Chapter 4

"Jade is famous in the industry, but she never makes public appearances. All her business is handled through emails and phone calls. There's a rumor she has an Asian background, but no one's ever actually met her," Nathan said thoughtfully.

"If you're interested, I can connect you with some projects. Celestine Gems is always looking for talented designers," he added.

I smiled, deciding to change the subject. "How long have you been in the jewelry business?"

"About ten years," Nathan replied, seemingly picking up on my shift. "I started out working for my family's company, then went abroad to study for a few years. When I came back, I took over Celestine Gems."

The conversation flowed easily after that. Nathan was well-traveled and had a unique perspective. Unlike Joseph, who was all sharp edges and ambition, Nathan felt more like a scholar and an artist.

After dinner, he suggested we take a walk along the beach. The cool night breeze drifted by, and waves rolled softly onto the shore. It should've been a romantic moment, but I couldn't let my guard down—not after what happened in my last marriage. Trust didn't come easily for me anymore.

"You look like you've got a lot on your mind," Nathan suddenly said.

I shook my head. "Just used to being on my own, I guess. I'm not exactly used to having someone around."

"I get it," Nathan replied, not pushing any further. He handed me his business card. "You're welcome to drop by and see what our design team is working on anytime. Oh, and I heard the Aguirre Jewels just brought in a new design director. Word is, she's actually married to the boss."

My heart sped up a little, but I kept my cool. "Oh, really? I don't really follow the industry gossip."

Nathan smiled. "Sorry, I probably shouldn't have said that. But you know, the jewelry world is pretty small—never hurts to keep an eye on what the competition's doing."

When we said goodbye, he kept it strictly polite—no crossing any personal lines. Honestly, that made me like him a little more; it was refreshing to meet someone who respected boundaries.

When I got home, I saw a payment notification from Aguirre Jewels—3 million dollars. Ten times my usual fee. They really weren't shy about throwing cash around.

I replied to Abbie, letting her know I was in for another project, but my price was still sky-high—no discounts this time.

Mid-April, Joseph was in his office, checking out the latest jewelry collection prototypes. For once, he actually looked pleased. "This designer's got real talent. Her style is unique, but it's also got serious commercial appeal. How'd you find her?"

Abbie looked proud. "Industry connections. I've been following her work for a while. But she's not cheap—she charges 3 million dollars for each project."

"Worth every penny," Joseph said without hesitation. "If we could get her to sign on as our exclusive designer, that'd be a huge advantage for the Aguirre Group."

Abbie bit her lip. "I tried, but she won't agree to an exclusive contract. Still, she's willing to do one more project with us—maybe our sincerity finally got through to her."

Joseph paused, then said, "Arrange a meeting. I want to talk to her face-to-face."

Abbie looked a bit panicked. "That's probably not going to work. Ms. Jade is extremely private—she never meets with clients in person. Everything is handled by email or phone."

"Then find a way," Joseph said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "In business, nothing is impossible."

Abbie nodded, uneasy and anxious. There was no way she could get Jade to show up—hell, she didn't even know Jade's real identity. If Joseph realized she couldn't make it happen, she'd lose serious ground with him.

She glanced down at her belly—five months pregnant—and silently swore to herself she had to lock down her spot before the baby came. That last urgent favor had already taken too much out of her; she couldn't afford to slip up now.

Back in her office, she immediately shot off an email to Jade, inviting her to the Aguirre Jewels launch event and promising a hefty payout in return.

When I saw the email, I just let out a cold laugh. The Aguirre Jewels launch was bound to be a huge event, and Joseph would definitely be there. I wasn't ready to face him yet, and I sure as hell didn't want him to find out that Jade was actually his so-called "worthless" ex-wife.

I politely turned down the invitation, saying I wasn't planning to attend any public events anytime soon. Meanwhile, I started working on the second project. This time, I decided to add some personal touches—little details that only Joseph would understand.

It wasn't about him seeing through me—that wasn't the point. This was my own brand of payback. I wanted him hooked on the designs, craving them, knowing he could never truly have them. Just out of reach, forever.

While I was busy working on my new designs, Pippin strolled back into my apartment. This time, he looked even more at ease—jumping right up onto my worktable and making himself comfortable beside my sketches.

"Hey, back again already?" I said as I scratched her head. She responded with a satisfied purr.

Not long after, Nathan called. "Sorry, did Pippin wander over to your place again?"

"Yeah, he seems to have a thing for my worktable," I said with a chuckle.