Chapter 505

Chapter 505:

I straightened and looked at him. “Fine p>

The water masked my pale face, hid the red in my eyes.

He stared at me for a moment. “If something’s bothering you, you can tell me p>

“I’m fine. Really.” I clung to the same lie about the fumes. “It’s late. You should get some rest. You have a plane to catch p>

“You never told me how the dress fitting went p>

I thought of the gown—silk crepe in ivory, draped off the shoulder with a structured bodice and a long, dramatic train, embroidered with tiny pearls and silver thread that shimmered when the light hit just right. “It was perfect p>

Too bad I wouldn’t get to wear it.

“If you cut any deeper, you’ll lose a finger p>

“What?” I looked up.

Fabrizio gently took the precision blade from my gloved hand. “You’re distracted. Not a great headspace for working with sharp objects p>

“Sorry.” I stripped off the gloves and stood. “Think I need some air p>

“Come to Café Loufoque with me. I’m dying for a noisette, and you could use a caffeine hit too p>

“Sure p>

We stepped out of the workshop. Even with my mind elsewhere, something felt off.

“Where is everyone?” The open-plan office was quieter than usual, half the desks empty.

“On leave,” Fabrizio said. “April is always slow. Most people use up their annual holiday now p>

“Oh.” I followed him into the lift. “I’ve never seen you take a day off p>

“I’m the boss. Can’t afford those luxuries.” He smiled. “But if you decide to stay, you can have mine. I’ve got months’ worth piled up p>

“Still trying to poach me, huh?” I smiled back. “Thanks, but I’ve got Mira Joie p>

Lᴀtеst chαptєrs 𝑖n g𝓪lнovєls.со𝓂

“We could join forces p>

“Funny you say that. I’ve made up my mind—I’m signing the joint venture papers p>

“You are?” His head snapped around. His eyes lit up. “That’s brilliant p>

I nodded. “I’d already decided. Just needed to shift some funds around.” The money Dominic had been transferring to me on Ashton’s orders every month was still untouched, sitting in a separate account.

Now that I was preparing for a future without Ashton, I was definitely not about to start using it. Between my savings and income from the studio, I had enough to cover half the investment.

“This calls for a celebration,” Fabrizio said, veering off course and dragging me down a different street. “Proper food. Not just coffee and croissants p>

“You’re paying p>

“Of course.” He found a table and ordered for both of us. “I’ll send over the share purchase agreement this afternoon. Get a lawyer to look it over p>

“Will do p>

He studied me. “If I didn’t know you better, I’d think going into business with me had depressed you p>

I forced a smile. It felt fake, so I gave up and shrugged. “It’s not that. I’m just tired p>

“I’ve been working you too hard,” he said, sounding guilty.