novelraw Chapter 147: A Call from Vogue
Chapter 147: A Call from Vogue
Chapter 147: A Call from VogueOlivia leaned back in her seat, her lips curling into a smirk as she crossed one leg over the other. "I heard everything you said, and just so you know, I’m not deaf," she began, her gaze steady as she addressed the room. "My suggestions are harmless and deserve to be considered without bias."
Her words, laced with feigned innocence, shifted toward Stephanie as if hinting that their Aunt ought to remain impartial. But Aurora wasn’t one to let her sister’s antics slide.
"Director," Aurora said, her voice sharp, "Fruit Punch Champagne is my idea. You’re welcome to keep your ’harmless suggestions’ to yourself rather than impose them on me."
Olivia’s smirk deepened, enjoying the spark of anger in Aurora’s eyes. "You’re absolutely right. I don’t have the authority to impose anything on you," she conceded, her tone almost too agreeable. But before the room could settle, she leaned forward, her voice turning pointed.
"However, Fruit Punch Champagne belongs to Vintage Cellar in general, not just you even though you birthed the idea. And as a director who prioritizes the success of this company, my suggestions should hold some value. Surely that’s not too much to ask, is it?"
Her words hung in the air as she glanced around the room, letting the weight of her statement linger before her gaze landed squarely back on Aurora.
Aurora’s jaw tightened as she fought to rein in her rising frustration. She could see right through Olivia’s pretence; this wasn’t about helping the company—this was sabotage, plain and simple. Her sister’s insincerity was glaring, but Aurora reminded herself to keep her composure. She refused to let Olivia exploit any weakness.
If this sister of hers had been sincere from the beginning, she would have welcomed her idea even though they hadn’t gathered to brainstorm on a new idea in the first place.
Aurora turned to Stephanie, silently conveying her trust in their Aunt’s final decision. Stephanie, picking up on Aurora’s restraint, relaxed her own posture. "A successful product needs to explore new opportunities," Stephanie began diplomatically. "We will conduct some re
"Aura, this is amazing! You better not keep calm about this!" Abigail exclaimed, her joy bubbling over.
Aurora laughed, picturing her best friend’s animated expression. "I will give you all the details later. For now, I need to get back to work."
"Kisses!" Abigail said before hanging up, her enthusiasm leaving Aurora smiling long after the call ended.
With the day’s earlier frustrations forgotten, Aurora returned to her tasks with renewed vigour, her heart lighter with the anticipation of what lay ahead.
At noon, she had lunch before leaving for the winery with her assistant Lilian, to check on her new wine.
~***~
The next day at Vintage Cellar, the follow-up meeting convened in the elegantly designed boardroom. Stephanie sat at the head of the table, her presence commanding attention as the directors and staff settled in. The tension in the room was palpable, especially for Aurora, who had spent the last twenty-four hours silently bracing herself for Stephanie’s final decision.
Across the table, Olivia wore a confident smirk, her fingers lightly drumming against the polished wood. She glanced at Aurora with a mix of triumph and satisfaction, convinced she had succeeded in rattling her rival, even if only temporarily.
Stephanie cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s focus. "Thank you all for joining me today," she began, her voice calm yet authoritative. "After much deliberation with the board, we’ve reached a decision regarding Fruit Punch Champagne’s next flavour."
Aurora’s heart skipped as she leaned forward slightly, her hands clasped together under the table.
"We’ve decided to proceed with a Citrus flavour," Stephanie announced firmly, her gaze sweeping across the room. "After reviewing our market analysis, we determined that Citrus not only complements the original product but also maintains the champagne’s sophisticated essence."
Aurora’s shoulders relaxed, a wave of relief washing over her. Her idea remained intact, untainted by Olivia’s interference.
Olivia, on the other hand, balled her fists under the table, her knuckles turning white. The smile she had worn earlier was gone, replaced by a stiff expression. While the decision didn’t go her way, she found a small consolation: at least she had managed to put Aurora on edge, even if it was for just a single day.
Stephanie continued, her tone turning upbeat. "Production and advertising will commence immediately after the marketing team finalizes the label design. Let’s aim for a successful launch, just as we did with the original flavour."