Chapter 44: Advisor Juliette Blanc
Lily O’Sullivan was the kind of woman people noticed the moment she walked into a room. She stood at about 5’6", her posture upright and graceful, radiating a quiet, self-assured confidence. Her skin was porcelain-fair, with a natural rosy flush in her cheeks and a fine dusting of freckles across the bridge of her nose. But it was her eyes... sharp, emerald green and intensely observant. Framed by long, dark lashes, they seemed to see through people.
Her thick, wavy chestnut hair flowed just past her shoulders, catching auburn glints in the light. She rarely bothered to tie it back, preferring to let the wild locks frame her face freely, as if embracing the chaos of her work.
Upon receiving the bank card, Lily’s first thought was not about the workload or responsibility... no, it was about how much money was on the card, and more importantly, what kind of good food she could indulge in today. A rare smile crept across her normally stoic face, softening her features.
Seeing her reaction, Eleanor leaned back in her chair and teased, "Don’t be selfish. Take your team out for dinner too."
Lily stammered, "H-How did you know I was thinking about food?"
Eleanor chuckled. "Everyone in this office knows what you do when you receive extra money. Don’t worry, I won’t be jealous if someone wins your loyalty with good food... so long as that someone is me."
She gestured to the card. "There’s 100,000 pounds on it. Use it for your team. It’s unofficial funding, so no need to report it. We’re just starting our business in the kingdom, and the next six months will be critical. Your department will be working overtime. Make sure your people eat well."
She then turned toward the other woman in the room who had remained standing. "Please, have a seat, Juliette. Lily, call Teresa and Maya."
Before Lily could respond, Teresa’s voice rang from the doorway. "No need to call me. Maya went downstairs to handle some things... she’ll be up in a minute."
Teresa walked in and sat down gracefully. "Good morning, Boss."
Lily placed a folder on the desk and took her seat beside Teresa. "This is the preliminary report we prepared. More will come in later."