Chapter 82

Derrick couldn't help but steal a few more glances at Selina. His earlier impatience and disdain were gone. Her words, far from arrogant, stemmed from a deep confidence—the kind needed to claim the top spot. Derrick had encountered many geniuses; he could easily spot a façade.

"Of course!" Andrew reported to Trevon after arranging Selina's affairs at Brilliance. Derrick then assigned Selina a position. As soon as she sat down, she said, "There are only six days left, Derrick. If there's a way to prove my skills, tell me. I don't want to waste any time."

"Brilliance, though only five years old, is quite renowned, with plenty of cases at our disposal. Just log in to your computer using the temporary badge number I gave you. You'll have access to the backend, where you can see all the cases and their difficulty ratings. Since you're so confident, naturally, you'll choose the most challenging ones, right?"

Derrick left, muttering, "Young people these days are so brash. Only twenty-one and already so bold and presumptuous. What was Mr. Brady thinking, sending me someone like this...?"

Selina shrugged off his comment. The results would be the best rebuttal. She quickly entered her badge number and browsed the cases. An SSS-rated case caught her eye.

Client: Cartier Task: Design Summer Starlight Limited Edition Style: No specific requirement

Selina was stunned. She hadn't expected a Cartier case. Recalling her last contact with Cartier's regional manager in Clusia, she considered this a kind of recompense.

Without hesitation, Selina accepted the case. The backend system showed who had taken which cases, and everyone saw Selina's choice of the SSS-rated case. It made them wary.

Cartier was a globally renowned brand. Even with Brilliance's rapid growth, a young company couldn't compare to giants with centuries of history and legendary designers. The SSS rating reflected this being the first collaboration between Cartier and Brilliance. Subsequent collaborations might be more lenient, but the first time dealing with such a major name, they would be extremely stringent, regardless of Trevon's involvement.

Derrick, the lead designer, was supposed to hand-pick a team for this challenge. Yet here was Selina, new to the design department, with no close allies, daring to tackle Cartier's Summer Starlight design alone. Confidence or ignorance?

Christina also noticed Selina's choice. Disdainfully, she assumed Selina was merely trying to impress Trevon. Taking on a Cartier case without considering the risks—if Selina failed, she'd be the laughingstock. But this gave Christina an opportunity to ingratiate herself with Selina. Approaching her, Christina feigned concern, "Selina, you've taken on the Cartier case? That's impressive! I knew you had the skills! But tackling it alone could be tough. Why don't I pull in a couple of other designers, and we can brainstorm together?"

Everyone was shocked by Christina's sudden subservience. Despite her newness to Brilliance, Christina's flamboyant personality and family connection to Trevon's mother's side were well-known. With her talent and pedigree, she was known for her arrogance. Some resented her; others admired her. Christina offered a hand to Selina... Just who was Selina?

Without looking up, Selina replied, "No need. I can manage on my own. Also… your perfume is quite strong. It's affecting my breathing."

Christina felt embarrassed. Her friendly gesture met with cold disdain, in full view of the office. She wanted to throttle Selina but managed a stiff, "Oh," before slinking back to her desk.

The designer next to Christina whispered, "Christina, what's the deal with this Selina? Andrew brought her in. Mr. Brady personally backs her. This is unheard of."

"I don't know!" Christina snapped, silencing her colleague. Everyone was fiercely competing, and they couldn't afford distractions. Selina's confident demeanor was hard to ignore, and some had tried investigating her background, to no avail.

Derrick approached to check on Selina's progress and found her engrossed in her phone. Clearing his throat, he offered advice, "I'm not sure about your capabilities, but since you've taken on this case, you must have your reasons. Cartier is an international powerhouse, and this is their first time partnering with Brilliance. I've heard their liaisons can be quite demanding. You might want to consider getting a couple of designers to back you up."

"Thanks for your concern, Derrick, but I've already got the Cartier Summer Starlight Limited Edition concept. I'm planning to meet with them and submit my proposal in a couple of days. I've made dinner plans tonight, got some errands to run, so I'll have to take off now. Bye!"

Derrick gaped as Selina gracefully picked up her bag and left, leaving the room in shock. "Where in the world did this high-and-mighty heiress come from? Mr. Brady, you better not be messing with me."

Christina watched her leave, then quickly messaged the Brilliance designer group chat:

[Regarding the Cartier project, why don't we give it a shot? I've got some ideas and plans. We'll split the credit. Those interested, reply with 1. Meeting after work in the conference room...]

Watching the "1"s pop up, Christina smirked coldly. "Selina, you reject my kindness time and time again, humiliating me in front of everyone. Just wait until I snatch the Sokovis Jewelry Design Contest spot from you after Cartier rejects your overconfidence and my work gets approved. I can't wait to see you on your knees, crying and begging for my forgiveness."