Chapter 83

Mia's words had just left her mouth when Megan's smile completely froze.

She had clearly told Tristan the other day-LiMo was a woman.

She suddenly felt the grip on her waist tighten. That hand,warm and firm, sent a subtle warning.

Tristan's sharp eyes flickered briefly, then went still.His skin, usually pale and clear, now looked as cold as frost, distant and intense.

He leaned close to Megan's ear and murmured, "So,turns out Mr. LiMo is a 'he', huh?"

Her lashes fluttered as she cast a sidelong glance at Mia. "Babe, don't listen to her nonsense. She's just messing with you." But Mia, fully committed now, chuckled, "He said you've got real potential. He's betting you'll win tonight!"

Megan:[Mia,you're dead meat.]

Tristan's thumb slowly slid along her waistline, his voice low enough for only her to hear, "We'll settle this properly tonight, sweetheart."

He then let go of her, grabbed Mia's luggage,and loaded it into the trunk, driving them both to the hotel he'd arranged.

On the way, Mia kept ridiculously quiet. She knew she'd overdone it and was terrified Megan would fire her if she pushed any further.

Since models were coming soon for fittings, Tristan just dropped them at their room and left.

Mia grinned sheepishly, "LiMo, I think I really messed it up."

Megan gave her a cold side-eye. "Wow, you actually realized that?" Just then, Nova Tech poked its head out of Megan's bag. "You little troublemaker! You stressed out Boss and Goddess! I'm gonna tattoo your lips!"

Mia, seeing the palm-sized Nova, didn't sense any danger-only thought it was adorable. "Aww, it's so cute! And it even trashes people!"

Megan raised a brow. "Um, did you not catch the part where it said it would tattoo your lips?"

"This thing can actually do that?"

Seeing Mia still clueless, Megan decided to clarify,"Last time it did that, the guy literally looked like a clown afterwards."

Mia's smile dropped. She gulped, finally catching on that this mechanical pup was not just a toy.

"You... you're not serious, are you?"

Megan leaned back on the black leather sofa,crossed her arms and legs like she was front row at a good show. "Nova's fully autonomous and has a high threat level.Most importantly? It never jokes around."

She grabbed an orange from the fruit tray and placed it on the coffee table. "Nova, give the orange a nice lip tattoo."

"Yes, Goddess!" Nova chirped sweetly, jumped over to the orange, and extended a needle glistening with red liquid from its mouth.

A hiss sounded-and bam, a clown smile appeared right on the orange.

Mia went pale. She crouched beside Megan's legs."Lila,I was wrong,okay?!"

Megan lifted her chin with a finger. "Mia, thanks to your little 'joke,' I'll be paying for it tonight."

"Hey, isn't that what sleep is for-solving problems?"

Megan's expression darkened immediately.

Nova added cheerfully, "They don't sleep, they play the spanking game!" Megan looked like she was about to explode. This mutt was absolutely selling her out.

Mia, meanwhile, was gawking. She plopped down next to Megan. "Wait a sec-you two got a marriage license already, and still nothing real happened?Don't tell me... he's not up to it? Seriously? That guy's got the looks and bod, pretty sure he could break a bed."

Megan slapped her hand off and shot her a glare."He's just being respectful. He's waiting for the wedding night."Mia Ford's lips twitched as she gave Megan a once-over. "With curves like yours and that innocent little face, what guy wouldn't fall for you?Unless.something's wrong with him?"

"Mia, you picking how you wanna go out?Horizontally or vertically?"

Mia darted a nervous glance at Nova Tech, instantly covering her mouth.

Nova Tech looked ready to pounce, just waiting on Megan's signal. With muffled panic, Mia mumbled behind her hand,"Lila Moore, I messed up."

Nova Tech retracted its needle and plopped down on the coffee table, tilting its head. "Hey hey, pretty girl,you're still using the name Lila Moore?"

It started auto-scanning then blurted out, "Lila Moore-founder and head designer of the luxury brand LX. Gender unknown. Estimated net worth:two billion USD."

Crap!

Totally forgot the dumb dog was there!

This robot never knew when to keep quiet.

Megan cut in quickly, "Nova Tech, remind me again what happens to a disloyal bot?"

Nova Tech froze mid-sentence, its four legs starting to shake. "D-d-dismantled. please don't dismantle me! Nova Tech can keep secrets!"

Megan leaned forward and lightly tapped its head "Good."

Right then, someone knocked on the suite door.

After confirming who it was, Mia opened it to reveal three blonde, blue-eyed models.

She greeted them with a hug-Zoe Leopold, Rebecca Ford,and Jane Hines-top international models who exclusively worked with Lila Moore.

Since they didn't know Megan was Lila Moore, they walked in all high and mighty, completely ignoring her sitting onthe couch.

Mia glanced at Megan, who just gave a subtle shake of her head.

Zoe smoothed her golden hair and said with a smirk,"If it weren't because of Lila Moore, no way would have ditched Fashion Week for some small-time event like this."

Rebecca and Jane nodded in agreement.

Megan didn't get offended. She stood up and greeted them in flawless French. "Thanks for making the trip. Tonight's competition dresses are for you."

The three were taken aback by the confident tone from someone so petite. They clearly weren't expecting much from a no-name designer.

Knowing they were tough to impress, Megan gave Mia a look. Mia opened the suitcase and laid six dresses and some necklaces out on the bed.

The models were stunned into silence.

Zoe walked over and picked up a soft lilac gauze gown. "This is stunning. Other than Lila Moore, I can't think of anyone else who could design something this ethereal."

Rebecca grabbed two dresses. "Feels like her style for sure!"

Jane squinted at Megan, scanning her from head to toe."Wait,you didn't copy Lila Moore, did you?"

Megan shrugged. "Mia's Lila Moore's personal seamstress. You think she'd let plagiarism slide?" Instantly, the three models circled around Megan,showering her with compliments, saying her designs were on par with Lila Moore's, predicting she'd make it to the top of the industry soon.

Once they changed into the gowns, they were surprised to find each one fit perfectly-no tailoring needed.

A bit later, Cameron arrived with a stack of takeaway boxes from Zen Grove Table-all of Megan's favorite dishes.

Jane suddenly blurted out, "Wait, you're the one married to Tristan?"

Megan gave a polite nod. "That's me."

Zoe snapped her fingers. "So that's it! Lila Moore must've given you the designs as a favor to Tristan!"

Rebecca acted like some mystery had just been cracked. "Oh, I get it now-Tristan probably bought the whole design portfolio for a fortune. And even hired Lila Moore's personal seamstress for you!"

Megan:"."

Mia:"."