Chapter 43: Uncomfortable
Vienna Hotel was not far from the Crestview Apartments, and soon we arrived at the parking lot. However, just as I carefully reversed into the space, a Maybach suddenly pulled in next to us. Two familiar figures emerged from the car.
It was Fletcher and Davina.
I should have expected this. With tonight’s event, Mr. Lynton, the CEO, would never feel at ease letting Davina attend alone. But seeing it with my own eyes, I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of bitterness in my chest.
I instinctively tightened my grip on the steering wheel.
Winston noticed too and asked, “Should we
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Chapter 43: Uncomfortable
go say hello?”
Since we were at the same event and we were all quite familiar with each other, it would be awkward to ignore them. I nodded, “Sure.”
With my consent, Winston called out to Fletcher.
The man turned at the sound, his eyes landing on me and Winston, his pupils slightly trembling. He was probably a bit surprised.
Davina, on the other hand, was different. Her large, doe–like eyes widened in shock, and she looked at me with a dazed expression. After a moment, her cherry lips parted, and she hesitantly asked, “Charlene… are you here for tonight’s event too?”
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The young girl hid her emotions well,
but there was an undercurrent of subtle disappointment in her tone.
I nodded and replied, “I’m attending with Winston.”
I felt it was important to make this clear to avoid any misunderstandings with Fletcher, in case he thought Kaitlyn and I were being two–faced–one thing in public, another behind the scenes.
Davina looked at Winston, then back at me, and smiled brightly, “Oh, I get it. Charlene, you said you had business tonight- so you’re here as Professor Fleming’s companion, right?”
I couldn’t tell if she was genuinely naive or just hadn’t picked up on the subtle cues. I responded calmly, “Thanks to Mr. Lynton and
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Davina furrowed her brow in confusion and said, “Are you teasing us, Charlene? This fortune is clearly something you earned for yourself. Why are you saying it’s thanks to me and Letch?”
I didn’t want to waste time with this banter. I smiled at Winston and asked, “Didn’t your say a few of our senior classmates would be attending tonight as well?”
Winston immediately understood, glanced at his watch, and said, “By now, they should have arrived.”
He then turned back to Fletcher and Davina, politely saying, “Letch, Ms. Bates, we’ll excuse ourselves now.”
Winston and I left in front of them, and just
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a few steps away, I heard that familiar soft voice behind me, “Letch, have you noticed? Charlene seems really different tonight.”
If Kaitlyn had heard that, she would have surely said, “Of course! I spent six or seven figures on this outfit. How could it not be different?”
After all, Davina’s envious gaze just moments ago had nearly spilled over with admiration.
At the reception, everyone exchanged small talks. Winston introduced me to several of our peers, and I was surprised when some seniors actually seemed to recognize my
name.
“So, you’re the Charlene who single–handedly defeated numerous geniuses and won the National Computer Information Competition,
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That was three or four years ago, but hearing it from their mouths made it feel like it had just happened yesterday.
“Winston, you’ve got a sharp eye. Honestly, did you have your eye on Lena back in school?”
Winston adjusted his glasses. “Everyone, you can joke about me, but Lena’s shy. Can you tone it down a bit?”
The seniors laughed heartily. “Look at you, already defending her.”
One of them steered the conversation back to me. “Lena, I’ve heard from the seniors, Winston’s got a lot of tricks up his sleeve, so watch out for him.”
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encomfortable
+5 Points
Clearly, they had misunderstood the nature of my relationship with Winston.
Myslana’s circle has always been rather straightforward, and if this had been earlier, I might’ve felt compelled to explain things seriously. But after a few harsh lessons from life, I learnt to keep silent. So, at that moment, I simply smiled and said nothing.
There wasn’t much connection to begin with, so why bother explaining myself? The more I said, the more suspicious it looked.
The atmosphere at the reception remained relatively pleasant, but for some reason, as I stood among the group, I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone’s gaze was focused on me, almost deliberately.
But when I tried to locate the source of that gaze, there was no trace of it.
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Chapter 43 Uncomfortable
5 Points
Was it just my imagination?
The vibration from my clutch broke my train of thought. I stepped aside and immediately saw a message from Fletcher. Right side of the hall, come over.
A brief message, true to his style.
I had no idea why Fletcher would want to speak to me at a time like this, so I asked, “Is there something you need?”
Fletcher’s reply came quickly, “Yeah, let’s talk in person.”
To be honest, if Fletcher didn’t have the identity of an investor, I probably wouldn’t bother with him at this moment.
But since he’s the big investor, and he’s made
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+5 Points
his intentions clear, I had no choice but to steel myself and go.
In the corridor, Fletcher stood alone by the French window, his brows slightly furrowed, as if deep in thought over some personal dilemma.
Upon hearing my footsteps, Fletcher turned to face me. His gaze scanned me before he said, “Ms. Grande, didn’t you promise me you wouldn’t attend tonight? What’s this now, going back on your word?”
So, he was here to settle the score.
I remained calm. “Mr. Lynton, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding. I only promised not to compete with Davina for the spot at the banquet.”
Fletcher sneered. “Picking up tricks, huh?
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Playing word games with me? Who gave geom the confidence–Winston, perhaps?”
His tone was rather rude, and thee atmosphere grew awkwardd.
The guests at tonight’s reception were all offol high status, with eyes everywhereel certainly! didn’t want to make a scene with Fletcherme right now.
With a friendly tone, I replied, “Mr. Lyntonrifn you have no further instructions, I’ll excusese myself.”
If I couldn’t confront him directly, I’d at least avoid a confrontation.
“I’m not finished,” Fletcher called after me. His brown eyes settled on my face, and after a brief silence, he spoke again. “Since thes event hasn’t started yet, Ms. Grande, l
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you find an excuse to leave early”
Leave early? I was already at the event, and he so casually suggested I leave? Why should I?
It felt as though something inside me was shattering, the weight of it taking my breath away.
Unexpectedly, I remembered the look of disappointment in Davina’s eyes before I entered. Meeting Fletcher’s gaze, I couldn’t help but ask, “Is it because Davina is upset?”
Fletcher’s expression faltered, and he awkwardly avoided my gaze. After a pause, he muttered, “With you here, she’s bound to feel a little uncomfortable.”
