Miles was sitting in the center of the VIP section.
He wore a simple gray shirt with the sleeves casually rolled up. His attention was on the design booklet in his hands, his profile sharp and striking.
As if he sensed Claire’s gaze, he looked up and found her immediately.
Their eyes met across the crowd.
Claire’s heart beat a little faster.
She smiled, gave him a playful little wink, and put on a look that said, "What a coincidence."
Claire reached for her phone to text him. Before she could, an excited male voice came from behind her.
"Claire? Is that really you?"
A man in a dark blue suit hurried toward her with a bright, handsome smile.
"Ian?" Claire looked genuinely surprised. "You’re here for the presentation too?"
Ian Rhodes’s eyes lit up. He looked at Claire as if she were the only person in the room.
He looked a little embarrassed. "I’m here representing my brand."
Then he handed Claire a business card. Design Director, Apex Wear.
Claire took the card and ran a fingertip over the gold lettering.
Apex Wear had become one of the fastest-growing fashion brands in recent years. She never imagined its founder would be the younger student who used to follow her everywhere in college.
The boy she remembered was gone. He had grown into a confident man.
Claire felt a small tug of emotion.
The people who had once built OCHH with her had all gone on to create brands of their own and keep moving forward.
But she had spent those same years under Jacob’s wing, with almost nothing of her own to show for it.
Ian’s voice dropped, carrying a trace of hurt.
"After you left OCHH, I tried everywhere to reach you. I looked for you for a long time, but you deleted everyone. We all thought you’d left fashion for good."
Claire smiled. "I run an embroidery studio now. It’s called Moonstone Studio."
Ian brightened. "That’s perfect. Apex Wear has been looking for a way to mix modern design with traditional craft."
He got so excited that he almost reached for Claire’s arm, then caught himself and pulled his hand back. His face turned a little red.
They weren’t the carefree college kids they used to be.
"Claire, can I get your number?"
"Sure." Claire took out her phone and saved his contact.
Then she felt an icy stare on her.
She instinctively looked toward Miles.
Sure enough, he was watching her with a blank expression that somehow looked very unhappy.
’Is he jealous?’
Claire calmly looked away from Miles and turned back to Ian, a pleased little smile tugging at her lips.
Jealousy was the first sign a man was starting to take the bait.
"Claire, let me take you to dinner after this. We can really catch up."
"I’d like that." Claire smiled brightly. "But I have to present my design report in a minute. Let’s talk after."
She could practically feel Miles’s stare getting colder.
"Of course. Go do your thing!"
The presentation was about to begin. The conference room doors opened again.
Jacob and Yvonne walked in side by side.
Yvonne was all smiles, her arm linked through Jacob’s. Together they looked polished enough to draw every eye in the room.
Claire felt nothing. She lowered her gaze and kept reading over her presentation notes.
Jacob noticed her. His eyes paused on her for a moment before he scoffed and looked away.
’Is she avoiding my eyes because she can’t stand seeing me with Yvonne? And she says she doesn’t care about me? That she doesn’t love me? She’s just too stubborn to admit she lost. She’ll regret it soon enough.’
The host stepped onto the stage.
"Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to Crescent’s new-season design presentation."
The event moved through its scheduled agenda. Claire sat near the back, waiting for her turn.
"Next, please welcome the representative from Crescent’s primary design partner, Sinclair Design, Claire Kendall."
Claire stood and stepped into the aisle.
"Wait." Yvonne spoke from the front row. She was smiling, but her eyes were cold. "I’m sorry, but there’s something we need to clarify."
She turned to the host. "Claire Kendall is no longer an employee of Sinclair Design. She can’t represent this collection on stage."
The room went silent, then erupted in whispers.
"What happened? They’re replacing her at the last minute?"
"What could she have done? Crescent approved her design and she still got fired?"
"Then why did she even come? Just standing there has to be embarrassing."
As the whispers spread, Jacob stood.
He looked at Claire in the middle of the aisle.
"Ms. Kendall didn’t do anything wrong. She’s still with Sinclair Group, just no longer part of Sinclair Design. Moonstone Studio now operates independently out of Wexall Textile Mill. All future work with Crescent will be handled by Sinclair Design."
Claire’s fingers slowly curled at her side.
’He really knows how to corner me. And he really has no shame.’
"Wexall Textile Mill? That place is older than I am."
"She’s supposed to build a business out there? That’s a joke."
"It’s obvious. She landed one Crescent order and suddenly thought she was too good for Sinclair Design."
Yvonne gave a soft laugh and walked onto the stage.
Under the lights, she looked polished and professional in a crisp white suit.
"I’ll be presenting the summer Ivy Collection today."
The large screen lit up behind her.
Several fresh, highly creative design sketches appeared.
The credit read: Sinclair Design.
Claire’s name was nowhere on the screen.
Yvonne looked at Claire, paused, and gave her a faintly mocking smile.
Just as Yvonne was about to begin her presentation, a low male voice came from the front row.
"I disagree."
Miles set down the design booklet and looked at the host.
"Follow the original schedule. Ms. Kendall should present her own work."
Yvonne stared at Miles. Her body went stiff, but she kept a graceful smile on her face even as she clenched her jaw.
’Why is Uncle Miles helping her again?’
Arrogance crept into Jacob’s voice.
"Mr. Warren, this is between Sinclair Design and Crescent. I don’t think it concerns you."
Two empty seats separated Jacob and Miles. Miles turned his head, his gaze cool.
"I’m making the request as an investor in Crescent."
The host quickly added an explanation for the room.
"Mr. Warren is currently Crescent’s largest shareholder."