Alright, I'll go," I said.
"Make sure you dress sharp," David said.
"How formal are we talking?" I asked.
"Just a black dress," he said, then paused. "Honestly, you'd look good in anything."
I just let that comment pass.
"Send me the location," I said.
"Sure," he replied.
After hanging up, I sat at my desk and thought for a while.
David always had a clear agenda. He never hid what he was after.
He had his eye on Epicurean Studio's commercial value.
And those times when he said things that didn't sound strictly business...
I couldn't tell if he was being genuine or just playing a game.
But honestly, it didn't matter.
I don't need anyone.
All I care about is growing Epicurean Studio and making sure Lily feels safe and secure.
As for romance...
I'll worry about that when Lily's eighteen.
On the night of the dinner.
I put on a black, fitted long dress, styled my hair up, and wore subtle makeup.
The woman in the mirror looked like a completely different person from who I was three months ago.
After losing twenty-six pounds, my collarbones, jawline, and waistline were finally defined.
Eric used to call me "chubby and frumpy," but the truth is, I never lacked for looks.
What really dragged me down was those four years of living in the dark.
Sophie had picked up Lily, so I drove to the hotel by myself.
David sent me the location: Pullman Hotel in the city center, VIP entrance on the basement level.
When I arrived, a staff member escorted me straight to the elevator, which took me up to the VIP lounge on the 32nd floor.
David was already there.
When he saw me, he paused for a second, his glass hovering in midair.
"Claire?" he asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.
"Yeah," I replied.
He set his glass down.
"You look totally different from the last time we met," he said.
"Just say it, I was ugly when I was chubby," I said.
"No, you were beautiful before, too. Now it's even more obvious," he replied.
I ignored him and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window to check out the scene in the hall below.
From the VIP lounge on the 32nd floor, I could look down at the grand banquet hall through the one-way glass.
Down there, the place was lit up, packed with people in fancy clothes, at least three hundred guests.
I spotted Eric right away.
He was in a brand-new suit, standing in the middle of a crowd with a glass in hand, beaming.
Monica was holding onto his arm, her baby bump just starting to show, dressed in a pale pink gown.
Five or six people were gathered around them, all offering their congratulations.
"What's he even doing here?" I asked casually.
David walked over to me.
"Horizon Group sent out two hundred invites, and Brightwave Media got three. He's been working the room, hoping to catch the attention of Horizon's higher-ups," David said.
"Did he manage to connect with them?" I asked.
"Nope. With his rank, he can't even get close to the VIP table," David replied.
I just nodded and looked away.
"Where are those brand reps you promised to introduce me to?" I asked, not bothering to hide my impatience.
"Chill, will you?" David glanced at his watch. "It's not even eight yet. Relax and have a drink."
David handed me a glass of champagne, a little smirk on his face.
I took it, but just held it, not taking a sip.
"David," I said, my tone flat.
"Yeah?" he replied.
"So, what's your angle? Why are you doing all this for me?" I asked.
He leaned against the window, turning his head to look at me.
"Why am I doing all this? You want the business reason or the personal one?" he asked.
"Business reason," I said.
"You're Horizon Group's most profitable partner right now. For every dollar we invested in you last year, we got back seven dollars and eighty cents. Keeping you happy is literally part of my job," he said.
"And the personal reason?" I asked.
He didn't say anything, just gave me a smile.