Fake Mating To My Ex's Powerful Enemy

Chapter 204: Chapter 204 Stolen Phone

Christina’s POV

Daniel showed up at the studio looking like death warmed over. Dark circles under bloodshot eyes, wrinkled collar, and hair that clearly hadn’t seen shampoo in days.

"You look terrible," I said as he dragged himself through the door.

Daniel flashed a weak grin at Priya before perking up when he saw me. "Morning, Christina."

Priya rushed up the stairs, practically bouncing with excitement. "Christina! Got an invitation this morning. Some gemstone forum thing. Want to go?"

She shoved her phone between Daniel and me, the screen showing a blocky logo with tiny stars against that generic corporate blue background every event seemed to use.

"Constellation Gem & Jade Forum," I read aloud. "It’s in Sunset City this year. Not far."

Despite the fancy name, it wasn’t exactly the Met Gala of gemstones. But scanning the guest list, I spotted Professor Veldman, the only university advisor I’d ever respected.

"They’re offering you five minutes on stage," Priya explained. "To talk about your design approach, promote the studio, maybe preview some new pieces. But it’s optional. You can just attend as a guest with full travel expenses covered. They’ll pay for two people."

I didn’t need to think twice. "If they’re footing the bill, I’m in. You’re coming with me."

Priya pressed a fist to her mouth and coughed. When she spoke, her voice was rough. "I’ve got a cold. Might have to skip it..."

She did sound worse than yesterday. Plus, I doubted she wanted to risk small talk with industry strangers.

Daniel perked up instantly. "I’ll go! I want to see what these fancy designer events are like."

"Fine," I shrugged. "Not like it’s coming out of my pocket."

"Yes!" His face lit up like I’d just offered him free concert tickets. frёewebηovel.cѳm

Three days later, we caught the morning flight to Sunset City. A forum representative met us at the airport and drove us straight to the hotel.

I’d decided to take the speaking slot. Though not open to the public, the forum would be filled with people who actually mattered in the industry: buyers, curators, gallery heads, and fellow designers.

After writing my remarks on the plane, I rehearsed them in the hotel room that night until Daniel threatened to smother me with a pillow if I practiced one more time.

Before the event began, I arranged to visit Professor Veldman. He still carried that same chipped coffee mug, even when traveling.

I stayed for forty-three minutes and left with three new tips and a reminder to speak slower.

The forum was held in one of the hotel’s conference rooms. At the entrance, everyone had to hand over phones and laptops to prevent leaks of unreleased designs.

My time slot didn’t come until late afternoon. By then, the lights had made the room stuffy, and most people looked like they were fighting sleep.

I stepped up anyway, gripped the podium’s edge, and spoke with the confident clarity that Hudson had helped me practice during our evening calls.

After stepping down, I’d barely walked five steps before business cards started coming my way. By the end of the session, I’d collected nearly a hundred.

Having been warned by Professor Veldman, I’d prepared my own cards and handed them out strategically to people I wanted to talk with more.

The first night was definitely successful, but Daniel’s face told a different story when he found me afterward.

"What’s wrong?" I asked.

He looked both angry and guilty. "Your phone’s gone. Someone stole it."

I blinked. "What?"

"Gone. Vanished. The organizers just pulled me aside. They think a cleaner took it."

"You’re telling me someone managed to steal phones from a table guarded by security? In a five-star hotel?"

"Yes." Daniel ran his hand through his hair. "Three phones were taken, including yours. Some guy in a housekeeping uniform with a fake badge just walked off with them. Staff only realized when someone went to get theirs and found it missing. They checked security footage afterward."

"And nobody stopped him?"

"They were half-asleep, Christina. Sitting there for hours doing nothing. The guy could’ve danced out while juggling the phones and no one would’ve noticed. Hotel says he wasn’t one of their employees. They have no idea who he is."

"This feels targeted, "Akira growled.

"Let’s not jump to conclusions, "I thought back, but unease twisted in my stomach.

When we reached the front desk, a red-faced man in an expensive blazer was yelling at a terrified-looking staff member.

"Unbelievable!" he roared. "You think an apology fixes this?"

I understood his anger but yelling wouldn’t help anything. The security footage confirmed exactly what Daniel had described: a man in a cleaner’s uniform casually swept three phones off the table without breaking stride.

I pressed my palm against my forehead. "I had unreleased sketches on that phone. What am I supposed to do now?"

The girl behind the counter looked ready to collapse. Her name tag read Madison.

"I’m so sorry, Miss Vance. We’ve reported it to police. We’ll do everything possible to recover it and compensate you with a new phone, but there’s a delay. We don’t have spare devices right now... but we promise you’ll get the newest model before the expo ends. Three days maximum."

She looked barely twenty and already halfway through a breakdown. Yelling at her wouldn’t bring my sketches back.

I turned to leave, but Daniel stepped in front of me, holding out his phone. "Just got a message from the organizers. They want us at tonight’s dinner. Same guest list as the panel. Your mentor will be there too."

"Professor Veldman?"

He nodded. "It’s in a private room upstairs."

We’d already committed to the dinner when registering. Backing out now would be unprofessional.

I told Madison to update me if they found the phone and promised not to press charges if they handled it properly.

Walking into the banquet without a phone felt strangely off. Everyone else had theirs out, scanning QR codes and exchanging contacts. My pockets were empty, and I felt oddly exposed.

No device meant no messages, no calls, no camera, no cloud access. I couldn’t reach Hudson. Since I hadn’t officially joined the Sabreridge Pack, I couldn’t mind-link him either—that bond only worked within the same pack.

Hudson always checks in every few hours. He’ll worry when you don’t respond. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

I’ll use Daniel’s phone later,though the thought of being cut off from Hudson made my skin crawl.

Despite my unease, the room buzzed with conversation, and I forced myself to join in. Professor Veldman spotted me during appetizers and immediately pulled me into his circle.

Within minutes, he’d introduced me to three gallery owners, two tech entrepreneurs, and a hedge fund heiress sporting sapphire nails and carrying a limited-edition Birkin bag.

I borrowed Daniel’s phone to save their numbers.