69

On Thursday, Nicole had taken a half-day leave and moved all of her luggage from the apartment to her new place with Gerald’ help. 




While Gerald went to pick the kids up, she started decorating the house in peace. Since there was a mall downstairs that allowed her to get all her daily necessities, everything was progressing smoothly.




At night, she cooked and made them a hearty meal. From now onward, they had a place where they belonged within the city.




“Dad, how’s your company’s growth recently?” Nicole asked curiously.




“Everything is progressing smoothly! We’ve recently gotten a deal that can give us about 100 million in profit if we are able to get our hands on the project.”




Hearing that, she felt happy for him. Seeing how he wasn’t getting any younger, he would be apprehensive if the company’s operation wasn’t smooth.




Suddenly, Gerald looked at her and asked in all seriousness, “Nicole, are you planning to continue your venture in the designing field forever? Have you never thought of learning how to manage a company?”




Immediately, Nicole caught onto what Gerald was implying. Does he want me to take over his company? I guess he’s anxious now that he’s almost reaching his sixties.




“I don’t think I’m good at that, Dad,” she replied in a self-deprecating manner.




“Well, at least you’re more mature than Amelia, and I’d feel more relieved if the company is in your hands,” Gerald explained truthfully, as Amelia had been completely spoiled by Wanda and didn’t know how to do anything other than spending his money.




“You’re still young, though. Why don’t you decide again in two years, Dad? I’d still have to wait until the kids gets bigger before I have the time to help you out anyway,”

 Nicole suggested after pondering for a moment.




Although Gerald was just asking, he was still happy to know that she had plans to help him out. “Alright. I’ll manage the company for two more years before I make the decision to let you take over the company, then.”




- At this moment, she looked up at

him and noticed his graying sideburns.

before realizing that her father was really

starting to get older now.




*****

On the other hand, Amelia had invited

Alice, Nicole's competitor this time, to

have a meal at a restaurant. 




Then, she told Alice about how Nicole was

already set to be the winner of the

International Jewelry Design Competition

this time.




"How did you find out about that, Miss

Amelia? Are you sure?" Alice questioned

with visible anger in her eyes..




“I can assure you that my sources are accurate. If you want to win the competition fairly or even stand out among others in Bourgeois, you need to remove her. If not, the person who will outshine everyone in the company will definitely be her,” Amelia declared with a sharp glint in her eyes.




“How is that even possible?!” Alice harrumphed.




"Miss Thompson, I'm not trying to scare

you, but you'll only be able to surpass her it

you leave Bourgeois, or she will

surely overshadow you.".




“Miss Amelia, I’m guessing that this is not the main reason why you invited me out!” Alice was smart enough to catch on to the hidden meaning.




“I know you hate Nicole, and I do, too. I want her to leave Bourgeois, and I really hope that she won’t be able to stay in the jewelry designing industry any longer, so I’m hoping that you can partner up with me.”




Obviously, Alice knew why Amelia hated Nicole. How could she, as President Butler's girlfriend, not hate Nicole when Nicole and President Butler kept flirting around with each other in the company? Thus, she agreed without any hesitation. “Sure. I’m willing to work together with you, Miss Amelia, but what can I do?”




Amelia already had an answer to Alice’s question. “Do you know the chairman of the company that is sponsoring the International Jewelry Design Competition this year?”




As Alice had wide connections in the designing field, she actually did know who the chairman that Amelia mentioned was. The chairman was a notorious pervert that had once tried to ask her to a meal, wanting to help her expand her connections, but she had rejected him.




“I have his contact number, and I can contact him anytime.”




Amelia smirked with satisfaction. “I’m planning to get Nicole and him in one bed before taking a picture of it and revealing it during the awards ceremony. By then,

she definitely won’t be able to win any awards and will even be a laughingstock in the designing field. What do you think?”




Although Alice thought that the plan was risky, she really couldn’t stand Nicole any longer. If Nicole was really set to be the winner of the competition this time internally, the reward of a million would end up in her pockets, and that didn’t sit right with Alice.




"Sure! l'm willing to help you by asking the

chairman out, but how can you get her to fall into the trap?" Alice asked curiously..




"I have my own ways. Ask the chairman out this Saturday at night and set up the surveillance camera beforehand. I will definitely get Anastasia to show up in his bed in time.".