Chapter 689:
She first contacted Alyssa to inquire about the progress of the garment production. As she had expected, they had encountered a crucial technical issue. The spring series had hit a wall because of fabric supply. The material they needed wasn’t easy to secure.
Alyssa later called again, her tone heavy. “We overlooked something important. The spring line depends on a fabric that feels like silk, with a perfect drape and surprising resilience. Under the right lights, it shimmers with a wave-like gradient. But it’s rare. Almost impossible to find.”
She let out a long breath before going on. “I checked every supplier. Only one place makes it—Malvren Dyeing Factory. And the manager there is—”
Before she could finish, Rylie interjected, “Laurel, isn’t it? She’ll never sell to us. Without that fabric, the design loses its essence. If the finished piece falls short of the sketch, it could ruin us in the contest.”
“The problem isn’t impossible to solve. We can swap the fabric, though the results might not measure up.” Alyssa, unaware of the plagiarism, listed several alternatives that could replace it.
Rylie thought for a moment. “I have a private warehouse overseas where I keep rare pieces. Could you make the trip?”
“I suppose I could,” Alyssa said, hesitant. “Are you asking me to travel for this?”
Rylie gave a small nod. “The location is remote and only reachable by water. It might take a week to go there and back. While you’re there, choose anything that could work as a substitute.”
“You actually collect fabric?” Alyssa asked, surprised.
Rylie chuckled. “Anything rare and beautiful ends up in my collection. It’s a personal hobby. You’ll find better options there. I want the Spring line to outshine its sketches, even without supplies from Malvren Dyeing Factory. It needs to be flawless.”
Alyssa felt the weight of the request. She knew Malvren Dyeing Factory’s advantage in both resources and connections. Matching their fabric seemed nearly impossible unless Rylie had vintage luxury textiles tucked away.
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“I’ll do my best,” Alyssa said carefully. “Still, I think a trip to Malvren is worth considering. Smaller dye houses might produce that fabric in small batches.”
“I’ll handle Malvren,” Rylie replied. “Your job is to bring back what the Spring line needs most from my warehouse.”
Once the call ended, Brad finally spoke. “Malvren hasn’t been stable in years. I don’t like the idea of you going there alone.” The car slowed at a red light.
“I’m not going there for fabric,” Rylie said, glancing his way. “I’m going to investigate something else. The fewer people involved, the less attention I’ll draw.”
“I still want to go with you.” Brad reached over and gave her cheek a gentle pinch, teasing. “You’re my girlfriend now. I’m not letting you slip away.”
Their eyes met, lingering. Then his hand dropped, his expression darkening.
“Don’t you want me there?”
Rylie’s voice softened. “And if I said no?”
Brad was silent for a moment before replying, his tone filled with sincerity, “I’ll follow you, just like during our previous investigation at the mines. No matter where you are, I’ll find you.”
She studied his determined gaze and brushed her fingers against his face. “You stand out too much. Go as my bodyguard. I want answers about my disappearance years ago.”
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