Chapter 145

The design in Liliana's sent-mail folder was the original version. Nina looked at it, then back at her own phone. They were clearly different.

"I... I'll talk to Ms. Woods about this," she stammered. "You can go back to your work."

"If Ms. Woods is really this unhappy with me, maybe you should take over the project," Liliana offered, weary of the drama. The AuraRun contest was already consuming half her energy; she couldn't afford to let these petty games derail her focus.

Nina hesitated. "Let me... let me talk to her first."

Liliana was surprised by her conciliatory tone. "Thank you."

"You can go," Nina said, waving a hand and avoiding her gaze, unable to accept the gratitude.

Once she was alone, Nina immediately called Sylvia. "Ms. Woods, Liliana has the email record of the original design she sent you. Framing her like this isn't going to work."

Sylvia's voice was completely untroubled on the other end of the line. "Fine. Then I'm not satisfied with her design. Tell her to do it again."

Nina was taken aback, feeling even more guilty than Sylvia sounded. "Didn't we agree to just drop this?"

"Drop what?" Sylvia's tone sharpened. "She represents you now. Aren't you afraid her incompetence will make you look bad?"

Of course she was. A renowned designer's reputation depended not just on their own work, but on the quality of the people they mentored. Torn between protecting her job and her pride, Nina felt trapped.

"Sylvia, how about this?" Nina ventured. "Could you find out who the designer for your Expo Manor house is? If you can do that for me... we can continue our collaboration?" She couldn't get the stunning color scheme and decor of that house out of her head.

"Deal," Sylvia agreed without hesitation. "I'll ask for you. In the meantime, bring Liliana to the restaurant downstairs from my office at noon. We'll discuss her design, and I'll reject it in person to save you the trouble."

"Perfect!" Nina said, relieved. After hanging up, she sent a message to Liliana, telling her they had a meeting with Sylvia that afternoon. The project it seemned, was still hers. Liliana pressed her fingers toher temple and resignedly agreed.

**Zephyr Group**

Sylvia walked into the CEO's office with a financial report.

"Come in," Cedric's deep voice called from within.

She placed the report on his desk. "Cedric, since when are you interested in the design world?" The papers were a funding proposal for the AuraRuin Design Contest, which required his signature.

"Just a whim," he answered dismissively.

Sylvia caught the evasion but didn't press it. "By the way, who was the designer for your Expo Manor house?"

He pushed the signed document back to her. "I thought you didn't like it. Why are you asking?"

"The style isn't for me, but a friend of mine loved it," she said with a casual smile. "Just trying to help her out."

Cedric didn't think the decor was

anything special, but he had never O such things

paid much attention

Then again, Liliana had put a lot of

effort into it, so it must have some merit. .

"Give your friend's contact information to Timothy. He'll handle it."

"Great. And let's have lunch. My treat," she offered. "A thank you for helping me with my resignation, and now this."