The Devil's Good Girl
Chapter 155: If only I didn’t know better

Chapter 155: If only I didn’t know better

It took Fil quite some time to understand the meaning of the private hall, aside from the privacy and display of a person’s importance. But when they joined the main hall, she understood why. Everyone would try to approach and strike up a conversation with the chairman. Or to greet him.

The chairman was already old and was easily exhausted. Hence, to save him from that, there was a private hall for him and also for his distinguished guest. After all, many would also find this chance to make a connection with them and not just with the chairman.

So, joining the main hall as soon as the banquet started, didn’t give plenty of time for the other guests to greet the chairman. There were a few, though, who the chairman indulged with on their way to their table. But it was nothing but a quick exchange.

And just like that, the banquet started.

The party started with a classical performance by a renowned orchestra. Followed by it was speeches and toasts for the chairman’s achievements and leadership. Some key individuals, such as a member of the board, a long-time colleague, and executives, shared anecdotes and words of appreciation. Another speech was also prepared by one of the chairman’s most loyal employees for more heartfelt gratitude to the chairman and his contribution to the company.

Everything was going just as planned, without a hitch.

After the long and short speeches, the host efficiently guided the event with gifts and gestures. Since they couldn’t accommodate everyone to present their gifts with a heartfelt message, Vincent prepared a line-up to minimize the time. He only invited some people to present gifts that could reflect the chairman’s interest or commemorate a milestone memory.

’I must admit Vincent might’ve screwed up our relationship, but not this one.’Fil clapped along with the crowd, intuitively sliding her eyes to the corner. As soon as she did, her gaze fell on Vincent on the other table near hers.

’I thought he’d looked more prideful and arrogant since everything is going well,’ she thought, setting her eyes on the stage as the host called the next person to present their gift. ’But I guess he’s bitter that I’m the one sitting at the same table as his grandfather, not him.’

Fil smiled and clapped once more when the guest finished presenting a wonderful gift for a wonderful man. She didn’t know how much that wine cost, but she was certain it could buy a few cars.

"Next up!" the host intervened joyfully, keeping everyone engaged with his side comments and introduction. "I’m sure everyone in here is curious. We’ve already got to know the gifts from the chairman’s close friends, and they were truly wonderful! But there is someone in here, the man who respected, admired, and the man who prepared everything just to make this wonderful night happen."

The host smiled a heartfelt one, scanning the audience until his eyes fell on Vincent. "Come up on the stage, Chief Direction Vincent Hale."

Again, a round of applause erupted in the venue hall.

Looking around, Fil was a little surprised that everyone seemed to be interested in Vincent’s gifting and gesture part. Was it because he was the one who organized the event?

"It’s because he might take charge of the company soon." Suddenly, Madam Sinclair leaned closer to Fil and whispered to her. She offered Fil a short smile as she drew her head back. "Everyone isn’t interested in the gift, but rather, the interaction between the two of them. Well, maybe some are interested in what gift the chief director prepared for his grandfather out of curiosity. After all, it’s hard to top off all the gifts presented so far."

"Oh." Fil rocked her head, mentally heaving a sigh of relief that Jackson offered another option for her in the gifting part. Although the gift he sent hadn’t arrived yet, she didn’t need it now. After all, the other gifts would go to the gift section, including hers.

"You are lucky you’re not in the line-up," Madam Sinclair joked, earning an awkward laugh from Fil. "Most of the people here are hypocrites. One bad gift and they’d judge your entire life."

"I’m also glad," Fil let out another nervous laugh.

"Well, even if you were, the chairman would be the happiest to receive anything from you."

"Huh?"

Madam Sinclair simply smiled elegantly. And then Vincent’s voice echoed through the speakers.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen." Vincent smiled charmingly as soon as he stood on the stage. "Before anything else, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who came to our little celebration and made it even more special."

Vincent continued with his sentiments, earning the favor of the guests by his eloquence. Fil couldn’t blame everyone, though. He was a natural sweet-talker and when he wanted to, he could make himself appear smart and elegant.

’If only I didn’t know better,’ she thought, raising her brows as she felt a person’s gaze on her side.

Fil intuitively turned her head in the direction where she felt the person’s gaze. As soon as she did, she caught Marcus from the other VIP tables, along with some of his friends and a few familiar faces. The corner of his lips curled up the moment their eyes met.

Marcus discreetly raised his wineglass and winked at her, earning a big smile from her.

"And I..." Vincent trailed off, following the direction Fil was smiling at. His calm composure remained, but his jaw clenched the second his eyes landed on the man whom Fil was looking at. His expression slowly darkened, leaving a long pause in the middle of his speech.

"Chief Director Hale?" the host whispered yell, trying to make Vincent continue talking. But alas, Vincent didn’t.

After several more seconds, Fil noticed the silence and confused murmurs from the crowd. When she looked at the stage, Vincent was looking at her with a grim expression.

"I would’ve gifted my grandpa something special, like an engagement or a great-grandson because that’s what he always wanted and nagged me about," Vincent continued, smiling at the crowd and continuing as if he didn’t just make a long pause.

The crowd couldn’t help but laugh at his light joke; even the chairman and his distinguished guests laughed. Almost everyone took it as a joke except Marcus.

"But since I’m still in the process of that, I sadly have to choose another gift," Vincent sighed and then presented a painting he got from one of the masters of arts, which he had prepared since last year. He didn’t act out of the ordinary anymore, but he made sure Fil would know he was looking at her.

’He’s also good at keeping himself calm in public,’Fil thought, raising her brows once more as she felt another gaze from somewhere else. She turned her head out of instinct, only to see Valerie and her mother smirking while looking at her.

’Hmm...’Fil hummed as she peeled her eyes from the mother and daughter. ’I wonder what those two planned to do to ruin the chairman’s birthday?’

Fil accepted the invitation with the thought of Valerie or Rosalind harassing her. But since they didn’t try to humiliate her, or rather, they didn’t get the chance since she had been with the chairman, she wondered what they had planned this time.

’For some reason, I don’t feel so good about this.’

Read lat𝙚st chapters at fre(𝒆)NovelFire.com Only

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.