Whispers of Destiny: His Belated Love novel Chapter 181

Heading to Traversing City for that design gig, with a paycheck of twenty million, no need to clock in, meetings on my schedule, and getting an advance? Sign me up!

Yolanda nearly choked on her drink upon hearing that. Once she recovered, the first thing out of her mouth was, "Are you outta your mind? With a sweet deal like that, why the heck are you still thinking? Just say yes! Which big shot boss is throwing money around like that... Traversing City, Traversing City," she repeated, then gave Rosemary a mischievous glance and winked, "Isn't that the Gellar family's project? Did Martin hook you up?"

"Is the design fee too hefty?"

Rosemary wasn't clued up on the industry. If the pay was insanely high, she'd bail.

She was strapped for cash but didn't want to rake it in this way.

"Nah, it's fair. Your rep's worth it. If the show's a hit, you'll be a celeb. You'll be a crowd-puller at the opening," Yolanda mused, chin in hand. "But this stuff's priceless 'cause it's rare, especially for big historic architecture projects. So, it's a wicked opportunity, the kind you don't wanna miss."

Seeing Rosemary knock back several drinks while she talked, Yolanda snatched the glass away, "Honey, take it easy on the booze. I can't deal with drunk you again. Go text Martin right now. Tell him you're in before someone else snags your spot."

Rosemary didn't dilly-dally. She shot Martin a message straight away.

He must've been glued to his phone 'cause he replied instantly, "Tomorrow at 1 PM, come sign the contract, and send me your bank details."

Rosemary: "I'll get an advance once the project officially kicks off."

No signed contract yet. She wasn't that bold.

"Just the deposit."

With Martin putting it like that, Rosemary could only send over her bank info. Minutes later, a cool ten million landed in her account.

"..."

Yolanda, witnessing the whole shebang, poked Rosemary's arm and joked, "Got any of Mr. Gellar's brothers for me? I'm game."

"Sure, Maxwell."

Yolanda snorted, "Sister, why you throwing me to the wolves? Jealous 'cause my credit limit is higher than yours?"

The moment the cash dropped, Rosemary didn't waste a second transferring it to Maxwell. Her limit was only fifty grand at a time, so she sent two lots of a hundred grand, maxing out her daily cap.

...

Meadowlark Retreat.

Maxwell glanced at his vibrating phone, catching a glimpse of a bank deposit notification. He was gonna ignore it, but the amount made him frown.

Fifty grand?

No one sends him chump change.

Checking, it was indeed from Rosemary.

Staring at the message, he asked Archer, lounging on the sofa, "What were you saying just now?"

"You and Martin are at odds, making me host New Year's twice, 'cause time's free, right?"

"You bumped into Rosemary at the golf course today?"

Rosemary got up at the crack of dawn to pick up DNA test results from the center, having sent the samples before New Year's through a contact for a rush job.

She took the manila envelope from the staff but didn't immediately open it, instead sitting down on a bench nearby.

The center was nearly empty on the first day back to work. Her numb reflection stared back at her from the spotless glass.

She thought she was ready, but when the moment came, she realized all her prep couldn't make her truly indifferent.

Rosemary slowly untangled the string wrapped around the envelope.

Her phone rang suddenly, and her tense body relaxed. She even exhaled in relief.

The call was from Larry.

"Rosemary, why are you still butting heads with Maxwell?" Larry hadn't rung Rosemary up for a while because he knew she was as stubborn as a mule - had to figure things out on her own. Plus, couples need a bit of a timeout after a spat.

Maxwell did say he wanted his money back last time, but since he didn't send anyone to chase it up, Larry thought it was all bark and no bite. Just yesterday, he was planning a little getaway with the missus and kid, and then bam! This morning a lawyer shows up on his doorstep.

"Are you trying to give your old man a heart attack? You ungrateful brat."

Hearing Larry all hot under the collar on the other end, Rosemary's lips curled into a slight smirk, feeling a rush of gutsiness. She was even a tad eager to see what would unfold: "Dad, do you know where I am right now?"

"... Where?"

"At the DNA paternity testing center, just got the results..."