The Devil's Good Girl
Chapter 157: All that build up gone to drain

Chapter 157: All that build up gone to drain

Standing in front of a crowd and knowing she had nothing to offer but a pretty smile was not Fil’s forte. The crowd often overwhelmed her, or rather, the spotlight. Although she had been in the spotlight since her makeover, this was a different setting.

In the past, whenever she had to present a project in front of her big bosses, she distracted herself with technical knowledge so they wouldn’t have to judge her appearance. But in this situation, she couldn’t just talk smart about infrastructure and it was a situation she couldn’t simply shrug off.

As soon as Fil got to the stage, she approached the host discreetly.

"Here’s your mic, Miss Lovin," the host smiled politely as he handed her another mic. "I’m sorry. I got the request late. I didn’t notice it."

Fil smiled meekly. "It’s not my request."

"Huh? But —"

"Doesn’t matter anymore." Fil sighed briefly. "Thing is, I think my gift is... in the gift section."

The host blinked. "What do you mean, Miss Lovin? Isn’t that your gift?" he pointed at the backstage, making Fil look back.

Deep lines appeared between her brows, catching a man holding a handful-size box. The box in his hand wasn’t what surprised her, but the man who would hand the gift over. It was more of the man’s appearance and a worn-out pair of shirt and cargo pants that threw her off. It was as if he had just finished fixing a car’s engine and got lost in this party.

’Really, huh?’ Fil let out a deep exhale, thinking this was also Valerie and Rosalind’s plan. ’Moments like this make me wonder if they truly love Vincent. After all, Vincent will be the one who will have to deal with my growing anger issues.’

There goes her stepping stone for her career growth.

"Fine," Fil huffed and forced a smile, taking the mic from the host.

"The floor is yours," the host naively cheered her on, wishing her luck without knowing being on this stage was the least she wanted to do.

Facing the crowd once more, Fil smiled gracefully. Little did she know, just standing there and smiling, many young masters and bachelors immediately whispered to their assistants to find out more about her. Good thing Fil didn’t know that. Otherwise, she would only feel like being auctioned off.

*

*

"Gorgeous," someone at the table commented in deep interest. "And she had no ring. Find out if she’s available in the market."

Marcus’s face turned grim as he glanced at the man who made such a comment. As soon as his eyes fell on the person, he immediately recognized the young CEO of a fast-growing software company. He hissed and clicked his tongue, only to arch a brow when Michael spoke.

"I’m sorry, but she’s taken," Michael remarked to the young CEO, making the latter furrow his brows. "Once she gets down that stage, she’ll be in my bed."

The CEO let out a short laugh but didn’t indulge with the man. Michael, on the other hand, shrugged nonchalantly. When he noticed Marcus’s gaze, he cocked his head to the side.

"What?" asked Michael. "I can’t dream now? When 98% of men here right now want to take her to bed later?"

He then playfully squinted his eyes. "Oh ho. Don’t tell me you’re one of the 98 percent. That’s not nice."

"Hah." Marcus just let out a short, ridiculing laugh. "I’m not, but even if I am, I’ll be the first in the line."

"Wow. The confidence!" Michael clapped slowly. "The game is on, then."

"Vincent will kill you."

"Heh. I hope he got a garden big enough to bury all the men in here."

Marcus shook his head, telling himself it was no use in indulging with this guy. Michael would just say all the stupid things to annoy people. He couldn’t let that happen.

After all...

Marcus raised his glass, but before taking a sip, he glanced at his cufflink. A subtle smile appeared on his face, ignoring the other men’s interest in his woman.

*

*

While all of this was happening, Fil mustered her courage before she raised the microphone in front of her mouth. She slowly shifted her eyes to the chairman, smiling affectionately and appreciatively.

"All the speakers tonight already told you how great of a leader Chairman Hale was. How confident of a businessman he was, a great boss, and also a terrifying rival," she started, just following everything the previous speakers said in their speeches. "He was also a responsible father and an amazing grandfather." — was what Vincent described him.

"All of them were true and I’m sure all of us here could testify to that," she added. "I don’t know what more compliment I could add since everyone had said it all. But if I’m going to share something with everyone, that is a story 20 years ago."

Fil pursed her lips. "I think I just saw someone yawn now," she blurted out, but surprisingly, the crowd burst out in laughter. "Please bear with me."

"Twenty years ago, I was just a little girl who would tag along with her grandfather to the biggest mansion in the town. I liked tagging along because aside from the mansion, the man who lived in it let me have sweets. And the only ally my parents thought they had — my grandfather — turns a blind eye to it," Fil started with her storytelling, taking a deep breath as she tried to calm her heart. "One day, while I was eating the ice cream the chairman bought for me from his business trip abroad, I couldn’t help but admire the mansion."

"So, I asked him how people build houses," she continued as her smile softened, thinking of that memory in the past. "I am certain he explained it to me the best he could, but with my still-developing mind, I didn’t understand a thing."

The crowd laughed again.

"But what I understood back then was that, if I want to do something, I can." Her smile stretched. "Be it becoming a unicorn or building houses. Of course, I chose the latter because, apparently, being a unicorn takes more than just graduating from university."

Seeing the crowd’s reaction and their interest in her speech, Fil felt a lot more at ease. "All I’m saying is, for me, the chairman is more than just a man who is a great businessman and a respectable boss or associate. He was an inspiration, a very good friend who would be there til the end, and simply just a good man. The world has always been a little bit better with him in it."

The chairman’s eyes softened, teary-eyed. He was much more moved by her words than his own grandson. Madam Sinclair, on the other hand, smiled as she discreetly handed the old man some tissue.

"So, to show my appreciation and gratitude, I —" Fil bit her tongue, remembering that her crisis wasn’t over. It was far from over. "I prepared a simple gift."

That was the homeless-looking man’s cue to enter the stage. As soon as the crowd saw the man, confusion washed over their faces.

’All that build-up gone to drain,’ she thought, gazing at Valerie and Rosalind’s table, to see their annoying triumphant smirk. ’Once I get down from this stage, those two will be next.’

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