Back at the office, Madeline found that Trevon was still out.She smiled to herself, a bit resigned. That contract they had discussed was nothing more than a prop—not something to count on.She settled into a quiet corner desk, already set up with a computer and the usual office gear.Daniel was out and Madeline felt adrift, clueless about her tasks for the day. She sighed, wishing she had stayed home to work on her art.A woman in a sharp pink suit, clutching a pile of papers, walked up to Madeline. Nina's smile was courteous, but her eyes betrayed a haughty chill."Hello. I'm Nina Sabian. Technically, as Mr. Gibson's wife, I should be calling you Mrs. Gibson. However, here at the office, we go by rank or seniority. I'm above you, so I'll just call you Madeline. You can call me Ms. Sabian."Madeline, who had been zoning out, suddenly snapped to attention. Was that the cutthroat office politics Yeneth had warned her about? A silent battlefield?Madeline kept her guard up and ask
The whole office seemed to hold its breath. Viktor was back, and nobody wanted to be his next victim.Nina watched with a sly grin. With Viktor in a foul mood and picky as ever, Madeline was in for it. Nina had set her up, giving her a mess of documents that would take ages to sort out.Madeline had no clue about art or reports. Surely she had not just copied them as they were?Nina waited for the fireworks, but the expected explosion from Viktor's corner never came. Curious, she strolled by and caught a glimpse of Viktor, his face twisted in disgust as he read the report. Nina's eyes flicked to Madeline, who was dozing off in a corner, and her smile widened. Madeline was so out of her league. Nina was convinced that she, not Madeline, was destined to be Mrs. Gibson.Madeline, meanwhile, was sprawled out from sheer exhaustion. Her body was drained, and her taste buds were messed up, thanks to a whirlwind of hormonal changes that left a nasty flavor lingering in her mouth.The di
Nina's eyes fell on the report Madeline had printed.Madeline neatly organized the sections Nina had jumbled, even using paper clips to sort them.What stood out was how Madeline summarized each section, detailing the project's progress, outcomes, and the challenges that still needed to be tackled.She had even included visual aids and printed out artworks that made it easy for anyone, even those unfamiliar with art, to see where each part of the project stood—the good points and the shortcomings."You've never worked a day before, have you?"How did she know to do all that then?Moreover, she had an uncanny knack for pinpointing the essence of every piece of artwork.That was definitely not the work of a rookie.Nina had an epiphany and dashed over to Viktor."She didn't do this herself. She had help, no question about it. You might not have heard, Viktor. She's Mr. Gibson's wife. With something this minor, she's got people lining up to help her. She's got no real skill, so y
Madeline kept her composure, not taking his bait. Even if she was a bit naive, she knew that squabbling with Nina was a pointless waste of time.Trevon let out a mocking laugh. "I thought you were serious about working and that you had some sort of plan for your career. Looks like it was all just talk."Madeline felt a bitter sting in her heart. If he really knew her, he would understand that being a secretary was never part of her plan.Madeline smiled in contempt. "Mr. Gibson, you're really spreading yourself thin, aren't you? One minute, you're at the hospital with your ex-girlfriend. Next, you're fussing over your wife. With all this spare time, maybe you should reflect on our agreement and figure out how to sweep your extramarital escapades under the rug."Trevon pursed his lips, irritation flaring, "Why are we back to this? Lydia's fragile right now, emotionally and physically, after her suicide attempt."Going out for meals and shopping for dresses. Was that 'fragile'?Ta
Madeline later found out from Yeneth about Lydia being replaced."She had it coming. With Skylandia's heavy workload, she didn't prioritize it and stirred up too much drama. Not many know about the wrist-cutting. They think she's just out on sick leave. However, the grumbling's been loud, especially about redistributing her workload."That extra character demand meant that Madeline would be picking up the slack left by Lydia."You know what? Lydia talks a good game, but when it comes down to it, she hardly takes on any of the real work for you—just a single character design and one scene," Yeneth said.Madeline quirked an eyebrow. She found herself more drawn to creating scenes than characters. That was her true forte.Art like that was usually kept in-house for projects, so she had never gotten the chance to work on it.Madeline broached the subject with Aaron, but he did not give her an immediate yes.[Miss Mora, have you ever done any scene concept art before.]Madeline had
When Trevon and Madeline stepped into the hall, all eyes were drawn to them. They were a sight to behold in their chic, updated takes on classic attire.Trevon was the epitome of calm detachment, while Madeline radiated a serene grace. Together, they stood like a scene from a masterful painting, a picture of harmony and beauty.They made their entrance hand in hand, their shared smiles betraying none of the strife splashed across the tabloids.However, beneath the surface, Madeline's nails were sinking deep into Trevon's flesh.Unfazed, Trevon murmured, "Nine hundred thousand dollars a month just to hold hands. You're getting a sweet deal."Madeline scoffed silently.Right off the bat, Trevon had grabbed her hand, and despite her subtle attempts to wriggle free, the prying lenses of the paparazzi forced her to relent. Instead, she vented her irritation through her grip.That time, Trevon took it in stride, his hand a warm anchor, the picture of devotion.Lydia, trailing behin
Lydia made her entrance, her white gown sparkling with diamonds, catching the light in a way that made her seem like royalty.Her smile was demure as she said, "I couldn't help but express my fondness for the painting. I hope you won't find my interruption too forward."Stephen and Caleb, ever the gentlemen, assured her it was no bother at all, inviting her to join the conversation.Madeline saw right through her sister's display but said nothing, frowning ever so slightly."The Impressionist masterpiece Sunset in Venice or San Giorgio Maggiore at Dusk by Claude Monet captures the breathtaking beauty of Venice's famed skyline. This piece captures the breathtaking view of the Grand Canal at sunset, showcasing Monet's mastery of light and color."Looking at the piece, one could only see a photograph, making it hard to tell if it was the real deal. However, if it were authentic, it would be a collector's dream. "An elderly man with white hair chimed in, "You've got that right..."
The moment Madeline finished, applause erupted from Baxter's entourage."Bravo!""Exactly!""Our culture is rich and timeless, beyond the reach of any ordinary nation or person.""To be ignorant of one's heritage yet speak of others… That's being foolish!"Lydia was taken aback. She had only meant to throw a few veiled jabs at Madeline, but with a few sharp words, Madeline painted her as a sellout—someone without a true appreciation for their own culture.Lydia's face was a storm of shock, anger, and irritation. "Madeline, you might not be my biggest fan, but do you really have to drag my name through the mud? I was just suggesting you travel abroad and see the world a bit. What's the big deal? I'm trying to help you, and you twist it into something ugly."Madeline's voice was ice, "Keep your 'help' to yourself. We don't need that kind of trouble."Lydia's face twisted into something almost unrecognizable. "You!"Cilix jumped in, trying to defuse the tension. "Come on. It's ju