His Pride Shattered, My Heart Released

"Let's not worry about her attitude right now," Chloe said, rubbing her temples to ward off an impending headache. "Call the venue and see if they can adjust our booking. Even if they charge us an extra fee, just agree to it."

"Got it. I'll get on it right away!" Olivia nodded, turning to leave. But as she did, her sharp eyes caught something. She paused, leaning in closer with a mischievous grin. "I was wondering why you weren't more annoyed about the schedule change, Chloe. Looks like you had a... very good night."

"What?" Chloe asked, genuinely confused.

It took her a second to register Olivia's meaningful gaze. Instinctively, Chloe grabbed the small mirror from her desk. There, right above her collarbone, was a cluster of distinct, reddish-purple marks. Hickeys.

Despite his usual coldness during the day, Julian was fiercely possessive in the dark. He rarely spoke during their intimate moments, but he always left his mark, a silent, aggressive claim of ownership.

Seeing Chloe's flushed face, Olivia chuckled. "You know, Chloe, you've been with your boyfriend for a while now. When are you going to bring him around so we can finally meet him?"

"Just go fix the schedule!" Chloe deflected with a forced smile, though her chest tightened painfully at the question.

About a year ago, due to an unexpected family crisis, Chloe had been forced to return from her photography stint in Europe. She had settled back in New York, trying to rebuild her career from scratch.

Right around that time, she received an invitation to a college reunion.

Figuring she hadn't seen her old classmates in years, she decided to attend.

What she hadn't expected was to see Julian Astor IV there. He was notoriously aloof and rarely attended social gatherings.

Four years ago, after a certain incident, she had hastily moved abroad. Seeing Julian again after all that time had reignited a spark she thought she had buried. The suppressed longing had grown wildly in her chest.

Seeing him sitting alone in a dimly lit corner booth, she had gathered every ounce of her courage and walked over to him.

Perhaps it was the alcohol, or perhaps it was the overwhelming nostalgia, but one thing led to another, and they ended up kissing. Later that night, he handed her the key to his penthouse, and she moved in.

Since they got together, Julian would occasionally pick her up from the studio. Her colleagues knew she had a boyfriend, a wealthy and handsome one at that.

But to this day, he had never publicly acknowledged her as his partner.

Chloe pushed the painful memories aside and focused on work. The shoot was scheduled at a luxurious European-style estate just outside the city limits.

Because Chloe's studio offered a premium rate, the estate management was more than happy to accommodate the sudden schedule change.

Chloe packed her gear and immediately led her team to the estate to set up the lighting and backdrops.

The client today was Sabrina Vance. If it were anyone else, Chloe wouldn't have tolerated such diva behavior. She wasn't afraid to drop difficult clients.

But Sabrina had recently landed a massive sponsorship from a powerful billionaire, catapulting her to A-list status overnight. Her market value was through the roof.

If Chloe wanted her studio to thrive in this cutthroat industry, she had to play the game and avoid making powerful enemies.

Just before eleven o'clock, a staff member radioed that Sabrina had arrived.

An assistant scrambled to open the door of a sleek black SUV. Sabrina Vance stepped out, wearing oversized designer sunglasses and carrying a limited-edition Birkin bag. She walked with an exaggerated swagger, trailed by an entourage of assistants, makeup artists, and bodyguards.

Sabrina pulled off her sunglasses, her chin tilted upward as she looked down her nose at Chloe. "You have exactly one hour to get all the shots," she commanded, her tone dripping with entitlement. "I have a facial booked for this afternoon, and a very important gala to attend tonight."

The European-style estate was breathtaking, featuring manicured gardens, marble fountains, and grand archways that provided the perfect backdrop for a high-fashion editorial. Chloe and her team had spent the last two hours meticulously adjusting reflectors and testing camera angles to ensure the natural light flattered the subject perfectly.

Sabrina didn't even glance at the beautiful setup. She marched straight toward the makeshift vanity area, complaining loudly about the humidity ruining her hair. Her entourage buzzed around her like anxious bees, offering her water, fanning her, and touching up her flawless makeup.

Chloe took a deep breath, pasting on her most professional smile. She had dealt with difficult personalities before, but Sabrina's sheer arrogance was grating on her nerves. Still, she nodded politely. "We can certainly accommodate that timeline, Ms. Vance. If you'll just step over to the fountain, we can begin."