He Lost Me to His Best Friend novel Chapter 52

"What is she doing here?"

Nathan frowned. "This park is full of design firms and studios. This isn't good."

"Why isn't it good?"

"Madam just resigned a few days ago. Coming here now... could she be looking for a new job, or maybe starting her own studio?"

Yardley's face instantly darkened.

Nathan didn't dare say another word. The air in the car grew suffocatingly silent.

Yardley quietly lit a cigarette, taking long drags until it was finished. He made no move to leave, nor did he attempt to get out of the car.

Nathan carefully tested the waters. "Boss, should we go in and take a look, or leave for now?"

Yardley's voice was ice. "Put the word out to the industry. Scarlett is my woman. No company is allowed to hire her."

...

After doing freelance work for five years, Scarlett finally saw what her long-term partner, Croft Design Studio, actually looked like in person.

It was far larger and grander than she had imagined. The workspace was top-tier, featuring an independent coffee bar, dedicated employee lounges, and recreation rooms surrounded by lush greenery. It even had a massive, elegantly designed outdoor terrace.

The highly employee-centric environment immediately caught Scarlett's eye.

After announcing herself as 'S.L', she was quickly introduced to the studio boss she had been working with online for so long.

His screen name was 'Vin'. After introducing themselves, Scarlett learned his real name was Irvin Croft, a strikingly handsome man over six feet tall.

Meeting two incredibly good-looking men with the last name Croft in one day was quite the coincidence.

As they sat down in a booth on the terrace, Scarlett instinctively blurted out a question.

"Your last name is Croft. You're not part of the Croft family in Bay City, are you?"

Irvin froze for a moment before laughing it off. "I wish I were, but unfortunately, I don't have that kind of luck."

That was a relief. Scarlett's tense nerves immediately relaxed.

She cut straight to the chase.

...

Forty minutes later.

Irvin stepped out to make a phone call. When he returned, he decisively signed an agreement with Scarlett, accepting her as a partner in Croft Design Studio.

However, he rejected her offer of capital investment. He only required her to bring her technical expertise to the table, honoring the fifty-fifty split. They finalized the operational structure and signed the contract.

It was only then that Scarlett learned Irvin hadn't founded the studio himself. There was a silent boss behind the scenes, though Irvin didn't specify who it was.

However, the silent partner never interfered with the company's operations. Irvin only consulted him out of courtesy; the ultimate decision-making power rested entirely with Irvin.

With the agreement signed, Scarlett walked out of the office park.

Irvin walked her downstairs, and they shared a polite smile and a wave before she turned to leave.

Just as she exited the gates, she spotted a tall, imposing figure standing by her car.

The man stood with his arms crossed, his gaze locked directly onto her. Even from a distance, Scarlett could feel an overwhelming wave of cold air radiating from him.