Chapter 43

Oliver Lawson stood behind Evelyn, clearing his throat. "Ms. Vanderbilt, shall I arrange the renovations if this design meets your approval?"

Evelyn turned, her golden tassel earrings catching the light. "No need. I've already hired my own team."

Ten days later...

The sixteenth floor transformation was nearly complete. The lobby shimmered in midnight black and antique gold, with delicate crystal sconces casting intricate patterns across the walls.

The VIP lounge boasted vintage furnishings, its walls adorned with asymmetrical golden panels. A grand chandelier in old European style dominated the space, separated by rich plum velvet drapes. Even the restrooms featured exquisite coral accents.

When Oliver and Nathan arrived, they paused at the elevator doors, momentarily disoriented by the dramatic metamorphosis. Workers bustled past carrying ornate furnishings, their footsteps muffled by the plush carpet.

Oliver surveyed the moody color scheme with hesitation. "Isn't it rather... dark?"

Suddenly, overhead lights blazed to life, making him start. Evelyn emerged from the shadows, her plum puff-sleeved gown rustling. "Better?"

Nathan's gaze tracked her movement. The nineteenth-century inspired dress hugged her figure perfectly, accentuated by a silk choker tied at her throat. Her forefinger bore a serpentine gold ring, its emerald eyes glinting. The feathered hat completed the ensemble, giving her an air of aristocratic mystery.

"Your aesthetic is... distinctive," Oliver murmured.

Evelyn's shoulders lifted in an elegant shrug. "Some simply lack vision."

Nathan approached, his polished shoes sinking into the plush carpet. "Going for baroque revival?"

Evelyn's lips curved. The extravagant style had been her signature once - until she'd made it ubiquitous. Now every jeweler copied it, rendering the trend passé.

"Haven't you heard of fusion design?" She plucked a leaf from a nearby pot, its serrated edges catching the light. "Observe this palm leaf - the vein structure, the texture. Imagine recreating this in filigree and tulle, then..." She dipped a finger into a water glass, letting a droplet cling to the leaf's surface. "The water becomes the pearl accent."

Oliver blinked, struggling to follow.

Nathan's mouth quirked. "I'm intrigued to see the execution."

Word of Blackgold Group's new jewelry venture spread through the industry like wildfire. "Why would Nathan Goldmann suddenly enter the jewelry business?" gossiped the fashion elite.

The answer stood on the sixteenth floor, running her fingers along gilded panels, already three steps ahead of everyone else.