Chapter 35
She’d only wiped down the double keyboard because she’d noticed at
on it. She never expected Brayan and the others to mistake her
for the cleaning stall.
It had been years since she’d touched the keys, and honestly, she hadn’t. been sure she could still play. But when she finished her piece, the lobby erupted in applause. Even the hotel owner’s pianist friend came over to personally praise her and asked–insisted, really–that she perform a few more songs.
Judging by his excitement, Jennifer figured she must have done pretty well. At the very least, she’d helped Lydia out.
Meanwhile, outside the lobby, Brayan was still on the phone in the corridor, deeply engrossed in a business conversation.
But through the ear not pressed to the phone, he heard something strange–music.
Piano music, except… he knew there wasn’t a piano in the lobby. Only a double keyboard.
He’d never cared much for that kind of instrument, but something about the sound–the tone, the emotion–felt like a drop of rain falling directly on his heart. It stirred something long dormant in him, a flicker of a memory he hadn’t visited in years.
His chest tightened with a restlessness he couldn’t explain. Without even finishing his call, he hung up abruptly and turned back toward the lobby.
By the time he arrived, a middle–aged man had taken over the
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THE
keyboard. A well–known pianist, respected in the music world.
Catalina quickly appeared at his side and linked her arm with his, catching the faint flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
“What’s wrong, Brayan?” she asked sweetly, leaning her head gently on his shoulder.
Brayan kept his gaze fixed on the pianist. “Nothing. For a second, it felt like the way you used to play before your injury.”
Catalina gave a soft laugh and leaned in a little closer. “He’s a professional, practically a master. I could never compare.”
Maybe he was imagining things.
Because now, listening again, the music felt completely different from what he’d heard before. That fleeting, familiar feeling was gone.
They returned to join the others–Ronan, Elise, Ally. Not one of them. mentioned what had just happened.
Not that Jennifer had been the one playing. Not Catalina. Not Elise. Not Ally. And certainly not Ronan.
Even if Jennifer could play, Ronan still believed she’d never come close to matching Catalina.
As they made their way toward the private dining room, Catalina noticed that Brayan kept glancing around, as if searching for someone.
She seized the moment,
“Jennifer left a while ago,” she said, casually. “I guess she couldn’t. handle the embarrassment.”
Brayan said nothing, but the corner of his mouth lifted faintly. “As
Chice25
long as she knows to feel ashamed, that’s enough.”
Monday Velvet Rose Group Headquarters
Catalina had officially passed her internship and was transferred to a new department.
VelvetRose Group had long been known as a high–end luxury jewelry brand. But in recent years, its leadership had grown wary of staying. confined to such a niche market. They wanted to broaden their appeal, to reach everyday consumers. This year, they were preparing to launch a more affordable jewelry line aimed at the mass market. That was why they’d brought in so many new interns.
In the end, the top five performers–including Catalina–had been selected to join the new division: VelvetRose Group–PG Department.
“Catalina, did you hear the news?”
In the office, Nancy leaned in close, her voice lowered with
excitement.
She’d actually scored higher than Catalina in the evaluations, but she could tell from the way Catalina dressed and carried herself that she came from money-
-so she was eager to cozy up.
“What news? Why the mystery?” Catalina asked, intrigued.
“There’s a new hire joining our department today. No internship, no probation period–just straight into a full–time role.”
“Who is it? Must be someone impressive.” Maggie joined the conversation, just as curious.
Catalina didn’t care. Whoever it was, they weren’t about to steal her spotlight.
Just then, their team lead. Hailee, walked into the office–followed by a woman no one else recognized.
But the moment Catalina saw her face, her expression changed in an instant.
“This is our new teammate,” Hailee announced warmly. “She’ll be joining us on the Velvet Rose–PG product line. Let’s all work well together.”
She then turned to the newcomer. “Go ahead and introduce yourself.”
“Hi everyone, I’m Jennifer. I’m excited to be working with you. I hope we can all get along.”
The team offered polite applause–everyone clapped, except for Catalina, who remained completely still.
“Catalina. do you know her?” Nancy asked, noticing her odd reaction.
Catalina forced a smile, neither confirming nor denying it.
She couldn’t believe it–of all people, Jennifer was their new colleague.
Sure, she knew Jennifer had studied jewelry design in college, but she never graduated. No diploma, no credentials–how has VelvetRose Group hired someone like that? she wondered.
She herself had come from a top–tier university, and even with that, she’d had to jump through hoops: two written tests, three rounds of interviews, and a grueling internship before finally earning a full–time offer. ‘And Jennifer? Just walks in off the street?‘ she thought.
Catalina was gripping her pen so tightly it nearly snapped in her hand.
Suddenly, she remembered something from the Velvet Rose Group celebration banquet–a detail she’d brushed off at the time. Now, it
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sparked an idea.
曾
