Chapter 216
Chapter 216:
Sophie stared at the emerald in disbelief and shook her hands like she wanted to wave the stone away. “Maura! This thing is priceless! I can’t possibly use it for my design. It would be wasted on me p>
She wondered how her little sketches ever got a shot at being paired with Imperial Green.
Maura squeezed her hand and spoke in a voice that brooked no argument. “Listen to me. If I say it’s the right match, then that’s final. Your work deserves the very best stones p>
Quiet satisfaction played at the edge of Maura’s smile. Sophie’s husband had bought this emerald himself for her birthday. He had fought hard to win that auction back then. Having it set in his wife’s custom piece? That was exactly where it belonged.
There was a fierce warmth in Maura’s gaze. The emerald glowed, bold and impossible to ignore, and Sophie felt a surge of gratitude and newfound resolve wash over her.
She inhaled slowly, squared her shoulders, and met Maura’s eyes. “Alright! I’ll give this everything I have. I promise you won’t regret it p>
Addie hugged the wall, shaking like a leaf in a windstorm. Nobody even spared her a glance now. Karen, all charm and business, had already started leading Addie over to the front desk to sort out the compensation. Desperate, Addie lunged forward and tried to plead with Maura, but two guards caught her arms and marched her away.
Save your favorite novels on.com
She could feel her world collapsing. The second word spread, every woman in high society would be laughing at her expense. Her dreams of marrying into power crumbled right there. Even her studio was barely holding on. The doors slammed shut on her career. The Emerald Arcade and the rest of Zhatwell’s luxury gem world would never let her back in. All those big paydays vanished in an instant.
At last, the emerald set landed on the workbench, shimmering under the lights. Sophie practically set up camp on the shop floor, never letting her gaze stray from the team as they worked. There was zero margin for error with something this valuable.
Her faith in the veteran jewelers never wavered. Still, knowing that this single stone could cover the cost of a yacht made her pulse race. One misstep, and she might as well swap gemstones for spatulas.
The hours ticked by with every step executed to perfection. When the final clasp snapped into place, the emerald set looked breathtaking. The emerald’s beauty stole the spotlight, its color and clarity untouched.
As soon as Maura laid eyes on the finished pieces, pure delight sparked across her face. “Sophie, this is next-level! I swear, you’ve got some magic touch. I could lose myself just looking at this shine p>
Grinning ear to ear, Maura played with the pieces, admiring them from every possible angle, her excitement impossible to hide.
Without wasting a second, she pulled out her phone and started snapping photos right there in the showroom. The lighting, the sparkle—she caught it all.
“I have to get these on Facebook immediately! People are going to lose their minds. My friends are going to be begging for your number. From now on, if anyone wants something custom, you’re the one I’ll recommend—Sophie, the one and only p>
Maura’s talent for promotion worked like a charm. Just a handful of days later, Sophie’s phone was buzzing nonstop. Socialites and wealthy wives couldn’t wait to book her, asking for their own designs with her signature style.
Almost overnight, Sophie was the hottest name in custom jewelry. Her sketchbook filled up faster than she could keep up, and most evenings ended with tired eyes and coffee that went cold before she could take a sip.
Adrian watched the whole thing unfold, but he couldn’t hide the edge in his voice. “Sweetheart, I feel like I’ve disappeared from your radar. When’s the last time we actually went out together p>
A stubborn knot in the design left Sophie fuming at her desk. Unable to hold it in, she spun around, gripped Adrian’s shoulders, and gave him a good shake, her voice bursting with a mix of frustration and fondness.
“Adrian! Do you realize you’re right in the thick of your career? This is your golden moment! How can you just sit there acting like none of it matters? Where do you even find the energy to worry about romance? Seriously—what do we actually have to our names? Is there a real home that’s ours? A car we can count on? Even a little bit of savings? What makes you think you get to slack off now p>
Words failed Adrian.
Fine, then.
Sophie’s focus on her work never wavered, and she seemed to draw energy from every challenge. Suddenly, he felt obliged to work harder.
After letting out a heavy breath, he made his exit sound like a critical business call and hurried back to the Pinnacle Group offices. If Sophie could pour her soul into her craft, then he had no excuse. It was time for the whole team to double down—endless meetings, longer days, and no letting up.