An attendant went forward to inform Anastasia at this moment. âMiss Tillman? Miss Hart is waiting for you.â
âThatâs me,â Anastasia acknowledged with a smile and a nod of her head.
âPlease follow me.â The attendant gestured in invitation.
After stepping into the cafe, Anastasia saw Leah and another woman sitting at a table by the window and chatting at this moment. At a glance, it was obvious to Anastasia that the other woman was just as rich as Leah and dressed to denote equal status.
âAh, the designer is here! Please sit! Bring the coffee,â Leah ordered the attendant.
The attendant immediately nodded. Anastasia had only just sat down when a cup of coffee was placed in front of her. Looking over at Leah, she responded, âThank you for the coffee, Miss Hart.â
âYou're welcome. Letâs talk about design, then! | wish to commission an engagement jewelry for myselfâsomething that befits my status. | hope you won't let me down.â
âPlease share your opinions with me. | have several styles for you to choose from.â Anastasia reached out to retrieve her documents.
âHmph, Iâm the client here. What | want is your design. What's the point in having me choose?â
â| still have to know what you like for me to have a direction for the design.â
âWhat | like is something unique, beautiful, and suits my temperament. The rest is up to you. Besides, donât you know how to research what | like? You can look me up!â Leah lazily reclined against her seat with an arrogant look on her face.
For a few moments, a dumbstruck Anastasia stared at Leah. Now, she finally understood that. Leah had no wish to give any direction or communicate any idea for the design. What Leah wanted was for her to come up with a design out of thin air that was Satisfactory to Leah.
âI'm sorry, Miss Hart. Iâm afraid | canât take your commission. Please find another designer!â Anastasia had no wish to stay any longer. After all, there would be no earning Leahâs money no matter how much effort she wasted.
Right as Anastasia took her purse and was about to stand up, the woman next to Leah sneered. âWhat kind of attitude is this?
Are all designers from Bourgeois like this? I'm certainly learning something new today.â
âDon't you know that Iâve already signed a contract with your company, Anastasia Tillman? If you donât design for me, | can sue your company for breach of contract. | hear they pay quite a bit for that! Three times the deposit! And | paid 1 million in deposit,â
Leah said smugly behind Anastasia.
At that, Anastasia stopped in her tracks. Of course Leah wouldnât make things so simple. As she turned back, she proposed, âIf you're willing to have a conversation with me, Miss Hart, we can continue working together.â
âWe are having a conversation!â
â| meant an earnest and sincere one,â she answered coldly.
âI'm your client, Anastasia. How can you speak with me in that tone? Aren't you afraid I'll file a complaint about you?â Leah questioned somewhat angrily.
Retaking her seat, Anastasia stared into Leahâs haughty eyes. âOf course you have the right to file a complaint about me. If thereâs somewhere I've fallen short, you can file as you please; if you only wish to make things difficult for me, then letâs not waste each otherâs time any longer.â
Leah smiled coldly. âLet me be plain, then. Leave Nigel or Bourgeois. Pick one.â
At that, Anastasia couldnât help being amused. âIâm afraid you're not the one with the ability to make me leave Bourgeois. My boss is the one.â
âThen, I'll make it impossible for you to stay in the design world.â Leah sneered. âDonât underestimate what | can do.â
âAnastasia Tillman, isnât it?â the woman next to her asked smugly. âWe only need to spread the world for the entire upper-class client base to keep from hiring you or ever buying your designs.â
However, Anastasia was not one to be easily scared. With a smile, she announced, âBreach of contract it is! I'll have the bill settled for you once | get back to Bourgeois.â
âWhat are you showing off for, Anastasia Tillman? Do you even have the capital to do that? And one more thing before you leave-Weâ're going Dutch today, so you can pay for your own coffee!â Leah shouted at her.
The undeterred Anastasia stood up and walked toward the counter to ask the attendant, âHow much does my coffee cost?â.