Chapter 8

Gregory's expression turned dark and menacing, his cold stare radiating silent intimidation. "She won't!" Gregory was certain that Blair would never leave him or the Croft family. She was too dependent on the comfortable life he'd given her, too used to all the privileges and resources. She wouldn't give up being part of the Croft family. Once a person became accustomed to the good life, it was hard to return to their old ways. That was just human nature. … Meanwhile, one of Blair's professors, Corey Goode, had given her an assignment involving the company, Zensyra. Kingstead University wasn't one of Zensyra's preferred schools for campus recruiting. They were more of a backup option. This was the recruiting team's first visit, so it was essentially a brief promotional stop. A company like Zensyra had people fighting to get in. Top students from universities all over had shown up for a simple info-sharing session. Corey handed Blair some papers and said, "Here's a sample question from Zensyra. You should try it. They have an office in Minnea, so it's good practice to see what they're looking for." Blair took the papers. "Alright. Thanks for the heads up." The next day, Blair went to the interview location. Staff members led the candidates inside, and Blair was somewhere in the middle of the group. When her turn came, she paused when she walked in and saw the interviewer. Gregory had already seen her resume. His gaze swept over her, and a glimmer of interest flickered in his eyes. Her fitted attire highlighted her graceful figure. Her long legs were flawless and elegantly pale. She wore light makeup that enhanced her already stunning features. Her wide eyes shimmered with clarity and innocence, almost dewy in the light. Gregory looked away and said flatly, "Begin." Blair's grip on the documents tightened slightly. After a few seconds, she snapped back to attention and handed them her resume. She then shared her thoughts on design before explaining the project outlined in the materials. "I believe we could create a water-feature garden here. These abandoned structures have an incredible texture. With minor spatial adjustments, plants could grow along the existing framework, creating a striking contrast between vibrant life and stark coldness. "The background would maintain that industrial edge, while the plants' natural brightness and vitality would bring out the inherent beauty these abandoned buildings still possess." … Gregory stared at her without blinking, somewhat lost in thought. When talking about her field of expertise, the young woman seemed to glow from within. She was completely different from her usual self, her eyes radiating confidence. He had thought she'd chosen this major on a whim, but she clearly had put real effort into it. Blair licked her lips, wanting to say more, but time was already running out. She wrapped up her presentation. Gregory watched her quietly, noticing that she had only looked at him when she first entered. The rest of the time, she avoided his gaze entirely. He frowned, pushing aside the strange feeling that arose, and told her matter-of-factly to wait for their decision. "That young woman was impressive, though her design concept seems familiar." The interviewer, Tom Calcraft, praised Blair enthusiastically. He muttered to himself as he thought for a moment before his face lit up. "That's it! Her work reminds me of the first-place winner from the architecture competition. Could it be the same person? But it's not mentioned in her resume." Tom flipped through Blair's resume, looking puzzled. Gregory's expression darkened. He knew about the architecture competition. While he acknowledged Blair had talent in architecture, she was nowhere near an award-winning level. "I have the list of architecture competition winners. We can check after we're done here." … After leaving Zensyra, Blair let out a breath and headed toward the subway station. A flashy red Rolls-Royce pulled up in front of her. When she saw who it was, Blair's expression immediately turned cold. Jedd hadn't expected to run into her here. After everything she'd put him through, she still had the nerve to act like nothing happened? In her dreams. Blair knew that Jedd had faced no consequences for his assault because of Gregory. The thought left her feeling ice-cold inside. Figuring he wouldn't dare try anything here, Blair ignored him and kept walking. However, Jedd got out of the car and grabbed her arm, trying to force her into the vehicle. Blair struggled violently, drawing stares from passersby. Jedd wasn't worried. With Gregory backing him up and loving Beatrice so much, he could do whatever he wanted. "Let her go." A cold, stern voice cut through the air. A hand landed on Blair's shoulder, pulling her protectively close. Blair's eyelashes fluttered as she recognized the familiar scent. She uncomfortably pulled away from his touch. Gregory glanced at her but said nothing. "Looking to spend time in prison?" His voice was calm but loaded with warning. Jedd hadn't expected him to appear suddenly, and certainly not to defend Blair. His expression shifted several times before he put on a fawning, ingratiating smile. "It's a misunderstanding. I just wanted to apologize to Ms. Montez, but she was so resistant. I had no choice but to try this approach." Gregory snapped coldly, "Get lost." With one last glance, Jedd turned and stormed off in humiliation. Blair wouldn't thank Gregory. After all, Jedd wouldn't have been standing here in the first place if it hadn't been for him. She kept her head down and started to leave when Stephan brushed past her. "Mr. Croft, Mr. Calcraft asked me to give you this. It's the list of winners from this year's architecture competition."