CHAPTER 13
1731 Words
In order for my perfect revenge to come to life, I made my first plan by changing myself entirely.
Ever since I took that first step, my days had followed almost the same routine.
Every morning, I went to the hotel’s second-floor gym for my workout session with Coach Leo.
Afterwards, I returned to the penthouse on the top floor to have breakfast with Lily and Chef Irene before taking a shower.
To help with digestion, I’d take a walk around the hotel, then spend time at the pool area with Lily and Chef Irene—sometimes just sightseeing, other times watching movies, or simply hanging out.
In the evening, I followed a stretching and light exercise routine before heading to bed.
This had been my routine for a full month before Coach Leo decided I should take a break, and so I did.
Now, I was in the living room with Lily and Chef Irene, flipping through the designs Lily had created over the past month. While I worked out, she had spent her time sketching, later refining her designs on her iPad.
“Wow, Lily! You’ve made such great designs!” Irene exclaimed, eyes wide with admiration.
After living together for a month, the three of us had decided to drop the formalities. Irene, being older than us, initially found it mortifying to address a Montemayor casually, but in the end, we settled on treating each other like friends.
“I know, right?” I chimed in, shaking my head in disbelief. “Even now, it still baffles me how someone of her calibre ended up majoring in forestry instead of design or architecture.”
“Hey! I love my course, okay? And I never really saw myself doing designs before,” Lily defended with a huff. “It was just a hobby. But being with you and living here has made me explore a lot.”
I smirked. “Then don’t be shy to call me your royal highness.”
Lily rolled her eyes but played along, dramatically extending her hands and fanning me as if I were some queen on a throne. “Yes, yes, this is all thanks to you, Your Royal Highness.”
Irene burst into laughter at our silliness, shaking her head. “You two are something else.”
Lily grinned. “You should get used to it, Irene. We’ve been like this since forever.”
I nodded in agreement.
“You know, when Clara and I first met during our first year—”
While Lily and Irene continued chatting about college, I absentmindedly scrolled through Lily’s designs on her iPad.
That was when my eyes landed on a particular clothing sketch that immediately caught my attention. I tapped the screen.
“Hey, why don’t you get this one made?”
Lily leaned over to look. “Which one?”
“This one,” I said, pointing at the intricate design.
Her eyes widened slightly. “Oh, this? It’s a futuristic avant-garde fashion design. I actually made this back in high school. I almost forgot I even had it.”
“Then why don’t we bring it to life?” I suggested, raising an eyebrow.
Lily hesitated for a moment, then smiled uncertainly. “You really think it’s good enough?”
“Are you kidding? It’s incredible,” Irene chimed in enthusiastically. “You should definitely make it happen.”
Lily exhaled, staring at the design with a mix of nostalgia and hesitation. “Well….I don’t know. I only know how to design. I don’t really have the expertise to make it into an actual piece.”
“Then why don’t we call someone who does?” I said, already reaching for my phone.
“Huh?” Lily cast me a confused look, but I didn’t answer. Instead, I dialled a number on my family’s custom-made phone.
It only took two rings before Jonas answered.
“Hey, Jonas,” I greeted.
“Yes, young lady? What can I do for you?”
“Can you find some tailor shops or boutiques around here?”
“When do you need them?”
“I need them ASAP. If you find a suitable shop, let me know and invite them to the hotel’s second floor. We’ll meet them there.”
“Understood, Ms. Clara. I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.”
“Thanks, Jonas!” I said before hanging up.
Lily stared at me, still processing what had just happened. “Did you just—”
I smirked. “Yep. Now, all we have to do is wait.”
She let out a breath, running a hand through her hair. “I don’t know, Clara. I mean, what if this doesn’t work out?”
I leaned back against the couch, tilting my head at her. “Lily, relax. We’re not mass-producing it or launching a whole brand—yet. We’re just bringing your design to life, seeing how it turns out.”
“But wouldn’t that be wasteful?” she asked, still sceptical.
“It won’t be,” I reassured her. Then, an idea struck me. “How about this—I’ll buy the first finished piece. I’ll pay you twice the actual price once it’s made.”
Lily blinked at me, caught off guard. “Wait, what?”
I grinned. “That way, you don’t have to worry about wasting materials or effort. If it turns out great, we can see where it goes from there.”
Irene let out an amused chuckle. “I swear, Clara, you really don’t take ‘no’ for an answer, do you?”
I shrugged. “Not when I know something has potential.”
Lily glanced at her iPad, her fingers brushing over the screen where the design was displayed.
The sketch was bold—sharp geometric cuts, structured layers, and a sleek futuristic silhouette. Even in its raw form, it had a striking presence.
“…Fine,” she finally relented, though there was a hint of excitement in her voice. “But don’t blame me if it turns out weird.”
I smirked. “Deal.”
Just then, my phone buzzed, and I picked it up to see a message from Jonas. “Ms. Clara, I’ve found a promising boutique that specializes in custom high-fashion tailoring. They’ve agreed to meet at the hotel’s second floor in an hour.”
Perfect. I typed a reply to Jonas and told him to invite an attorney from our law firm before I turned to Lily, as my smirk widened.
“Looks like we’re about to make this official.”
After receiving Jonas' message, Lily and I hurriedly prepared ourselves before heading to the second floor.
Irene couldn’t join us—she had received a call from my dietitian, Mrs. Mendoza, even before Jonas had sent me a message.
As we stepped into the elevator, Lily exhaled sharply, shaking her hands out. “Hey, can you feel my hand turning cold?”
She reached out to me with a nervous chuckle.
I took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “Relax, Lily. It’s just a meeting, not a life-or-death situation.”
She groaned. “Easy for you to say! This is the first time someone’s actually taking one of my designs seriously.”
I smirked. “Well, get used to it. You’re talented, and this won’t be the last time."
The elevator doors slid open, revealing the sleek, modern hallway of the hotel’s second floor.
Jonas was already waiting near the lounge area, standing beside a sharply dressed woman in her mid-thirties.
She had an air of confidence, her dark hair styled into a neat bun, and she carried a brown portfolio in one hand.
Jonas stepped forward. “Lady Clara, Ms. Lily, this is Ms. Michelle Navarro, the owner of Navarro Atelier.
Ms. Michelle extended her hand with a polite yet assessing smile on her face. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both. Jonas mentioned you have a design you’d like brought to life?”
Lily hesitated for a fraction of a second before shaking Michelle’s hand. “Uh, yeah. It’s a bit… unconventional, though.”
Michelle's lips curled into a knowing smile. “Unconventional is what we do best.” She gestured toward a seating area. “Shall we discuss the details?”
Lily glanced at me, and I gave her an encouraging nod. Taking a deep breath, she pulled out her iPad and sat down, ready to pitch her vision.
Lily showed her design to Michelle, and I immediately caught the flicker of shock on the woman’s face.
I had expected this reaction from Michelle’s to Lily’s design, while undeniably intricate, it was also good. And the first time I saw it, I knew it deserved a chance.
After all, avant-garde fashion was generally harder to pull off compared to other fashion styles because it pushed the boundaries of traditional clothing.
So Michelle’s initial surprise was understandable.
“You really designed this?” Michelle asked, her gaze shifting between Lily and the screen.
“Uh, yes,” Lily admitted, scratching the back of her neck. “Though this was made years ago, and I haven’t really made any improvements to it afterwards.”
Michelle studied the design closely, tapping a manicured finger against her chin. “The structure is ambitious, but the vision is impressive. Avant-garde fashion isn’t easy to pull off, but with the right materials and craftsmanship, this could be something extraordinary.”
Lily’s eyes widened slightly. “You really think so?”
Michelle nodded. “Absolutely. I’d love to take this on, but we’ll need to go over fabric selection, feasibility, and, of course, production costs.” She glanced at me. “Since Ms. Clara arranged this meeting, I assume there’s a budget in place?”
I leaned back, crossing my legs. “I’ll cover the first piece, no matter the cost.”
Lily whipped her head toward me. “Wait, you’re serious?”
I smirked. “Completely. Consider it an investment in your talent.”
Michelle’s lips twitched into an approving smile. “In that case, we can start discussing the next steps.”
As we delved into the specifics, Jonas returned, followed by another man in a black suit.
I assumed he was the attorney I had requested because everything from this point on was about to become official.
- Writer
