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Novel Catalog
Chapter 71
Bonnie casually spoke, “If I win, you’ll stay away from Ivor and me for the duration of our agreement. You’re getting on my nerves.”
She shot a pointed glance at Rowena. “That includes you, too.”
“Fine!” Halle gritted her teeth, barely containing her anger. “But what happens if you lose?”
“Then I lose,” Bonnie replied, her voice soft and indifferent.
Halle’s temper flared. “What? Shouldn’t you have to pay a price if you lose? You’re just a cheater. Always know how to take advantage of others!”
Bonnie leaned against a nearby pillar, raising an eyebrow with a lazy smile. “We can forget about the whole competition if you don’t like the deal.”
The smugness in Bonnie’s tone infuriated Halle and Rowena. They were boiling with rage but had no choice but to stand there, unable to counter her confidence.
Floyd, standing beside Ivor, muttered, “Ms. Bonnie’s pretty tough.”
Ivor shot him a glance. “How long did it take you to figure that out?”
Floyd turned to Ivor and saw a subtle hint of pride in his eyes.
The competition began once all the materials for the flower arranging were set up.
“Wait,” Bonnie said suddenly.
Halle crossed her arms and sneered, “What’s the matter? Are you regretting your decision? Giving up because you finally know what’s good for you?”
Bonnie shook her head, her expression calm. “I’m not one to admit defeat. I just have a question. How are we going to decide who wins?”
Flower arranging wasn’t like chess. In chess, the winner was obvious. Flower arrangements, however, were a visual art—subjective and dependent on the viewer’s taste.
Bonnie felt a nagging concern. Being at the Knight family’s event, she worried that the guests might appreciate Halle’s arrangement more when it was done.
Halle smirked, sensing her hesitation. “Don’t worry about that. I’ve arranged for an expert in flower arranging to judge. I’ll make sure you’ll accept your loss.”
Bonnie’s eyes narrowed. “I have no more questions then. Let’s begin.”
As time passed, a crowd gathered around Bonnie, watching her work. A few guests had initially clustered around Rowena, but as the attention shifted to Bonnie, they moved over to her side, intrigued by her skill.
“How wonderful! It’s so visually pleasing! She must be an expert herself!” one guest remarked.
“Look at that silver ragwort stalk. It’s so well done!” another added.
“The way the flowers hang—both high and low—it’s perfect. She’s balanced the densely packed blooms with the looser ones just right. The abstract and the real have been beautifully blended. It’s a feast for the eyes!”
“It’s elegant and graceful, yet evokes deep thought. I could stand here all day just admiring it.”
Rowena seethed, her frustration growing with each compliment that went to Bonnie.
“Hey! Why is everyone crowding around Bonnie? Rowena’s done with her arrangement too! Why isn’t anyone looking at hers?” Halle stomped her foot, clearly losing patience.
But despite her outburst, no one turned away from Bonnie. They were too busy admiring her work.
Halle pushed her way through the crowd and glanced at the flowers on Bonnie’s table. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Wow! That’s amazing!” she exclaimed, quickly slapping a hand to her mouth, her face turning bright red.
Rowena, reluctantly, followed behind. She squeezed into the crowd, clearly displeased, but when she saw Bonnie’s arrangement, she couldn’t do anything but lower her gaze in defeat.
Bonnie caught Halle’s eye and smirked. “So, where’s the expert?”
Halle’s face flushed crimson, and Rowena’s cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Bonnie raised an eyebrow. “Why isn’t anyone saying anything?”