Chapter 24: Transaction
Shelly Lowell was filled with regret.
But after learning the truth about Mr. Zane, she immediately admitted her mistake to Sharon Lowell and asked for her help in contacting him.
She wanted Mr. Zane to give her another chance.
She was desperate to integrate into Aethelburg’s elite social circles!
Sharon Lowell agreed.
In her opinion, although Shelly Lowell’s talent was a bit lacking, she would be fine as long as she studied hard.
But who would have thought Vivian Lowell would suddenly come out and pull a stunt like this!
With a single phone call, she had all but completely destroyed any possibility of Shelly Lowell studying with Mr. Zane again!
"Vivian Lowell, are you insane?"
Sharon Lowell snatched the phone away. She wanted to plead with the person on the other end, but she found he had already hung up!
"Vivian Lowell!"
Overcome with fury, Sharon Lowell raised her hand again, about to send a slap flying her way.
Vivian Lowell, of course, wasn’t foolish enough to just stand there and wait to be hit. Instead, she reached out, intending to grab Sharon Lowell’s hand and fling it away.
However, this time, just as Vivian Lowell started to react, Mason Grant caught Sharon Lowell’s hand first.
Mason looked anxious. He quickly stepped between Vivian and Sharon Lowell and said, "Ms. Galahad, please calm down! Is there some kind of misunderstanding here?"
"Vivian, she—"
"There’s no misunderstanding." Vivian Lowell shot Mason Grant a scornful look, finding his gesture utterly ridiculous.
’If Mason really cared about me, he should have taken a stand back when he found out I wasn’t the real heiress, not waited until now.’
’Now that I have nothing, he’s remained indifferent all this time. Is he only now trying to toss me a few scraps, hoping I’ll come wagging my tail and begging him for more?’
’As if!’
’Or perhaps Mason just didn’t expect me to be so decisive?’
’Did he feel like the ’fish’ he was trying to keep on the hook had escaped his control, and now he wants to ’reel’ me back in?’
"My meaning was perfectly clear. Shelly Lowell is a complete and utter idiot. It would be a waste of Mr. Zane’s time to teach her."
As she spoke, Vivian Lowell looked at Sharon Lowell and said coolly, "And that’s not all. I now believe that teaching Shelly Lowell design is also an incredibly foolish endeavor."
"Mrs. Lowell, I’m going to be leaving the Lowell Group sooner or later anyway. So, regarding the matter of the design blueprints, you’d better find someone more qualified. Goodbye!"
With that, Vivian Lowell turned to leave.
At this, Mrs. Lowell, who had been simmering with rage, snapped back to her senses. She scrambled forward and blocked Vivian Lowell’s path.
Sharon Lowell had calmed down.
The issue with Mr. Zane was secondary.
’The design blueprints... how could Vivian just quit on the spot?’
’If Vivian doesn’t do it, where is she supposed to find another suitable designer to create the drawings!?’
’All the famous international designers these days charge exorbitant fees, and her finances were tight from planning Shelly Lowell and Mason Grant’s wedding!’
’Only Vivian, who would work for ’free’, was the most suitable choice!’
"Vivian Lowell!"
Sharon Lowell stopped Vivian. Forgetting about Mr. Zane, she softened her tone and said, "Why are you suddenly talking about leaving again when everything was fine?"
"You’re a part of this family, how can you just leave!?"
Shelly Lowell, standing to the side, couldn’t take it anymore and cried out, "Mom!"
’Why was it that when Mr. Zane left, Mom came over and slapped me right across the face, but when it came to Vivian Lowell, she holds back?’
Thinking this, Shelly shot a disgruntled look at Mason Grant!
’It was all his fault!’
’If Mason hadn’t suddenly interfered, that slap would have landed!’
Mason Grant clearly noticed Shelly’s glare, but he didn’t seem to care. He simply pretended not to see it and continued to watch the scene unfold.
Vivian Lowell turned back and swept her gaze over Shelly Lowell.
Perhaps it was because Vivian’s aura was so powerful at that moment, her gaze exceptionally cold, but after being glanced at, Shelly Lowell subconsciously took half a step back.
"You have the gall to speak?"
Vivian sneered, pointed toward her room, and asked, "All those things in my room—you took them, didn’t you?"
"To take without asking is to be a thief. I never thought the grand Miss Lowell of the esteemed Lowell Family would have such sticky fingers."
"You!" Humiliated and enraged, Shelly Lowell’s face flushed red, and she was about to retort.
"Shelly!" Sharon Lowell immediately shot her a glare, her expression one of utter disappointment, before turning back to Vivian. "Oh, Vivian."
"Shelly just took your things for a look because she liked them. If you feel it was wrong, we’ll just have her return them to you, alright?"
"And about the blueprints... you’re the only one at the company who can do this design right now. The client has promised a hefty fee! Once the design is finished, we can discuss it and give you a cut!"
’A cut?’
Vivian gave Sharon Lowell a mocking glance.
’For a design worth tens of millions, just how much was Sharon Lowell planning to ’give’ me?’
"Alright."
Vivian agreed with a brilliant smile, her arms still crossed over her chest. "However," she added, "I think we need to have a proper discussion about this."
"Good, let’s talk!"
Seeing Vivian relent, Sharon Lowell let out a long sigh of relief. She turned and gestured for Shelly to not make any rash moves, and the group returned to the first floor and sat down in the living room.
Vivian Lowell sat alone on one side.
Sharon Lowell and Shelly were opposite her. When Mason Grant went to sit, he hesitated, initially intending to sit next to Vivian. But Vivian shot him a look, and Shelly was also staring daggers at him.
Mason’s hand, which was pulling out the chair, paused, and he sat down opposite Vivian instead.
Vivian Lowell took a blueprint out of her bag, revealing a corner of it for Sharon Lowell to see. "I won’t lie to you," she said. "I’m already more than halfway done with this design."
"The earrings and necklace are already designed. All that’s left are the bracelet, the ring, and a few smaller accessories. I can give you the blueprint. But I have three conditions."
"Three!"
Sharon Lowell sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes widening. "Vivian, about the profit-sharing percentage—"
’Vivian wouldn’t dare ask me for money, would she?!’
’That’s unacceptable!’
Vivian smiled again and said coolly, "It has nothing to do with profit sharing."
"Oh."
Sharon Lowell nodded, relaxing slightly. After a moment of thought, she said, "Then state your terms. If they’re within my power, I’ll—"
"Mrs. Lowell."
Vivian Lowell cut Sharon Lowell off. "This is a transaction. If you are unable to fulfill your end, I naturally have the right not to fulfill mine."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
’Within her power?’
’Is she planning to back out later by claiming it’s too difficult?’
’I’m not falling for that!’
"..."
Sharon Lowell was silent for a moment. Gritting her teeth, she had no choice but to nod in agreement.