The Love I Begged For Was Never Real novel Chapter 117

The moment Nora pushed open the studio doors, her colleagues in the bullpen immediately looked up.

The receptionist jumped to her feet, flashing a bright, eager smile. “Good morning, Designer Xavier. Your desk has already been cleaned.”

Nora nodded in greeting and walked toward her workstation.

Sloane Miller was standing in the aisle with a stack of design files. Seeing Nora approach, she proactively stepped aside, plastering a highly accommodating smile on her face.

“Nora, great job lately. I heard the business gala went incredibly well.”

Sloane's tone had lost its usual biting sarcasm, replaced by a careful, almost sycophantic sweetness.

She didn't breathe a word about the Sterling family being systematically ruined, but her drastic shift in attitude spoke volumes.

Seraphina's downfall had served as a blaring alarm to everyone in their social circle. Nobody dared to test Mrs. Hayes's bottom line again.

“It went well enough,”

Nora replied coolly, walking straight to her seat.

Her morning was incredibly busy.

Thanks to the drama at the gala, Nora's name had completely taken over the high-society circles. Many clients who had previously been on the fence were now calling the studio bright and early, explicitly requesting Nora for their custom pieces.

Nora's inbox was flooded with appointment requests.

She opened her computer, carefully reviewing each client's specifications. She knew a large portion of these people were only here because of Gideon, hoping to curry favor with The Hayes Group by giving her business.

But Nora treated these orders with absolute professionalism. She analyzed every client's age, aura, and preferences, quickly sketching out preliminary designs on paper. She wasn't about to turn away business that landed in her lap.

Business was business. As long as it boosted the studio's revenue and expanded her own influence, she was more than happy to accept the influx of resources.

At two in the afternoon, a VIP client arrived at the studio.

Mrs. Zimmerman raised an eyebrow and opened the top portfolio.

Over the next half hour, Nora detailed her unique insights into gemstone cutting angles, metal setting techniques, and color coordination.

She pointed out that Mrs. Zimmerman's necklace from the night before lacked sufficient light refraction, and right there on the spot, she used a pencil to draft an entirely new structural blueprint for the setting.

Looking at the exquisite lines on the paper and listening to Nora's perfectly articulated analysis, the scrutiny in Mrs. Zimmerman's eyes gradually softened into admiration.

“Ms. Xavier, you certainly have a brilliant eye.”

Mrs. Zimmerman closed the portfolio, nodding in satisfaction. “I'm fully comfortable leaving this set in your hands. I'll have my assistant wire the deposit to the studio's account shortly.”

Nora stood up, smiling as she walked Mrs. Zimmerman to the door.

After signing such a massive contract, the way everyone in the studio looked at Nora completely changed.