CHAPTER 18: CHAPTER 18: LOSING FACE

"Hello, I’m a shop assistant from ZM. This is for you from our store manager."

Hearing this, Serena Jennings realized that Sister Zhao had sent someone to deliver clothes to her.

Sister Zhao is the manager of ZM and an old acquaintance of hers.

"But without knowing me, you could guess I’m Miss Jennings? That’s quite impressive." Serena casually complimented the shop assistant.

The assistant laughed, "Because the manager said I just need to deliver it. If I don’t recognize Miss Jennings, it’s fine. Just look for the most beautiful person in the hotel; she’s definitely Miss Jennings."

Serena felt a bit embarrassed by the compliment, while Claire Shaw and the others beside her looked displeased.

Serena didn’t bother with them, held the clothes, and turned to find a changing room. At that moment, the cleaning lady ran over to guide Serena while apologizing.

"Sorry about dirtying your clothes earlier. The manager asked me to take you to the changing room on the second floor."

And so, Serena left, leaving Claire Shaw, Patrick Rhodes, Lily Sutton, and Owen Warren looking at each other.

When Serena reappeared, the grand hall of Riverview Imperial was filled with amazement.

Serena descended from the spiral staircase on the second floor.

She was no longer in the cleaning uniform but in a luxurious, elaborate gown.

Serena’s slightly curled long hair shimmered with a metallic sheen under the light of the crystal chandelier.

Her dress was a pure black ball gown with intricate and luxurious dark red rose embroidery on the upper half, adorned with Swarovski crystals, dazzling and elegant.

Each step she took was like a queen approaching her subjects, leaving everyone present in awe.

Finally, Serena walked to the dual-keyboard piano in the center of the hall, sat down, and began to play.

Claire Shaw couldn’t comprehend the situation in front of her.

How did Serena suddenly transform from a cleaner to a pianist?

And the gown Serena wore was from the ZM brand.

Although it wasn’t as expensive as hers, ZM is an emerging brand by a new designer in the gown industry, highly sought after by high society ladies and very difficult to buy or borrow.

It has gradually become a symbol of status and position.

What right does Serena have?!

Claire Shaw absolutely refused to believe the dress was gifted by Caleb Lockwood.

Meaning... did Serena already find a new benefactor?

Claire Shaw was about to explode, with no mood to appreciate Serena’s performance.

Lily Sutton and Owen Warren couldn’t appreciate it either, being too occupied with jealousy.

If anyone was the most shocked, it was Patrick Rhodes.

He never knew Serena could play the dual-keyboard piano, and with such mastery.

The black and white keys were something Serena never wanted to touch again in her life.

She was actually here tonight on a request from Lana Xavier to help out.

Lana Xavier’s relative works as the lobby manager at this hotel. Tonight, his boss was hosting a pianist friend and needed a skilled pianist to perform, avoiding embarrassment in front of their guest.

Lana Xavier searched around and finally found Serena.

She knew Serena had sworn never to touch the piano again, but since she couldn’t find anyone else, she sent a help message to Serena on WeChat, asking if she would consider it.

Serena realized Lana was at her wit’s end; otherwise, she wouldn’t have asked. So she inquired if Lana could have her lobby manager relative replace the piano in the hotel with a dual-keyboard one.

The dual-keyboard can mimic piano sounds. Back when she was in the detention center with no access to a piano, she used the only electric keyboard there as a diversion.

Thus, the piano was temporarily replaced with a dual-keyboard.

Unfortunately, a cleaner accidentally dirtied Serena’s clothes, so Serena had to contact the ZM manager to send over a gown as an emergency measure.

Before the gown arrived, she wore a work uniform since the cleaner took her dirty clothes to be washed.

Serena grew up surrounded by music, gifted, and passionate about it.

She was cleaning the dual-keyboard with a wet wipe when Caleb Lockwood and the others mistook her for a cleaner.

It’s been years since she touched the keys, and Serena was unsure about her playing. However, after her performance, she received endless applause. Even the pianist friend of the hotel owner personally praised her, asking her to play more pieces.

Seeing the excitement on their faces, Serena felt she must have done alright tonight, at least helping Lana Xavier.

Outside the hotel hall, Caleb Lockwood stood in the hallway, on a long phone call.

He was focused on his business discussion when he incredulously heard piano music through the blocked earphone.

Caleb knew there was no piano in the hall, only a dual-keyboard.

He was never particularly interested in this instrument, but the tantalizing piano sound was like raindrops on his heart, evoking distant memories for him.

Caleb Lockwood felt an inexplicable longing, ending his crucial business call abruptly.

Upon returning to the hall, he saw a middle-aged man seated at the dual-keyboard, a pianist with some repute in the music world.

Claire Shaw approached Caleb Lockwood, noticing the disappointment in his eyes.

"What’s wrong, Caleb?" Claire naturally took Caleb Lockwood’s arm.

Caleb’s eyes stayed on the pianist, "Nothing, just that the piece he played earlier felt a bit like how you played before your hand was injured."

"He’s a master level; how could I compare!" Claire sweetly leaned her head on Caleb Lockwood’s shoulder.

Caleb felt he must have been mistaken earlier.

For listening to the pianist play the dual-keyboard now felt entirely different from his memories.

The two returned to Patrick Rhodes and the others, and no one mentioned to Caleb Lockwood that Serena could play the dual-keyboard.

Claire Shaw wouldn’t bring it up; neither would Lily Sutton, Owen Warren, nor, of course, Patrick Rhodes.

Even if Serena could play the dual-keyboard, in Patrick Rhodes’s mind, she could never compare to Claire Shaw.

The group headed to the private room, and Claire Shaw sensed Caleb Lockwood’s gaze searching for something, so she spoke up:

"Serena left a while ago, probably still feeling embarrassed!"

Caleb didn’t react much, only curled his lips, "It’s good that she knows she’s embarrassed."

Monday, FY Headquarters.

Claire Shaw was promoted, transferred to a new department.

FY was originally a luxury jewelry brand, but luxury goods sought higher status and fewer buyers. In recent years, the higher-ups didn’t want to limit themselves to a single brand path, intending to expand the market and launch a mass-market jewelry line this year, hence hiring a batch of interns.

Ultimately, the top five comprehensive scorers, including Claire Shaw, stood out and joined the FY-PO department.

"Claire, have you heard?"

In the office, Chantelle Stone sidled up to Claire Shaw.

Although she scored higher than Claire Shaw in the evaluation, Claire’s attire made her look wealthy, so she eagerly fawned over Claire.

"Heard about what? Why so mysterious?" Claire Shaw was curious.

"There’s a newcomer joining our department today, directly as a formal employee without going through the internship training."

"Who is so impressive?" Megan Ross also chimed in, joining the fun.

Claire Shaw wasn’t interested in the rumored newcomer; whoever it was, they couldn’t overshadow her.

Just then, team leader Heather Monroe walked into the office, followed by a woman unfamiliar to the others.

At the sight of her face, Claire Shaw’s expression changed instantly.