I Walked Away And He Lost His Mind (Zephyra and Steven) novel Chapter 426

Megan nodded frantically. “He really is! You have to trust my eye! He had a small scar on his forehead, but it didn’t detract from his looks at all. He’s honestly more handsome than any celebrity! And if you saw him, the clothes he was wearing alone would give you enough to study for days. His whole outfit must be worth millions.”

Carter was intrigued. “Can we meet the investors before the competition? I wouldn’t mind seeing a handsome rich guy for myself.”

The animation designer, Timothy, shook his head. “We can meet them, it’s not like they’re the judges. But the question is, can we even get a meeting?”

Megan was eager to try. “I’m going to give it a shot. These are all major players. Even just having dinner with them would be great. I’ll call a friend, see if there’s a way in. Especially with that handsome guy. He’s totally my type. That cool, aloof vibe is the sexiest. I want to meet him, sleep with him… he just looks like he’d be amazing!”

We were all adults, so the conversation occasionally veered into raunchy territory. The others laughed. “You’re all talk. If he were actually in front of you, you probably wouldn’t even be able to speak.”

Megan laughed heartily. “You know me too well! I’m just talking big. Anyway, I’m going to make some calls and see who this handsome mystery man is.”

I listened quietly from the side. The Nova Challenge was on a completely different level from the rookie competition Steven had hosted. That was for amateurs. This competition in Sonha brought together talented designers from all over the world, each with their own connections or exceptional skill.

No one on this team was a nobody. At the very least, they came from upper-middle-class families, and for Mr. Taylor to recommend them, they had to be skilled. The investors were looking for talent, so if we could make the right connection, a meeting wasn't out of the question.

Soon, Megan finished her call, her face flushed with excitement. “My friend is trying to set something up for us! Let’s go back to our rooms and get ready. I want to look my best!”

I wasn't particularly interested in meeting handsome investors. “You guys go ahead. I’m a bit tired, I think I’ll turn in early tonight.”

Megan quickly tried to persuade me. “Come on, the competition isn’t for another two days! We can check out the venue tomorrow. Let’s just relax tonight. These are all important people. If we can make a good impression, they could become our future clients or partners. It’s a great opportunity.”

She had a point. While I believed that winning the competition would bring them to me, business was business. It didn’t matter who made the first move, as long as there was money to be made.

I decided to give it a try. “Alright, fine.”

That evening, we all dressed appropriately. I opted for a tailored suit instead of a dress.

The dinner was held in the hotel. Two investors had already arrived. They were from advertising and were looking for high-end talent. One of them smiled at Megan. “You must be Ms. Cooper, the one Mr. Taylor recommended. A pleasure to meet you.”

Megan, looking beautiful and elegant, offered a delicate handshake. “Yes, that’s me. Mr. Zachary, Mr. Lee, please have a seat.”

But it wasn’t impossible. Aether Studio had a jewelry division and had even partnered with Myron on a specialized company. It wouldn’t be out of place for him to attend a top-tier design competition.

After that silent phone call, I had heard nothing about Steven and had all but forgotten about him. Please don’t let it be him. How would I get out of this situation?

Zachary chuckled. “Ms. Cooper, you jest. Mr. Lancaster is an incredibly busy man. We only had a brief encounter with him this afternoon. There are levels to investors, and we are nowhere near Mr. Lancaster’s league. How could we possibly know his schedule? But I doubt he’d be interested in a casual dinner like this.”

His words dripped with the implication that they weren't in the same class.

I frowned, my unease growing. Megan muttered to herself, “That’s strange. Mr. Taylor was sure he would be here…”

Just then, there was a knock on the door of the private room, and a deep, achingly familiar voice spoke, unhurriedly.

“Sorry, I’m late—”