Chapter 408
Chapter 408:
Most of the guests had already left.
The rest were hovering in the background, hoping for a word with him. The lights over the exhibit dimmed slightly, and the last bits of champagne and canapés were being cleared from the tables near the back wall.
“They’re probably closing up,” he said. “Walk with me p>
“Sure.” I motioned toward the exit. “After you, sir p>
He headed for the door with smooth, long strides and spoke over his shoulder. “You’re twenty-four, right? If you don’t mind me asking p>
“Twenty-three,” I corrected.
He looked back briefly. “I’m twelve years older than you, then. You can stop calling me ‘sir,’ you’re aging me in real time p>
I laughed. “You don’t look it p>
“Flattered.” He tilted his head. “Though someone said the corners of my eyes are getting lines p>
I glanced up at his face.
His skin looked taut, jaw clean-shaven, no visible creases.
“They lied p>
He gave a short laugh. “Appreciated, Miss Vance p>
I was starting to like him.
On stage or in interviews, he always looked stiff and controlled.
In private, he was far more personable.
As we reached the doors, he said, “I meant it, by the way. I think your work’s exceptional. I heard you just left your old firm. If you’re open to it, I’d like to offer you a position. Lead designer tier. Full resources, top billing. You’d have complete freedom p>
So there it was. The real reason he’d come over.
I’d guessed it the second he pulled out the pen.
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝖈𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: gⱯ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⩵ℭ𝗈𝗺
Still, it felt unreal.
Valmont & Cie wasn’t just another jewelry house. They poached the best.
Getting through their doors meant instant leverage.
Even a short stint there could rewrite your entire CV.
You didn’t apply to Valmont. You got invited.
I was tempted. Of course, I was tempted.
But I’d just registered my own studio, taken on two private commissions, and agreed to a high jewelry capsule for a boutique in Midtown.
I couldn’t just drop everything and vanish to France, no matter how glossy the offer.
Fabrizio must’ve noticed my silence.
“I know you’ve started your own studio,” he said smoothly. “You probably don’t want to give that up. So how about something looser? A collaboration, maybe. A joint line. We’ve started planning next year’s autumn-winter collection. Would you be interested p>
We reached the pavement.