What a devastating thought. Jules was supposed to contemplate leaving Vivian? Now of all times? She was supposed to think about being done with her? It seemed impossible.

“No, she didn’t.” Vivian lifted her chin.

That noble profile. Jules couldn’t look away.

“Remember that. In this industry, offers and promises are more likely to be broken than not. Especially the informal kind.”

True. It was likely that even if Jules did contact Monique, the editor in chief of Du Jour China would have forgotten she existed. Fashion wasn’t superficial, but the fashion industry sure could be. Jules sighed.

“You seem upset by that,” Vivian said sharply.

“Huh? No.” She shook herself out of it. “It’s not like I’m excited about broken promises or anything, but—”

“So she did promise something?” Vivian’s eyes flashed fire.

“No!” Jules repeated, incredulous now. Vivian was determined to be mad about this? No way was Jules mentioning the business card. “You heard what she said.”

“And she said nothing else after I left?”

Jules glanced at Vivian’s lap. She’d folded her hands together, and her knuckles appeared a touch whitened. “No,” she replied. It wasn’t really a lie. Monique had just advised Jules to remember what she’d already said. That didn’t count as saying something else.

“And on top of false promises,” Vivian continued, as if this conversation had to go on come hell or high water, “in this industry, it’s all too common for junior employees to be…taken advantage of.”

Like Jules didn’t know that. “Junior employees” were worked to the bone for pitiful wages, exploited just to get experience they could put on a résumé. It was a lousy system, and—

Then Jules realized what Vivian meant. The flush in her cheeks wasn’t about assistants making low salaries.

“Um…” She had to tread carefully here. “Is Monique Leung known for, uh, taking advantage of junior employees? I’ve never heard that.”

Surely Jules would have, if it were true. Gossip like that made the rounds. A lesbian fashion editor preying on beautiful young girls? Of course, it was salacious enough that everyone would talk, even if nobody did anything about it. Simon would have given Jules an earful for sure.

“I’ve never heard that either.” Vivian’s voice was clipped. “I would never make an allegation like that about her. I don’t know where you got such an idea.”

Whoa. Time to backpedal. “Sorry,” Jules said quickly. “I didn’t mean to imply anything untoward. Just trying to connect the dots.”