The secretary led Isadora and Wendy into avish office.


    Inside, they found Jonathan lounging on a leather sofa while his assistant handed him some pills. Jonathan nced briefly at the two women before tossing the pills into his mouth and swallowing them.


    "Mr. Oakley, good afternoon," Isadora greeted him politely.


    Jonathan''s voice was hoarse,ced with sarcasm. "You two are ridiculously lucky.


    I ended up drinking all that booze for you."


    Isadora smiled lightly. "It was just a party game, Mr. Oakley. You were kind enough to take one for the team."


    "I had to get my stomach pumped at the hospital because of you!" he shot back. Wendy muttered under her breath, "Better him than either of us, honestly."


    Isadora kept herposure, her tone gracious. "Mr. Oakley, even if it wasn''t entirely our fault, I think your stomach deserves an apology from us."


    Jonathan just grunted, clearly still annoyed. He wouldn''t dare vent his frustration at the Fitzgerald heir, but he had no problem taking it out on these two.


    Isadora got straight to the point. "Mr. Oakley, you promised our firm a spot in the final round of the bid. Does that still stand?"


    Jonathan leaned back against the ck sofa, crossing his legs. "Did I really say that?"


    Wendy reminded him, "You said, ''If you can make the prince happy, your firm''s in.""


    Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "And did you?"


    "Of course! Isadora even took her punishment-Victor gave her a hug," Wendy chimed in.


    "Really now?" Jonathan''s eyes narrowed as he looked Isadora over from head to toe.


    She wore a blue striped shirt dress today, cinched at the waist with a tan leather belt-elegant, poised, and, admittedly, beautiful.


    Could it be Victor had taken a liking to her? As far as Jonathan remembered, Victor never cared for women. At countless business events, none of thedies ever got close to him. Still, the Fitzgerald Group was the biggest investor in Horizon Architects these days.


    Well, whatever. It wouldn''t hurt to let them throw their hat in the ring. Winning was another matter.


    After thinking for a moment, Jonathan said, "Fine. Since I said it, I''ll keep my word. I''ll have the project director get in touch with you."


    ***


    Once they left Oakley Construction, Wendy was in disbelief. "That''s it? We''re in?"


    “Isadora, did you see the project director''s attitude just now? Complete 180 fromst time. Rowena begged them for weeks and got nowhere."


    "But why did Jonathan agree so easily? Don''t tell me he''s got a thing for you because you''re gorgeous."


    Isadora tapped Wendy lightly on the forehead. "What are you thinking? He probably thinks I''m close to Victor."


    Wendy nodded, grinning. "So you''re intentionally using the prince''s favor, huh?"


    ***


    Meanwhile, at the prison.


    Pearl sat off to one side, her expression dark.


    Across the ss, the warden escorted Ca into the visitation room.


    The moment Ca saw Pearl, her dull eyes suddenly brightened. She couldn''t believe Pearl had actually agreed to see her.


    Only when it was clear this was real did Ca allow herself to hope. For the first time since arriving, she''d evenbed her hair, determined not to give Pearl any more reason to resent her.


    She remembered, back when Isadora was epted back into the family, she couldn''t help but reach out to Pearl. Pearl''s eyes had been red with anger and hatred back then. She''d said she wished Ca would just drop dead.


    Those words stung, but Ca understood. As long as her precious daughter could live happily, Ca would endure any hardship.