Chapter 83
Audrey quickly noticed the shift in everyone’s demeanor. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw several socialites in the distance casting pitying glances- not at her, but at Paul. It was as if she’d committed a heinous act that would surely lead to Paul’s bankruptcy.
The piano music in the hall was soothing, yet the people surrounding Audrey felt like they were listening to Paul’s funeral march.
“Heh, Audrey’s new. She didn’t mean to offend…” Paul forced an awkward laugh and tried to bat Audrey’s hand down.
He should have warned her in advance that Yann loathed women who fawned over him, and anyone who approached him with ulterior motives met a
bad end.
Audrey didn’t grasp why a handshake was off–limits–it was just basic etiquette. But since everyone acted like it was forbidden, she’d comply. “I’m sor…”
Before she could finish, Yann lifted his hand and gently clasped four of her fingers in a gentlemanly grip. “Audrey,” he said in a low voice, giving no clue to
his emotions.
The simple gesture made the entire crowd inhale sharply. Even Paul’s eyes widened in shock.
“Hello, Mr. Winifred.” Audrey managed, polite as ever.
If she hadn’t known Yann for years, shared a home with him, and eaten his cooking, she’d thought this was his twin. Same face, yet such a strange gaze.
Yann only squeezed her fingers briefly, the handshake lasting less than two seconds. As he withdrew first, his finger accidentally grazed her finger pad.
A jolt of electricity shot up Audrey’s arm, and she barely maintained her “stranger” facade, resisting the urge to deck him.
Luther and Oscar were equally stunned, exchanging looks with their dates. Their silent stares spoke volumes, “Look at Audrey! How’d she get Mr. Winifred to make an exception?”
They thought, ‘We both brought dates with ample budgets, but this newcomer pulls off elegance and poise, while our dates are plain gaudy.‘
The two dates felt unjustly blamed. They’d heard that the companies who’d tried to cozy up to Yann had lost partnerships. Not knowing how to please
him, they’d focused on not provoking him.
Who could’ve predicted that the notoriously women–averse Yann would shake hands with Paul’s secretary?
Paul quickly composed himself and hastily handed over his business card. Calvin took it.
The side door of the hall opened, and the surrounding guests raised their glasses in congratulations. Malcolm escorted Samson as they arrived, followed by the top lawyers of Samson Legal.
At the back of the crowd, Audrey saw Clayton wearing a forced smile. The guy had actually managed to sneak in, just as she’d anticipated.
The moment Samson stepped out of the car, Clayton hurried forward to greet him warmly. Samson didn’t speak harshly to him, but his demeanor was frosty. After greeting Samson, Clayton turned to Malcolm with an overly friendly smile.
Some lawyers from Samson Legal who knew him couldn’t help rolling their eyes. ‘How dare he show up?‘ they thought. ‘Incredibly shameless.‘ Not only had he come, but he was chatting with Samson and Malcolm as if he were on intimate terms with them.
“Thank you all for coming despite your busy schedules,” Samson said as he walked onto the stage.
Though not yet old, his years as a lawyer, during which he’d faced tough conditions, enormous pressure, and even retaliation from criminals, had left him with many health issues. Still, his voice was strong and confident.
He basically announced that he was going to focus on health, handing the law firm over to his eldest son Malcolm. He’d come to Ironhaven to clean up the local industry and put an end to unethical practices.
Malcolm also spoke a few words, and then the party began.
The event was a buffet, but not many people were eating. Most were there to make connections.
As soon as Samson stepped off the stage, he went to meet Yann. They were surrounded by people and moved to the side, and Audrey secretly sighed
with relief.
“Spooked?” Paul handed her a glass of fruit wine, shaking his head. “I really didn’t expect Mr. Winifred to come. I should’ve filled you in beforehand.”
Audrey took the glass, waiting for him to explain this Yann she found unfamiliar.
“Mr. Winifred is a genius. He did amazingly weft in school from a young age. By the time I was in middle school, he’d already skipped grades to go to college.” Paul tapped his head, his eyes full of envy.
“After taking over the company, he renamed it Darkshell International and got it into the top 100 companies in just a few years.”
+38
Audrey knew all this. The study methods praised by Ivan? Those were the same ones Yann had taught her when he was tutoring her. She wanted to hear something different. “Does Mr. Winifred not shake hands with anyone?”
Paul looked around and whispered to Audrey, “Mr. Winifred’s parents divorced when he was ten, so he’s got a real aversion to women, especially the kind who throw themselves at him.”
Audrey tilted her head at him. “You know Mr. Winifred well?”
“We grew up in the same social circle. The guy was a straight–A genius. My dad used to chase me with a belt, yelling at me to take after him. The more he hit, the more I rebelled.”
Paul took a sip of red wine, his expression turning conflicted.
Same circle, same age, watching the gap widen into an uncrossable divide–pride as a man made it hard to swallow.
Someone came over to talk to Paul. His own business wasn’t big, but his father had influence in Moonridge, so getting on his good side meant tapping into the Gibson family’s connections.
Audrey saw Emilia waving and excused herself to join her. “Ms. Hadley.”
“Audrey, I thought I was hallucinating. You look amazing today.” Emilia’s compliment was heartfelt.
Moving to a less crowded spot, Emilia murmured, “Mr. Patel is here too.”
Audrey nodded to show she knew.
Emilia updated her on the law firm’s situation and sighed, “fused to think Mr. Patel had skill, just a messy love life. Now I’m starting to wonder…”
Clayton’s insistence on claiming her invitation had snapped the last tie Emilia had to the firm.
After chatting a bit more, Emilia eyed Audrey’s dress. “You’re doing okay these days, right?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
Emilia had to admit since Audrey’s divorce, her complexion and spirit had both improved dramatically. She was like a different
“Glad to hear it. If you need anything, just give me a call.” Emilia mimed making a phone call.
Audrey swept her gaze across the room and noticed a woman approaching their direction.
The woman who had attempted to spill red wine on Yann for attention was named Flora Sterling.
person.
She didn’t dare get too near Yann, but her infatuation hadn’t faded–her eyes stayed glued to him. When she saw him shake Audrey’s hand, jealousy
almost made her lose control on the spot.
“Why?!‘ she fumed. She’d even gone out of her way to copy what she thought was his type by drawing a mole at the corner of her eye. ‘Why didn’t Mr. Winifred give me a single glance, yet he shook that woman’s hand?‘
Yann was surrounded by members of Samson Legal, and Flora tried to move closer, hoping to pretend someone bumped her into him. But the men were packed so tightly she couldn’t squeeze through.
Seeing Audrey part from Paul, Flora decided to go teach her a lesson. ‘How dare she covet the man I’ve set my sights on? She’s practically begging for trouble,‘ she thought.
As Audrey talked with Emilia, she kept a side eye on Flora, whose confrontational stare was anything but subtle.
