CHAPTER 6: CHAPTER 6: REDUCED TO DELIVERING TAKEOUT

Claire Shaw originally planned to wait for Caleb Lockwood and also confidently walk through the VIP passage. Although Caleb Lockwood didn’t have an invitation, his identity and face were his pass.

However, as the banquet was about to start and Caleb Lockwood hadn’t arrived yet, she had no choice but to take Owen Warren and Lily Sutton through the staff passage.

Upon entering the venue, she turned her head to search around, but there was no trace of Serena Jennings.

"That Serena Jennings must be here delivering food; the invitation definitely isn’t hers."

"Exactly, she didn’t even graduate from university, how could the FY celebration banquet possibly invite her?"

Lily Sutton and Owen Warren chimed in one after the other.

Claire felt a bit more at ease as her friends made a valid point. FY is among the top luxury brands worldwide, and this celebration banquet was held due to the piano series of jewelry launched four years ago, which employed industry-leading patented technology along with unique creativity and artistic sense, quickly becoming a leading piece among high-end luxury jewelry, not only renowned within the industry but also performing outstandingly among consumer groups, reigning as the sales champion for four consecutive years.

"I wonder if I can meet the master designer of the piano series here tonight..." Claire blinked her big, watery eyes, full of longing and admiration.

"I heard the master designer is very mysterious, no one even knows whether they are male or female."

"Claire, you’re an FY employee now, don’t you know?"

Facing her friends’ curiosity, Claire regretfully shook her head, "I only know the master designer signs as BYC; beyond that, even my boss doesn’t know!"

In the private room on the second floor, Serena Jennings met Peter.

Peter is one of the founders of FY and currently serves as the executive director.

"Haven’t seen you in three years, you’ve become even more beautiful."

Peter handed Serena a cup of coffee.

Serena knew Peter was just making polite talk.

Married for three years, constantly occupied with household chores, losing herself, no time to dress up, such a woman wouldn’t become more beautiful but rather have her radiance and grace worn down by time.

The most critical issue is, her husband doesn’t love her.

A married woman lacking the nourishment of love is left with nothing but chaos.

And she, Serena Jennings, had it even worse.

For three years she dutifully worked as a housewife, only for her husband to cheat with a mistress, leading to the loss of her unborn child because of the mistress.

Thinking of her child, Serena’s grip on the coffee cup tightened, her knuckles turning white.

"So, does the talented and brilliant BYC master of my dreams have any interest in returning to FY to work?"

Peter’s voice broke her concentration, Serena looked up at Peter, seeing the anticipation in his eyes just like four years ago.

Only this time the word "return" was used.

Serena actually never worked at FY.

She met Peter during her first year at University A, through a stroke of chance when Peter came to the university searching for talented new designers, and Serena sat quietly in the campus sketching jewelry inspired by piano.

Serena’s design concept moved Peter, inspiring her to develop new gemstone cutting and setting techniques to turn the concept into jewelry.

At that time, Peter invited her to work at FY, suggesting she could start as a part-time to avoid interrupting her studies.

But Serena refused.

She herself had no passion for the jewelry industry and didn’t want to become famous, thus adopting the pseudonym BYC to partake in the piano series’ sales royalties.

Unexpectedly, this series became an instant hit, and her pseudonym quickly transformed into the mysterious master designer in the jewelry world.

Peter observed Serena’s expression, easily guessing her marriage was unhappy, otherwise she wouldn’t have agreed to attend the celebration banquet today.

"Master, won’t you give me a chance?"

Serena was amused by Peter, "You’re exaggerating too much; back then the piano series design was just a sudden flash of inspiration, you know that I actually don’t like jewelry design."

"You are wasting your talent; do you realize how many FY designers dream of having even a tenth of your gift?"

Serena smiled without responding.

"Anyway, you can come whenever you want; I’ve already prepared the contract, feel free to fill in the salary, the royalties stay the same, FY’s doors are always open for you." Peter said, noticing Serena turning her head to look out the glass window.

From the floor-to-ceiling window in the second-floor private room, one could see the situation in the downstairs venue.

In the venue, Caleb Lockwood arrived late, causing quite a stir.

There are many business elites present, but few are as striking as Caleb Lockwood.

Caleb Lockwood wore a tailored white suit today, paired with a black shirt, the striking contrast of cold colors matched perfectly with his noble yet aloof aura, deliberately not wearing a tie added a hint of romance to his inherent restraint, his sharp features seemingly carved like a statue, yet his naturally smiling lips stirred an unspoken allure.

As soon as he appeared in the venue, he elicited admiration from numerous women.

Claire Shaw deliberately stood in her place, waiting for Caleb Lockwood to approach, like a princess awaiting her white knight.

Countless envious and jealous glances turned towards her, making her another focal point of the banquet.

Claire’s smile was proud.

Though she was only an FY intern, she would definitely be the center of such occasions.

Serena Jennings hadn’t expected Caleb Lockwood to come as well.

She silently watched as Caleb Lockwood walked straight to Claire Shaw.

In her impression, during their three years of marriage, Caleb Lockwood had never proactively approached any woman.

Serena naively thought it was because Caleb Lockwood loved her, that she was special.

Now she understood that Claire Shaw was the special one.

The two stood together, showcasing a perfect match.

Serena suddenly felt very unnecessary.

The last time she argued with Caleb Lockwood at home, the divorce agreement was torn up by him; unable to get a divorce, she was still Caleb Lockwood’s wife, yet the excitement and fitting scene below had nothing to do with her.

"You won’t leave as soon as you arrive, will you?" Peter cautiously asked.

He had his own intentions, persistently trying to draw Serena into FY.

However, the scene downstairs was glaring at Serena; if she wanted to leave early, he wouldn’t stop her nor would he have a reason to.

Serena stared fixedly at Caleb Lockwood and Claire Shaw speaking and laughing, staying silent for a long time before looking at Peter.

"If I ask you for a present now, would you give it to me?"

In the venue on the first floor, Caleb Lockwood presented a large bouquet of beautifully wrapped pink roses to Claire Shaw, and Claire smiled sweetly and shyly.

Beside her, Lily Sutton and Owen Warren were almost mad with envy, praising Caleb Lockwood to the heavens.

"To have such a handsome, wealthy, and excellent man like President Lockwood as a boyfriend, Claire, you must have saved the galaxy in your past life."

"The key is that President Lockwood really dotes on Claire, even rescheduled a significant meeting to accompany her."

"What’s more, Claire is wearing the latest Elie Saab haute couture worth a hundred thousand US dollars, which was a gift from President Lockwood."

Claire held Caleb Lockwood’s arm, listening to her friends’ praises, her smile wide and joyful.

"By the way, Caleb, I just saw Miss Jennings..."

Caleb Lockwood raised his eyebrows slightly, naturally knowing which Miss Jennings Claire referred to.

"The way she dressed was really unfit; she might be here to deliver food..."

Seeing Caleb Lockwood remain silent, Claire continued, "After all, she’s your nominal wife; her being reduced to delivering food is a bit pitiful..."

"She brought it on herself." Caleb Lockwood said coldly.

A woman without education or credentials, who had been a housewife for several years, what good job could she find?

Delivering food was within his expectations.

At this time, commotion arose in the venue again.

"Hey, who’s that stunning beauty next to Director Peter? Do you recognize her?"