Chapter 169 False Concerns
After Nicole stayed at Colton’s house for two days, she unexpectedly received a call from Joanna, who rarely called her.
“Lisa, the Internet has become more and more chaotic these days, and I’m worried about you, so I called to check up on you,” Joanna said politely.
Nicole smirked—she knew what this person was up to, so she replied in a lazy voice, “I’m still alive and kicking. Nothing to worry about.”
“That’s good to know,” Joanna said slowly, and after saying a few words of false concern, she slowly cut to the chase.
“Our presale has been brought forward, and it’s fast approaching. The factory has already started to ask for design drafts; otherwise, they won’t be able to make them in time. Since you’re currently swamped, maybe I should—”
Nicole interrupted Joanna before she had finished speaking, “Oh, haven’t I told you about this yet?”
Joanna’s heart tightened, and she asked with a smile, “About what?”
“Look at where my mind has gone. I’ve been lying at home comfortably these past few days, and I have forgotten all about it.” Nicole smiled. “I have already selected all the design drawings. I won’t be needing your help for now. Later, I will send someone to the company to hand over the design draft to the factory. Director Schmidt, don’t worry. The new product launch will be held as usual.”
Joanna called this time because she wanted Nicole to hand over the design draft directly. If she regained power, when the time came for the launch of the new products, she would be able to take the credit for herself. To her dismay, Nicole had already planned it.
Joanna continued to smile fakely and said, “The design draft is a small matter; we still need to choose fabrics and work on some details. These still need to be handled by someone.”
“Oh, don’t you worry. I will be sending my assistant from F&M Apparel. She understands all these details, so you can rest assured, Director Schmidt,” Nicole said in a raised voice.
“That sounds great.” Joanna almost squeezed her last words through her teeth and hung up the phone after she finished speaking.
When Nicole saw that the phone was hung up, she took out a USB flash drive from her pocket and handed it to Whitney. “This is the design drawing of the next batch of our new line of products. Go to the Gardner Corporation in the afternoon and give this to the factory. Remember to do it yourself.”
Whitney took the USB flash drive and raised her eyebrows. “Didn’t Director Schmidt offer to take on this matter? Why do we have to bother with this?”
“Because I don’t want her to. Do you have any opinions?” Nicole said capriciously.
Whitney shook her head. “No, Miss Nicole—you are the best.”
After Joanna hung up the phone, the smile on her face disappeared instantly. She held the phone with constant increasing force until her knuckles turned white.
“Hahaha, Director Schmidt, let me just say this: Even if Nicole is in trouble now, she will not let go of her designs. Look, you kindly called, but instead, you were snubbed.” Queenie sat aside her. Looking at Joanna’s gloomy face, she laughed.
She wanted to bring Joanna into her team now, but this woman was too shrewd. She wanted everything for herself, but never to involve herself in any trouble.
Joanna heard Queenie’s harsh ridicule, and her face became even more gloomy. She tried her best to recover and said calmly, “The cooperation between the Gardner Corporation and F&M Apparel is originally focused on Lisa, so it’s not surprising that this happened.”
When Queenie saw that Joanna was still deceiving herself, she stood up and looked at her. “Joanna, don’t think I can’t see that you fancy Colton.”
Joanna raised her eyes, but she didn’t show any surprise at Queenie’s words. She did have feelings for Colton. This was indeed the truth, and there was nothing to refute.
“So what?”
Queenie was a little surprised when she saw her frankly admit it, but she quickly reacted, saying, “Then you probably don’t know this yet: In the past few days, because of Daniella Zimmer’s suicide, Colton took Nicole home to live there with him.”
Joanna’s originally calm expression instantly stiffened. The reason why she didn’t pay attention to Queenie was because she knew that Colton didn’t care about her at all.
But if it was Nicole, she couldn’t guarantee it. After all, since Nicole came to the Gardner Corporation, Joanna could clearly feel that Colton had changed.
He became partial to Nicole. At first, she could tell herself that it was because Nicole was the Chief Designer of F&M Apparel. With her, the Gardner Corporation’s clothing could become a domestic leader, but now… things seemed to be shifting in the wrong direction.
