Just to let you know, I cook delicious eggs and bacon.” Natalie nodded with a smile on her face, feeling a warmth flood through her heart. Like a little child, she followed Johanna into the kitchen. Natalie watched as Johann cracked the eggs into the sizzling pan.
Soon, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of fried eggs.
Johanna then put the bacon in as she asked rather casually, “Why did you stay in instead of going out with Lila to have some fun? You’re not friends with anyone in Barnes. It’s good for you to go out and forge new friendships.”
The aroma of the bacon had a way of intoxicating Natalie. But hearing Johanna’s question, Natalie knew that she couldn’t tell
Johanna directly that she didn’t like Lila’s friends. She simply smiled and replied, “I’ve been searching for jobs on the recruitment website recently. I’ve grown used to working, so I want to continue focusing on my career. Also, I feel a little flustered when I’m out with Lila the whole day.”
In fact, Natalie was telling Johanna the truth. She wasn’t in the mood to hang out with Lila every day. She began working after graduation and had grown accustomed to it. If she suddenly stopped working, she would feel useless and abandoned by the world. Johanna turned off the stove and looked at Natalie for a very long time.
This daughter of hers was just like her. Johanna was relieved to hear what Natalie said just now. Johanna herself was a powerful woman, but Lila was spoiled as a princess and couldn’t bear to live a hard life. Lila happened to be average in ability and was not all that ambitious. They had long stopped expecting Lila to achieve anything in regard to a career. Anyway, there was no need for Lila to inherit the family business. They just wish her happy and healthy.
Knowing now that Natalie was so ambitious, Johanna was really happy to learn that.
“I know that you majored in fashion design and was working as a fashion designer in Seacisco before. I’ve seen your work and found that you are indeed a very talented designer. If you need money or any connections, you can tell me at any time. Our family also has dealings in the fashion industry.” Johanna clutched Natalie’s hand tightly and patted it twice.
“You’re really like me when I was younger.”
“Thank you. If I need anything, I’ll tell you.”
After that, Natalie turned her attention back to the eggs and bacon in the pan. It just smelled so good. Natalie didn’t think too much about her conversation with Johanna. However, Johanna obviously did. She made up her mind to let her daughter establish a business in the fashion circle of Barnes, so that was what she was working on.
Two days later, Johanna received the news that a high-end party was going to be held in the fashion circle soon.
She received the invitation and went to the party with Natalie and Lita, hoping with all her heart that Natalie could make a smashing debut within the fashion design circle of Barnes.
When Natalie saw the invitation Johanna had handed to her with her own eyes, she had no choice but to admit that her mother was indeed a decisive person.
“Mrs. White, to be honest, I haven’t yet decided whether I’ll be working in Barnes or not.”
Holding the invitation in her hand, Natalie didn’t know whether to laugh or cry in response. After all, she had to take a lot of people into consideration, especially Hannah and Sebastian.
Johanna had her own master plan. She secretly hoped that Natalie would stay with her in Barnes for the rest of her life. Besides, the White family was wealthy enough to support Natalie. However, judging by the reluctance on Natalie’s face, Johanna surmised that she must have been thinking about Brandon, the man in Seasisco. He was a good-looking fellow, but Johanna wasn’t fond of him at all.
‘I didn’t say that you have to work in Barnes, but it would be good for you to expand your connections. Barnes may not be as fashionable as Seasisco, but it’s a developed city with a healthy ecosystem of experienced designers to learn and gain knowledge from.” Johanna showed a gentle smile on her face.
Unwilling to disappoint Johanna, Natalie eventually agreed to attend the party.
At the party, Natalie followed Johanna around the hall, meeting all the big shots from the fashion circles because she wasn’t quite familiar with the designers in Barnes.
“This is Mr. Smith. He is the chief designer of the project of redefining women’s clothing that has been popular all over the country recently.”
Johanna was elegant and unhurried, while Natalie complimented her with her gracious and refined temperament. Lila was looking for an opportunity to humiliate Natalie. Since she used to rub shoulders with Barnes’ upper class, Lila had several friends at this party. Mostly daughters from rich families who had graduated from famous design schools abroad.
“Mom, Natalie has just graduated. Don’t you think it’s too soon for her to talk with these experienced designers who have been in the fashion industry for decades?” Lila whispered to Johanna.
Lila pretended to be concerned, but deep down inside, she was just waiting for Natalie to make a fool of herself and get laughed at by these famous designers. After all, in her opinion, Natalie was just a novice, unworthy of public appreciation. Perhaps then
Johanna would come to regret bringing Natalie to this party in the first place.
“I trust her,” said Johanna calmly and firmly. Lila’s heart sank almost immediately.
After all, Johanna had never talked about her with such pride and certainty. That realization irked her even more. Mr. Smith, the renowned designer, was a very arrogant man who despised people who tried to win him over with flatteries.
If it weren’t for Johanna, he wouldn’t have spoken to Natalie, but after spending a few minutes with her in conversation, he realized that Natalie had a profound passion for designing, “I remember seeing your work at Seasisco Fashion Week not too long ago.”
“I am honored and delighted to hear that. After all, I’m just a newcomer with still so much to learn,” Natalie answered in a natural manner.
“The smooth fabric was a good choice. It emulated the fluidity of the wind, incisively and vividly.” Mr. Smith raised his eyebrows.
and clinked glasses with Natalie. suddenly, all eyes were on Mr. Smith and Natalie. As they became the focus of the party, everyone walked and joined them in conversation,
Meanwhile, standing in the corner with her fists clenched in anger, Lila watched in awe as she didn’t expect things to work out so nicely for Natalie.
How could this be? How?
It looked like Natalie had all the famous designers, the chief editors of various fashion magazines, and the founders of brands eating from the palm of her hand, Lila gritted her teeth to stop herself from screaming. Natalie was thriving amongst all the talented people around her and yet Lila couldn’t even understand what they were talking about.
With pride in her eyes, Johanna said, “When I see Natalie, I feel like I am looking at my younger self.” Lila felt bitter in her heart. It suddenly dawned upon her that she wasn’t as good as Natalie. Everything about her was superficial, but Natalie had real ability and talent. Natalie wasn’t intimidated by all those big shots and was actually wise enough to control the whole conversation. Natalie was a quiet woman who didn’t talk much, but she could express her ideas brilliantly when it came to something she was good at.
Lila was utterly disconsolate.She also noticed one more important detail.
In the past, handsome men would flock to her since she was the daughter of the White family, but tonight, there wasn’t a single man who came up to talk to her.
Johanna was relieved in her heart to see that Natalie and the other designers were getting along well. She said to Natalie “I’ll go say hi to Mrs. Blake now.”
Lila was ignored in the meantime.
At this sort of fashion party, people usually chatted together in groups. At just a glance, Lila appeared to be isolated and she looked a little embarrassed. Everyone walked past her and proceeded to ignore her.