Estelle suggested, “If you’re still interested in my designs, you’re welcome to visit my company tomorrow. We have a showcase with samples of designs I’ve created for customers.”
Surprisingly, the woman declined, stating, “No need. I trust my own taste.”
As they chatted, their food arrived. Estelle ordered a hearty spaghetti combo, while the woman opted for a salad and mushroom soup. Estelle’s friends often teased her about eating too little, but compared to the lady, Estelle seemed like a big eater.
After spending an entire afternoon discussing with Wern, Estelle was a little hungry, adding to the mental strain earlier. She enjoyed her meal without reservation. In contrast, the lady ate gracefully, either because she wasn’t very hungry or because she typically had small portions. By the time Estelle finished her spaghetti, the lady had only consumed half of her mushroom soup.
Estelle, feeling quite satisfied after her meal, was ready to steer the conversation back towards business. She began by complimenting the restaurant, saying, “This restaurant is a great choice. Their spaghetti is delicious.”
The woman responded, “I’m pleased you enjoyed it. I think selecting accessories is similar to choosing a restaurant. With so many options available, it takes careful consideration to find the perfect fit. However, deciphering the meanings behind the products can be challenging.”
Noticing the woman’s eloquent manner of speaking, Estelle started thinking about how to recommend jewelry to her refined guest. She also sensed that the woman had something on her mind. After some thought, Estelle commented, “It seems your interest in jewelry stems from your boyfriend. You must love him very much.”
Although the woman had only mentioned her boyfriend once, the tone of her voice became tender and affectionate when mentioning him. The woman’s eyes softened upon hearing Estelle’s words, and a faint blush colored her cheeks. She replied, “Yes, indeed. You’ve actually met him before. He’s Wern. I was supposed to meet up with him, but I’m running a bit late.”
Estelle, who had been taking a sip of water, paused upon hearing this revelation. ‘You’re Wern’s girlfriend?!’ Her mind raced, realizing that there might be more to this meeting than just discussing earrings.
The woman became nervous and asked, “What’s wrong?”
Estelle reassured her, saying, “Oh, nothing really. I was just surprised because I didn’t expect you to have a British boyfriend. But I think you two make a great couple.”
After hinting at the reason for their meeting today, the woman proudly smiled and said, “Well, we’re still getting to know each other even though we’ve been dating for a while. It’s natural to have some differences. What matters most is that he’s willing to learn about the accessories I’m interested in and collaborate with the company I admire.”
Estelle responded with a smile, “He must really care about you.”
The woman blushed slightly and said, “Thank you. I was worried that I might be late and wasting your time.”
Estelle politely smiled at her, “Not at all. While I’ve already signed the contract with Mr. Wern, I haven’t started designing the jewelry yet.”
The woman was delighted, saying, “That means I’m not too late. Can you share your jewelry concept with me? Men usually don’t know much about jewelry, especially a specific style. I’m afraid he didn’t fully understand what he signed.”
Estelle’s smile suddenly faltered. “We signed the contract with a clear understanding of our rights and responsibilities. Plus, Mr. Wern seemed quite intelligent. I believe he knew what he was doing.”
The woman replied meaningfully, “Well, appearances can be deceiving, as they say. Love can make us overlook certain things, don’t you think?”
Estelle completely understood the woman’s purpose and thought, ‘You didn’t come here to see the earrings. Instead, you came here to warn me that Mr. Wern has a girlfriend. And his girlfriend is you, right? All I want is to do business with Mr. Wern. Why do I need to care about his girlfriend’s feelings? I’m a business partner, not a relationship expert.’
After a silent pause, the woman asked coldly, “Can you show me some samples?”
Estelle answered gladly, “Of course.”
The woman examined the jewelry sample and casually remarked, “These pieces have an American style, but you intend to sell them in the European market. The challenge is finding the right balance between the two.”
Estelle concisely replied, “Yes,” as she no longer felt the need to explain her products in detail once she understood the woman’s true purpose.
Concluding their conversation, the woman said, “Great, I’m glad you understand that concept. I feel like we’ve connected well. It’s a shame I arrived late today and didn’t realize you had changed the meeting location. Wern is a spontaneous person; he treats everyone the same way. Usually, his intentions are genuine, even if they seem otherwise. If he caused any confusion or misunderstanding, I apologize on his behalf.”
Estelle clarified, “Actually, today is the first time I’ve met Mr. Wern. My assistant handled our previous communication. I’m confident that his interest lies only in my products.”
The woman politely listened, her expression unchanged. Once Estelle finished speaking, the woman’s tone turned cold. “Certainly, I was just sharing my thoughts. I’m sure my boyfriend knows his boundaries.”
At this point, Estelle’s admiration for the woman had vanished. She took a sip of coffee, waiting for a cue to leave.
“By the way, Ms. Hudson, our anniversary is approaching. What do you think would be a suitable gift for my boyfriend?”
Estelle shook her head, saying, “I’m sorry, but I don’t know Mr. Wern well enough to offer gift advice. After all, we’ve only met once.”
The woman seemed disappointed and remarked, “True, you’ve only met him once. But some girls often assume he’s single when they first meet him.”
Estelle let out a forced laugh, unsure of how to respond. She said with a slightly awkward smile, “Perhaps a ring could be a good choice. We have designed many beautiful couple rings. You might consider buying a pair.”
She didn’t want to make the situation too awkward, but she couldn’t bear to be humiliated like this, so she could only express her frustration in a delicate way. ‘It’s not my fault that Wern likes to flirt with other women. Why do you make it sound like it’s my fault?’
Understanding that further conversation with Estelle was futile, the woman decided to settle the bill herself. She rose from her seat and stated, “I believe there might have been a misunderstanding today. I’ll cover the dinner.” She then signaled the waiter to bring the bill and quickly settled it.
Still seated, Estelle replied, “Thank you.” Glancing at her phone, she noticed numerous missed calls from Eva. It dawned on her that she had almost forgotten about her children and immediately returned Eva’s call.