?Chapter 71:


    He whispered briefly to the styling director before a revised announcement was made. “Afterprehensive consideration, we announce Akira Steele as the selected stylist,” the director stated, offering Ellie an apologetic nce. “Thank you to the other four stylists for participating.”


    Akira, who initially ranked second, was ecstatic at her unexpected victory.


    Ellie, in stark contrast, was stunned. The abrupt change, particrly after Demi’s entrance, felt both shocking and somehow anticipated.


    Demi going to such lengths to obstruct her was unexpected.


    “I’m really sorry, Ellie, but this is the punishment you deserve,” Demi said, masking her triumph with feigned sympathy. “Mr. Gross, shall we proceed with signing the contract today?”


    Cristopher’s eagerness was palpable as he directed Demi, “Please, this way, Miss Gordon.”


    The other candidates dispersed, leaving Ellie with the styling director, who conveyed her regrets. “Demi is the Gordon family heiress, and her concessions werepelling. It’s hard to overlook such influence, and Akira does have her own connections.”


    “I understand,” Ellie acknowledged quietly, her disappointment evident. “Thank you. I will be cautious and make sure not to implicate you in any subsequent events.”


    The styling director looked puzzled at Ellie’s parting words, but she had already left the room. Waiting for the elevator, Ellie nced at a recording on her phone, a sardonic smile on her lips.


    “Ellie!”


    The ding of the elevator arriving coincided with a woman’s voice calling from behind. The neer, donning a stylish ck dress and high-heeled boots, her hair fashionably short, approached Ellie.


    “We didn’t get to properly greet each other,” Akira said, her smile brimming with triumph. “It’s been a while, Ellie! Sorry to learn that you’re not the real heiress of the Gordon family.”


    “Akira, does it feel good to win through connections?” Ellie retorted with a measured smile.


    Akira, who was Ellie’s senior in school, had always been overshadowed by Ellie’s sess. Since Ellie’s arrival at school, Akira’s days of being the top student had ended.


    Akira’s face flushed with mixed emotions. “What if I used connections? You benefitted from the Gordon name too. Who’s to say your achievements weren’t orchestrated by your family, especially now that you’ve been ousted by the GT Group after the true Gordon had exerted her influence?”


    Akira emphasized the word “true” to provoke Ellie.


    Inside the elevator, Ellie briefly considered confronting Kaiden but decided against it. She pressed the button for the first floor, choosing to leave.


    The meeting room at GT Group was tense. Kaiden had spent two hours scolding the executives for a range of issues, from poor merger strategies tockluster PowerPoint presentations. The atmosphere was so charged that nobody dared to break the silence, even during the break.


    An executive, returning from a brief exit, spoke to Bruce. “Is Mr. Thorpe in a bad mood today? His aggression seemed excessive.”


    Bruce, understanding the real reason for Kaiden’s irritation but unable to divulge it, replied vaguely, “Perhaps Mr. Thorpe didn’t want to have the meeting today. Let’s hope it ends soon.”


    To everyone’s surprise, Kaiden abruptly concluded the meeting before the break was over, dismissing the executives’ ns as unworthy of further discussion.


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