You Really Have No Taste

"Julian, didn't I make Claire look absolutely gorgeous? You can be a hundred percent at ease with me handling things. Considering how well I did, shouldn't you give me some kind of reward?" Seeing Julian Sterling call her, Ruby Sterling smugly waited for praise.

Unexpectedly, Julian Sterling said in a cold voice, "The dress doesn't look good. Change it."

"Huh?" Ruby Sterling froze.

She hadn't expected not praise, but those icy words instead.

She blew up on the spot and huffed unhappily, "What do you mean it doesn't look good? It's not just me who thinks it looks good—even the sales staff here all think it's gorgeous. You really have no taste!"

Ruby Sterling rattled off a whole tirade, while Julian Sterling remained silent the entire time.

Only after she finished did Julian Sterling say slowly, "It's too revealing."

"Too... too revealing?"

Ruby Sterling remembered that Claire Bennett's gown really was a deep backless style. It looked somewhat sexy. She hadn't expected Julian Sterling to think it was too revealing.

If it were someone unimportant, even if they appeared completely naked in front of Julian Sterling, he wouldn't so much as blink.

And now he actually cared this much about Claire Bennett wearing something only slightly sexy. Was it a man's possessiveness at work, proving that he cared a lot about Claire Bennett?

Ruby Sterling was no longer upset at once; instead, she curled her lips into a smile.

"Okay, okay, okay. I'll go have her change into another one right away. I'll make sure it's to your satisfaction."

Julian Sterling ended the call.

He walked back into the room. Old Mr. Sterling's gaze fell on Julian Sterling, and a nearly appreciative look surfaced in his eyes.

This grandson was the most outstanding and exceptional man the Sterling family had produced in recent years.

The business talent he had displayed was even more impressive than that of his father's generation, and it had made Old Mr. Sterling place all his hopes on him.

Old Mr. Sterling had decided to bypass everyone else and hand the burden of the Sterling family directly to him. Even now, he was already grooming Julian Sterling as the future heir.

But the future head of the Sterling family should also have a lady of the house from an equally suitable family background.

Old Mr. Sterling reined in his thoughts and said in a deep voice, "Julian, on the fifteenth I've arranged for you to meet the Hayes family's daughter. Go meet her."

The fifteenth was Ethan Sterling's engagement banquet.

Julian Sterling's brows knit slightly. "I have plans that day."

"What plans could you possibly have? The branch office over in Chicago isn't important. From now on your focus should be New York. Sterling International is good enough as it is."

After saying that, Old Mr. Sterling gave an unhappy snort. "Last time you ditched Ms. Monroe. This time, you must meet Miss Hayes!"

The old man was stubborn and overbearing; his orders allowed no disobedience.

Julian Sterling's expression darkened slightly. What about Claire Bennett?

...

Chicago, Vivian Yu Styling Studio.

Claire Bennett had finished her makeup. After she stood up, she felt a chill across her back. Earlier, her hair hadn't been pinned up, so it hadn't felt like much, but now that her hair was up, her entire back was exposed.

She asked a little uncomfortably, "Other than this gown, are there any other styles?"

A sales clerk asked in confusion, "Miss Bennett, is there something you're not satisfied with?"

"I think it shows too much."

The gown was beautiful, beautiful enough, but it wasn't suitable for wearing to go slap people in the face. If she accidentally got into a fight with Naomi Pierce, she'd have to protect her own body and wouldn't be able to fight back. Wouldn't that be a huge disadvantage?

"Then I'll bring you another gown." Although the sales clerk thought Claire Bennett looked very beautiful in it and felt it was a bit of a pity for her to take it off now, she still respected her wishes.

She turned and went to get Claire Bennett other gowns.

Just as Claire Bennett stood there waiting, a voice suddenly rang out. "Hey, this gown is really nice. Miss, do you have another one like this? Get me one!"

With an apologetic expression, the sales clerk said, "I'm sorry, miss. All the gowns in our store are independently designed, and every single one is one of a kind. But this lady doesn't like this style, and she's changing into another one now. You can wait for her to take it off and then try it on."

The two women glanced over Claire Bennett, then stood to the side with their arms crossed.

"Fine, then we'll wait."

While they waited, they began chatting openly and without restraint.

"I think this dress is just way too pretty. If I wear it to Manager Sterling and Assistant Song's engagement banquet, I'll definitely reel in some rich husband."

"If we weren't riding on Assistant Song's coattails, how would we ever be able to borrow gowns from a place like this? Later, I'm definitely going to take my time picking something good."

They had heard that Ethan Sterling had invited many people of status and position. They wanted to dress themselves up carefully and see whether sheer dumb luck might make some rich man take a fancy to them so they could marry into a wealthy family.

Hearing the two of them, Claire Bennett frowned slightly.

She hadn't expected enemies really did cross on narrow roads—she had actually run into employees from Sterling International, and they were also going to Naomi Pierce and Ethan Sterling's engagement banquet.

She wanted to avoid them and moved to the side to wait, but unexpectedly one of them narrowed her eyes, as if recognizing her.

"Claire Bennett!" The woman quickly walked up in front of Claire Bennett and looked her over with uncertainty and surprise. At last, she said with certainty, "It really is Claire Bennett. Lifen, come over here and look, quick."