Kneeling for a Second Chance Novel

---- Chapter 271 Valeria snapped a few pictures and let Willow handle the work on the second floor. Back at Etoile that afternoon , she uploaded Willow's shots into the conference room system. Kayla was already there, scrolling through the images. She stopped after a couple of swipes, her eyes catching on one photo. The picture showed a man in profile. From the photographer's angle, his frame looked perfect , wrapped in a hand-tailored black suit. The museum lighting fell across his sharp, chiseled features. Beside him hung a Harrington-Era-style landscape painting.

Although it was just a replica for display, the man's presence standing there seemed to make everything else fade into the distance. Kayla glanced at Willow and said, "Tell me, were you photographing the exhibit, or just him?" Willow responded with a chuckle and said sheepishly , "Just those two shots. The second floor was packed, and Mr. Grant was surrounded by people. It took me forever to sneak in an angle where I could actually get a clear picture of him." Kayla propped her cheek against one hand. Then, she waved for Willow to fetch two cups of coffee before turning back to ---- Valeria.

"That's Mr. Grant. He's the current CEO of Grant Group in Slate City-the mysterious son of the Grants." She had crossed paths with Sebastian a few times back when she was with Nathan. Valeria lowered her gaze to the tablet, then looked back at Kayla, waiting for her to go on. Kayla continued, "His father held the reins for years. Everyone thought the company would go to Alexander . But remember, he was adopted. He ran Grant Group for eight years -until a kidney issue forced him to step aside last year." Valeria looked at the picture on the projector and switched to the next image.

"So, realistically , what are our chances with this bid?" Kayla hesitated before she said, "If I'm honest, slim. But I'm not without hope. I had coffee with Mr. Cox from Stellar Design the other day. Word is, there's a 50% chance Grant Group will hand the project to Reiya Design. "Reiya Design is a subsidiary of ZeroMuses. And it just so happens that the owner of these companies is Alexander's wife, Wendy." Valeria hadn't expected to hear Wendy's name again. She held the stylus lightly in her hand, tapping on her tablet from time to time.

From Kayla's angle, she looked completely unshaken, almost too calm. When Willow came in with the coffee, Kayla took a sip-then ---- heard Valeria asking evenly, "So, basically, we're just here to make up the numbers?" "Pretty much," Kayla admitted . "The public bidding is next week. Grant Group and the Tourism Bureau have already set the theme-Ivorycrest Vase and Verdant Glaze Relic. First - round designs are due by this coming Thursday." Willow frowned. "What if Grant Group tipped Reiya Design off early?" Valeria rose to her feet. "And what good would that do? This isn't improv.

We've got six days-not a lot, but enough if we use the time wisely." Willow groaned as she watched Valeria walk out of the conference room, leaving her untouched coffee behind. She picked it up with a sigh, grumbling as she headed for Valeria's office. "Seriously?" They only had six days. Kayla then said to Willow, "Relax. Trust Valeria." On Tuesday , Valeria had just gotten home at 5:45 pm when Kayla's assistant, Nancy Newton, called. "valeria, Ms. Mendes told you to come save her-" Valeria's heart skipped a beat as she asked what had happened. Nancy explained , "Ms.

Mendes is in the ER right now. They said it's acute gastroenteritis." ---- Leaving Selena at home, Valeria drove straight to the hospital. In the emergency ward, she immediately spotted Kayla slumped in the IV lounge, looking pale and miserable. Valeria hurried over. The sight of her made Kayla perk up faintly, like she had been running on fumes all day and finally got alittle gas in the tank. Valeria frowned as she hadn't realized how serious Kayla's condition was. She asked, concerned, "Are you okay?

What did the doctor say?" Nancy answered for Kayla, explaining , "This afternoon, she ate a little leftover salmon burrata from the morning. Now, it's been nonstop vomiting and diarrhea." Kayla was drenched in sweat. "I feel awful." She yanked a handful of tissues , gripped Valeria's hand, and blurted, "There's no way I can make it to Lotus Pavilion tonight. You'll have to go in my place. Take Nancy with you." She didn't even finish the sentence before grabbing her IV stand and rushing toward the restroom.

What Nancy hadn't managed to explain over the phone was that Kayla's "emergency" wasn't about needing Valeria at the hospital. It was about covering for her at the banquet. That evening, Grant Group was hosting a private dinner at Lotus Pavilion, inviting several of the design houses competing in the current bid. Etoile was among them. ---- Normally , Kayla handled these social dinners , but tonight , there was no way she could show up. Valeria arrived at Lotus Pavilion, an upscale private dining club, at 7:10 pm.

In the valet area, a car from Slate City stood out-a glossy black Cadillac Escalade ESV. Nancy caught sight of the plates and whispered in awe, "Wow. That is one hell of a license plate. The owner's so bold." Valeria pulled her gaze back and led Nancy inside Lotus Pavilion. The mansion sat in the very heart of downtown Broburgh City, right in the middle of the busiest commercial district. No one really knew who owned it, only that the owner had turned the place into an exclusive private dining club.

'The servers moved gracefully through the lobby, all dressed in pale green bodycon dresses, their makeup and hair styled the same. Even their heights were eerily uniform. They looked as if they had been handpicked for the job.