Chapter 3 ~ A search

“How are we doing?” Easton asked Kai.

Kai pulled down his tie slightly as he looked up at his boss. 

“Overwhelming. We have hundreds of applicants. We made sure word reached every corner of the country as you wanted, Sir.”

Easton nodded, “Good. Have Amanda hand over all the designs to you, I need to take a look.” He instructed.

“Yes sir,” Kai responded.

And overwhelming it was indeed. Every person in the country applied. It was the talk of the city and the first thing the media talked about each morning. 

 From talented to aspiring designers,  they all wanted to work for the Black Enterprises knowing that would change their lives forever. 

Even cleaners and cooks earned more than an average person in Bayern so you can only imagine how much a designer would make. 

Seeing that everything was falling into place, Easton turned to walk towards his office. His heart couldn’t help but feel a little anxious. He was getting closer to finding her.

But had she seen the advert?

What if she didn’t want to participate?

The questions kept running in his head but he laughed to himself as he sat behind his huge office desk. 

“She will definitely apply, her love for money will bring her to me and that will be her ruin.” He thought out loud.

His heart still ached at the last words she said to him five years ago. Time had passed but it did nothing to soothe his broken heart. She was the reason he had turned ice cold. The reason he never believed in love ever again.

“I don’t love you. I just wanted to stay with you for your money.” Scarlet’s voice said in a sharp and cold tone.

“You’re lying!” Easton stepped closer and searched her eyes, afraid of what their happy relationship was about to turn to.

Scarlet laughed dryly, “Oh come on Easton, I grew up in an orphanage! I can never go back to poverty and motivation seems to be something you lack, so let’s break up! You may have money now, but it’s your daddy’s money. I want a real man!” 

A knock on the door made Easton snap out of his painful memory. One of the few that hunted him every night. 

“I have the designs, sir,” Kai announced.

“Thanks. Let me take a look.” He waved him over. 

As he browsed through all the designs that had been presented, none of them looked appealing and none of them had what he wanted.

The closer he came to the end the harder his heartbeat and his stomach twisted into knots as the realization hit him,

She didn't apply. 

Seeing the disappointed look on his face, Kai asked, “That's thousands of designs But it seems none of them has appealed to you.”

Easton sighed, leaning back in his chair as his shoulders sagged in disappointment, “I'm looking for a -”

Before he could finish speaking, there was another knock making them both turn as Kai walked over to it to check who it was. 

Easton hated being disturbed so only Kai Wang, his secretary of five years, was allowed to be around him or step Into the office. Everything went through him. 

“Come in.” He announced making Easton wonder who it was as he hoped It wasn't Jade because was in no mood to tolerate her annoying presence.  

When Amanda came into view,  he sighed in relief but his stone-cold face remained unmoving as he waited for her to explain why she was in his office. 

“Mr. Black, we missed some designs. We thought you'd be interested in taking a look at them. These seem different and much better than anything we've seen so far. It's so unique and has a creative touch to it.” Amanda explained excitedly as she placed the tablet on the table. 

Easton grabbed it and started scrolling Through, “You sound like you're already nominating a winner.” He commented dryly, sounding unimpressed before adding “Why are they not printed?”

“They were submitted online, sir. I rushed here the moment I saw them and assumed you'd want to see them immediately. “ Amanda explained as the atmosphere started getting suffocating.  

“I see” Came his response as he swiped over the new designs. 

He was about to give back the tablet when a particular design caught his eye.

Pausing, his ocean-blue eyes scanned the design intently. It was a beautiful gown, painted deep blue with beautiful flowers embroidered into it. It was holding the model's upper chest and flowing loosely from the waist going below. But that wasn't the only thing that caught his attention,  It was the butterfly at the corner of it.

He stood, holding the tablet like his life depended on it. He recognized that logo in a heartbeat. 

Only she did that.

It was her signature move that only he and Scarlet knew about. 

He looked up, “Do we have information for all those who submitted their designs?” His deep voice sliced through the room.

“Yes,” Kai responded. 

“Good, I need you to find out who designed this!” He instructed. 

“Yes, Mr. Black,” Kai responded as he walked out with Amanda. 

Easton sat back and drummed his long fingers on the desk with a pounding heart. 

He was closer to finding her! 

Finally, he would get his revenge and maybe all the pain he felt would go away and he would find peace again. 

Every Second that passed seemed like an eternity.  His eyes stayed glued to the door as he waited with a pounding heart. 

An hour passed.

Second hour. 

He felt like it was becoming harder to breathe as he waited. 

Until finally, 

The door opened and Kai entered,

“The designer's name is Scarlet Frost”

Easton’s heart pounded harder for a second as he leaned forward from his seat. He felt his rage and anger bubble inside his chest, but he also felt relief. 

It was time to collect what was due. 

He stood and grabbed his coat,

“Find her!”