Chapter 32 - The Unexpected Client
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Two months later, the loft was furnished with pieces Claire loved—comfortable, modern, and entirely her own. Her consulting business had grown steadily, relying almost entirely on word-of-mouth recommendations.
She was sitting at her new desk, reviewing fabric swatches, when an unfamiliar number popped up on her phone.
"Claire Ward speaking."
"Ms. Ward, my name is David Sterling."
Claire paused. Sterling was the name of the hotel group that had bought out the Mercer empire.
"Hello, Mr. Sterling. How can I help you?"
"I've been reviewing the recent lobby redesigns you spearheaded for Vanguard," he began, his tone brisk and professional. "They are exceptional. Highly functional but aesthetically warm."
"Thank you."
"We are looking to completely overhaul the flagship property downtown. The one that used to be the Mercer Grand."
Claire’s hand tightened around the fabric swatch.
The Mercer Grand. The crown jewel of the empire she had spent fifteen years managing from the shadows.
"You want me to redesign the Mercer Grand?"
"We want to strip it down to the studs and rebuild the interior," Sterling confirmed. "We want to erase the old, stuffy corporate feel and modernize it entirely. Your name kept coming up in our executive meetings."
Claire stared at the exposed brick wall of her office.
It was poetic, in a way. They were asking her to literally dismantle the physical manifestation of the Mercer legacy and build something new in its place.
"I don't work cheap, Mr. Sterling," Claire warned, her voice steady.
"We aren't looking for cheap," he countered instantly. "We are looking for the best. Are you interested in submitting a proposal?"
May you like
Claire thought of Evelyn’s rigid decorating rules, Daniel’s obsessive need for intimidating spaces.
"I am very interested," Claire smiled. "I'll have my assistant send over my initial consultation fee structure."
