When James finished dealing with the lipstick marks on his face and returned to the hall, it was a little late. Everyone was waiting for him.
This anniversary celebration was held together by Lily and Emily. The two were considered harmonious in front of everyone, but they were secretly competing.
James was late. Lily and Emily were unhappy and their expressions were not very good.
James didn’t care what Lily and Emily thought. He gave the two a cold glance and took Kara to find food.
Nolan was so busy that he had no time to do other things. He wiped the hot sweat on his forehead and finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw James.
He saw James and Kara enter the lounge. But when he turned around, he did not see anyone, which made him anxious.
“Mr. James, you have to make a speech on the stage. The anniversary celebration can only begin.”
James ignored Nolan. He brought Kara to the dining area and picked two desserts for Kara.
Kara found that everyone was staring at her. She was a little embarrassed and pulled the arm of the man next to her.
“Go do your work. I’ll wait here for you to come back and eat together, okay?”
“No.”
James glanced at Nolan with brown eyes. Nolan was so frightened that his hair stood on end. And Nolan tried to think if he had made a mistake.
“This is the anniversary celebration of the SA Group. Don’t delay this important occasion.”
Kara didn’t know why James’ tone suddenly became worse. But after seeing Nolan’s embarrassed expression, she quickly said the words to ease the atmosphere.
“So what if we delay it? Nolan, what do you think?” James asked with a special meaning.
Nolan felt speechless.
He lowered his head respectfully and didn’t know how to answer.
James was a frightening guy even in a calm mood. If he lost his temper, he would have a faint smile on his handsome face. That would be scarier.
Hearing James’ gloomy question, Nolan guessed that he had said the wrong thing.
The anniversary celebration was such an important event. Kara was the most important person around James. But Kara didn’t stand on the stage. This was disapproval of Kara as James’ wife.
“Mr. James, please take Miss Kara to the stage to make a speech. I will help you take the dessert and find a quiet place for you.”
“Good.”
James nodded and handed the plate in Kara’s hand to Nolan.
But Kara was not willing to go on stage.
She just wanted to keep a low profile below the stage.
James noticed Kara’s resistance and frowned slightly. “Kara, do you want the woman standing beside me to be someone else?”
“No!”
Kara immediately stepped forward and hugged James’ arm tightly.
James smiled. He was very satisfied with Kara’s reaction and led Kara up the stage.
Many of the women in the audience saw James appear and sat up excitedly while hoping to leave a good impression on James.
But when they saw James holding the hand of a woman, their expressions became complicated and they secretly guessed who the woman was.
Zoey, who was sitting below the stage, looked at James leading Kara up the stage. There was a bit of sharpness in her eyes and the kind smile on her face remained unchanged.
The female host was already stalling for time. When she saw James go on stage, her eyes opened in surprise, and she immediately introduced James to everyone.
James stood on the stage with a tall figure and a powerful temperament. No matter where he was, he would be in the eye-catching center position.
James had participated in so many anniversary celebrations. In the past, he always went up on stage to say a few words of encouragement to his employees. But this year, because he brought his wife up on stage, his mood was super good, so he said a few more words.
“First of all, I want to thank all the employees present. You accompanied the SA Group through ups and downs.
“Because of you guys, the SA Group keeps growing and becoming stronger.
“I hope that you can continue to work hard. There are not many companies that can compete with the SA Group. But every year many new enterprises appear. If we don’t work hard, the SA Group will be left behind by others.
“So, we don’t have to compare ourselves with others. We should compare ourselves to the SA Group’s yesterday.
“We all know that the SA Group’s benefits are the most among the companies in NK City and even in the country. Of course, there is also a lot of work.
“Perhaps some of you have no time to solve the problem of being single because of work. I won’t say much. Today, I brought my wife here. I am very happy. I also hope that you can have your own home after work. I will provide an additional benefit.
“There will be a lottery in a moment. The first prize will be awarded the right to use an apartment for thirty years.
“As long as you win the welfare award, you can take it to buy an apartment of the SA Group with an 80% discount.”
After hearing such welfare, everyone was in an uproar, and the applause sounded like thunder.
It was not easy to buy an apartment, especially in the buildings of the SA Group. They were all high-end residential areas. When James said this, he was offering a rare opportunity for the crowd.
And using this method to retain employees was simply good.
All the employees present shouted excitedly.
“Mrs. Hemming. Mrs. Hemming…”
When Kara heard how bold James was, she was amazed. She didn’t expect James to be such a generous boss.
An apartment of the SA Group shouldn’t be cheap.
All of a sudden, Kara heard everyone call her Mrs. Hemming. She widened her eyes in surprise and hid behind James while hoping that she wasn’t the one everyone called.
When the host heard that James had suddenly added a project, he looked at Emily doubtfully. Emily gritted her teeth.
Since the boss had given the order, they could only send staff to arrange the event.
“No wonder you are the boss. You are indeed rich and overbearing. You waste so much money at once,” Lily could not help but mock.
She worked diligently for the SA Group. Although she said that she was a director, the salary she received wasn’t high. It would take a few years for her to buy an entire apartment.
After hearing that everyone was still calling Mrs. Hemming, the host was anxious and wanted to go on stage to let Kara speak.
After all, James offered this rare opportunity for the sake of his wife. The employees were grateful to Kara.
But with James on the stage and protecting Kara, it was not the host’s turn to ask Kara to do anything.
James held Kara’s cold hand and let her take two steps forward. “Kara, everyone wants you to say something. What do you want to say?”
Kara smiled.
She secretly stepped on James’ foot.
She thought that James must have done it on purpose. James knew that she was so nervous that her hands were shaking, but James still made things difficult for her.
The back of James’ foot hurt a little from being stepped on by Kara. James’ expression didn’t change. His long arm was on Kara’s thin waist.
And James warned Kara in a low voice in her ear. “Perform well. If you mess up, I will kiss you.”
Kara didn’t expect to hear that.
She coughed lightly while covering her lips with her small hand.
After confirming that James was just joking, Kara took the microphone. She looked at the dark mass below the stage, and her mind was blank.
James did not mention to her about greeting the crowd in advance. She was embarrassed to suddenly stand here.
It would be fine if she embarrassed herself, but she represented James. If she didn’t perform well, it would be embarrassing for James.
She took a few deep breaths, clenched the microphone, and forced herself to be calm. Her delicate little face revealed a natural and graceful smile.