Shirley finally snapped out of her daze. Fuming, she rolled up her sleeves and spat, "Give me a break! Who does she think she is, calling me a helicopter parent? Has she even looked in the mirrortely?"


    "Effie, don''t try to stop me. I''m going over there to teach her a lesson."


    Effie regarded Shirley calmly. "I''m not stopping you."


    Shirley stared, momentarily speechless.


    This... wasn''t the reaction she''d expected.


    Just then, Irving Butler strode over to Effie. "Effie, there''s a dinner tonight. The client loved your design and wants to meet you. Come with me."


    Effie didn''t object this was part of her job, after all.


    As soon as Irving stepped outside into the hallway, he spotted Nelly approaching.


    He frowned with clear irritation. "What are you doing here? Didn''t I tell you? At work, keep your distance from me."


    Nelly bristled inwardly. In the beginning, he couldn''t get enough of her-wanted to spend every minute together-and now he acted like she was a nuisance? Typical.


    Still, she knew what was really going on. Irving had his eye on someone else.


    Too bad for him, Effie already had something going on with Randell. Until she figured out whether Effie and Randell were really over, Nelly wasn''t about to make


    a move.


    Men are all the same.


    Swallowing her annoyance, Nelly forced a smile. "I want toe to the dinner tonight. Mr. Patterson''s business is a big deal for thepany, and I want to give it my best shot."


    Irving considered it. Nelly''s designs were solid; if Effie dropped the ball, Nelly could step in.


    "All right, you cane."


    "Thank you, darling."


    With no one else around, Nelly leaned in, aiming for a quick kiss, but Irving pushed her away.


    "We''re at work!" he hissed, his brow furrowed in frustration.


    She''s lost her mind, he thought.


    Nelly just scoffed to herself and slipped back into her office.


    That evening, they all arrived together at the private club.


    The Pattersons hadn''t shown up yet, so Nelly, Effie, and the others waited in a secluded lounge.


    Nelly announced she was thirsty and poured tea for Effie and Irving.


    "I''ve heard the tea here is really something. Let''s give it a try-after all, thepany''s picking up the tab," she said with a sly smile.


    Nelly eyed Effie''s modest little hatchback in the parking lot, and her nondescript clothes-except for that one showy silk scarf, the rest were no-name brands. Clearly, Effie wasn''t used to the finer things. She''d probably jump at the chance for something expensive.


    Effie was, in fact, thirsty and wouldn''t have minded a cup of tea.


    But she was no fool. Nelly, being so eager to pour her a drink, surely had something up her sleeve.


    So Effie left her cup untouched. When a server entered and Nelly and Irving''s attention shifted, she quietly swapped her own cup with Nelly''s.


    Nelly turned back just in time to see Effie lift the tea to her lips. Nelly''s mouth curled in a satisfied smirk, certain her little scheme had worked.


    She picked up her own cup-now actually Effie''s—and drained it in one go.


    "Mmm, this green tea is so delicate. Delicious," Nelly said, clearly in high spirits. Effie''s lips curled in a faint smile. "It''s quite good."


    Nelly watched Effie''s calm expression and sneered inwardly. Let her enjoy it while she can she won''t be smiling for long.


    Just then, a server ushered Mr. Patterson and his wife into the room.