Chapter 6

“Adrian! You need to see this right now!”

Markus’s voice was heavy as he shoved open the office door without knocking. His hand gripped a stack of documents, his face tense.

Adrian, who was sipping his coffee, immediately looked up, his brow furrowed. “What now? Don’t make my headache worse!”

Markus slammed the files onto the desk. “This is the loss report after the launching two days ago. Did you really think I’d stay quiet while everyone abandons this company?”

Adrian glanced lazily at the documents, then set his cup down. “I know the investors are angry. I can explain.”

“Explain?” Markus scoffed bitterly. “Can you explain how fifty billion rupiah went up in smoke for failed gowns? Or maybe you can explain why every single investor pulled their funds all at once? They’re even demanding their money back!”

Adrian stood abruptly, his voice rising. “I can’t return that money! It’s already been spent on premium fabrics and promotions! Do you think I’m a thief?”

Markus stared him down, unflinching. “Maybe not a thief. But a fool. A fool for trusting Cassandra over the one person who could’ve actually saved this company.”

That name surfaced again. Adrian let out a sharp breath, his fists clenching. “Don’t you dare bring up Rosemary again!”

Markus stepped closer, his voice like ice. “I have to make you see, Adrian. Everyone knows the best collections this company ever produced came from Rosemary’s hands. Investors backed us because of her designs. Now she’s gone, and we’ve collapsed. That’s the reality.”

Adrian slammed his fist onto the desk. “Enough! I don’t need her anymore. I can hire any designer, and—”

“Any designer?” Markus cut him off swiftly. “If that were true, then why are investors demanding only Rosemary’s work? Why did they reject Cassandra outright? Are you blind—or just refusing to face the truth?”

Adrian froze. His jaw tightened, his eyes burning with a mix of rage and helplessness.

“She hates me, Markus. Rosemary will never come back. You know that.”

Markus exhaled slowly, lowering his tone. “Maybe so. But if she doesn’t return, Adrian Corp is finished. The investors have already threatened lawsuits. And we don’t have the reserves to survive.”

The room fell into a heavy silence. The ticking of the wall clock echoed sharply, as though counting down to ruin.

Finally, Adrian drew in a shaky breath, staring blankly at the gray skies outside his wide office window. “Damn it… how did it all come to this?”

Markus didn’t answer. He only watched his boss coldly, his expression saying clearly: This is all your doing.

---

Adrian began pacing across the office. Cold sweat beaded at his temples. The memory of the failed launch haunted him—furious investors, mocking guests, and Cassandra’s gowns that had looked like a joke.

“This can’t all be falling apart just because of… her,” Adrian muttered under his breath.

Markus caught the words. “But that’s exactly what it is. You can hate Rosemary all you want, but this business was built on her creations. Without her, we’re nothing.”

Adrian snapped his head up, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion. “Do you think it’s easy for me? After all the humiliation she put me through? After she made me look like a fool in front of everyone?”

Markus shook his head slowly. “What made you a fool, Adrian, was your own arrogance. You chose your pride over saving what you built. And now you’re on the verge of losing it all.”

Adrian fell silent, his face pale. Markus’s words struck deeper than he wanted to admit.