She Said Yes To Her Cheating Ex’s Rival

02

As Gracie got back home,she rummaged through her drawers. Finally, she found a printed business card.

Three years ago after she won first place in the jewelry competition, the CEO of Zenith Group, Joe White, offered her a job to work as part of his designer team, but Gracie had refused back then because Clive had already begged her to work at his company as his behind the scene designer so Gracie had turned down Joe’s offer to rather work for Clive. But she took Joe’s business card without even thinking a day like this would come, when she’ll ever call him.

Gracie wondered if Joe was still using the same phone number on his business card as she dialed the number.

The phone rang without Joe picking the call. She dialed the number again and Joe still didn’t pick. Heart pounding, Gracie decided that if he didn’t pick the call this third time, she was going to give up.

Ring. Ring. Ring.

Joe finally picked up the call the third time.

"Mr. White, I'm Gracie Swan." Gracie said hurriedly and stopped for a while thinking Joe might hung up the call since he wouldn’t remember her. Surprisingly, Joe didn’t hung up the phone, so she continued, "We met three years ago at Bass jewelry competition. You gave me your business card back then to come work as a designer with your team. Hope you remember?”

"I remember that." Joe responded.

Gracie’s fears were calmed by the man's deep voice and three simple words. She continued, "I have a business idea to share with you, and I thought you might be interested."

After a while, Joe said, "Meet me at my office at 9 a.m. tomorrow. We can chat then.”

Gracie saw that Joe was about to hang up, so she immediately stopped him. "Wait, Mr. White, it might be too late tomorrow. What about now? Also, can we pick a different place?"

She was in a hurry and talked too fast. She couldn't help but feel anxious after she finished speaking.

That night was the start of the Jewelry competition, so Gracie wouldn't be able to talk to Joe the next day if not now.

Going to his company might draw too much attention, which could mess up her plan. She waited for his response, her heart pounding.

Zenith Group was the biggest and number one beauty company in the country and every designer would die for an opportunity to work there, and yet Gracie turned down Joe’s offer to work for him. But now, Gracie realized what a fool she had been all this while.

There was no sound on the other end of the phone for one minutes then Joe suddenly answered, "Okay.”

Thinking she was going to be turn down,

Gracie heaved a sigh of relief.

“In twenty minutes, meet me at the Scented Rose cafe.” Joe said again.

“Okay. T-Thanks...” Gracie responded.

Joe didn’t end the call and said again,"Don't forget to bring your passport along when coming.”

"My passport?" Gracie asked, confused.

But Joe ended the call without waiting for her to finish her sentence.

Gracie wondered what he wanted her passport for? Maybe he needed it if he would to employ her as his designer.

Before she left, she hastily changed her clothing and took her passport. Fortunately, Scented Rose cafe wasn't too far away, so she was able to get there in time.

Someone stopped her just as she was about to go into the cafe.

"Ms. Gracie Swan?"

Gracie had no idea who the man was when he called her by her full name.

“Hello. Yes.”

"Mr. White is waiting for you." The man pointed to another place and not the cafe.

Gracie turned to check where the man was pointing and spotted a Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Drop-tail car parked on the side of the road. She immediately got what the man meant.

She walked right up to the Rolls-Royce without hesitation, and the driver opened the door for her. She couldn't see much of what was inside the car, only a pair of long legs in gleaming leather shoes. She shuddered when she got into the car because of the cold air from the air conditioner. Then she remarked to the man, "Good morning, Mr. White. I...”

Joe’s answer was short, clear, and uninterested: "Get straight to the point."

Gracie suddenly stopped talking so she could look at his face more closely. She wanted to be strong when talking to someone like Joe White, so she got right to the point: "I know that Zenith Group is also in the running for this season's Jewelry competition tonight. I have a design draft and want to join your team.”

"We've already picked the member who will take part," Joe answered.

Gracie was aware of this.

"But you can have more than one entry. I just want to be an extra member of the team, not a substitute. I..”

Joe cut her off. "Why should I believe you? Don’t you work for C&D company?”

Gracie hastily took a stack of papers out of her backpack. "This is the draft of my new jewelry design. I hope this is enough to show you that I really want to work with you. You offered me a job three years ago, but I was foolish to turn you down for C&D company. But not now again. I don’t intend to work for them anymore. Here, I even brought a sample."

"What kind of sample?"

After a while, Joe’s face eventually transformed. He lifted his eyebrows, as if he was interested.

Gracie then reached out her hand to Joe all of a sudden. As she moved, a lovely smell followed her. It smelled nice and wasn't very strong at all.

Joe looked at her hand without saying a word. Her skin was light, and her fingers were thin. The pleasant smell stayed in his nose, drawing him in.

"Take a look, Mr. White.”

After that, Gracie pulled her hand back, but Joe unexpectedly caught her wrist. He held her with just the proper amount of force.

Gracie couldn't get away, but she wasn't in pain either.

"Do you think Zenith Group needs this?" Joe asked.

"This is just a draft. I have an idea if you believe it's not enough,” Gracie said, "I'll let your company own the trademarks for the Jewelry I make over the next two years. What do you say?”

She thought Joe would not agree. She was running out of time and couldn't find anyone better to work with than Joe.

"Yes, it isn't enough." Joe let go of her wrist, which freed her. "Unless... you're also part of the deal."

"Me? Deal? What deal?” Gracie didn't know what Joe meant and asked.

"Did you bring the passport I asked for?" Joe asked all of a sudden.