Chapter 108
Charles scoffed. “And you think she wrote that email? Please. It was Leo. He’s just using her name to make her seem important.”
He gestured toward the center of the banquet hall, where Leo and Nora were now the focus of attention.
Leo had just openly praised Nora, emphasizing her contributions to STARLINE.
People smiled politely, offering congratulations, but underneath, there was skepticism.
They saw her as Leo’s favorite, nothing more.
“See?” Charles said with a shrug. “Leo’s just propping her up. He’s completely mesmerized by her. And look–things are about to get interesting.”
At that moment, Clark stepped forward.
He approached Leo and Nora, greeting Leo warmly with an easy smile. His expression was far less welcoming when his gaze flickered to Nora.
Leo’s face darkened slightly as he saw Clark, his usual composure faltering just enough to be noticeable.
Clark, of course, noticed.
He was already irritated, convinced that Nora had been whispering in Leo’s ear about what happened at STARLINE. He was certain she had poisoned Leo’s opinion of him.
This daughter of his is just too small–minded.
With an exaggerated smile, Clark turned back to Leo.
“I made a trip to STARLINE Studios two days ago,” he said smoothly. “I wonder if you know anything
about it?”
Leo’s words hung in the air, his tone neutral but carrying an unmistakable finality. “She spoke to me. She declined,” he said, his expression unreadable. His arms were crossed, his stance firm, as if daring Clark to
argue.
Clark didn’t immediately respond. His mind worked quickly, processing the rejection.
Or, perhaps, he had underestimated how much influence She had over Leo’s decisions.
He had banked on her professionalism overriding any personal grudges, yet she had declined like that,
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Chapter 108
without hesitation.
And now Leo, standing firm beside her, made it clear that there would be no easy way to change her
mind.
Still, Clark wasn’t ready to give up. He suppressed his irritation and forced himself to remain composed
“I’ll keep trying,” he said with a strained smile. “Perhaps another visit to STARLINE Studios will be in order. A new proposal, a different angle. Maybe I’ll find a time when Nora isn’t around.” He let the last part slip deliberately, testing Leo’s reaction.
As expected, Leo’s expression darkened. His sharp gaze locked onto Clark, and for a moment, it seemed like he might snap back with a biting remark.
But before he could, a new voice cut through the tension.
Cole approached them casually, as if oblivious to the strained atmosphere. “Miss Nora sent me an email last time,” he said smoothly. “It was insightful, really helped me rethink a few things. I’ve prepared a new proposal myself. I was wondering if Miss Nora and Mr. Leo would be available for dinner on Monday?”
Leo, who had always regarded Cole with indifference at best, paused. He knew Cole had once been aligned with Arnold, treating Nora coldly in the past.
Yet now, here he was, openly acknowledging her capabilities.
It was a small shift, but significant enough to soften Leo’s guarded stance.
“That depends,” he said, his tone less hostile than before. “If it’s for a serious discussion about the contract,
I can arrange something.”
Clark, standing beside them, visibly stiffened. He had been completely sidelined from the conversation.
His irritation grew, but before he could interject, Cole turned his attention toward Nora, his expression
unreadable.
“With your schedule, Miss Nora, I’d be happy to adjust to your availability.” His words were polite, but there was something in his tone, something deliberate.
Meanwhile, Linda, standing a few feet away, watched with concealed displeasure.
Since Nora’s arrival at the party, she had noticed how the atmosphere shifted. Arnold, Cole, and even other influential figures had diverted their attention.
She had always enjoyed being in the center of things, but now, her glow was split.
Especially Cole.
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Linda reassured herself that he had only approached Nora for business reasons–after all, Cole had always been strategic, careful with his alliances,
Yet something whout the ease of his interaction with Nora unsettled her.
just then, the stage lights brightened, casting a warm golden glow over the grand ballroom.
The chandeliers overhead sparkled like constellations, reflecting the excitement in the air.
A soft hum of anticipation rippled through the crowd as all eyes turned to the stage.
The host of the event, a distinguished man in a tailored suit, stepped forward, his polished shoes clicking against the stage floor.
Holding a microphone in hand, he smiled broadly, “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us tonight! The official dinner begins now, and what better way to start than with music?”
A round of applause filled the hall, mingling with the delicate clinking of glasses and murmured
conversations,
As the orchestra struck its first notes, a wave of elegance swept through the room.
The soft strains of a waltz drifted into the air, rich and intoxicating.
The host turned to his wife, a graceful woman dressed in deep sapphire silk, and took her hand.
The crowd watched as they stepped onto the polished dance floor, their movements effortlessly synchronized.
The first dance was an invitation, and within moments, couples followed, their gowns sweeping in elegant arcs as they joined in.
At one side of the room, a tall and poised socialite, draped in shimmering silver, made her way toward
Cole,
Her presence was commanding, her expression carefully crafted with a practiced smile.
“Mr. Cole,” she said smoothly, tilting her chin just so. “Would you grant me the honor of a dance?”
Cole did not answer immediately. His gaze flickered–almost imperceptibly–toward Nora. It was brief,
but deliberate,
