Whisper Destiny

Chapter 28

~ Catherine ~

"Congratulations!" The chorus of voices from my employees greeted me as I stepped into the office this morning. The scent of champagne hung in the air, mingling with the aroma of assorted hors d'oeuvres. Streamers and balloons adorned the floor, transforming it into a scene of impromptu celebration. In that instant, I knew Louisa was behind this.

After major events, I always encourage my team to celebrate their hard work. It's my way of showing appreciation for their dedication and effort. Today, I decided to let them revel in the success of our recent event, to unwind and bask in their achievements. However, my eyes soon caught sight of a photograph from the previous night, one of Natasha and me, adorned with a congratulatory note on our engagement.

My gaze darted around the room, seeking Louisa. When our eyes met, she gave a subtle shake of her head, silently conveying that this wasn't her doing—it was the initiative of my employees. I decided to let it go, for now.

"I feel thankful everyone is still alive today," I began, aiming to set a lighthearted tone, which very rare occasion I would say. Laughter rippled through the group, easing the atmosphere.

"From the bottom of my heart, I want to express my gratitude to each one of you. Our show wouldn't have been the success it was without your hard work and dedication. I can't thank you enough. So, today, take all the time you need to celebrate. But remember, I expect fresh ideas for our next collection by tomorrow," I added jokingly.

The sight of my employees' happy faces was a moment I cherished deeply in my career journey.

"Cate, tell us more about your engagement to Natasha Grayson! How dare you keep it a secret from us?" Tommy, my head designer, the one that brave enough to call out, prompting everyone to turn their attention back to me.

Realizing there was no escaping it, I maintained my calm demeanor and said, "Yes, I'm engaged to Natasha Grayson. As you all know, I announced it at our event. We're planning to get married this coming spring. But I'd like to keep my personal life private." The room erupted in cheers and congratulations as my team swarmed around me.

In that fleeting moment, I caught a glimpse of Archer in the corner of the room. I could sense the curiosity in his eyes, the unspoken questions he longed to ask me. Yet, I felt no obligation to provide answers. We had established boundaries between us, understanding that we couldn't be anything more than what we already were. So, I chose to let it pass, knowing that some questions were better left unanswered.

After a few minutes of celebration, I retreated to my office, with Astrid and Louisa close behind.

"Astrid, please order takeout meals for the employees who aren't here," I instructed. She nodded, already familiar with the routine.

"Anything else, Cate?" she asked.

"Nothing for now, thank you, Astrid." She smiled at me and left the room.

"I saw everything is under control now. Unless there's something I'm not aware of," I inquired, my gaze locking with Louisa.

Louisa, ever the composed anchor in the storm, nodded reassuringly. "Yeah, everything is under control now, Cate. I won't deny things went a bit haywire that night. Your engagement news took the world by storm, far bigger than we anticipated. But thankfully, we had a back-up plan in place when things started to veer off course," she confided, her voice steady despite the lingering remnants of tension.

"Thanks, Lou," I murmured, a genuine smile tugging at the corners of my lips as I acknowledged her unwavering support.

As the conversation shifted to the influx of interview requests, Louisa's concern was palpable. "I've received a multitude of interview requests, Cate. As per your instructions, we've kept things under wraps for now. But we can't afford to delay much longer. The longer we wait, the greater the risk of rumors resurfacing," she cautioned, her tone laced with a hint of urgency.