Chapter 208 Jealousy and rivalry

Jessica did not answer, but Victoria had no intention of letting her off the hook.

Victoria's gaze swept back and forth between Jessica and Mu Xin, then landed on the lipstick stain at the corner of Jessica's mouth that hadn't been wiped away yet—that faint red mark left on the skin after being smudged.

"Your lipstick," Victoria reminded her, "a little above the left corner of your mouth."

Jessica took out a tissue and wiped it away with a calm expression, but her slightly trembling hand betrayed her.

"Mr. Mu, the Spa Center in the hotel's public area requires your confirmation on the specifications for the final batch of stone. The supplier mixed up the batch number for Salvatori; what they sent is the same batch as the master bedroom, but the wall area of the Spa Center is nearly twice as large as your master bedroom, and there isn't enough inventory from that same batch."

"You need to decide whether to use the next batch in the same series, which will have a one-shade color difference, or downgrade the specifications for the Spa Center and use alternative stone from a local supplier."

She took out her iPad, pulled up the supplier's email, and leaned toward Mu Xin.

Mu Xin looked at the email on the iPad. "The stone for the Spa Center cannot be downgraded. Have the samples from the next batch sent over first. If the color difference is visible to the naked eye, use the same batch as the master bedroom to finish the core area of the Spa Center first, and complete the remaining area once the new batch is matched."

Victoria nodded and made a note. "One more thing, I've finished the budget framework for the outdoor theater and the independent bathrooms. The rough figure is between three million and three point five million, excluding seating and the lighting system."

"The outdoor theater is Jessica's design," Mu Xin said, glancing at Jessica.

"I know," Victoria said, turning to Jessica. "I've reviewed your design. The budget framework is based on your proposal. The drainage system for the sunken seating area needs to be listed separately because the location you chose is at the lowest point of the gentle slope on the lakeshore, and the groundwater level will rise when the snow melts in the spring."

"I added an underground drainage trench to your design, which increased the budget quite a bit. From your design perspective, do you see any issues with that?"

Jessica had composed herself. "No problem. The elevation of the sunken seating area in my master plan is about 1.5 meters higher than the normal water level of the lake, but spring snowmelt is indeed a problem that needs to be considered."

"The idea of an underground drainage trench is fine. Just list it separately in the budget; it won't affect the overall plan."

"That's good. Shall we go to the conference room to verify it?" Victoria closed the iPad.

"Sure."

Jessica picked up her folder, and the two women walked out one after the other.

The long table in the conference room was covered with material samples and construction drawings. Victoria placed the iPad on the table and sat directly to Mu Xin's right.

"If we use teak for the transition wall in the Spa Center…" She picked up the teak sample from the table and handed it to Mu Xin. As she handed it over, her fingers lingered on Mu Xin's fingertips for a moment longer than necessary.

"Compared to the carbonized oak you mentioned earlier, this color is about one shade darker. Which one do you think is more suitable?"

Mu Xin took the sample and flipped it over. "The boardwalk uses the same batch—"

"I think so too." Victoria interrupted him—the kind of interruption where she had already guessed what he was going to say before he finished, so she stood on his side in advance.

At the same time, she shifted her chair another half-inch toward Mu Xin. By now, there was almost no distance between her shoulder and Mu Xin's upper arm.

Jessica pulled out a chair from the other side of the conference table and sat down. Her seat was directly opposite Victoria and Mu Xin.

She didn't speak, just opened her folder, pulled out an elevation drawing of the Spa Center, and pushed it across the table—just enough to make Victoria stop leaning toward Mu Xin.

"It's the same batch as the Brazilian teak for the boardwalk. I suggest the grain direction be vertical. Vertical wood paneling will visually increase the height of the transition wall, creating a contrast with the horizontal texture of the adjacent stone wall."

"The construction drawings can be revised by tomorrow." Jessica's gaze crossed the table, fixed on Victoria.

Mu Xin leaned back in his chair, watching the two of them. Two beauties with distinct styles—it was truly a feast for the eyes.

"Let me interrupt you both. For specific matters, we need the designers; I only offer suggestions for the house I live in." Mu Xin spoke up to ease the atmosphere.

Victoria nodded, then adjusted the neckline of her sweater. The temperature in the makeshift conference room wasn't high, and she felt a bit cold.

However, Mu Xin suspected she was doing it on purpose; the visual impact of that movement was significant, and it was clear that it was very elastic.

The subsequent conversation was somewhat boring, and soon Jessica and Victoria left the conference room.

...

Victoria and Jessica walked out of the conference room one after the other. "You don't seem to have slept well," Victoria said.

"And so?" Jessica didn't know how to answer, so she could only ask in return.

"I feel that Mu Xin cares about you a lot. That's not the kind of care a boss has for a subordinate," Victoria said directly.

Jessica turned around and looked at Victoria. "He does care about me."

"I know what you want to ask me, and I know what you're suspecting. Your suspicions are correct."

Victoria was stunned; she hadn't expected Jessica to admit it directly. "So I guessed right. That's good. At least I won't waste time guessing back and forth."

She calmed herself down, then continued, "The way you took the initiative to tell me is interesting. Are you trying to make me retreat in the face of difficulties, or are you trying to confirm if I have the guts to continue?"

Jessica didn't answer; she just stood there holding her folder, looking at her.

Victoria chuckled, turned around, and walked toward her car, showing no signs of panic.

But only she knew that the tightening sensation in her stomach didn't disappear until she got into the car.

"But so what?!" Victoria adjusted her expression in the rearview mirror.

She reached out and straightened her sweater neckline again. Jessica had her advantages—they had known each other longer—but she had her own methods.

Jessica had chosen to declare war head-on, so head-on it was. She was never afraid to stand in front of an opponent.

She took out her phone and sent a message to Mu Xin: "I've asked the supplier to deliver the samples for the next batch of the Spa Center directly to the hotel tomorrow morning. If it's convenient for you, come take a look. If not, I'll take a picture of the color card and send it to you. If you really don't have time, I can come find you."

After sending it, she turned off the phone screen and tapped her fingertips lightly on the edge of the phone case twice.

Striking first is great, but coming from behind doesn't necessarily mean failure.