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Novel Catalog
Chapter 14
Gale inhaled sharply, her heart racing as she quickly straightened up. “No, I’ll go right away!” she blurted out, desperate to escape the tension in the room. But as she turned to walk away, she froze when she saw Sam’s stunned face.
Why was Sam here?
Her mind raced with confusion as she realized that the client Shawn was meeting was none other than Sam Carson.
Shawn, with a slight smirk, gestured toward Gale. “This is the mouse I was talking about.”
Sam gave a nervous laugh, clearly uncomfortable. Gale forced a polite smile. “Sorry for disturbing you. I’ll be on my way now.”
She walked past Sam without sparing another glance, her steps stiff and deliberate, as if they had never known each other. Sam stood frozen for a moment, looking torn, hesitant, like he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words.
Before she could make it to the door, Shawn’s voice stopped her. “Wait.”
Gale turned around, her face betraying a mix of curiosity and apprehension. “Yes, Mr. Wood?”
Shawn’s eyes narrowed, as if he was sizing her up. “If I remember correctly, your major in college was jewelry design.”
The mention of jewelry design made her stomach twist. Back then, she had been the shining jewel of the Warm family, carefree and full of dreams. She had chosen the major simply because it was something she loved, something she was good at. Her designs had won awards and garnered industry attention. But now? Now, she was a shadow of who she once was, struggling to simply survive.
“Yes,” she replied, after a brief pause. “But I didn’t graduate.”
There was still a year left before she could finish her degree when Shawn had taken her away, throwing her life into disarray and placing her in a mental hospital. Everything had spiraled out of control since then.
Before anyone could respond, the door swung open and a man entered. He exuded a casual, almost playful charm, with peach blossom eyes and a smile that never seemed to fade. It was Joe Winter, the vice president of the Wood Group and Shawn’s most trusted friend.
Joe raised an eyebrow as he walked into the room. “Bro, you brought me back from the European branch just to set up a jewelry brand?” he asked, a playful edge to his voice.
Shawn’s response was simple and calm. “Yes. And the film and television department is under your control too.”
Joe almost jumped out of his chair in surprise. “You want to enter the entertainment industry?”
Shawn leaned back, his fingers tapping lightly on his coffee cup. “Can’t you handle it? Or is managing two departments too much for you?”
Joe groaned. “You’re trying to kill me. The donkeys in the production team don’t even work that hard! Wage increase!”
Shawn didn’t even blink. “I’m not short of money. I understand the jewelry business, but the entertainment industry… It’s messy, complicated. Why do you want to get involved in it?”
Shawn paused for a moment before answering, his voice casual yet revealing something deeper. “For a woman.”
Joe’s eyes widened as he grinned. “Yo! It’s for your newlywed little wife!” He laughed, clearly enjoying the teasing. “Bro, can you even handle all this? You’re such a player!”
Shawn kicked Joe under the table, silencing his friend’s antics. “Where’s the stuff?” he demanded.
Joe, without missing a beat, pulled out a stack of design drafts and handed them to Shawn. “Here. The designs for Fantastic Jewels.”
Shawn didn’t hesitate to hand the stack over to Gale. “Take a look at these. Spot the faults.”
Gale glanced down at the drafts and began flipping through them, her mind sharp and focused. She pointed to one of the designs. “The overall design level of Fantastic Jewels has declined in the past three years,” she said confidently. “The reason it’s still loved by consumers is because of the brand, not the products themselves.”
She continued, her voice growing more animated as she spoke. “First, the brand has no clear identity. Is Fantastic Jewels aiming for the high-end market, or are they targeting regular consumers? You need to decide that.”
“Second,” she continued, “the styles are outdated and uninspiring. The brand should recruit fresh, younger design talent. There’s a lot of untapped potential there.”
Gale’s eyes sparkled with passion as she spoke. She no longer seemed like the timid woman she had been earlier. The energy she had when talking about design was undeniable. Shawn watched her closely, his expression unreadable.
“That’s all I can think of right now,” Gale said with a nod of satisfaction, feeling the weight of the critique lift off her shoulders.
Shawn, seemingly impressed, nodded slowly. “Yes, you’re right. This aligns with my thoughts as well.” He glanced at Sam, who had been silent through the exchange. Sam’s face was slightly pale, and his expression darkened, but he forced a smile.
“Well, criticism is what pushes progress,” Sam said, though the words didn’t sound quite as sincere as he probably intended. “Mr. Wood, as for the cooperation…”
“I’ll think about it,” Shawn interrupted him, dismissing him with a wave of his hand.
“Alright,” Sam muttered, still looking at Gale, his gaze lingering with unspoken words. He seemed to want to say something, but he kept it inside. Before he left, he took one last long look at her, as if trying to figure her out.
Joe’s curiosity piqued as he looked at Gale. “Where did President Wood find such an extraordinary talent like you?”
Shawn didn’t even flinch. “She’s my newlywed mistress.”
Joe’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, so it’s Mrs. Wood! Hello! I’m Joe.” He flashed a charming smile, his tone lighthearted. “No wonder! Only a good woman like you can reel him in!”
Gale forced a polite smile. “Hello, Mr. Joe.”
Joe clapped his hands together, eager to get to the point. “Perfect timing! We’re about to launch Shawn’s jewelry brand, and I’m the one managing it. I’m short of designers. How about it? Want to give it a try?”
Gale’s eyes lit up with hope. “Is it really okay?”
Joe’s grin widened. “Of course! You’re more than qualified!”
He may have seemed carefree, but Joe was sharp in his work, always thinking ahead. Gale could sense that this opportunity was more than just a chance for redemption; it was a way for her to reclaim some of the life she had lost.
Shawn, who had been listening silently, glanced at her and gave a slight nod. “I’ll lend her to you,” he said casually. “But promise me you’ll return her to me.”
Joe let out a laugh. “No need to be so formal. She’s still part of the Wood family—just on a different floor. You can take the elevator if you want to see her!”
Shawn kicked Joe again, but Joe was already moving away, avoiding the blow with ease. “Let’s go, Mrs. Wood,” he said with enthusiasm. “I’m already looking forward to your design draft!”
“Mr. Winter, just call me Gale,” she replied, smiling at his infectious energy.
Joe grinned. “Okay, okay! From now on, you’re my capable soldier!”
As the two of them left the office, Gale couldn’t help but feel a flicker of hope. Perhaps, for the first time in years, she might have a chance to rebuild her life.
Back in the office, Shawn leaned against the sofa, his fingers lightly playing with a cigarette. He eyed the stack of design drafts on the table before turning his gaze back to Gale.
“Tell me, what’s your relationship with Sam?” he asked, his tone direct, eyes narrowing.
Gale’s breath caught in her throat. Had he seen through her? They had barely exchanged a word, yet somehow Shawn was probing deeper than anyone ever had.
“He’s my former fiancé,” she replied after a beat, trying to keep her composure.
Shawn’s expression grew colder. “Fiancé?”
“Yes,” Gale confirmed, her voice softening. “But we broke off our engagement two years ago. He went abroad to study, and I… I ended up in a mental hospital. We haven’t seen each other until today.”
Shawn’s eyes narrowed further. “If it wasn’t for me, would you have been married long ago?”
Gale’s smile was bitter. “It should have been. But there are so many paths in life.”
Shawn’s demeanor shifted, and he leaned in closer to her, his voice dripping with something darker. “Gale,” he murmured. “You must hate me. You must hate me for ruining your life. You probably want to kill me with your own hands.”
His words hung in the air, thick with menace. “Even if I die, you’ll dig up my body and whip it, won’t you?”
Gale lowered her gaze, her voice barely above a whisper. “Shawn, we are both pitiful.”
Shawn’s smile grew wider, though there was no warmth in it. “Pitiful?” he scoffed. “You’ve lost your most beloved father, and I’ve lost a happy family. We’re both pawns, manipulated by fate.”
Her heart squeezed painfully at his words, but she couldn’t argue. There was no proof to back up her claims.
“This is what you deserve,” Shawn spat, his eyes hardening. “Your father ruined everything.”
She had no defense. No counterargument. He
was right, in a way.
Shawn moved away, lighting a cigarette as if nothing had happened. “Leave,” he ordered coldly.
Gale turned to go, her heart heavy, but as she reached the elevator, her phone rang, breaking the silence.
“Hello?”
“Are you Gale?” a voice asked.
“Yes?”
“I’m calling from the prison. Your father had an accident. Come right away.”
Her blood ran cold. Her legs gave out beneath her, but she managed to stand. There was no time to wait for the elevator. She rushed for the stairs, her mind a whirlwind.
Her mother was already in Shawn’s grasp… but her father? Her father had to be safe. He must be!