The bidding conference for the Skycrown Spire project was scheduled three days later.
It was set to become Asterford's defining landmark for the next decade, and every top-tier design firm was fighting to win it.
Inside the Griffin Group conference room, the air felt thick enough to suffocate.
Adrian was on the verge of losing control.
The chief designer Griffin Group had hired had been poached by a rival just one day before the bid.
They were heading into battle unarmed.
"Mr. Griffin, what do we do? We present in an hour. Our proposal won't survive five minutes," the vice president said, pacing anxiously.
Adrian yanked at his tie and kicked a chair over.
"What good are any of you? Where am I supposed to find someone now?"
Jasmine sat beside him, handing him a glass of water with a gentle smile.
"Adrian, don't be angry. Maybe a miracle will happen."
"A miracle?" He let out a harsh laugh. "Unless L descends from the heavens."
At that moment, the conference room doors swung open.
I walked in wearing a tailored white suit and high heels.
My hair was swept into a sleek updo, gold-rimmed glasses resting on my nose.
I carried myself with deliberate authority.
Everyone froze.
Adrian's brows knitted together when he saw me, the disdain in his eyes unmistakable.
"Audrey? What are you doing here? Did you bring lunch? Or are you here to beg for forgiveness? Get out. This is a senior executive meeting, not a place for you to throw a tantrum."
Jasmine stood up as well, her voice soft and sugary.
"Mrs. Griffin, Adrian is still upset about what happened at the gala. Please don't make things worse right now."
The Griffin executives snickered under their breath.
"Mr. Griffin, seems you've lost control at home."
"Letting your wife storm into a meeting like this? Highly inappropriate."
I ignored them all and walked straight toward the head seat at the bidding table.
It had been reserved for the project's mysterious lead adjudicator and chief overseer.
Adrian's face drained of color when he saw where I was headed.
"Audrey! Have you lost your mind? That seat isn't for you! Get down! Security! Where's security?"
He lunged toward me, his hand only inches away from touching me, when the conference room doors suddenly opened again.
The event organizers entered, accompanied by several internationally renowned architects.
The moment they saw me standing before the main seat, their faces lit up with unmistakable excitement.
The elderly masters hurried toward me and bowed respectfully.
"Master! You've finally returned!"
"We've been waiting for you, L."
Silence swallowed the room.
Adrian's hand froze midair, his eyes bulging in disbelief.
The pen slipped from his fingers and clattered onto the table.
The vice president's jaw nearly hit the floor.
Jasmine's smile stiffened into something grotesque.
I sat down slowly, crossed my legs, and let my gaze sweep across the room with quiet superiority.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself. I'm Audrey Lawson. And I am the chief director of the Skycrown Spire project—L."
I looked at Adrian's ashen face and smiled coldly. "Mr. Griffin, can I afford that vase now?"
