“Sweetheart? I'm sorry. I'll feed you food from now on, okay? Darling..."

It was a rare spectacle to see the formidable CEO soften into an almost puppy-Like charm around her. Lilah couldn't suppress a chuckle, though it faded quickly.

“You're not upset, are you?" Gerard's eyes sparkled with a mix of hope and mischief.

Lilah's facade crumbled, a wave of relief washing over her features.

"I'm not mad. I'm just glad your hand is better. Just, don't hide things, okay? It worries me."

Gerard caught the undertone of care in her voice, his eyes softening.

"I won't hide anything anymore, I promise."

She nodded, her heart lighter.

“I appreciate what you've done for me." His response was a tender kiss on her cheek, leaving a warmth that lingered.

"You better."

In the midst of their exchange, Jerrold lingered at the bathroom door, his little world tilting on its axis. Was this tender man really his father, who was usually so stern and aloof? A realization dawned on his young mind; perhaps his father led him to the bathroom just to woo Mommy.

Soon, the clock was ticking down to the jewelry exhibition. Lilah found herself swept up in a whirlwind of creativity and deadlines, her hands shaping and reshaping designs into perfection. Her skill turned the mundane into marvels, and her team felt a surge of pride under her Leadership.

But as the adage goes, joy is often a fleeting visitor. Before long, a storm brewed within the design department.

The moment Lilah's phone buzzed with Phoebe's urgent text, she wasted no time confronting Alice. “With the design department in such disarray, why is it I'm only hearing of this now? Why wasn't I your first call?" Ice edged Lilah's voice, mirroring the chill in her demeanor.

Alice seemed to shrug off the gravity of the situation. "It's been tough. The gem suppliers refused to cooperate with us. I've been reaching out, but it's one cold shoulder after another."

“And our loyal suppliers?"

"They've thrown in their lot with Xavier Jewelers. It looks like Katie's move there has set them up for a banner year. Plus, there's talk of some heavy-hitters backing Xavier Jewelers, strong-arming our partners into shutting us out."

Alice tried to project helplessness and innocence.

With the exhibition mere days away and production stalled, Lilah's patience was thinning. "If you couldn't handle it, you should've come to me."

Alice had an excuse at the ready. "I know you're swamped, and I didn't want to add to your load."

Sensing Alice's obstruction, Lilah had no time for drawn-out conflicts. "Give me the supplier list. I'll take it from here."

Alice's response was quick, defensive. "Fine, but if this doesn't pan out, don't pin it on me.”

Lilah gave her a cold glance, and Alice handed over the list, with a parting jab, "I sourced these contacts, by the way."

The concerned eyes of the design team followed Lilah as she left Alice's office. Their completed designs lay dormant, their brilliance caged by the lack of materials. High-end jewelry designs without gems were like stars without the night.