Chapter 458

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They settled into a discreet corner of the room, where Judd had arranged for some hot food to be delivered, and began to eat.

The room, large and segmented by partitions, carried the murmur of conversations from nearby diners.

«Have you seen the director of Crescent? It's impressive. At first glance, I mistook her for a new model. "Both his behavior and appearance are extraordinary."

«What intrigues me more than his appearance is how he closed the deal with our company. Not even studios as esteemed as Alpire could get it after five years of conversations with our general director. »

«Yes, I'm curious too. Miss Foster doesn't seem to have much fame yet. Crescent is a newcomer to the scene. Could your success be linked to a certain type of relationship…?

Speculation veered into unseemly territory, suggesting impropriety in how Raegan might have obtained the contract, an idea that made Judd bristle with frustration.

Previously Erick's assistant, Judd had been reassigned to support Raegan in all of her outside engagements, a move Erick took to ease Raegan's workload.

Despite Crescent's national newcomer status, its custom tailoring services were renowned among the international elite.

Raegan had an innate gift for this craft, her interactions with clients allowed her to intuitively design garments that perfectly suited their tastes, almost never making a mistake.

Judd was well aware that Raegan's success was not a stroke of luck, but the result of relentless dedication.

Raegan meticulously documented each client's preferences, from the most trivial to the most significant, and analyzed these notes to deduce her personality and, by extension, her stylistic predilections.

The women's uninformed chatter about Crescent's global standing left Judd wanting to correct his misconceptions. He was about to confront them when Raegan intervened.

“Focus on eating,” Raegan urged.

«How can you stay calm? Don't his words bother you? Judd pressed, his appetite lost to indignation.

Judd snorted: "If they knew of your acclaim at Swynborough, they would think twice before speaking."

«You said it yourself. They don't know. And illuminating them would be as effective as talking to a brick wall. Why waste our energy on ephemeral gratification? Raegan responded with a calmness that belied the situation.

"True success is measured by facts, not debates," he continued, and the positive reception his work had received said much more than any refutation.

Acknowledging both praise and criticism was part of the journey. Dwelling on every negative comment could distract from your own vision and creativity.

Raegan noticed that Judd was still standing and urged him, “Please sit down and eat quickly. "We have to be at the premises later."

Judd, accustomed to Erick's demanding pace, found Raegan's serenity a stark contrast.

Influenced by her serenity, he settled down to eat, although with a frown as the gossip at the neighboring table grew bolder.

"Does this not bother you at all?" Judd couldn't help but ask again.

Raegan responded, unperturbed: “It's inconsequential. Ignoring them saves me irritation. His confidence was rooted in his abilities, making rumors powerless.

After tidying up the lunchbox, Raegan told Judd, “Make sure you finish eating before you come with me. "I will go ahead."

With her head raised, Raegan walked past the nearby dining table.

Those sitting nearby were surprised, for they had not realized that the center of their gossip was within earshot. A wave of shame washed over them. If Raegan had leveraged her connections to success, she wouldn't be dining in the public room instead of a private one, away from prying eyes.

One of the main instigators of the gossip couldn't help but mock.

"He's just putting on a show, trying to make it seem like he has nothing to do with our CEO..."

His words were interrupted when several individuals stood up from a nearby table, their attention shifting in unison. "Hello, Mr. Frazier!"

Devonte, dressed in an impeccable black suit, dominated the room with an authoritative presence, even without smiling.

The room fell silent, the atmosphere charged with tension.

The gossip, caught up in her contempt, rose hastily, only to lose her balance and collapse back to the ground. He stammered hastily apologizing: "I'm sorry... Mr. Frazier..."

Devonte, watching Raegan's retreating figure, hid his frustration behind a stoic façade. Internally, he lamented the situation. Mitchel had been bombarding him with calls daily, eager to know Raegan's condition. If Mitchel found out that Raegan was being slandered, the consequences would be immediate.

Devonte knew all too well the recklessness of those who indulge in unfounded rumors today, only to pivot against the company's artists tomorrow.

Without offering a second glance at the woman crumpled on the floor, Devonte issued an order, his tone lacking warmth: "Clean this area."

He turned around and left.

Devonte's assistant knew exactly what he meant. It was not about tidying up the room, but rather addressing the issue of staff misconduct. He addressed the group calmly, saying, “Please go to the financial department to finalize the payment of your salaries and then leave.”

Those gossipers, feeling the sting of misfortune, did not dare to voice any objection. They knew very well that any protest could lead to them being escorted out by company security.

His frustration was silently directed at the main instigators of the gossip. Without those words of incitement, they would not face unemployment.

Although Arthen Entertainment offered them a generous severance package, with additional compensation, the laid-off employees knew that the stigma attached to their dismissal would likely prevent them from working in the industry in the future. This compensation was not just a settlement. It was his farewell to the sector.

Raegan remained oblivious to all this.

Heading to the bathroom and leaving shortly after, Raegan accidentally bumped into a hurried cleaning lady whose coffee had spilled all over her outfit.

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