Effie spoke as she handed her business card to Mr. Hanley.


    When Mr. Hanley saw her title, his eyes lit up with recognition.


    "Designer Bagnold," he said, "you''ve been doing even better since you left your previous firm."


    Effie smiled, thinking to herself that she agreed wholeheartedly.


    She said to Mr. Hanley, "If you ever need anything, just give me a call."


    "I will," he replied.


    Mitchell watched as Effie and Mr. Hanley left together, his gaze darkening, aplicated emotion flickering in his eyes.


    Why did everyone keep saying Effie was doing better since she left him? Was it really so awful when they were together?


    "Marian, do you even know what you''re doing?!"


    Once everyone else had left, Suzan finally lost herposure. "Because of you, we just lost an important client!"


    And it was Effie who swooped in and took that client, which made the sting even worse for Suzan.


    Marian looked at Suzan with wide, innocent eyes. "I told you I can''t stand these tediousworking events. You''re the one who dragged me here. So why me me when things go wrong?"


    Marian continued, "I''m a designer-I have my pride, too. You''re the one who put me in a position to get scolded. I haven''t even startedining, but you''re already ming me?"


    Suzan had never met someone so impossible to reason with.


    She said, "Marian, if you keep this up, I''ll—”


    Marian stared back, utterly unafraid. "Are you sure about that?"


    Suzan felt as if someone had gripped her by the throat; for a moment, she was speechless.


    Mitchell''s brow furrowed in irritation. "Suzan, why are you wasting your breath? Just fire her."


    Suzan grabbed Mitchell''s arm. "Wait. Let''s give it a little more time."


    Mitchell pulled his arm free, his cold. "What''s going on, Suzan?


    Sed his arm free, his tone she have something on you


    , why are you sous?"


    Suzan froze, realizing Mitchell had hit the mark.


    Her gaze flickered as she replied, "I don''t know what you''re talking about. I have nothing to hide."


    Mitchell didn''t look convinced. "You''d better not be lying to me."


    Suzan couldn''t meet his eyes. "I... I would never lie to you."


    Meanwhile, Effie told her coworkers to take cabs home-she''d submit the receipts for reimbursement They joked that she was like their fairy godmother.


    After all, when thepany reimbursed expenses before, Irving Butler pocketed


    the money himself and never shared a cent with anyone.


    No wonder everyone was so grateful to Effie. They kept thanking her over and


    over before finally heading out.


    Effie opened her car door, only to sense something was off.


    Someone was sitting in the passenger seat.


    She peered into the darkness and, when she recognized Lyman''s handsome face, finally rxed.


    "You... what are you doing in my car?" Effie asked.


    Lyman replied, "Vinson Elliott told


    me you''d be here tonight, and I happened to be in the area, so thought I''d wait for you. I had a bit to drink, so I can''t drive."


    Effie thought to herself—it wasn''t like he drove very often anyway.


    Before she could say anything else, Lyman took her hand and gave a gentle tug. Off guard, Effie tumbled straight into his arms.


    She caught the faint scent of alcohol on him, mingled with the clean, familiar note of white tea. It wasn''t unpleasant at all.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!