Chapter 481:Overworked


    In Seacisco, the Larson Group building. Et han had just finished his video conference. He nced at the


    clock on his desk and dialed J’s number. When the call connected, however, his face instantly


    darkened.


    “Honey, can you tell me why I’m greeted by your palm instead of your pretty face? What’s going on? I’ve


    been dying to see you.”


    “I’m right here, Honey, just a little busy. I’ll call you back in a while, okay? Mr. Wesley sent back my


    designs for further modifications.” J pulled back and nced at her phone once before focusing back


    on herputer screen. Ethan’s tone grew somber.


    “Honey, don’t you realize that you’ve been working on these designs for more than a week? You’re


    working every single time I called you.”


    As a matter of fact, J had only been having four to five hours of sleep each day the past week. And


    it showed. Even the beauty filter of her camera couldn’t hide the dark circles under her eyes. She looked


    exhausted.


    J nodded lightly to acknowledge Ethan’s words, but her hand didn’t stop moving, and her eyes


    never strayed from herputer, either. If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought she had


    gone mad over her passion project. Et han sighed heavily.


    “Well, since you’re so busy, I won’t be keeping you. Sorry to disturb you.” That seemed to jolt her back to


    her senses. J dropped her digital pen and snatched her phone in a hurry.


    “Oh, Honey. I’m so grateful you called. I wouldn’t have realized I was overworked if you hadn’t pointed it


    out. But you know what? I’m always amazed by Mr. Wesley’s criticisms. They are surprisingly


    constructive, and he spots a lot of problematic details that I wouldn’t even have thought about. I feel like


    a new world has opened up before me, and that I’m wee to learn new things without fear of


    judgment.” Ethan stared at her and saw how her eyes lit up with excitement as she talked. He could tell


    that she was having the time of her life at work.


    “I would never stop you from pursuing your dreams,” he said sincerely.


    “You know that, right? I just can’t help thinking that your boss is being too hard on you, and I say that


    objectively. Even the busiest department here at Larson Group wouldn’t force their staff to work overtime


    for seven days straight.” J gave him a sweet smile.


    “I’m all right. I’m willing to put in extra hours for my dreams.” Ethan sighed again. He could only shake


    his head and smile bitterly. What else could he say at this point? J was her own person, with her own


    free will. He had known the moment he let her go to Barnes that it wouldn’t be easy getting her back


    home.


    *******


    Johanna had just got home from her morning run and was making breakfast in the kitchen.


    Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!


    After hearing some rustling noises in the living room, she poked her head out of the kitchen and saw


    J. Johanna quickly wiped her hands and dashed over.


    “Where are you going? You haven’t even had breakfast yet.” J was already in the entryway, putting


    her shoes on.


    “I spentst night revising my all design drafts. Mr. Wesley is going to look them over today, and


    hopefully approve them.” Johanna huffed worriedly.


    “I can see that you are busy, but you still need to eat something!” Her heart ached at the memory of her


    daughter dragging her feet home sote at night, and as if that wasn’t enough, J left so early in the


    morning, too.


    “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll grab a bite on my way there.”


    All of J’s attention was focused on her designs. Even now, she was only thinking about what Draco


    Wesley would say about her revisions.


    In the end, Johanna had no choice but to watch her daughter go. It shouldn’t be surprising that Draco


    was a strict and demanding boss-he wouldn’t be standing at the pinnacle of sess otherwise. Perhaps,


    with him as her mentor, J would make rapid progress in the fashion industry.


    As soon as J arrived at the studio, she made a beeline for Draco’s office and handed him her


    portfolio.


    She had lost count of the times she had altered the designs until she was finally satisfied with them.


    Draco’s face was calm and unreadable as he took the folder and went over the drafts.


    Only when he turned to thest few pages did a faint smile appear on his lips.


    “I see that you’ve applied every piece of advice I gave you.” Draco found J to be very modest


    despite her impressive talent. He had indicated several problems in her first draft, and she had managed


    to correct them all.


    “There’s one thing I’m curious about.” Draco closed the folder, his brows furrowed.


    “How could you have remembered everything? You may have a good memory, but surely…” J


    whipped out a small voice recorder from her pocket and waved it in front of him.


    “Secret weapon,” she quipped.


    “Much more useful than the human brain.” Draco’s smile deepened, his eyes gleaming with interest. Not


    only was this gifted young designer modest, but she was also hardworking. She was certainly tougher


    than he had initially thought, nothing like a spoiled richdy at all.


    During the meetingter that day, Draco reviewed everyone’s portfolio and – made somements. He


    made a point of praising J’s designs in front of everyone, if only to give her credit for exceeding his


    expectations. J’s hands were clenched on herp. It was all she could do not to jump up in joy.


    Instead, she settled for a sigh of relief. Atst, the overtime Ethan had been grumbling about had paid


    off.


    When she raised her head, her gaze identally fell on Elizabeth, who was sitting across the table from


    her. The other woman had a cold expression on her face, as usual. J mustered an awkward smile


    and shifted her eyes to Rosa. To her surprise, Rosa looked rather glum. But when she noticed J’s


    gaze, she immediately forced a friendly smile.