Chapter 534
In actuality, Derek anticipated seeing Natalie. He was curious to see her reaction when she saw him. Derek regarded him as more desirable than her spouse because of his youth and good looks.
On the other hand, he hadn’t seen Natalie since he walked in. Even the designer sitting in the front seat paid him no mind.
Derek grimaced and went specifically to the designer who ignored him. “Hello, lovely lady! I’m Derek Ramsey. Is the designer responsible for my project here?”
As soon as Derek walked into the studio, Tasha heard the noise, but she didn’t feel anything for the dashingly dressed man in front of her. She got to her feet and said, “Just a sec, please. Let me show you to the VIP area first.” “Appreciate it.” Derek’s lips pursed as he observed Tasha’s growing baby bump. That explained why she had zero interest in him. She was expecting.
Tasha noticed Derek looking at her and was at a loss for words. Even though he was a major celebrity model, this man’s antics were too immature.
Derek looked around a lot on the walk to the VIP area, but he couldn’t identify the face he kept picturing in his head.
“What is it that you seek, Mr. Ramsey? The restroom is on the left down that corridor–if that’s what you’re looking for.” Tasha frowned and offered a tip.
With shame on his face, Derek admitted, “I need to see Natalie. During my time at Northcliffe, she was there to look after me. I’d want to speak with her this time.”
Tasha recalled that Natalie had instructed her to inform Derek that she was not available should he ask about her.
“Natalie hasn’t shown up to work today. This morning, she went to attend to other obligations.” Tasha smiled politely and said, “Please don’t worry, Mr. Ramsey. The designer who will be handling your order is a seasoned pro as well. It is safe to say that she is Mr. Wesley’s most devoted student. Get her input on the plan first.”
Derek’s grin faded, and he showed signs of disappointment. “Well, I see.”
Derek entered the VIP area after Tasha absentmindedly. Elizabeth had spent a long time waiting and preparing the necessary materials. “Good afternoon, Mr. Ramsey?” After exchanging pleasantries, the two got right down to business. ռօʋɛʟօʐ.ƈօʍ Generally speaking, Elizabeth was a cautious person. She probed Derek on the interview’s overarching subject and his own tastes.
Derek placed one hand on the sofa while casually fl*pping through the magazine with the other. Evidently preoccupied with other thoughts, he only mumbled answers casually to the questions.
In the end, Wilder could no longer take it. He approached and explained while smiling, “I’m sorry, Miss. Soon after his return, Derek found himself inundated with obligations. He has been really busy. I’m sorry if he appears absent-minded. He’s just tired.”
Then he pushed Derek, who was going to fall asleep while leaning on the sofa.
“Don’t worry about it. I have posed sufficient queries. Do you have any questions, Mr. Ramsey?” Elizabeth was a little uncomfortable, but she still questioned with patience.
Derek dropped his gaze and said, “When will Natalie return?”
What was happening was beyond Elizabeth’s comprehension. Natalie spent the entire day sketching at her office, right?
Unfortunately, she fumbled with the truth and said, “Natalie is still around. She hasn’t been seen outside of the office at all. I can ask her to come to the meeting if that becomes necessary.”
Derek tossed down the magazine he was holding and said loudly, “I knew Natalie is avoiding me on purpose!”
He gave Elizabeth a sour glance and said, “Go and bring Natalie here!”
Natalie hid in the tea room, her laptop in her arms and humming a tune as she munched on biscuits.
The next moment, her phone screen lit up, ending her small moment of reprieve. A message from Elizabeth came, asking her to go to the VIP room immediately. “Damn it! I had just told Tasha! Really should have also told Elizabeth!” Knowing that she had been found out, Natalie sighed regretfully.
She had no choice but to go to the VIP room now.
“What can I do for you?” Natalie had intended to explain, but the words that came out next diverged from her original plan. “I didn’t show up because Elizabeth would be in charge of the project.”
“As the client, I have the right to choose the designer,” Derek answered with a dissatisfied arch of his brow. “That is true,” Natalie had no choice but to acquiesce.
Without missing a beat, Derek said, “Then I’ll appoint you as the sole designer for this project. Can you now stay and discuss the plan with me?”
Natalie was struck dumb for a moment, her mouth gaping as she turned to Elizabeth.
“Mr. Ramsey has decided. Work hard.” Elizabeth felt a slight disappointment at how things turned out, but she kept any of it from showing. She was confident that Natalie would do an excellent job. “I’ll excuse myself so you can continue your discussion.”
“Stay here, Elizabeth.” Natalie stopped her.
She met Derek’s gaze and said, “Elizabeth is more than qualified for this project. Before I came here, the two of you were having a good conversation, and now you suddenly want to switch designers. Is there anything you’re dissatisfied with?”
During lunch break, Natalie saw Elizabeth sorting out documents and getting ready for the project. Elizabeth took every design seriously, and this partnership with Derek would be her first project after coming back to W Marks. Natalie knew how hard she worked. Elizabeth would be professional and never show it, but Natalie didn’t want her to be disappointed.
The question caught Derek off-guard. Until now, he didn’t really pay attention to Elizabeth. He barely listened to Elizabeth’s detailing of the plan; he just wanted to find an excuse to send her away because it was Natalie he wanted to see.
He looked through the documents Elizabeth had brought in. Her ideas were impeccable. Every single one of them had been meticulously thought out, and there was no possible criticism in any area. Derek had to come up with another excuse. His eyes moved around, inadvertently catching a glimpse of the scar on Elizabeth’s palm.
It looked new, and he could tell it was a deep cut. From the looks of it, she had just recovered from a serious injury.
“Miss Perry, the wound on your hand seems to be very deep. Are you still able to draw well?” Derek asked slowly, his eyes fixed on her wound.
Elizabeth instinctively drew her hand back, her face turning pale as she hid it in her pocket. “Yes, I can do it.” Derek picked up a sheet of paper from the table and threw it along with a pen in front of her. “Then please draw a concept sketch first,” he said arrogantly.
Elizabeth bit her l*p. She hadn’t picked up a pen since her injury.
Natalie’s displeasure was written all over her face when she turned to Derek. “Stop making a big deal out of nothing.”
Derek furrowed his brows and said, feigning seriousness, “I’m not asking for much. If Miss Perry is really as qualified as you said, this should be simple.”
