CEO's Passion: Love by Mistake

Lina clapped her hands in delight before she flipped open the laptop in front of her and began her research into

obsidians and black diamonds.

In the end, she settled for obsidian.

Between the two, though obsidian was far less valuable a commodity, the rarity of black diamonds meant that

there was a considerably diminished market demand for it.

That was why the organizers could not possibly green light a request for black diamonds. Steep prices aside, they

might not actually be able to acquire any.

Another reason was the intrinsic translucency which was the characteristic of black diamonds. By comparison, the

intensity and purity of the blackness in obsidian made it even more ideal for implementation in designs that could

fulfill the requirements of the galaxy theme. Obsidian also offered greater ease in complementing outfits.

Hence, Lina submitted her request form accordingly, which quickly received approval.

Following that, Lina held Natalie by the hands. “Accompany me down to the jewelry market tomorrow, won't you,

Nat?”

“Of course I will,” Natalie assented.

Per the nature of their partnership, her own gowns would not be able to receive a high score if there were issues

with the accessories, hence she could not be nonchalant about it.

After the conclusion of their discussions which included plans for upcoming designs, they prepared to depart from

the clubhouse.

The requirements for the next round of the competition would not be the same as it was before, which required

everything to be completed within the clubhouse itself. Designers were allowed to work from home or any other

public venue over the course of two weeks and needed only to deliver their finished projects on time.

That was what the other designers had in mind as well. Hence, they got up and left as soon as they submitted their

own requests.

Side by side, Natalie and Lina made their way along the corridor in the direction of the dressing room but did not

get very far before someone called out to them.

When they glanced behind, they saw that it was Tina.

“Hey, how's it going?” Natalie greeted her genially.

Overall, she had a good impression of Tina. Not simply because she had saved her just now, but more importantly,

how the woman treated people day-to-day. It seemed that Tina got on well with almost everyone.

“There is something that I have to speak with you about,” Tina said as she clutched the design notes to her chest.

Natalie exchanged looks with Lina before she turned back to regard Tina warmly. “What is it?”

Tina did not offer an immediate response. Instead, she glanced nervously to her left and right as though she was

hiding from someone.

That led Natalie to narrow her eyes.

“We can't talk here. Let's head off to the side.” Tina lifted a finger toward the emergency stairwell.

Natalie nodded in assent as she had few concerns with the bodyguards watching her six.

After the three of them made their way inside, Tina stopped and about-turned to regard Natalie. “You have to be

careful from now on.”

“Whot do you meon?” Lino tilted her heod in puzzlement.

Notolie's brows creosed into o tout furrow. “Is there something thot I should know?”

Tino nodded ond oppeored quite somber. “A stronge person looked me up yesterdoy ond told me to move ogoinst

you in the finol round to enhonce my own chonces of winning.”

“Whot?” Lino's eyes widened. “Is thot true? Who wos it, ond did you ogree to it?”

The flobbergosted Tino shot her o look.

Notolie twitched her lips ot thot os well. “Don't be silly, Lino. Tino wouldn't hove come to us with this ond token the

trouble to worn me if she did.”

“Thot's right.” Tino nodded. “I troin under o renowned teocher ond come from o fomily of illustrious designers, so I

definitely con't ogree to something like this. As importont os winning is, o designer's integrity is even more vitol.

Once corrupted, one could never produce good work.”

“I totolly ogree.” Notolie looked ot the womon oppreciotively.

Tino then continued, “Initiolly, I thought I wos the only one who wos opprooched, but ot breokfost this morning,

Georginio told me thot someone hod mode o similor overture to her for the finols. Being quite olike in temperoment

os myself, she couldn't ogree to it either.”

“I know both Georginio ond yourself to be from stellor bockgrounds. Your fomilies would be drogged down if either

of you wos to found implicoted in something like this.” Notolie nodded.

“What do you mean?” Lina tilted her head in puzzlement.

Natalie's brows creased into a taut furrow. “Is there something that I should know?”

Tina nodded and appeared quite somber. “A strange person looked me up yesterday and told me to move against

you in the final round to enhance my own chances of winning.”

“What?” Lina's eyes widened. “Is that true? Who was it, and did you agree to it?”

The flabbergasted Tina shot her a look.

Natalie twitched her lips at that as well. “Don't be silly, Lina. Tina wouldn't have come to us with this and taken the

trouble to warn me if she did.”

“That's right.” Tina nodded. “I train under a renowned teacher and come from a family of illustrious designers, so I

definitely can't agree to something like this. As important as winning is, a designer's integrity is even more vital.

Once corrupted, one could never produce good work.”

“I totally agree.” Natalie looked at the woman appreciatively.

Tina then continued, “Initially, I thought I was the only one who was approached, but at breakfast this morning,

Georginia told me that someone had made a similar overture to her for the finals. Being quite alike in temperament

as myself, she couldn't agree to it either.”

“I know both Georginia and yourself to be from stellar backgrounds. Your families would be dragged down if either

of you was to found implicated in something like this.” Natalie nodded.