CHAPTER 7: CHAPTER 7: A PERSISTENT SHADOW

But the person she tried so hard to forget appeared in her sight like a ghost that wouldn’t leave.

In the afternoon, her colleague Xiao Fei said a big client had come to the store, claiming to be a handsome man, drawing both men and women to gather around and watch.

Shannon Quinn wasn’t in the mood to swoon right now, sitting at her desk with a somewhat dazed look.

In the midst of the gossip, she heard three words: Landon Sutton.

It was as if it had jolted her nerves, bringing her abruptly back to her senses. She stood up, ready to investigate.

But she saw a colleague in charge of reception downstairs running up, saying: "Quinn, come down for a moment. Mr. Sutton said he wants to discuss some details with you in person."

"Me?"

"Yes, Mr. Sutton said he’s seen your designs in a magazine, particularly liked them, so he came over personally, hoping you’d design some clothes for him."

Others were envious of her, praising her exceptional designs, but only she knew that Landon Sutton wasn’t interested in her designs; he was clearly here to stir up trouble.

She hadn’t expected that he’d figure out where she worked so quickly.

This man was even more difficult than she imagined.

As Shannon Quinn went downstairs, she saw Landon Sutton sitting by the table, flipping through a fashion magazine.

When she sat down across from him, he only then lifted his head and gave her a casual glance, even putting on an act, asking: "Are you Miss Quinn?"

Shannon Quinn maintained a stiff and polite smile, nodded, and pretended not to know him, saying: "Yes, sir, is there something you need?"

Landon Sutton answered irrelevantly, instead scanning her professional attire from top to bottom, saying: "Quite beautiful."

The colleague who came to serve tea was inexplicably stunned for a moment, then blushed and said to Landon Sutton: "Thank you, Mr. Sutton, for the compliment."

Landon Sutton didn’t correct anything, making unrelated small talk with Shannon Quinn, who desperately tried to steer the conversation back to work.

The two conversed like a chicken talking to a duck; she asked whether the design proposal was feasible, he mentioned a nice restaurant down the street.

So Shannon Quinn couldn’t be bothered to ask his opinion anymore, saying on her own: "Let’s leave it here for now. If you have any ideas, Mr. Sutton, you can call in. There’s no need for you to come personally."

"Business card?"

Shannon Quinn turned and took a business card from the front desk, handed it to him. He looked at it casually, then said: "I want yours."

"Sorry, I don’t have one. If you need anything, call the store directly. If there’s nothing else, Mr. Sutton, I’ll go back to work." Without waiting for Landon Sutton to respond, Shannon Quinn collected her files and went straight upstairs.

Fatigue from the night before and a restless mood left her with little creative inspiration. Shannon Quinn left for home after five.

She lived in an apartment building, the room not too big or small, but cozy enough for one person.

She simmered pork rib soup on the stove and watered the flowers on the balcony.

It seemed no different from usual, yet only she knew how tumultuous her heart was.

Her once comfortable and stable life had been disrupted entirely by that man.

In the nighttime, by the outdoor pool next to the villa, a man swam to the edge, emerged from the water, shook his hair dry, and accepted a towel from his subordinate to dry off.

"Master Nate, you seem to be in a good mood today."

"Do I?"

Landon Sutton walked out of the pool, casually wrapping a towel around his waist.

"But on the first day of vacation, where did you go? You were gone all day."

"It’s a vacation, isn’t it? Shouldn’t I have some fun?"

"That’s not something you usually say, but you’ve worked hard enough already. It’s good to relax for a couple of days after returning from vacation."

Landon Sutton sat down on a lounge chair, took a sip of red wine from beside him, and asked Ronan Rhodes: "Is everything with Kane taken care of?"