Theodore's subordinate shook his head, confused. "It seems unlikely. Cassandra probably has no real connection to the founder. The man is a ghost; almost no one knows his identity. How could someone of her caliber have any meaningful contact with him?"

Theodore gave a slight nod.

His initial pressure on Cassandra had been a test, a probe to see if the mysterious founder would reveal himself by acting on her behalf.

Now Cassandra had nearly destroyed Evelyn's reputation.

Theodore took a sharp breath and issued a cold command. "Everyone who has wronged Evelyn will pay the price."

The subordinate lowered his eyes and asked, "Sir, what are your orders?"

Theodore shot him an icy look, his voice frigid. "Must I explain everything? Ruin Cassandra's face. Ensure she can never return to her life as a celebrity. As for the others... break their legs. Make certain they never forget this lesson."

"Understood, sir," the subordinate confirmed.

With his commands given, Theodore now faced his primary challenge: how to approach Evelyn again.

"She has blocked my number. How am I supposed to get near her now?"

Theodore scowled in contemplation, then an idea sparked in his eyes. "What if I simply have someone bring her to me?"

His subordinates were startled by their boss's audacious suggestion.

That plan was clearly reckless and dangerous.

The subordinate who had spoken earlier responded quickly. "That may be unwise. If you force a confrontation, Evelyn will only resent you more deeply."

Theodore's frown intensified. "Then I..."

Seizing the moment of hesitation, the subordinate proposed an alternative. "Evelyn has just been promoted. Why not present her with a substantial business order? She would certainly appreciate the gesture. It could also serve as a pretext to exchange contact information under the guise of discussing business details."

Theodore listened and grinned in approval. "That is a solid strategy. Make it happen."

Without delay, Theodore set the new plan into motion.

Evelyn was at her desk, diligently working through the backlog Nathanial had left, when her phone rang.

"Hello, Ms. Rossi. I'm calling on behalf of Mr. Theodore Vance. He is a prominent figure in Crestwood's elite circles. We are interested in placing an order valued at five million dollars. Would that be of interest to you?"

Five million?

Evelyn was stunned. She composed herself and replied calmly, "What specific type of design are you seeking?"

The caller responded politely, "Mr. Vance wishes to commission an outfit for his fiancée. He prefers to discuss the particulars in person at The Grand Crestwood."

It was then that Evelyn registered the client's identity.

The Vance family? She realized she knew very little about them.

Sensing her hesitation, the caller continued, "The meeting must be conducted one-on-one. Mr. Vance highly values discretion. The presence of additional personnel would only complicate matters."

Evelyn's brow furrowed slightly. Something felt off.

Noting her reluctance, the caller quickly added assurance. "Evelyn, please trust our intentions are genuine. If you agree to the meeting, we will transfer the deposit immediately. How does a five hundred thousand dollar advance sound?"

Evelyn was taken aback by the offer.

The client was certainly not hesitant about investing in what he wanted.

After a moment's consideration, she agreed. "Alright, send over the details. I will be there."

After all, this was a wealthy family; surely there was no real cause for alarm.

Shortly after the call ended, Evelyn's phone buzzed with a message containing the meeting particulars.