Filed to story: The Heiress Rises From Ashes Book PDF Free
Brenna replied, “We can take the job. You handle it.”
“Their demands are high. They want the best. Honestly, I think the price is too low,” Thiago replied.
“You’re right. If you’re too busy, we can pass on this one,” Brenna responded.
Thiago was more than just her manager. He ran both of her studios. He had been her college classmate before. They shared a passion for design, and his business acumen had helped her earn a fortune.
On top of that, he was handsome and reliable.
A faint smile tugged at Brenna’s lips. She savored the rare moment of calm.
Meanwhile, Rosie was seething. A well-known studio had just rejected her offer. They claimed the money she was offering was not enough and suggested she look elsewhere.
Frustrated, she muttered under her breath, “Who do they think they are?”
Unwilling to give up, she dialed their number again. “I’ll offer 30 million. Will you take the job now?”
Thiago stood by the window, his gaze distant as he considered her words. “No. If you want world-class, top-ranked design, you need to offer a price that reflects its value,” he said.
“Is 30 million not enough for a design?” Rosie scoffed. “Don’t think you can play hardball with me. If you won’t take the job, there are plenty of other studios that will.”
Rosie tried hard to contain her rage, maintaining a seemingly friendly tone. “Isn’t thirty million enough? What kind of price are you looking for? It’s merely a design blueprint. Do you honestly need to ask for an unreasonable price?” she said.
In the past few days, she had been reaching out to the contacts Kennedi had given her to ask for design quotes.
While many studios and freelance designers quoted around ten million, none could promise a top-tier design capable of clinching a victory in the Harper Group’s design contest.
The Night Studio was the sole firm confident enough to promise a win, yet their staff’s aloof behavior-as if uninterested in whether she hired them-only served to upset her.
Thiago responded with unruffled ease, “Are you aware of the potential value our design could bring? Our work could secure you at least third place at the Harper Group’s design competition, paving the way for a partnership with them. Have you considered the annual profits from such a collaboration? Besides, we rarely sell our designs. Thirty million will only buy you a mediocre design. If that satisfies you, we can proceed at that price.”
Rosie found Thiago’s logic unacceptable, and her irritation deepened as she tried to determine their asking price. “What is your price then?” she asked.
Thiago calmly answered, “For exclusive rights to a top-tier design, one hundred million.”
“Have you lost your mind?” Rosie blurted out, unable to contain her shock. “A hundred million for that?”
She ended the call in frustration. Even if she gathered all her money, she still wouldn’t have one hundred million. Despite receiving dividends from the Harper Group and generous allowances from her family, she spent a lot daily and never had the habit of saving money, leaving her with little in savings.
Irritated, Rosie returned to Kennedi’s list, resolved to find a premium design at a more reasonable price. Before she knew it, August 1st arrived.
Rosie had chosen the prestigious Peace Hotel’s third floor for the welcome banquet. The place was renowned as Shirie’s finest venue.
At the venue, a talented young bartender performed a captivating display of bottle-flipping and mixing, skillfully crafting cocktails that he lined up on a long table.
This table was luxuriously set with an assortment of delicate pastries, freshly sliced fruits, and a cooler filled with assorted soft drinks and ice creams.
Just before seven o’clock, the elite of Shirie began to arrive, including dashing young heirs and fashionable socialites.
Their fashion was distinctly high-end, with each of them donning designer ensembles.
The attendees, drinks in hand, seamlessly mingled, engaging in lively conversations with those they found interesting.
Alec, Ruby, Isabella, and Mack Barrett were among the early arrivals, each dressed flawlessly and styled to perfection. Ruby and Isabella, wearing incredibly expensive gowns, radiated elegance and charm as they moved through the crowd with grace.
When Isabella had returned to the Barrett family, they had also organized a welcome banquet for her, but it had been attended only by middle-class families from Shirie. It was nothing compared to the Harper family’s banquet.
Upon entering, they immediately recognized several faces. Alec, in particular, was thrilled to spot a middle-aged man in a casual jacket with a young man at his side.
“Ruby, did you notice? The Mitchell family is here as well! Emmett, the commander of the military district, never attends banquets, yet he’s here today. It’s really lucky that we came here-our family is going to be saved.”
Mack nodded eagerly, already thinking about how to approach the Mitchell family. He pointed to the young man and said, “Yes, Dad is absolutely right. Ethan, the head of the Mitchell Group, is here too. If we manage to speak with them, our family will rise in status in no time!”
Isabella’s attention was captured by Ethan, who wore a sleek black suit and shirt without a tie. His appearance was striking.
Ruby gestured towards a woman in a purple gown. “That’s the Wagner family, one of the top families in Shirie. I ran into Mrs. Wagner while shopping before, and we chatted briefly. See, the young man next to Mrs. Wagner is her son. He’s not yet thirty, and I’ve heard he doesn’t have a girlfriend.”
Isabella glanced at Mrs. Wagner’s son. He was of average looks and not very tall, holding a glass of red wine with a grin that seemed a bit too smug. Her interest waned; Ethan’s charm and status were far more appealing to her.
Isabella turned to Ruby and said, “Mom, do we know the people there? Should we go over and introduce ourselves?” She was eager to get acquainted with Ethan.
As the Barrett family discussed strategies to break into Shirie’s elite social circle, Isabella’s attention was drawn to someone entering the banquet hall who seemed entirely out of place.
Dressed simply in a white T-shirt and jeans, topped with a baseball cap and sneakers, and carrying a beige backpack, Brenna’s attire was notably casual and mismatched for the grandeur of the event. Still, she looked beautiful.
Recognizing Brenna, Isabella couldn’t resist scoffing. “Mom, look, Brenna’s here. Can you believe what she’s wearing? Her outfit looks like it’s worth less than two hundred dollars. Does she even understand the caliber of this event? This isn’t a place for someone dressed like that.”
Ruby glanced over and noticed Brenna by the buffet, casually selecting fruits to fill a small plate.
Continuing her exploration, Brenna soon moved to the desserts, sampling a few, and then to the beverage station, where she chose a glass of blueberry juice.
She had spent the entire day with Thiago, going over the details of a custom smart system for helicopters with a client. She hadn’t eaten or drunk anything all day, and now hunger was setting in.
By the time the meeting ended, it was already late. She hadn’t had a chance to change and had to rush over to the banquet immediately.
Ruby frowned with disapproval, saying to Isabella, “I bet she can’t even afford a proper meal anymore and just showed up here to eat things for free. We should remove her before she tells anyone she’s associated with our family. It would be embarrassing for us.”