Love On Ice: Don’t Leave Me, My Charming Liar

Chapter 211: Their eyes locked. Ethan was the first to look away, exhaling as he gave a curt nod. There was something almost endearing about his awkward retreat, but Nyla kept the observation to herself. Without another word, they went their separate ways-Nyla to find Alisha, Ethan to handle his business partners. The banquet stretched on until nine that evening. Alisha, having eaten her fill, was growing restless. She still hadn't spotted Claire, and the absence left a sour note in her otherwise pleasant evening.

Nearby, a small group of businessmen were deep in conversation, their occasional glances in her direction making it clear she was the topic of discussion. Before long, they approached her. "Good evening," one of them said smoothly with a practiced smile. "I'm Stanton Larson. Which company are you with? Are you a business partner of the Brooks family, or one of their employees?" They had already observed that she wasn't an employee of Crestwave Group or a family member. She looked more like a business partner.

They had a project and were eager to connect with Crestwave Group, even if it was just through one of its partners. They wanted funding more than anything. Alisha straightened, her polite smile masking her discomfort. "A business partner," she replied simply. Stanton's eyes gleamed with interest. "Really? Are you collaborating with Crestwave Group on jewelry? You have the look of a designer." "Fashion design." galnovels.cóm is the source That answer only seemed to heighten his curiosity. "Fashion design? Impressive. Which company? Are you part of Claire's team?" Alisha shook her head.

"No, I work for a small studio. We're nowhere near Claire's level." At that, Stanton's enthusiasm visibly dimmed. A small studio? Hardly worth his time. Alisha pulled a card from her purse. "Here's my studio's business card. Feel free to take a look if you're interested." Stanton accepted the card with an air of reluctance. His expression shifted to thinly veiled disdain when he read the name. "Oh, so it's this studio," he muttered, the condescension in his tone unmistakable. Alisha's smile faltered. Even with her limited experience in social maneuvering, she could feel his contempt.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked, standing a little taller as her voice turned icy. "If you're not interested, you can give it back." . . .