Witnessing the company rise from its infancy gave everyone an immense sense of purpose. The team was driven, their work ethic sharp and focused. Between recruiting new staff, refining internal policies, and mapping out long-term growth, there was an endless mountain of tasks to scale. For days, the core team lived inside the conference room, lost in a whirlwind of logistics.

Only once the roles were solidified and the workflow stabilized did the company finally hit its stride. For now, the orders were still being carried by the momentum of the original atelier.

But as the team grew and the workload distributed, they hit a new, critical wall: brand awareness. To scale, they needed to capture a larger audience. The consensus in the meeting was clear—they needed a powerhouse marketing strategy. They needed television spots and the reach of a high-tier celebrity. Their ideal choice? Luna Hughes.

Luna had collaborated with the studio before, and during the peak of Evangeline’s online blacklisting, she had been one of the few to offer a hand of support. Her image and her integrity were exactly what they needed. With the decision made, the task fell to Evangeline to bridge the gap.

Three days after sending the proposal, she finally got a response. By 3:00 PM that afternoon, Luna Hughes and her agent were walking through the doors of QX.

"Hello, Ms. Hughes."

"Hello, Ms. Montgomery."

They shook hands, both wearing polite, professional smiles.

"Luna, I never properly thanked you for speaking up for me on Twitter back then. Please, accept this as a token of my appreciation." Evangeline presented a gift box with both hands, her posture poised and sincere.

Luna looked surprised. "Ms. Montgomery, you’re quite generous. A gift this high-end for our first meeting? If this partnership doesn't pan out, wouldn't that be a loss for you?"

Evangeline chuckled softly. "Luna, please. Don’t feel pressured. This is just for your kindness—I genuinely admire your character. Consider it a gift between friends."

Evangeline carried herself with an easy, unshakable confidence, her words measured and firm. Luna watched her with genuine appreciation; she felt a distinct, intuitive connection to this woman.

"So, is the contract ready?" Luna asked.

"Does that mean you're in?" Evangeline replied, a flash of hope in her eyes.

Luna smiled. "Of course. You don't mind that I’m not the biggest A-lister, and I don’t mind that your company is still finding its feet."

The two women shared a knowing laugh. The deal was essentially done. Evangeline slid the contract across the desk. Luna picked it up, flipping through the pages before her eyes widened.

"Seven hundred thousand dollars? This is far above my current market rate."

"I believe in your value," Evangeline said firmly. "And I have absolute faith that you’ll bring the exact kind of traffic our brand needs."

"With that kind of ambition, Ms. Montgomery, your company is going to be unstoppable."

"I’ll take those words to heart."

The deal was finalized on the spot, signatures exchanged with effortless speed. Evangeline handed the documents to her staff. "It's a done deal!"

That evening, Marcellus arrived at the studio to pick Evangeline up. They hadn’t seen each other in days. As soon as she slid into the passenger seat, exhausted and drifting toward sleep, Marcellus’s expression softened into a mask of pure tenderness.

Wylder, behind the wheel, couldn't help himself. "Sir, if you wanted to help her, you could have set up this company for her in an afternoon. Why let her work herself into the ground like this?"

"The joy of LEGOs is in the assembly, Wylder," Marcellus murmured.

"Huh?" Wylder looked confused.

Preston, sitting in the front, sighed. "Think of it this way: if I told you that you couldn't date anyone and just shoved a random woman at you to marry, would you be happy?"

Wylder shook his head violently. "No way!"

"Exactly. The Boss’s lady is enjoying the process of building this herself. Get it now?"

Wylder nodded. "Oh. Right. Got it."

Back at Elysian Estate, Marcellus carried her to their bedroom with the delicacy of handling glass. He tucked her in, watching her by the moonlight. She looked thinner after these few days of grinding; her frame, already slight, seemed even more fragile. Afraid to wake her, he traced the silhouette of her face with his fingertips, hovering just inches above her skin, silently pouring out the longing he’d kept bottled up all week.

Wrapped in his scent, she felt a profound sense of safety. She slept better that night than she had in weeks.

The next morning, Evangeline stretched, letting out a contented sigh before burrowing deeper into his chest. "Marcellus, you’re like a human charger. Just one night in your arms and I’m back to full power."

Her voice was thick with sleep, her movements like a kitten kneading its owner. Marcellus felt his resolve snap as his body tensed instantly. Evangeline felt the shift and pulled back, wearing a sheepish, lopsided grin.

"Uh... sorry! I have to go. Next time! Let's do this next time..."

Marcellus stared at her, his gaze heavy with resentment. "Evie..."

"Be a good boy, now!" She gave his cheek a playful pat and practically dove out of bed, sprinting toward the shower.

Listening to the water roar, Marcellus couldn't help but laugh at his own misfortune.

At breakfast, Helen served a bowl of ginseng chicken soup. "Look at you, you've withered away to nothing. Eat up."

Evangeline smiled, taking the bowl. "Thank you, Helen. I’ve been craving your cooking all week."

"How about I send lunch to your office every day?"

Evangeline’s eyes lit up for a second before they dimmed again. She sighed. "I never have a set time to eat, Helen. If you sent it over, I might not even get to it while it’s hot."

Helen looked heartbroken. "Oh, you poor dear, this is too much."

Evangeline gave her an encouraging smile. "It’s okay. The beginning is always the hardest. Once things are running, it’ll be much easier."

After breakfast, Marcellus drove her to work. He was in a foul mood, dreading the next few days of being apart. Along the way, he clung to her like an overgrown puppy. When they reached the entrance of QX, he couldn't bear to let her go. He leaned in for a kiss—deep, possessive, and lingering, as if he wanted to consume her whole.

It was rush hour for the staff, and many of them were glancing at the car as they walked by. Even though the glass was tinted, Evangeline felt the weight of being watched. She pushed him away, her cheeks burning.

"Okay, okay, let me go!"

Marcellus sat there, looking deeply aggrieved, refusing to say a word. Evangeline sighed, cupped his face, and gave him a quick, soft peck on the lips.

"I’ll find time to see you. Now go!" She stepped out of the car.

He watched her walk away, his eyes locked on her silhouette until she vanished into the building, letting out a long, heavy breath before finally pulling away.

***

Today was the day to secure the photography studio. Evangeline arrived early to oversee the progress. As soon as she walked in, Remi took one look at her, a wicked smirk spreading across her face.

"Look at those swollen lips," Remi teased.

Evangeline slapped a hand over Remi’s mouth. "Remi! There are people everywhere!"

Remi nodded, muffled sounds of protest beneath Evangeline’s palm. Only then did Evangeline let go.

The crew was already busy with the setups. Everything had to be perfect. They were racing to prepare for the Spring season, and they needed this campaign to be the thunderclap that launched their success.