<h4>Chapter 97: Threads of Fate</h4>


    Nora’s POV


    The evening light filtered through Le Ciel’s crystal chandeliers, casting warm shadows across our table. I watched Anna carefully as her proposal hung in the air between us, my fork suspended midway to my mouth.


    "Me?" I could hear the disbelief in my own voice. "Anna, you can’t be serious.


    I couldn’t possibly do that."


    The idea of bing the face of Luminary Trade’s livestream program sent conflicting waves of excitement and terror crashing through me. A tea culture influencer? The old Nora Price would have scoffed at such a proposition. Now, I wasn’t sure what to think.


    Anna took a measured sip from her thermos, her eyes never leaving mine.


    "How can you know it won’t work without trying? Let’s set aside whether you can do it for now-the question is whether you want to."


    Her words cut through my hesitation with surgical precision. Did I want this? The opportunity to reim some semnce of dignity and purpose after everything I’d lost?


    "I don’t know if I’m cut out for being an... inte personality," I admitted, carefully setting down my fork.


    "Wouldn’t they just see me as another fallen socialite desperate for attention?"


    My chest tightened at the thought of bing fodder for Skyview City’s gossip mill. Again.


    "I mean, wouldn’t it bother you?" I asked, trying to mask my vulnerability.


    "Being associated with someone like me in your business?"


    Anna’s expression remained unchanged, calm and thoughtful.


    <fn53f2> The source of th?s content is find?novel</fn53f2>


    "I wouldn’t have offered if it bothered me," she replied simply.


    I toyed with the rim of my water ss, avoiding her gaze. "I guess I’m just trying to understand why me, of all people."


    "Because you understand elegance naturally," Anna said. "Your ssical piano training, your eye for art-you embody exactly what Mason envisions for this project."


    I let out a small, bitterugh. "I don’t mina. Inte celebrities are doing better than me these days-they’re at least making money on their own terms. My situation... well, you know what happened. I lost the right to be picky a long time ago."


    The words left a sour taste in my mouth. Once upon a time, I was Miss Price, the daughter of one of Skyview City’s oldest families. Now I was just Nora, clutching at whatever opportunities came my way.


    Anna’s eyes softened. "You don’t need to care about what others think. You walk your own path. Only you know if it’s right or wrong. If you think it’s worthwhile, then it is."


    "If I think it’s worthwhile, then it is?" I repeated softly, feeling something unlock deep inside my chest. The words acted like a key to a door I’d kept firmly shut since my fall from grace.


    I looked up, suddenly seeing through the fog that had clouded my judgment for so long. "You’re right. No one else gets to judge what I do with my life."


    The waiter arrived with our desserts, giving me a moment to collect my thoughts.


    "Alright," I said finally, straightening my shoulders. "I’ll do it."


    As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt a weight lift from my chest. Anna’s smile was warm and genuine, and it gave me the courage to continue.


    "Thank you for this chance," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "I should tell you... I’ve had offers before. Some magazines wanted me to pose for them after I lost everything. The kind of photos that..." I swallowed hard.


    "Well, I refused. But besides you, everyone in Skyview City looks at me like I’m damaged goods now."


    My voice trembled slightly. "I’ve been afraid to even look for respectable work. I can put on a brave face at those high-society events, but outside of that? I can barely stand walking in the sunlight of Skke District."


    The admission made my throat burn.


    Months of suppressed humiliation threatened to spill from my eyes.


    Anna reached across the table, her gaze steady and encouraging. "Don’t be afraid. You have so many talents— people who can’t see that are the ones missing out." Her tone became more serious. "Nora, if youmit to this and build up the business, I’ll give you shares in Luminary Trade."


    My heart lurched painfully in my chest. The offer wasn’t just employment—it was a path back to independence, to respect.


    Anna’s POV


    The morning light streamed through Shaw Corp’s floor-to-ceiling windows, turning the polished conference table into a sheet of liquid gold. I was midway through signing the final paperwork on Nora’s contract when Samuel sauntered in, his expression a fascinating blend of amusement and irritation.


    "Ms. Shaw, your talent-poaching skills are impressive. Even my people aren’t safe from you," he said, dropping into the chair across from me.


    I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. Mason’s tea culture project with Nora was developing beautifully, and Samuel’s mock outrage only sweetened my satisfaction.


    "Business is business, Mr. Griffin. With the right strategy, any talent can be acquired." I slid the signed contract into its folder, enjoying this small victory.


    Samuel quirked an eyebrow. "So Nora’s signed a long-term contract with you now?"


    I kept my expression professionally neutral despite my internal pride at securing Nora for Mason’s project. It was a perfect match of elegance and opportunity.


    Samuel surprised me by shrugging nonchntly. "Well, it’s probably for the best. She could use a legitimate career."


    His unexpected graciousness caught me off-guard. I couldn’t resist teasing him a little. "If Mr. Griffin is feeling


    lonely, I hear Mia from the Olympus Club has been asking about you."


    His handsome face darkened instantly, though a mischievous smile yed at his lips. "Speaking of missing people, Anna, what’s happening with Uncle Marcus these days? "


    My breath caught. The casual mention of Marcus sent an unwee pang through my chest. He’d been gone for so long without a word, and the reminder stung more than I cared to admit.


    Fortunately, I was saved by Daniel announcing the start of our Skke District nning meeting.


    - - -


    An hourter, I stood before a massive touchscreen disying our development ns. The meeting room hummed with the excited energy of possibility as I wrapped up my presentation.


    "As you can see, this project will transform not just Skke District, but potentially the entire economdscape of Skyview City," I concluded, turning to face my attentive audience.


    Samuel leaned back in his chair, fixing me with a prating gaze. "Ms. Shaw, what makes you so confident that Nestling Crest Bay will develop as rapidly as your projections suggest?


    Nobody even knows who’s behind that development. Even with all the construction happening, turning it into a thrivingmercial district would take years, wouldn’t it?" His eyes narrowed slightly. "Or do you have insider information I’m not privy to?"


    My pulse quickened. The mysterious source who’d given me that crucial information shed through my mind, but I maintained myposure.


    "Yes, I have it on excellent authority that Nestling Crest Bay will be fully operational within two to three years," I replied steadily.


    Samuel considered this for a moment, then nodded. "In that case, I’m fully on board. Once Nestling Crest Bay develops, it will create a powerful synergy with Skke District. I’ve studied those buildings going up— they’re all high-end office spaces andmercialplexes." His voice took on a thoughtful quality. "Whoever’s behind this isn’t trying to swallow Skyview City. It looks more like they’re relocating an entire business empire here, aiming to create one of thergest financial centers on the country."


    Catherine, who had been silent throughout most of the technical discussion, suddenly perked up. "You think some major international corporation is moving to Skyview City?"


    Samuel shook his head. "Can’t say for sure, but the level of secrecy suggests government involvement. If my theory is correct, this would be transformative for Skyview City-perhaps the entire state." His eyes gleamed with entrepreneurial excitement. "And it would be incredible for our Skke District project. Commercial avenues, medical facilities, schools, employment opportunities, luxury housing-any investment we make now will yield substantial returns."


    ---


    After the meeting, I stood alone in my office. Samuel’s analysis had unleashed a flood of questions I’d been avoiding.


    The insider information, the massive business empire being relocated —it all pointed to one person.


    _It can’t be Marcus._ I tried to convince myself, even as my subconscious screamed otherwise.


    Marcus Murphy hadn’t returned to Skyview City in months.