Chapter 4

The shrill ring of a phone echoed through Adrian’s luxurious office. He had just taken a sip of wine when the name Markus – Personal Assistant flashed across the screen. With irritation, Adrian pressed the answer button.

“Yes, Markus. What is it?” His voice was heavy, dripping with impatience.

On the other end, Markus’s tone was urgent and laced with worry.

“Sir Adrian… we have a serious problem. The launch of the gown collection is in two days—our design team’s work has been rejected by the investors.”

Adrian’s brows furrowed instantly. “Rejected? What do you mean rejected? Didn’t we send them the final revisions last week?”

Markus swallowed audibly. “Yes, sir. But the investors said the designs… lack the soul they’re looking for. They called them stiff, lifeless.”

Adrian rose from his chair, pacing back and forth as his face flushed with heat. “Stiff? Lifeless? What kind of nonsense is that? They were the ones who approved the initial concept in the first place!”

Markus’s voice dropped lower, hesitant, as if afraid of Adrian’s reaction. “The investors gave a new condition. They’ll only proceed… if the designs are made by Mrs. Rosemary.”

Silence.

Adrian froze mid-step. His jaw clenched tightly. “What did you just say?”

“They want Mrs. Rosemary’s designs, sir. They’re threatening to pull their investment and take it to our competitor if she doesn’t handle the launch collection.”

“Damn it!” Adrian roared, slamming his fist against the desk, nearly toppling the glass. “Rosemary again! Even after I cast her aside, her name still haunts my company!”

Markus’s voice was barely a whisper now. “I’m sorry, sir. But the investors were very clear. They said only Rosemary can bring the elegance they expect. Without her, the launch will be a disaster.”

Adrian’s fist tightened until his knuckles turned white. His breath came in harsh bursts, fueled by anger. “Impossible… Rosemary won’t come back. I won’t beg her.”

He ended the call in frustration and hurled his phone onto the sofa. His face was crimson with rage.

“What’s going on?” Cassandra’s voice drifted from the door. She stepped in, draped in a silk-blue gown, her hair cascading perfectly, her smile alluring yet edged with calculation.

“Nothing you need to worry about,” Adrian snapped.

Cassandra arched a brow. “With that tone, clearly something’s wrong. Tell me.”

Adrian exhaled heavily before finally spitting out the truth through clenched teeth. “The investors for the launch in two days… rejected everything. They want only Rosemary’s designs.”

Cassandra’s smile faltered for a split second. “Rosemary?”

“Yes.” Adrian rubbed his temples with frustration. “That woman… even after I threw her out, she still overshadows everything. The investors are threatening to pull out unless she does the collection.”

Cassandra was silent for a moment, then her lips curved subtly, hiding a flicker of satisfaction beneath a sweet tone. “So, without Rosemary, the project could collapse?”

Adrian glared at her. “Yes. And I will not humiliate myself by crawling back to her.”

Cassandra moved closer, her hand brushing Adrian’s arm tenderly. “Then let me handle this.”

Adrian turned to her suspiciously. “What do you mean?”

Her smile gleamed with confidence. “You know I studied at one of Milan’s top design schools. Fashion has been my world long before I returned to this city. If the investors demand quality, I can deliver it—better than Rosemary.”

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “The investors specifically asked for Rosemary. They know her work. They’re not fools.”

Cassandra let out a soft, mocking laugh. “They’re clinging to a myth. Rosemary’s name may still enchant them, but I can create designs just as good—if not superior. Give me the chance, Adrian. Let me prove I can replace her completely.”

Adrian remained silent, his face taut with conflicting emotions—anger, pride, and doubt. He collapsed back into his chair, rubbing his face with both hands. “Damn it… two days left. I don’t have time to renegotiate.”

Cassandra leaned against the chair’s armrest, locking eyes with him. “Trust me. This is my moment to show who truly deserves to stand by your side. I’ll take over the project, and when it succeeds, everyone will forget Rosemary. They’ll remember only Cassandra.”

Adrian stared at her, searching her expression. Confidence radiated from her words, but he knew the investors weren’t easily deceived. Still, his pride outweighed his logic.

“Fine,” he said coldly at last. “I’ll give you the chance. Take over the project. Create something better than Rosemary ever could. But if you fail…” He leaned forward, his gaze sharp as a blade. “You’ll share the downfall of this company with me.”

Cassandra’s smile never wavered. “I won’t fail, Adrian. I’ll prove to you that Rosemary is the past. I am your future.”

But deep inside Adrian, Rosemary’s shadow lingered. The investors’ words echoed relentlessly in his mind: “We only trust Rosemary’s touch.”

And though his pride refused to admit it, he knew the truth—Cassandra could never match Rosemary’s brilliance.

Yet Adrian was far too arrogant to say it aloud.