Chapter 3 Embarrassing Moment

944 Words
Midway down the staircase, the woman let go of Thomas' arm and confidently stepped forward. "I'm grateful for your attendance," she declared, her voice crisp and resonant, igniting a wave of applause from the gathered crowd. "As the founder of Glimmer Gems, it's an honor to host such an esteemed group. I hope you enjoy the evening." Yet Elijah's fiery gaze dimmed, for that wasn't Charlotte's voice. Meanwhile, the guests began to murmur. "I've never seen a woman so close to Thomas! This is just... incredible!" "Look at her. Everything she's wearing is high-end and limited edition. She must be quite significant." Hearing those comments, Elijah felt a twinge of irritation and unconsciously adjusted his bow tie. Meanwhile, Thomas took two glasses of champagne from a waiter and offered one to the woman. "You've never been keen on these events. What changed this time?" he asked. She gracefully accepted the glass and took a sip, answering, "This is my first official appearance as the founder of Glimmer Gems. It's crucial for the expansion into the domestic market." Thomas raised his glass, eyeing her appreciatively. "Years ago, you gave up everything for love. Look at you now. So accomplished. You've truly reinvented yourself. I'm really happy for you." She met his gaze, her tone firm. "I should've been this way all along. I wasted a few years on someone unworthy. Anyway, I'm back on the right track now." Thomas clinked his glass against hers and scanned the crowd. "Did you see? He's here." "Who?" she asked, following his gaze and letting out a light scoff. "Oh, him." "That's even better," she said with a smile, taking another sip of her wine, her lips stained a deeper red. "Perfect to settle everything at once." As they stepped down the stairs, curious guests quickly surrounded them. "May I have your name?" With an easy smile, she replied, "Sure, you can me Charlie." "So you're the founder of Glimmer Gems? Quite impressive for someone so young!" "I'm Oliver Smith from Terra Properties. I'd love to discuss a potential partnership with you about a store." "And I'm Henry White from Opulent Elegance. We'd be thrilled to have you design for our next season's highlight." "Hi, I'm..." "Ma'am." A crisp voice cut through the chatter, making her pause. Elijah, ever the gentleman, extended his hand. "Elijah Garcia. I hope you'll join me for a conversation upstairs." The crowd fell into a sudden hush, their earlier optimism of engaging with the illustrious founder of Glimmer Gems fading. Elijah, who had orchestrated the remarkable revival of the once stagnant Garcia Group, propelling it into New York's elite circle, had left everyone in awe. Nobody wanted to compete with him. Amidst the crowd, Charlie chuckled, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "Mr. Garcia, I'm always open to discussing cooperation, but you'll need to get in line." An awkward silence hung heavy in the air. Yet Daniel cracked up. "No way, Elijah! Did you just get turned down?" Elijah stiffly retracted his hand, an aura of a brewing storm around him, and made his way to the end of the line. Daniel's laughter rang out unabashedly. "Incredible! To see Elijah put in his place?! Gosh, that's just too good!" As the crowd around Charlie thinned out, Elijah, who had been lounging on a sofa, finally spotted an opportunity. She approached him, her red dress flowing seductively, the high slit revealing glimpses of her toned legs. Under the dim, ambiguous lighting, she resembled a captivating red rose, each step drawing Elijah deeper into her web, tightening his chest with an inexplicable tension. As she drew near, the distinct, woody scent of Elijah's cologne wafted through the air. "What can I do for you?" she inquired. "Let's start with my question," Elijah responded, locking gazes with her. "What's the connection between Thomas Robinson and Glimmer Gems?" If indeed the Robinson family was backing Glimmer Gems, his plans might be redundant. Charlie emitted a soft chuckle. "I've heard tales of your business acumen and straight-to-the-point attitude. It's quite something to see it in action. So direct and to the point... You certainly caught me off guard." Her tone subtly mocked his bluntness. Elijah pressed on, "If you're not affiliated with the Robinson family, might you be interested in partnering with me?" Her eyes narrowed slightly, and a faint smile played on her lips as she replied, "Given that Garcia Group is at a financial crossroads, this seems more like a plea for assistance rather than a genuine partnership proposal. Don't you think so? And as far as I'm aware, things aren't exactly in order with your family, are they?" Her words were tinged with irony. "If you're serious about partnering, you should display a bit more humility, Thus far, I've seen none of that," she stated, her smile sweet but her words cutting. Elijah pursed his lips, surprised by her astuteness. He fixed her with a serious look. "Those are merely rumors, without any solid proof. I believe someone as perceptive and accomplished as you can surely discern fact from fiction." Charlie raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by the flattery. "Look, Mr. Garcia. I'm not going to stick my nose into your family affairs. But may I ask, has there been multiple complaints on social media about Williams Jewellery taking advantage of lax oversight by Garcia Group to sell substandard jewels in your malls? Surely, this is not just a baseless rumor, is it?" The air grew tense. Faced with her pointed inquiry, Elijah fell silent. He stood there, trapped between staying and leaving, his frustration evident. Was she truly uninterested in a partnership, or just aiming to embarrass him?
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