Chapter 3

The online meeting was about to start. Adrian was ten minutes late.

When the screen lit up, behind him was the Cole Group conference room.

Lily sat beside him, draped in that white cashmere scarf.

She smiled at the camera.

"Emma, long time no see. You look so much thinner in Paris."

I opened my files.

"Let's begin."

Adrian frowned slightly.

"You have nothing else to say?"

I looked at him.

"What would Mr. Cole like to hear?"

The conference room went quiet.

Adrian's expression darkened half a shade.

Lily immediately jumped in to smooth things over.

"Adrian, don't be like that. Emma's still upset with me."

She pulled the scarf up a little, her voice perfectly soft.

"Emma, what happened that night really was my fault. But what's done is done. Don't blame Adrian—he was in a difficult position back then too."

I capped my pen.

"Ms. Hart, today we're discussing design, not your medical history."

Someone on the other side ducked their head and coughed.

Adrian's eyes went cold.

"Emma, watch your words."

I looked up.

"She can publicly discuss these things at my third anniversary dinner, but I can't ask her to stay on topic during a meeting?"

Lily's eyes immediately rimmed red.

"I didn't mean it like that. I just thought, since the theme is Second Chance, maybe my experience could help inform the design."

Adrian pushed a cup of warm water toward her.

"Don't cry."

Then he looked at me.

"Lily is this project's inspiration guest. You need to listen to her input."

I pulled up the design files.

"Fine."

I shared my draft on screen.

"I'm proposing we change the theme to The Break. Past love isn't reunion—it's misalignment. The band splits in the center, joined by cold white gold, leaving the gap visually intact. It's not about wholeness. It's about acknowledging that beauty still exists after something has broken."

Cole Group's marketing director's eyes lit up.

"This concept is elevated. Much more memorable."

But Lily gave a soft laugh.

"Wouldn't a gap feel too unlucky, though? Didn't Adrian say he wants this collection to have a touch of regret but still end in something whole?"

Adrian studied the screen, his tone flat.

"Change it to a complete circle."

I said, "A full circle has no hook."

"What clients want is sales, not your emotions." He tapped the table. "Emma, you've been unstable lately. Don't be stubborn."

I looked at his hands.

Those hands once held mine while we sketched ring designs together.

He'd said, "Your designs have thorns and light. That's what I love most."

Now he wanted me to pull out the thorns and accommodate Lily's wholeness.

Professor Laurent spoke up from beside me.

"Mr. Cole, Emma's concept is more aligned with international market aesthetics."

Adrian's expression didn't change.

"The North American market is Cole Group's responsibility. I said change it."

Lily murmured, "Maybe forget it. Emma doesn't like me. She won't accept anything I suggest."

Adrian looked at me.

"Apologize to Lily."

I thought I'd misheard.

"What?"

"She was only offering a suggestion. You embarrassed her in front of everyone."

I laughed. "Adrian, you're asking me to apologize to her in a meeting?"

"This is a professional setting."

"So?"

He fixed his gaze on me, enunciating every word.

"So don't make me think you lack basic professional decorum."

No one in the room spoke.

I closed the screen share.

"Ms. Hart, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have underestimated your ability to package personal drama as professional input."

Lily's face went white.

Adrian shot to his feet.

"Emma!"

I pulled out my earbuds.

"That's all for today. I'll send revision notes in writing."

Before I disconnected, I heard Adrian's voice, tight with fury.

"You'd better think carefully about the consequences."

The screen went dark.

Professor Laurent was quiet for a moment, then said, "Did he always talk to you like that?"

I looked at my hands. My fingertips were ice cold.

"No."

Before, he used to introduce me to everyone.

He'd say, "This is Emma Ward. The most important person in my life—and the best designer I know."

Somewhere along the way, the most important person became an external consultant who could be dressed down in public.

My phone screen lit up. A message from Adrian.

"Formally apologize to Lily before tonight, or the lead creative will be reassigned."

I stared at it for a long time, then replied.

"Go ahead."

Five minutes later, a Cole Group internal email was cc'd to my inbox.

Lead Designer: Lily Hart.

Special Consultant: Emma Ward.