Later, Johnny came to pick her up. "Ready to go home, Miss Walker?" he sympathetically asked.
Sarah nodded and sat in the car. She thought, Funny, home… I don't have a home...
Upon arriving, Mrs. Blue greeted her and mentioned lunch, but Sarah wasn't hungry. She just went upstairs, saying she was tired. Mrs. Blue, who had heard the news, thought, These poor kids are both suffering.
An hour later, a delivery came for Sarah walker. Mrs Blue took it and went upstairs. She knocked on Sarah's door and opened it, leaving a box on her bed. Sarah was in the shower, crying. What was I to him? Just a plaything? Someone he could occasionally kiss when his fiancée wasn't around? She was mad at Damien, but she was more mad at herself for allowing herself to fall for this man. He told me to trust him, but when I did, he hurt me, she thought. When she got out, she saw the box and opened it to find a note from James Holland: "Dear Miss Walker, it would be my honor to see you wear my design tonight when you join me for dinner. Best regards, J.H." She took the dress out; it was beautiful and fit her like a glove.
That evening, Sarah, dressed in a beautiful, elegant black dress that made her figure stand out, and a pair of well-fitted, up to elbow black gloves, wearing a dark red lipstick joined James Holland for dinner at a high-end restaurant. When James saw her enter the restaurant he rose up to his feet and opened his mouth saying, "Wow, Miss Walker, you look absolutely stunning." Sarah smiled politely and thanked him. She also said, "Mr. Holland, you look very handsome too. I like your Armani suit paired up with LV tie and that little brooch is a perfect addition." James smiled brightly saying, "You certainly know fashion, Miss Walker, and please, call me James, we're all friends here." Sarah then said to him, "Since we're all friends here, you can call me Sarah from now on." He nodded and moved the chair and she sat down. They have ordered their food, and enjoyed a light conversation while they slowly ate.
Damien, his jealousy barely concealed, had come to the same restaurant, pretending it was just a coincidence.
James Holland noticed him and said, "Mr. Sterling, you're also eating here?"
Damien pretending he was surprised, "Mr. Holland, what a surprise." He then looked at Sarah who was eating her food quietly without giving him a glance.
James then looked between them and asked, "Would you like to join me and Sarah?" Damien thought, "You and Sarah? Since when do you get to call her Sarah and act so close..."
Damien: Don't mind if I do.
He readily accepted. He sat next to James Holland, facing Sarah. But she never budged. His eyes were glued to Sarah's face. The dress she wore suited her, those gloves made her look elegant, but black wasn't her color, he thought. He had always imagined her in white... She even wore a dark red lipstick; he never saw her wearing a lipstick before... Did she wear it especially for James? He shook his head at himself, thinking, What am I doing? And James's voice cut through his thoughts.
"Congratulations on…" James began, wanting to say "your engagement." But Damien interrupted him knowingly.
"On our collaboration!" Damien said, raising his glass and drinking all the wine in one go.
James asked Sarah how she got the idea for her design, and Sarah said, "I had a strange dream. When I woke up, I had the idea for my first design. As for the second, that's a more complicated story." Damien kept watching her, his presence a subtle reminder of their connection. Sarah felt slightly uncomfortable, especially after the whole world knew about his engagement. She couldn't believe he showed up in front of her after that. Does he think I'm an idiot and haven't heard? She thought.
"Well, if you don't mind sharing, I'm more than happy to hear the story behind your second design," James said.
Sarah: "I don't mind at all. I'm happy to share the story behind it. The first design is called 'Lost' and the dress is white for a reason; it represents innocence and dreams of love. The second one is called 'Found' and it represents betrayal and the dying flames of that love."
Damien was listening to her story and felt a pang of guilt, "Was she talking about me when she designed it, does she think I betrayed our love?"
She smiled at James and asked about his idea for this year's Holland fashion show, and he started explaining the vision and the concept.
Midway through the dinner, a new player entered the scene. Penelope Wellington, impeccably dressed and radiating an air of effortless sophistication, arrived at the restaurant.
"Honey, sorry I'm late," she said. She kissed Damien on the cheek, who was looking at Sarah. Sarah saw the scene and turned to James with a polite smile. Damien thought, How can she stay so calm? It's like she knew about the engagement for a long time, so long that she got used to it. His face fell.
James then turned to Penelope and said, "I didn't know you'd be joining us for our celebration."
"I didn't know you would be here celebrating my engagement to Damien. I thought it would be just me and my fiancé."
"Actually, Penelope, Sarah and I are celebrating our first collaboration. Holland Group and Sterling Designs have signed a contract today. Sarah's designs are my next big thing."
James smiled and looked Sarah's way with a raised glass of wine. Sarah lifted hers. When she was about to bring it to her mouth, Damien took the glass, saying, "You can't drink," and drank it himself. James looked between them, surprised. Sarah was equally surprised... "What is this man doing?" she thought.
Penelope accepted it with a practiced smile, her eyes sparkling with a calculated charm. "See how my fiancé treats his little employees with kindness, dear James? Isn't he wonderful?" She then turned to Sarah with false friendliness. "You must be Sarah?"
"Do we know each other?" Sarah asked.
"You're a little designer in my future husband's company, of course I know you."
James added, "You must be joking, Penelope. She's not a little designer, she's THE DESIGNER."
Sarah smiled kindly at James. Penelope then sat beside Sarah, facing both Damien and James.
Penelope: Well then, I'm glad to have such talent in my company. You know, grandpa already gave me 30% shares in Sterling Design, so Sarah, we'll see a lot more of each other in the future.
Sarah felt sick to her stomach hearing that. "Damien's grandfather is so generous, he must adore Damien's future wife. I wonder if this mute man feels the same way for his future wife..." Just the thought made her heart ache...
James: Congratulations Penelope, I didn't know the Sterling family welcomed you with such open arms. To be honest, I was always wondering what's Damien waiting for, why he doesn't get married already, but now I see that he was waiting for you to come along.
Penelope smiled and said, "Dear James, your observation skills are still the best." She raised her glass and took a sip of wine. Sarah couldn't wait for this night to end, she was heartbroken and tired... Damien felt similar way, the enormous guilt he felt was killing him inside.
"Darling," Penelope purred, her voice ringing with practiced affection, "Did you invite James and Miss Walker to our grand engagement? You must have forgotten. But here," she opened her bag and gave them two invitations.
Damien stiffened. He knew what Penelope was doing and that she was causing a deeper misunderstanding between him and Sarah on purpose. James had a delighted look on his face.
"Congratulations. I will certainly join you for the happy event," James said.
"How about you, Miss Walker?" Penelope asked. "Will you come share our happiness too?"
"I'm not sure where I'll be at that time, but I do wish you happiness," Sarah replied.
Penelope smiled, satisfied. "Thank you. Your well wishes mean a lot to me and even more to my fiancé. Isn't that right, Damien?"
Her words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken implications. Damien could barely control the anger he felt inside after hearing Penelope's words, but even worse was Sarah's indifferent smile. The thought that worried him more was what Sarah just said... "I'm not sure where I'll be at that time, but I do wish you happiness."