Chapter 57
Chapter 57
The call ended abruptly. Stella looked worried, her voice soft. “Jeremy, now that Cameron has left, will it be a big loss for the company?”
Although her failed marriage had kept her away from the company for years, there was no denying that Lumière Group was her creation. All she ever wanted was for it to thrive.
If compromising could persuade Cameron to stay, she was willing to do so without hesitation.
Seeing her thoughts, Jeremy sighed. “Come on, Stella. Sure, Cameron leaving will have some impact on the company.
“The jewelry series the design department is working on was built around his core concept. Without him overseeing the project, all the work we’ve done so far is basically wasted, and there’s no point in continuing with the designs.”
The core concept was always unique. Now that the key people behind it had left, it was bound to have an impact, and there was no need to continue with the original designs.
“But,” Jeremy added, “it’s not that serious. Now that you’re back, you’ll be taking over the design department.”
Stella hesitated, not sure if she could do it. The dark seven years had worn away much of her confidence.
The ambitious girl she used to be had been buried under her husband’s indifference, her daughter’s rejection, and the constant pressure from the Lloyd family. She had hidden herself away, trying to escape the unbearable pain.
Jeremy looked at her with concern. He wanted to comfort her, but words felt so inadequate. No words could ever truly express the suffering she’d endured all these years.
In the end, he could only sigh quietly and keep silent. Some wounds ran too deep for others to heal. Only the person who’s been hurt could pull themselves out of the darkness. Fresh chapters posted on.net
The office fell into a heavy silence.
Light poured in through the large windows, casting a soft glow. Dust particles floated in the air, and the light made Stella’s long hair shine, as though it reflected every moment she’d spent fighting through the darkness to create her own light.
Stella exhaled, letting out a long breath. Her voice grew firm. “I understand.”
Jeremy gave her a look, hesitating. “So, about the chief designer role…”
“Jeremy, please don’t,” Stella shook her head resolutely. “When I take that seat, I want it to be because I’ve truly earned it- not because Cameron happened to step down.”
Sure, yesterday’s contest proved she had talent, but that didn’t guarantee the clients would be lining up for her jewelry.
The best way to test a jewelry designer was to let time and the clients prove it.
“Alright, I’ll hold the role for now,” Jeremy nodded.
Stella didn’t linger. She straightened herself up and walked toward the design department, her determination cleared in every step.
“She’s here,” someone shouted. Everyone quickly crowded around, their eyes locked on Stella, eager for answers.
“Ms. Spencer, did Mr. Ford say anything? Is Mr. Nunn ever coming back?” someone blurted out.
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Before Stella could respond, Jessica slipped in, trying to ease things up. “Alright, everyone, don’t put Ms. Spencer under pressure. Mr. Nunn’s ‘Stellar Apex’ series is almost finished-there’s no way Mr. Ford would…
Jessica was stepping in to help Stella save face, defuse the awkwardness, and maybe earn some favor herself. But honestly, she just couldn’t see Jeremy letting Cameron leave just for Stella.
After all, the entire team had spent months working on the “Stellar Apex” series, led by Cameron. They were close to completing it, and there was no way they would let him walk away at this crucial moment.
But before Jessica could finish, Stella cut her off. “For now, I’ll be taking over the design department. The current jewelry series will be discontinued, and we will move forward with a new concept I’ve developed.”
Everyone stood in shock. They hadn’t expected this. Most of them had assumed that even if Cameron left, Jeremy would have him finish the designs before he went.
Jessica’s eyes flickered. Sure, she’d figured Stella would become chief designer eventually, but she never imagined it would happen this quickly-it’s only been a single day.
It looked like she’d have to go see Noreen again today. Dealing with a regular designer was one thing, but a chief designer was on a whole different level.
“If you have any questions or objections, now’s your chance,” Stella said, her voice stronger than they’d ever heard. “But once I present my core concept, if anyone refuses to cooperate, you won’t be talking to me anymore.”
There was no need to spell it out. Everyone knew exactly who she meant. When it came to trouble, nobody wanted to deal with Jeremy.
“Boss,” someone was quick to switch sides and asked, “So what’s your core concept, exactly?”
Stella had already settled on her concept and rehearsed her pitch on the way over. Her response was confident and smooth. “Thorns. I’m calling it the Tear of Thorns.
“Thorns symbolize obsession, and tears represent vulnerability and redemption. It’s the intertwining of beauty and pain, the coexistence of curse and salvation.
“At the heart of it all? It’s about finding breathtaking beauty in the depths of suffering!”
By the end, her voice was filled with intensity, as if she was living the concept herself. And it was the truth.
This concept was born out of the pain from her broken marriage, transformed into something powerful.
An accident led her into an imperfect marriage with Ernest. She believed love could warm his heart, and for years, she clung to that obsession, binding herself in the process. But one day, she shed that final tear, decided to dry her eyes, and rescue herself.
The result was clear. Free from her past worries, standing in the bright office, she reclaimed her passion and spoke with a fiery confidence she hadn’t felt in years.
In that moment, with the glow of gentle sunlight falling on her, Stella was radiant-like she’d finally found her own light again.
But as Stella delivered her pitch, the crowd’s faces twisted into odd, almost puzzled looks.
Lumière Group was supposed to symbolize light and eternal beauty. Thorns just didn’t seem to fit with that at all.
“Boss, isn’t that kind of too dark?” someone asked.
“Of course,” Stella replied calmly. “Suffering isn’t just a simple word-it’s something deep inside. Thorns don’t just represent a plant, they’re about the overwhelming sense of hopelessness when you face the darkness ahead in life.”
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“That doesn’t really fit with our usual style,” someone else remarked, uncertain.
“If we push this, we might lose some of our existing customers,” another chimed in.
“Yeah, if you want to innovate with another style, we have examples to work from. But thorns? That’s a pretty big departure from our usual vibe,” someone else said, shaking their head.