Free Web NovelChapter 114: Chapter 115: Getting to Know Sonia Quincy Beyond the Rumors
"You better kill me today, Felix Preston. Otherwise, I swear I’ll steal Sonia Quincy from you. I grew up with Sonia; she can only be mine..."
Those words, like the final whisper of a demon from the abyss, echoed endlessly in Felix Preston’s mind during the days he was comatose. Though he had been unconscious, he was constantly terrified, afraid that at some point in the future, Sonia Quincy would truly be stolen from him by Willow Quincy.
Felix Preston had always been the type to take both gains and losses in stride. This was the first time anyone had managed to instill a fear so deep it felt etched into his very bones.
The soft warmth on his lips hadn’t fully faded. He touched them with his fingers, trying to hold on to the lingering sensation of Sonia Quincy’s touch.
"Huh? Where’s Sonia? Where did Sonia go?"
Mrs. Preston came out after doing the laundry but didn’t see Sonia Quincy in the hospital room.
Felix Preston closed his eyes. When he opened them a moment later, the anxiety and fear in his gaze had vanished without a trace.
"Mom, could you go buy me a new phone? Mine is broken, and I can’t deal with work right now."
"You just woke up. Why are you in such a hurry to think about work?" Mrs. Preston carried the clean laundry on its hangers to the balcony, glaring at him as she passed his hospital bed. "Work isn’t more important than your health... You need to rest properly for a while. Think about work again when you’re feeling a little better."
"Mom." Felix Preston watched his mother’s back on the balcony. His tone was firm, almost stubborn. "My work can’t stop. Not even for a second."
"..." Mrs. Preston didn’t reply, but the sudden slump of her shoulders revealed her helplessness and resignation.
Felix Preston gave a bitter smile. "Thanks, Mom."
...
The meeting was set for Mina Jennings’s studio, as before. As Sonia Quincy got out of her rideshare, she spotted Mina on the phone just outside the studio entrance.
When Mina Jennings saw her, she walked over, phone still in hand, and affectionately looped her arm through Sonia’s, gesturing for her to wait outside with her.
"I get it. The designer is right here with me. I’ll be sure to get the design from her for you, don’t worry."
"Okay, hanging up. I’m busy."
Hanging up, Mina Jennings tucked her phone into her pocket and led Sonia Quincy into the studio, her arm still linked with hers.
"So, my dear Bloom Preston, did you catch my hint on the phone?"
"Huh?" Sonia Quincy stared at her, taken aback. "The designer you just mentioned... you don’t mean me, do you?"
Mina Jennings grinned. "Bingo, I was talking about you! Pre-orders for your first piece, ’Summer Night Rain,’ started two days ago, and they’ve been incredible. As of right now, we’ve had over seven hundred orders for the necklace, and pre-sale revenue has already topped six hundred thousand."
"A friend of mine is green with envy over those numbers. He’s been calling me for two days straight, insisting that I have to introduce him to the designer."
Sonia Quincy nodded, cutting straight to the chase. "How much is he willing to offer?"
Mina Jennings raised her right hand and splayed her five fingers, waving them in front of Sonia. "One hundred fifty thousand."
Sonia Quincy thought for a moment, then made a bold counteroffer. "Two hundred fifty thousand, and I’ll cover the materials for the first batch of pre-orders."
"No problem." Mina Jennings agreed without a moment’s hesitation. "I’ll handle the negotiations."
Sonia Quincy said, "Thanks, Ms. Jennings!"
"Of course." Mina Jennings pushed open the office door, letting Sonia Quincy go in first.
"Ms. Quincy, you’re here!" Julia Dawson, who was sitting on the sofa doing her makeup, immediately stood up when she saw Sonia Quincy enter.
Sonia Quincy smiled and greeted her, "Here I am. Please, sit down."
Julia Dawson put down her makeup brush and came over to guide Sonia Quincy to the sofa. "Ms. Quincy, please sit here next to me."
Sonia Quincy didn’t refuse, but she instinctively tugged at her face mask as she sat down.
"Still wearing a mask?" Julia Dawson arched an eyebrow, fixing Sonia Quincy with a knowing gaze. "Ms. Quincy, you don’t have to cover up. I already know who you are."
"...Huh?" Hearing this, Sonia Quincy felt a reflexive jolt of panic.
"Bloom, my dear, you don’t need to be nervous." Mina Jennings brought over a glass of juice she had prepared and set it in front of Sonia Quincy. Her tone was gentle. "Julia knew who you were the first time she met you. Don’t be scared; she’s not going to think any differently of you because of those rumors."
"Mhm!" Julia Dawson chimed in. "Ms. Quincy, I’m an influencer. I know better than anyone not to trust rumors. You can relax and work with me. I’m not going to judge you based on gossip."
"I love your designs, and I like you as a person. Please, rest assured."
"...Okay." Sonia Quincy gave an apprehensive smile. After hesitating for a few seconds, she raised her hand and took off her mask.
Julia Dawson gazed at Sonia’s face, fresh and lovely even without a stitch of makeup, and praised her sincerely. "Oh my gosh, Ms. Quincy, you look so beautiful without makeup! Not like me, I’ve got a mole here, a freckle there, and my forehead and chin are always breaking out."
Sonia Quincy tapped the tip of her nose. "I have a mole on my face, too."
Julia Dawson said, "But your mole has so much character! Lots of influencers even draw one on the tip of their nose or the corner of their eye when they do their makeup."
"Oh... I see." Sonia Quincy didn’t know much about influencer makeup trends, so she didn’t comment further.
Julia Dawson picked up her makeup brush again and quickly finished applying her makeup. Then, she and Sonia Quincy officially began discussing the details of the design and the contract.
Sonia Quincy’s designs had their own unique flair, which was precisely what Julia Dawson loved. So, as they discussed the design, Julia didn’t suggest any changes at all, only adding one small request regarding the material for the pendant.
The contract, provided by Mina Jennings’s studio, was a standard copyright partnership agreement. Once Sonia Quincy signed, she would no longer be able to produce or sell this camellia jewelry set to anyone else.
Having been a jewelry designer for so many years, Sonia Quincy knew this kind of collaboration like the back of her hand. She took the pen from Mina Jennings and crisply signed her name at the bottom of the page.
The contract was signed in duplicate. Julia Dawson secured her copy, then formally extended her right hand to Sonia Quincy.
"Ms. Quincy, it’s a pleasure working with you."
Sonia Quincy smiled and shook her hand lightly. "A pleasure working with you, too."
Julia Dawson pulled out her phone, her face suddenly full of eager anticipation as she looked at Sonia Quincy. "Ms. Quincy, can we film a video together?"
"Film a video?" Sonia Quincy hesitated.
Julia Dawson playfully tugged the hem of Sonia’s shirt with two fingers. "You know how it is, Ms. Quincy. My job is being an influencer, and an influencer has to be ready to film at any moment. And since you’re building your own social media presence, we should do a collab! Collab videos are great for getting new followers."
’New followers...’ Sonia Quincy did want more followers, but...
"But I don’t want to show my face."
Julia Dawson immediately agreed. "You don’t have to! I’ll just use a cute sticker to cover your face! Don’t worry, I’ll make absolutely sure your face doesn’t show!"
Sonia Quincy said, "Well... alright, then."
Julia Dawson was a professional influencer and had a real knack for filming videos. Sonia Quincy filmed a short segment with her, and as soon as they were done, she left Mina Jennings’s studio and hailed a taxi for The Arbor Café to meet with Renee Sinclair.
