Ex Cried as I Wed a Tycoon

Shirley glanced at Effie, looking a little embarrassed. "I swear, what I'm about to say isn't just flattery-it's the truth."

Effie smiled. "Go on, I'm listening."

Effie already had a hunch about what Shirley wanted to say, but she still wanted to hear it from her directly.

Under Effie's gaze, Shirley continued, "Honestly, I like you a lot more, Effie. Suzan just rubs me the wrong way. She seems impossible to get along with. There's no comparison between her and you."

Effie couldn't help but let out a laugh.

Seeing Effie laugh, Shirley thought she didn't believe her. "I'm serious, Effie. I swear I mean every word."

Effie paused, then looked Shirley in the eye, her tone sincere. "It's okay. I know what you think."

Shirley's expression clouded with worry. "But what about our new collection? The launch is next week, and now everything's a mess."

Effie replied calmly, "Don't worry. Suzan just wants to make trouble for me. But I'm not going to let her win so easily."

Shirley still looked anxious. She glanced at Effie, nervously licking her lips. "But how did they even get our design drafts? And all of them are mine. I think she's trying to drive a wedge between us-make both our lives miserable."

Effie nodded. "Suzan holds a grudge, that's for sure. I'm guessing it's because last time you helped me get those surprise boxes from across town..."

Shirley gasped, wide-eyed with disbelief. "She's really that petty?"

"She is. Which means it's time we fought back," Shirley declared.

Effie nodded in agreement. "Exactly. We can't just let her get away with this."

"So should I start reworking the designs right now?"

Effie said, "Just brainstorm for now. But this time, don't rush out the renderings."

She gestured for Shirley to come closer. When she did, Effie leaned in and whispered something in her ear.

Shirley froze for a moment, then pulled back, looking at Effie in shock. "Effie, are you sure this will work?"noveldrama

Effie gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Trust yourself."

"...Alright, if you say so."

As Shirley left the office, she could feel the eyes of nearly everyone in the design department on her. She khead down, her face

clouded with worry. fo

A moment later, Effie stepped out as well. "Marian, I need you to come with me to

the business bureau this afternoon."

Marian looked surprised and pointed

at herself. "Miss Bagnold, after hours is our own time-you said so

yourself. If you make meurs

isn't

that forcing overtime? I don't want fo." sŵnovel

Effie said, "Of course you'll get paid overtime."

Marian shook her head. "I still don't want to go."

Everyone else in the office thought Marian was crazy-most would jump at this opportunity.

In the past, this sort of chance always went to Shirley. She was Effie's favorite, always by her side.

But now that Shirley had messed up, the opportunity had finally fallen to someone else.

Marian was the youngest in the office, a top graduate with a real gift

for

, though her per realt

I be a handful.

belongs

Back when Irving Butler was in charge, he'd considered firing Marian more than

once.

But her talent was undeniable, so in the end, Irving had always chosen to put up with her rather than let her go.

Effie looked at her. "Are you sure you don't want to go?"

Marian glared at Effie in frustration. "Fine, I'll go. But you don't have to force me."

Effie was a bit baffled—she'd just asked, after all. If Marian really didn't want to go, she wouldn't have pushed it.