My breath caught as Ridley guided me through the ornate doorway of Marshall Estate\u2019s grand ballroom. The purple high necked sleeveless gown he\u2019d selected clung to my frame in a way that was both elegant and assertive. Its simplicity made a statement among the overly embellished gowns surrounding\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cRemember, Ridley murmured close to my ear, his voice barely audible above the string quartet, \u201cyou\u2019re not just representing yourself tonight. You\u2019re the\u00a0<\/p>\n
face of Nest Design.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded slightly, keeping my expression neutral despite the electricity that shot through me at his proximity. The moment we fully entered the room, I felt the shift\u2013conversations paused mid\u2013sentence, crystal glasses halted mid\u2013toast, and photographers pivoted in our direction. Social media journalists discreetly angled their phones toward us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that Ridley Sterling with a woman?\u201d someone whispered loudly enough for me to hear.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is she?\u201d came another voice, the words dripping with calculated curiosity.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I recognized the looks from Chicago\u2019s elite women\u2013the rapid assessment, the slight narrowing of eyes, the forced smiles hiding thinly\u2013veiled jealousy. I\u2019d seen those same expressions at Wright family events, though I\u2019d never been the cause.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ridley\u2019s hand rested lightly against the small of my back as he guided me through the crowd. \u201cGeorge Hammond,\u201d he said, nodding toward a distinguished man in his sixties. \u201cChairman of the Chicago Spatial Design Association. His endorsement would be valuable for your department.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could process this, we were standing before Hammond and his wife, exchanging pleasantries. Ridley\u2019s introduction was deliberate and strategic.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCedar Wright,\u201d he said, \u2018our new Design Director at Nest. She\u2019s completely reimagined how we approach functional spaces in compact urban environments.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hammond\u2019s eyebrows rose with genuine interest. \u201cIs that so? We\u2019ve been discussing the challenges of Chicago\u2019s shrinking residential footprints at the\u00a0<\/p>\n
Association.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I seized the opportunity, discussing light manipulation techniques and my concept of \u201cbreathing walls\u201d that could transform according to residents\u2018 needs. Hammond nodded approvingly, his wife leaning in to catch every word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This pattern repeated as Ridley introduced me to Martha Coleman, founder of Urban Vision, and finally to James Marshall himself, the real estate magnate hosting the event. With each introduction, Ridley emphasized my role at Nest in a way that suggested I was far more than a hire.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018Her integration of sustainable materials with classical proportions is precisely what Sterling Design Group has been moving toward,\u201d he told Marshall, who studied me with new interest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019d like to see your portfolio, Ms. Wright, Marshall said. \u201cWe have a new luxury development breaking ground in Lincoln Park that needs a fresh perspective.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I felt a surge of pride\u2013this was recognition of my abilities, not my connection to Ridley.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Suddenly, something nearby caught Ridley\u2019s attention. He turned to the group with an apologetic smile. \u201cExcuse me, I need to handle something quickly. I\u2019ll be right back.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He leaned down slightly toward me and said quietly, \u201cKeep chatting with them. I won\u2019t be long.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
1\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
4:02 pm\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 49\u00a0<\/p>\n
I nodded, and he swiftly made his exit.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Without his presence beside me, I felt a flutter of nervousness, but the confidence I\u2019d gained from our earlier conversation quickly kicked in, and I settled\u00a0<\/p>\n
into the flow of things.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I found myself surrounded by a circle of developers and designers, discussing Marshall\u2019s new luxury apartment project. James Marshall himself unfolded blueprints on a cocktail table.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The units will be compact but premium, he explained. \u201cThe challenge is creating spaces that feel expansive despite their footprint.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I studied the plans, immediately noticing a flaw. \u201cYou\u2019re losing natural light here,\u201d I pointed to the northwest corner units. \u201cBut if you adjusted the wall angle by just twelve degrees\u2026\u201d I took out my phone, showing him a rough sketch from a similar project I\u2019d worked on.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Marshall\u2019s eyes lit up. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly the kind of thinking we need. Your \u2018flowing space\u2018 concept could work beautifully here.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWith sustainable materials throughout,\u201d I added. \u201cBamboo flooring transitions seamlessly into hemlock accent walls-\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSterling certainly has an eye for talent,\u201d Marshall interrupted, his gaze assessing me anew. \u201cPerhaps we should discuss a direct design contract for these\u00a0<\/p>\n
units.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
My heart leaped, but before I could respond, a commotion erupted nearby.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cSo this is Chicago\u2019s newest design \u2018escort\u2018? A sharp, slurring voice cut through the professional conversation. \u201cSleeping with Brad Wilson one week and\u00a0<\/p>\n
clinging to Sterling the next?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I turned to face a woman in her twenties, wearing an overly embellished gold gown, her champagne glass tilted dangerously. Behind her stood Selena, her practiced innocent expression barely concealing her satisfaction. So it was Selena\u2019s scheme again.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire, Marshall hissed, clearly embarrassed by his daughter\u2019s behavior.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I recognized Claire Marshall immediately\u2013she\u2019d attended many Wright family functions, always hanging on Selena\u2019s every word. The two had tormented me\u00a0<\/p>\n
at countless events.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire crossed her arms, lifting her chin with peacock\u2013like arrogance. \u201cShow us your invitation, Wright. Prove you belong here on merit, not as Sterling\u2019s\u00a0<\/p>\n
latest conquest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
A hush fell over the nearby guests. I felt blood rushing to my face but kept my expression composed. \u201cI\u2019m Mr. Sterling\u2019s guest tonight, as is customary at\u00a0<\/p>\n
social functions. No invitation required.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Selena stepped forward, placing a falsely supportive hand on my arm. \u201cClaire\u2019s just had too much champagne, Cedar. Perhaps you should apologize and\u00a0<\/p>\n
smooth things over?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Her eyes glittered with malice as she added loudly enough for others to hear, \u201cAfter all, the Wilson Group is a major player in our industry, Wright Creatives would love to partner with them too.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire, emboldened, advanced toward me. \u201cIf you\u2019re here on genuine talent, where\u2019s your invitation? Prove you\u2019re not just sleeping your way through Chicago\u2019s design firms.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I maintained eye contact, refusing to be intimidated. \u201cI don\u2019t need to prove anything to you, Claire. My work speaks for itself.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat work?\u201d Selena interjected with feigned concern. \u201cCedar, everyone\u2019s wondering about your\u2026 special relationship with Mr. Sterling. The entire company is talking.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
2\/3\u00a0<\/p>\n
4:02 pm\u00a0<\/p>\n
Chapter 49\u00a0<\/p>\n
0:00\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could respond, a distinguished silver\u2013haired man stepped beside me. \u201cI can answer that question,\u201d he said, his British accent cutting through the\u00a0<\/p>\n
tension.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cPhilip Graham, he introduced himself to the onlookers. Design critic for Architectural Digest.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He held up his phone, displaying a digital layout. \u201cMs. Wright\u2019s micro\u2013apartment design will be featured in next month\u2019s Chicago Design. Her use of vertical space and transformable elements is the most innovative approach I\u2019ve seen in years.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He turned to Claire, his smile sharp as glass. \u201cTrue design talent doesn\u2019t require drunken scenes to gain attention, Ms. Marshall.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The crowd\u2019s mood shifted instantly. Selena\u2019s smile faltered as she attempted to change the subject, but the damage to her plan was done.\u00a0<\/p>\n
1 excused myself, needing a moment alone. As I walked through the exhibition hall\u2019s long corridor, I heard footsteps behind me. Turning, I found Selena and\u00a0<\/p>\n
Claire approaching with plastered smiles.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCedar, we want to apologize,\u201d Selena said sweetly. \u201cWe were hoping you could join us at the refreshment area for a drink. Let us properly make amends.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Before I could refuse, she grabbed my hand and practically dragged me over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Sky Remembered the Touch of Our Uninished Goodbyes by Lysa Orion Rehn 49 My breath caught as Ridley guided […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[88],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-zero-stars-for-daddy-novel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30448","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30448"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30448\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30448"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30448"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/kezpres.xyz\/novelreading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30448"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}