Chapter 109

Eleanor Valois had ulterior motives for this visit.

She used jewelry customization as an excuse to pressure her sons into marriage.

Stella Valentine's quick thinking had just saved her from embarrassment.

"Five hundred sets won't be necessary," Eleanor adjusted her hair gracefully. "One custom piece will suffice. My sons are both hopeless—the eldest has been pining after some girl for seven years, and the younger one refuses to even date..."

Victor Valence interrupted, "Mom, Julian can handle continuing the Valois lineage. Women are too much trouble. I'm not getting married."

Eleanor sighed. "You're grown men now. I can't control you anymore. But..." She turned to Stella. "This designer just saved me. We should show our gratitude."

"I'll give her a raise," Victor offered promptly.

Still pale, Eleanor leaned on Julian for support. "Let me take you home, Mother."

Before leaving, Julian cast a lingering glance at Stella, his lips parting as if to speak.

Once they were gone, Victor sauntered over to Stella, scrutinizing her. "See? Even my scatterbrained brother wouldn't fall for someone like you. At least his taste is normal—what a relief."

Stella ignored him. Though brilliant in design, her boss remained an entitled playboy at heart.

She just wanted to focus on work and return home to her children.

More importantly—Julian wasn't Mr. Alistair.

This realization lifted a weight off her shoulders. She no longer needed to feel guilty around Joy Fairsprene. Perhaps she could even help clear their misunderstanding.

"Hey, Glasses Girl." Victor rapped impatiently on the desk.

Stella frowned. "What did you call me?"

"Glasses Girl." He pointed mockingly at her frames. "Who wears these outdated things anymore? Change them before meeting our client this afternoon. And get someone to do your makeup if you can't manage it yourself."

Stella suppressed a sigh. No wonder Joy called him venomous-tongued.

"We have a client meeting?"

Victor smirked. "A difficult one. All our other designers are dodging it. Care to try?"

"But I've already taken Julian and Eleanor's orders—"

"Those can wait." He waved dismissively. "Focus on this first." His gaze swept over her outfit with distaste. "Buy decent clothes and fix your appearance at lunch. Looking like this, people might mistake our company for a tutoring center."

Stella nodded. "Should I change back after the meeting?"

Considering his aversion to attractive women.

Victor snorted. "Do whatever you want. As long as you perform, you can stay as ugly as you like."

As she exited the VIP room, she caught his mutter: "...uniquely unattractive..."

Quentin Roland waited outside, offering awkward consolation. "Don't take Victor's attitude personally."

Stella smiled. "Artists are like that."

"Your afternoon client is Katrina Orlando, an international fashion designer," Quentin explained. "She wants ten jewelry sets to complement her new collection."

"Ten sets?"

"Better than Eleanor's five hundred." He chuckled. "The commission's substantial. Didn't you say you needed money?"

She did. Though Mr. Alistair covered all expenses, she insisted on repaying the three-million-dollar ring herself.

At lunch, she met Joy for shopping.

"My God!" Joy barely recognized her. "Stella, just because Victor hates beautiful women doesn't mean you have to sabotage yourself!"

Stella checked the rearview mirror. "Is it that bad?"

"You look like my cleaning lady," Joy whispered.

Stella gave a wry smile. "Victor has... unique preferences."

"He's a freak!" Joy rolled her eyes. "No one can handle him except Julian."

Mentioning Julian, Stella said softly, "I saw him today."

"At the office? He went to check on you, didn't he?" Joy shrugged. "Probably worried about your health."

"He admitted it."

"Admitted what?"

"That he's not Mr. Alistair."

Joy slammed the brakes. "He told you himself?"