The One He Dismissed Became The One He Died For novel Chapter 241

Claire arranged to meet with several smaller clothing manufacturers to discuss the contract.

Without a massive operation like Hurst Garments, completing an order of two hundred thousand dresses would require outsourcing to at least five smaller factories simultaneously.

Not only would it skyrocket the costs, but managing it would be a logistical nightmare.

At The Willow Room, a high-end private dining restaurant.

Claire arrived half an hour early, double-checking the seating arrangements and the menu in the private suite before heading back down to the lobby to wait.

With OCHH Luxury currently drowning in crisis, everyone in the industry was dodging them like the plague.

Though these manufacturers were small-time, Claire stood in the lobby to greet them personally to show her utmost sincerity.

"Mr. Wang, right this way."

"Mr. Lambert, it's been a while."

...

Claire made warm, engaging small talk, with Betty Wade greeting them right alongside her as the various manufacturers trickled into the restaurant.

The men openly scrutinized Claire.

One of them chuckled. "Haha, Ms. Jenner, it certainly has been a while! Mr. Zimmerman didn't join you today?"

Claire's red lips pressed into a thin line.

The only reason they had agreed to come so readily was because of her status as Mrs. Zimmerman.

She flashed a polite smile, playing it perfectly cool. "He's tied up at the hospital today, and I didn't want to bother him."

Just as the words left her mouth, a man and a woman walked through the front doors.

Miles and Lauren.

He wore casual clothes, the top two buttons of his shirt undone to reveal the sharp lines of his collarbone, exuding effortless elegance. Lauren followed right behind him in a simple, fitted white dress, looking the picture of pure, gentle innocence.

Claire's lie was instantly exposed.

Miles wasn't busy at the hospital at all. He was clearly busy keeping another woman company.

The air froze, and the expressions on the businessmen's faces instantly shifted into something much more calculated.

"Claire?" Lauren spotted her and called out a greeting.

The other men quickly chimed in.

"Exactly. You've completely lost your priorities. Joining the Zimmerman family isn't something just anyone can do, you know."

"By the way, that woman next to Mr. Zimmerman downstairs... she's a designer too, right? I think they went to the same university."

Claire abruptly changed the subject.

"Gentlemen, let's get back to the partnership. As long as you can meet the delivery timeline, OCHH is more than willing to pay a premium."

"What's the rush? Pour the wine! Claire, you're the host tonight. How can we do business if you won't even drink with us properly?"

Claire gripped her glass so tightly her knuckles turned white. Suppressing the overwhelming urge to throw the wine in their faces, she downed a second glass.

Betty stood up and nervously stepped in front of Claire.

"Gentlemen, Claire doesn't have a high tolerance. I'll drink for her..."

Smack! A wine glass slammed violently against the table.

"Who the hell do you think you are? What gives you the right to drink for her?"