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Novel Catalog
Chapter 87
Eden stood frozen in the doorway, her heart suddenly racing as she took in the sight before her. Abigail was seated comfortably at one of the chairs, engaged in a conversation with Victor, her presence as poised and confident as ever. Ricky, who had his back turned, was in the midst of a conversation with someone else. But it was Victor’s gaze that had caught Eden off guard.
His eyes, usually so composed, were now filled with something unreadable. She could feel his attention on her, sharp and intense, as if he had been waiting for this very moment. The faint curve of his lips hinted at amusement, but it was the quiet depth in his eyes that unsettled her.
“Director Bleu,” Lucian’s voice broke the tension, “Mr. Alwynn was just waiting for you.”
Eden blinked, snapping out of her thoughts, and took a deep breath. She pushed past the unexpected wave of emotions that had overtaken her and walked into the office with the same composed stride she always had.
She could feel Victor’s gaze following her, even though he didn’t make any obvious move to address her. It was strange. Everything about this situation felt off—familiar yet foreign. There was something in the air, an unspoken understanding, that she couldn’t quite grasp.
“Mr. Alwynn,” Eden said, nodding politely as she approached the desk where he was seated. She didn’t look at Abigail or Ricky, keeping her focus entirely on Victor.
“Director Bleu,” Victor greeted her smoothly, his voice steady, though there was a glint in his eyes that betrayed his calm demeanor. He gestured to the seat across from him. “Please, take a seat. I hope you didn’t mind the sudden change of plans. I wanted to discuss the children’s line personally with you.”
Eden hesitated for a brief moment before sitting down. It was a simple matter of business, nothing more. Yet the tension in the room, between her and Victor especially, made it feel like much more than that. She couldn’t ignore the fact that something had shifted between them recently, though she couldn’t place exactly what.
As she sat, she glanced over at Abigail, who was eyeing her with an inscrutable expression. There was no warmth in Abigail’s gaze—just the familiar cool detachment that Eden had grown accustomed to.
Ricky, noticing Eden’s arrival, stood up and nodded in greeting, though his eyes held a glimmer of amusement. “Director Bleu, always a pleasure.”
Eden offered a polite smile in return, though her mind was racing. She couldn’t help but feel the weight of the moment—the heaviness in the air that clung to the room like a storm waiting to break.
Victor spoke again, his voice drawing her attention back to the matter at hand. “I trust the children’s clothing you designed in Gate City met your expectations. We’re planning to expand the line here in River City. I’d like your input on the direction we take, particularly in terms of the spokesperson we choose to represent the brand.”
Eden nodded, her focus shifting back to the task at hand. She had been so caught up in the awkwardness of the situation that she almost forgot why she was here in the first place. “I believe we need someone who can connect with the audience—someone who can represent the warmth and playfulness of the brand while still being approachable.”
Victor’s gaze softened slightly at her words, and for a brief moment, Eden felt a flicker of something—something that couldn’t be defined. His calm, professional exterior remained intact, but she could feel the shift between them, the subtle tension that lingered in the room.
Abigail’s voice interrupted, cold and dismissive. “Are you suggesting someone like that would fit the bill, Director Bleu?”
Eden’s expression remained neutral, though inside, her patience thinned. She could see Abigail’s challenge, a subtle jab at her expertise. It didn’t matter. Eden wasn’t here to argue.
“Exactly,” Eden replied coolly, her gaze steady as she locked eyes with Abigail. “The right spokesperson can make all the difference in this business. It’s not just about looks; it’s about connection.”
Victor looked between them, his expression unreadable. The air seemed to thicken as the tension between the two women simmered just below the surface. He leaned back slightly in his chair, observing the dynamic without intervening. It was almost as though he was enjoying the silent battle between them, though his eyes never left Eden’s.
Eden forced her focus back to the conversation. She couldn’t afford to get distracted. “As for the details of the campaign, I’ll have a proposal ready for you by the end of the week, Mr. Alwynn.”
Victor’s lips curled into a faint smile, a gesture that sent an unexpected rush of heat through Eden. “I look forward to it,” he said simply, though his eyes lingered on her for a moment too long.
It was a small moment, a fleeting glance, but Eden couldn’t shake the feeling that something more was being communicated between them—something unspoken and powerful.
She forced herself to look away and back at the task at hand.