Clara reached into her handbag and pulled out a silver membership card.
She handed it to Nina.
Nina checked the card carefully before returning it.
"Thank you, Miss Clara."
Clara slipped the card back into her handbag.
She looked around the premium section for a moment.
Then she took out her phone and dialed someone.
"Hello?"
She listened for a moment.
"I've reached the store."
Another pause.
"Where are you?"
She listened again before nodding.
"Okay. I'll wait here."
She ended the call.
Clara glanced around the store.
Then her eyes suddenly stopped on the baby-pink gown displayed inside the glass case.
"Is that one of your new designs?"
She pointed toward the gown.
Nina followed her gaze.
"Yes, Miss Clara."
She smiled.
"It's one of our latest designs. It was launched recently."
Clara's eyes lit up.
"I'd like to try it."
"Of course."
Nina immediately nodded.
"Please wait a moment. I'll bring it for you."
She walked toward the display.
From across the store, Olivia watched everything.
Her expression became slightly stern.
The exact gown she had been refused was now being taken out for Clara without hesitation.
She looked away, trying to hide her irritation.
Of course.
She has a premium card.
Olivia glanced at the gown one more time.
But why do I feel like there's something more to it?
Before she could dwell on the thought, the store assistant returned with another rack of dresses.
"Olivia, look at these."
Madison sounded excited.
"They're all so pretty. You should try one. Maybe you'll find something you like even more."
She began looking through the gowns.
Then she turned toward Eva.
"Eva, what do you think about these pieces? We could buy something for ourselves too."
Eva looked through the dresses.
"I don't know, Maddi."
She smiled faintly.
"They all look beautiful, but most of them seem more suited to the younger generation."
There was a slight hint of regret in her voice.
She had clearly hoped to find something for herself as well.
The assistant immediately smiled politely.
"Don't worry, ma'am. We have dresses suitable for women of all age groups."
She gestured toward another section of the store.
"If you'd like, I can show you some of our more mature designs later."
"Really?"
Madison's face brightened.
"Then we'll definitely look at those later."
She laughed softly.
"But first, we have to find something for Olivia."
She picked up another gown from the rack and held it toward Olivia.
"Here, Olivia. What do you think of this one?"
Olivia looked at the dress.
It was similar in style to the pink gown she had admired earlier.
The color was different, but the overall design had a similar elegant silhouette.
The delicate sheer sleeves and graceful details gave it a sophisticated appearance.
Olivia hesitated for a moment.
Then she nodded.
"That one looks nice."
She took the dress from Madison.
"I'll try it."
"Yes, honey. Try a few more along with that."
Sophie picked up several more dresses and handed them to Olivia.
"Take these too. You can decide which one looks best."
Olivia nodded.
"All right."
She gathered the dresses into her arms.
Then she stood up and followed the store assistant toward the changing room.
As she walked away, her eyes briefly moved toward the premium section.
The baby-pink gown was still there.
Clara was waiting for it.
Olivia's gaze lingered on it for a moment longer than necessary.
Then she turned away.
But the strange feeling in her heart remained.
There was something about that gown.
Something about the way it had caught her attention.
And somewhere deep inside, Olivia had the unsettling feeling that she had seen it before.
She simply couldn't remember where.
***
At the Angel Company
On the top floor of Angel Company, the atmosphere was as elegant and orderly as it always was.
Employees moved quietly through the spacious office, carrying files, reviewing documents, answering calls, and attending to the countless responsibilities that came with working for one of the most successful fashion companies in the city.
Behind the large glass windows, the city stretched endlessly into the distance.
From this height, the busy streets below looked almost peaceful. Cars moved like tiny streams of light, while the tall buildings surrounding Angel Company reflected the afternoon sunlight.
Inside the CEO's cabin, however, everything was much quieter.
The soft scratching of a pencil against paper was the only sound that could be heard.
Anne sat behind her large desk, completely absorbed in the sketching pad in front of her.
She held the pencil delicately between her fingers, adding the final details to the design she had been working on for the past several minutes. Every line was precise, every curve carefully considered.
Occasionally, her gaze drifted away from the sketch.
She would look toward the enormous window behind her desk, taking in the breathtaking view of the city before returning to her work.
Anne had always found inspiration in moments like this.
The quiet.
The distance.
The feeling that, from this height, she could temporarily escape the noise of everything happening below.
Outside the cabin, hurried footsteps suddenly echoed through the hallway.
Secretary Megan appeared at the end of the corridor, walking quickly toward the CEO's office. She slowed down only when she reached the door.
Taking a small breath, she straightened her clothes and composed herself before raising her hand and knocking.
A moment later, a soft voice came from inside. "Come in."
Although Anne's voice was gentle, there was a quiet authority behind it that made everyone in the company instinctively take her seriously.
Megan opened the door and stepped inside. "Ma'am, you just received a call from Miss Clara."
Anne's pencil stopped moving.
She turned her attention toward Megan. "Okay. Did she leave a message?"
"She asked you to join her at Imperial City Mall for her birthday shopping."
Anne raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you tell her that I'm busy right now?" she asked.
Megan nodded.
"Yes, ma'am."
Anne leaned back slightly in her chair.
"Besides, don't we have a meeting scheduled with her in a few hours?"
"Yes, ma'am. You do have a meeting with her today."
Megan paused before continuing.
"But Miss Clara asked you to join her at the mall so that you could discuss everything there. She said you could have the meeting afterward."
Anne stared at her for a moment.
Then she let out a soft sigh.
Of course.
Only Clara would casually change the location of a business meeting just because she wanted Anne to accompany her shopping.
Anne shook her head slightly, although there was the faintest hint of amusement in her eyes.
"Where does she want to meet me?"
"She's waiting for you at our store in Imperial City Mall."