Gregory cleared his throat awkwardly and said, “Victoria, your mother left the boutique to you, but perhaps it would be wiser if we discussed selling it because maintaining property in this district cannot be cheap.”
I looked directly at him while answering gently, “The property will remain exactly where it stands because this place is the foundation of something far greater than any of you ever realized.”
Tyler laughed again and said, “Foundation for what exactly, Victoria, a charity for failed designers who cannot pay their rent?”
I met his gaze calmly before replying, “Something like that, although the scale might surprise you.”
Aubrey’s phone suddenly rang and she answered with the careless confidence of someone who believed the world existed solely to admire her.
Her expression changed within seconds and the color drained from her face as she listened to the frantic voice on the other end explaining that her contract had vanished without warning.
“What do you mean terminated?” she shouted while turning away from us, and she continued speaking rapidly while panic replaced arrogance in her tone.
Tyler frowned and asked impatiently, “What happened?”