Chapter 71 Fiorello's Warmth
Maggie cast a fleeting glance at her fellow designers before retreating to the sanctuary of her desk, a sheaf of client information clutched in her hands. She had flexed her strength, earning a brief respite from the turmoil that seemed to perpetually surround her.
"Maggie, take a breather," Emily suggested, her smile warm as she offered a cup of coffee. She gave a thumbs-up, her admiration evident. "I never thought you'd handle Selena with such aplomb."
Maggie had allowed her emotions to take the reins earlier, Selena's relentless provocation pushing her to the brink. Now, back in the realm of reality, a twinge of regret gnawed at her. She had crossed swords with her superior; would Selena retaliate?
A sense of helplessness washed over Maggie, a bitter smile tugging at her lips. "Life doesn't always give us a choice."
She yearned to continue bearing the brunt of the hardships, but reality was a harsh taskmaster. She could juggle menial tasks, but she refused to stomach insults. There had to be a line drawn somewhere.
Emily's laughter rang out, light and carefree. "I have faith in you. You didn't lose ground, at least not in terms of momentum. If you do get the boot, and I happen to marry the boss of Visionary Futures Group, I'll ensure you're hired back."
"I'll hold you to that," Maggie responded.
"Trust me, I'm as loyal as they come," Emily assured her, patting her chest for emphasis.
Maggie managed a smile, her attention returning to the client information. However, her expression morphed into one of surprise almost instantly.
Emily mirrored her shock. "The princess of Glory Entertainment Company, Lily Cook. Selena's really trying to push you out. Lily's infamous for her capricious and unreasonable behavior in the circle."
"You're really well informed!" Maggie said, glancing at Emily. It seemed Emily had a few connections of her own.
Emily merely smiled. "Just rumors. You know how they are."
Maggie sensed Emily was holding back, but she knew better than to pry. Everyone had their secrets, and their friendship was still in its nascent stages, not yet ready for complete transparency.
Maggie returned to the client information. She had no idea who this Lily was, but the documents clearly labeled her as the princess of Glory Entertainment Company. Her position alone suggested she was a difficult client, one that even Selena struggled to manage. The mere thought of dealing with her was enough to induce a headache.
Emily pointed out, "Maggie, Lily has a penchant for Hermes bags. She's a super VIP at Hermes, with first dibs on any new designs. They even craft bags specifically for her and opened a store near her residence. She's even had designers at Hermes sacked because of her whims."
Maggie forced a smile. "Perhaps I'll be the next casualty."
If even Hermes designers were dispensable, then she was undoubtedly expendable.
Just as Maggie was grappling with her worries, a shout echoed from outside.
"Maggie, who's Maggie? Your delivery's here."
Maggie looked up to find a colleague standing at the entrance, a package in hand.
"Over here," Maggie called out, raising her hand.
"Did you order something?" Emily asked.
Maggie shook her head. "No."
She had been so engrossed in her work that she had forgotten about lunch. But she hadn't ordered anything.
Maggie approached her colleague. "Is this mine?"
"Yeah, someone dropped it off for you," the colleague replied, handing over the package. "I need to get back to work."
"Thank you," Maggie murmured, accepting the package in a daze.
Emily leaned in, her nose twitching. "That smells divine. It doesn't seem like your average takeout."
In that instant, the shrill ring of Maggie's phone punctuated the silence. It was a call from Fiorello.
Setting aside the takeout box she had been about to open, Maggie picked up the call. Fiorello's voice, deep and resonant, flowed through the receiver. "Have you eaten? Our aunt prepared some food and sent it over. Did it arrive?"
"So it's from our aunt," Maggie chuckled, her laughter light and airy, "I just received it. I'm famished. Have you eaten yet?"
"Yes," Fiorello replied, his voice echoing slightly off the walls of the CEO's office where he had returned to, "How is your first day at work so far?"
"Not bad," Maggie responded, her voice laced with optimism, carefully omitting any potential concerns, "My colleagues have been very kind."
Emily, who had been listening in, widened her eyes in disbelief at what she was hearing.
"That's good," Fiorello said, his voice softening, "You finish work at 5:30 pm, I'll come pick you up then."
"Okay."
"Good, go eat, don't starve."
Fiorello's short call was laden with concern, each word a testament to his care for her.
A wave of comfort washed over Maggie. Hanging up the phone, she retrieved her meal and made her way to the pantry.
Intrigued, Emily asked, "Was that your husband on the phone? He seems so caring. I'm envious."
"He's the kind of person who seems aloof at first but is actually quite warm," Maggie praised Fiorello without a moment's hesitation.
Emily's curiosity piqued, she asked, "How did you two meet?"
"We met through a blind date on a website," Maggie answered candidly.
Emily expressed her surprise, "A beautiful woman like you still needs blind dates? The men around you are surely to blame."
Maggie chuckled, engaging Emily in light-hearted banter, effortlessly putting her at ease.
After their meal, Maggie returned to her work, her mind whirring as she tried to decipher what design would satisfy Lily.
As the workday drew to a close, her colleagues began to trickle out of the office. Maggie, too, packed up her belongings, ready to leave.
"Let me accompany you. I'll give you a ride," Emily offered.
"My husband is picking me up at the company entrance," Maggie replied. She had already received a message from Fiorello, who was waiting downstairs.
"I envy you," Emily sighed.
The two women descended the stairs together. Emily veered off towards the parking lot to retrieve her car, while Maggie made her way towards the Chevrolet parked by the roadside.
Upon seeing Maggie, Fiorello stepped out of the car and opened the door for her. Just then, Emily pulled out of the parking lot and called out, "Maggie!"
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