Chapter 411

As Nina pushed the door open, her heart nearly jumped out of her chest.

She rushed to the floor-to-ceiling window, yanked back the curtains, and stepped out onto the balcony. But all she found was warm sunlight.

A flower pot had fallen by the railing, shattered into pieces, with soil scattered everywhere. That must've been the noise she heard last night.

Nina walked over and squatted down to clean up. Her eyes landed on a footprint in the soil. Her fingers trembled slightly; Richard had definitely been here last night!

Footsteps echoed behind her; it was Kelsey who had followed her up. Kelsey asked, "Nina, Richard isn't here?"

Nina lowered her eyes and calmly cleaned up the flower pot, saying, "He was here, but he's gone now."

Even though Nina stayed quiet, Kelsey could still feel her sadness and disappointment. The words Kelsey wanted to say got swallowed back down.

This wave of sadness and disappointment hung over Nina all morning.

Today, a client was coming to order a full set of jewelry. After organizing all the documents, Nina sat at her desk, lost in thought.

It wasn't until Amy, the assistant, walked in and said, "Ms. Miller, the guests are here," that Nina snapped back to reality. She composed herself, adjusted her demeanor, and headed to the meeting room with the documents in hand.

This was the first order Nina and Isabella Jewelry had received since Harmony Jewelry had poached their clients. The client was wealthy, immediately ordering a full set of jewelry and offering a generous price. Nina had stayed up several nights for this deal, her eyes red from lack of sleep.

The client, Diana Simmons, was an affluent middle-aged woman with a gentle smile. Upon perusing the design proposals presented by Nina and her team, Diana was thoroughly satisfied. "Let's finalize it then. We can sign the contract today."

Nina and Amy were both taken aback. "So soon?"

Diana laughed. "You business folks, don't you want to sign the contract quickly and get the money as soon as possible?"

"Of course we do," Nina replied honestly. "But this isn't a small amount. If you need to think it over, I understand and can wait."

"No need." Diana said straightforwardly, "Just bring the contract, and I'll sign it."

Diana's straightforwardness made Nina wary. "What about the timeline?"

Diana said, "There are no strict requirements for the timeline. This set of jewelry is for an event abroad in six months, so you have plenty of time."

This customer was generous with payment, had minimal demands, and imposed no deadlines. Maybe because previous clients had been so difficult, encountering such a straightforward client made Nina hesitant to sign.

Diana seemed to read her thoughts and smiled. "You don't need to worry about me tricking you. I'm just a straightforward person who doesn't like to drag things out. Of course, if you insist on a reason, I can tell you."

Nina looked into her eyes.

Diana said, "Richard."

Nina was surprised. "You know Richard?"

Diana nodded. "We've been old friends for many years. He asked me to take care of your business."

Nina suddenly understood and breathed a sigh of relief. "So that's how it is."

Diana smiled. "So, can you sign the contract with me now without any worries?"

"Absolutely, I'm reassured!" Nina quickly told Amy to fetch the contract.

After both parties signed, making it official, Diana said, "I'll have my finance department send you the deposit once I get back. It's great to have reached this agreement. I can't wait to see what we achieve together."

"Thank you. Let's work together towards our goals," Nina replied.

Nina escorted Diana to the door and watched her car drive away. She then noticed a car parked across the street. The window was half-open, and inside sat an elegant lady wearing sunglasses and a hat. Even from a distance, Nina recognized her immediately-it was Ophelia.

Ophelia didn't stay long; the car soon drove off. So, Nina didn't think much of it.

After a busy day, as Nina walked into the underground parking lot with her bag, she saw Ophelia's car again, parked right next to hers.

The back window was still open, and Ophelia was no longer wearing sunglasses and a hat. Ophelia turned to Nina and said, "Ms. Miller, I have a few questions to ask you."

After a pause, Ophelia added, "Is it convenient?"

Nina noticed that Ophelia didn't seem as arrogant as before. She appeared strong, but inside, she was a mess.

"Sure," Nina nodded, walking over and unlocking her car door with the key.

After starting the car, Nina rolled down the window and said to Ophelia, "Have you had dinner?"

Ophelia shook her head.

Nina said, "I know a restaurant with pretty good food. How about we have a meal together there?"

"Okay." Ophelia nodded, instructing her driver to follow Nina's car.

Nina chose a serene, elegantly decorated restaurant.

Since she worried that Ophelia might find it hard to talk, Nina specifically chose a quieter private room upstairs. When ordering, Nina fully respected Ophelia's tastes.

Nina said, "You should try their tea; it's organically grown by the owner himself, completely natural, and free from pollutants. It's delightful for the appetite and digestion, with a subtle, delicate fragrance."

Ophelia looked at Nina and said, "I'm sorry, Ms. Miller. I take back what I said before. I admit I had a lot of prejudice against you and Isabella. It was all because of Emma."

Nina smiled gently. "That's how it is between people. They are either friendly or prejudiced. There's no need to take it too seriously, just as Bella and me."

A hint of admiration appeared in Ophelia's eyes. "I used to think you were fake, that everything you had was built by your family and men, yet you always put on a confident front. Now I see, I was too narrow-minded."

Ophelia smiled bitterly. "I've always mocked others, only to realize in the end that I'm the real clown!"

Sensing Ophelia's low mood, Nina asked, "If it's convenient, can you tell me about it? I may not be much help, but I can offer some comfort."

Ophelia glanced at Nina, then quickly lowered her eyes as if finding it hard to speak.

Nina didn't rush her; she patiently waited for Ophelia to open up, making small talk in the meantime.

Gradually, Ophelia relaxed and got to the point. "I checked what you told me last time. There was indeed something added to those perfumes."