Chapter 357: Those Eyes Belonged to His Winter
The rest of the contract signing went exceptionally smoothly. By the time it was finished and they were being escorted downstairs, Edie still hadn’t processed what had happened.
Her eyes were wide as saucers as she stared at Ivy Sherwood in disbelief.
Ivy Sherwood waved the stamped contract in front of Edie’s eyes. "Earth to Edie. What are you still thinking about?"
Edie grabbed Ivy Sherwood excitedly. "Oh my god, oh my god, this is just incredible!"
"Boss, you’re actually Iris! I’m not dreaming, am I? It’s like I’ve just seen a living legend!"
"Idol, you’re my absolute idol!"
Ivy Sherwood said, "You’re exaggerating. I’m just a normal person."
"No way! Iris is anything but ordinary. If everyone else at the company knew you were Iris, they’d be ecstatic. Did you know, Boss, we were all lamenting what a shame it was that you didn’t enter the perfume competition? But then you come here and drop this huge bombshell. It’s not that you didn’t participate... it’s like... it’s..."
Edie couldn’t find the right words. Ivy Sherwood took her by the arm. "Alright, alright. Our business here is pretty much done. It’s rare for you all to get a trip out like this, so for the next few days, go have some fun and explore. Then pick out some gifts for everyone else at the company. Put it on my tab."
"Okay, thank you, Boss! You’re the best!" Edie was thrilled. She felt incredibly lucky to have a boss like this.
With the contract signed, Ivy Sherwood had nothing else on her schedule. She even considered heading back early, thinking she might be able to surprise Quentin Blackwood.
They had been chatting for quite a while before they realized their car hadn’t even started. Just as Ivy Sherwood was about to tell the driver to go, Ayrester walked over to them.
"Miss Sherwood."
"Mr. Ayre, is there something else?" Ivy Sherwood opened the car door and stepped out.
"I was wondering if Miss Sherwood has heard about my sister. She’s searching for a particular fragrance."
Ivy Sherwood replied, "Mr. Sam mentioned it."
"In that case, I wonder if Miss Sherwood would be interested in trying to create it? I can help with anything you might need. Or perhaps you could speak with my sister face-to-face. Since you’re Iris, I’m sure my sister would be very willing to meet you."
"I can meet the Princess?" Ivy Sherwood herself hadn’t expected that.
"Of course."
"That would be wonderful. Thank you, Mr. Ayre."
Ivy Sherwood had originally planned to go home early, but since Ayrester arranged for her to meet the Princess tomorrow, she didn’t change her flight.
After she got back, she also told Quentin Blackwood about it.
It felt like they barely talked about anything, yet two hours flew by effortlessly.
After she finished her call with Quentin Blackwood, she noticed several messages from Anna Nash.
"Ivy Sherwood, what is the meaning of this? Didn’t you say you didn’t know anything about the Jade Pendant?"
"If you dare to make a move against me, you’ll never get your hands on that Jade Pendant!"
Ivy Sherwood didn’t understand what Anna Nash was freaking out about this time, but seeing the words "Jade Pendant," she called her.
"Anna Nash, what do you mean?"
Anna Nash’s voice came through the phone. "Shouldn’t I be the one asking you that?"
"Ivy Sherwood, last time you said you didn’t recognize this Jade Pendant, but then you immediately sent someone to the Blackwood Family. So what’s so special about that Jade Pendant that has you in such a hurry?"
Ivy Sherwood had no idea what Anna Nash was talking about. She frowned. "Someone came to you asking about the Jade Pendant?"
"You don’t have to be so desperate for the Jade Pendant that you’d send people to pump me for information. If I hadn’t been smart enough to see through the act, I might have actually been fooled. I only asked you, and no one else, if you recognized this pendant. I’ll be honest with you: the pendant isn’t here with me. It’s useless for you to try and get it."
She truly had no idea about this.
"Stop pretending. Anyway, all I can tell you is that the Jade Pendant is not in my possession."
With that, it was Anna Nash who hung up first.
Ivy Sherwood was stunned for a moment. Judging by Anna Nash’s tone, she wasn’t lying, and she had no reason to lie.
’But Anna Nash said someone approached her to feel her out about the Jade Pendant?’
’If Anna Nash only asked me about the Jade Pendant, then no one else could possibly know.’
’I’m certain I didn’t send anyone to investigate, much less approach Anna Nash. That means the only person who could have done this is... Quentin Blackwood.’
The last time Quentin Blackwood saw the photo of the Jade Pendant, he had asked her to send it to him. At the time, Ivy Sherwood hadn’t thought much of it.
’But why would Quentin Blackwood be investigating this Jade Pendant?’
’Caleb Blackwood said I have something Quentin wants. Could it be related to this Jade Pendant?’
Ivy Sherwood’s heart sank. ’No, that can’t be it. Quentin wouldn’t hide things from me. I’ll ask him when I get back.’
Maybe it was because the food abroad was so different from the food back home, but Ivy Sherwood had no appetite for the past two days and couldn’t eat much.
Moreover, just looking at the steaks, she found the smell a bit gamey and felt a wave of nausea.
But Edie and the others were eating heartily, thinking it was delicious.
’I’m probably just not used to it,’ Ivy Sherwood thought. She didn’t eat much. The next day, as arranged, Ayre took her to meet the Princess, who told her about the dream and the fragrance.
Ivy Sherwood had a few ideas. She would wait until she returned to her country to create some samples and then mail them over.
As she was leaving, Ayre offered to give Ivy Sherwood a ride, but she waved her hand and declined. "Elandra is so beautiful. I was planning to walk around and explore a bit."
"Since you’ve just arrived, you’ll naturally need a guide. I can accompany you, Miss Sherwood."
Ivy Sherwood said, "Thank you for the kind offer, Mr. Ayre, but there’s no need. I plan on picking out a gift for my boyfriend, and a woman can take a very long time shopping. You’re so busy, Mr. Ayre, so I won’t trouble you."
After saying this, Ivy Sherwood prepared to take her leave.
Ayrester didn’t say anything more and quickly left.
This entire street was lined with the magnificent and opulent residences of Elandra’s elite families. For Ivy Sherwood, it was a real eye-opener.
She walked for a long way. When a luxury car approached from ahead, Ivy Sherwood stopped and stepped aside to let it pass.
Inside the car, an elderly man happened to look out the window and see the young woman outside—and those eyes.
He shouted excitedly, "Stop the car! Stop the car now!"
The driver quickly stopped the car. The old man threw the door open and scrambled out, so fast the driver couldn’t stop him. "Sir, Sir..."
Ivy Sherwood was just about to continue walking when a powerful force rushed up from behind her. "Winter! Winter! My Winter!"
The white-haired old man stared at her eyes, his face streaked with tears.
Ivy Sherwood was startled. Hearing the old man speak Chinese, she quickly steadied him. "Sir, are you alright?"
"Winter, it’s my Winter."
"Sir, I think you might have the wrong person."
But the old man gripped her hand tightly, refusing to let her go. "It is Winter..."
The old man was probably too overwrought. He gasped for air and then collapsed.