Orion coughed deliberately, shooting a mischievous glance at her, "I wanted to tell you about him since I saw him this afternoon. But there you were, mingling in the crowd, looking all happy. So, I thought, 'Why spoil the fun?'"
Whitney could only glare in response. It was pure retaliation.
If she had a knife in her hand, she would have gladly made an art piece out of this infuriating man!
Always more trouble than he's worth.
She was speechless.
Just her luck.
Frozen in place, she feared that Ludwik might confront her demanding the child.
Yet, the man, despite his ominous gaze fixed on her and Orion, seemed to lack any other aggressive behavior.
Instead, it was Elaine's glare that seemed to strip her of her dignity.
What was their problem?
Unaware of the storm of jealousy brewing in Ludwik's heart, Whitney caught Elaine's increasingly dark scowl and stuck her tongue out at Ludwik, a mix of defiance and disdain.
Little did she know, this fleeting girlish gesture caught Ludwik's eye, stirring something within him, his gaze darkening.
In a moment, Whitney was off, her dress flowing behind her as she entered the throng of men.
Ludwik's expression turned sour instantly.
"Mr. Grant, good evening. Regarding the Gemstone Exhibit Project, our Imperial Gem Corporation is looking to partner with some top-notch suppliers. Your company comes highly recommended. Might there be an interest in collaborating?" Whitney offered her business card, trying to stay professional while hastily texting the nanny to keep a close eye on Sammy.
Adapting on the fly was her only option now.
However, the initially receptive executives suddenly turned cold after Felix approached with a few words.
Felix, apologetically, whispered, "Gentlemen, Mr. Lippert would like a word with the heads of the raw stone companies."
"Mr. Lippert wants to speak with us?" The executives were visibly flattered.
This was an opportunity of a lifetime. The Gemstone Exhibit Project was rumored to be under the Skyfaith Group's purview.
It seemed that even if Imperial Gem Corporation got the project, Mr. Lippert still held the reins.
The executives quickly excused themselves, flocking to Ludwik and leaving Whitney out in the cold.
"Jerk," she muttered under her breath, glaring daggers at Ludwik, who returned her look with an icy gaze.
Clearly, he was challenging her to approach him, to seek his approval like a beggar.
Not in a million years.
Whitney clenched her fists, refusing to bow down. She grabbed a glass of wine and mingled in the crowd, confident she could find business opportunities elsewhere.
Suddenly, a commotion from the crowd caught her attention.
A glass shattered on the floor.
Turning, she caught a glimpse of Tiana's pale face as she was being pushed around.
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