At that moment, Dave was busy with an overseas project in his office. He had a fancy, gold-engraved LMH invitation card on his desk, much more elegant than the one Madison had given to Bianca.
Seeing Bianca’s call, Dave smiled and answered quickly.
“Already missing me?”
“Absolutely! I just can’t help it!” Bianca responded playfully.
In a soft tone, Dave teased, “Send me your location. I’ll pick you up after work.”
Surprised by his sudden seriousness, Bianca replied, “I don’t think it’s a good idea. It’s late, and I’m at my mother’s place. It wouldn’t be appropriate…”
Dave pouted, “Meeting your mother is bound to happen eventually. Am I not good enough?”
Bianca laughed at the banter. “You’re incredibly charming. If you’re not good enough, then no man is.”
Dave raised an eyebrow and said, “You flatter me. So, what’s going on?”
Dave, always perceptive, picked up on Bianca’s hint that she wanted to discuss something.
“The LMH Group has sent an invitation for their banquet this weekend. Would you be my date?” Bianca asked.
Dave looked at the invitation on his desk. Though the LMH Group wasn’t a big deal to him personally, it was a prestigious global conglomerate known for hosting elite events. He wondered why they would suddenly invite Bianca.
With a smile and a hint of curiosity, he responded, “Of course. I’ll see you this weekend.”
After ending the call, Dave called Zane.
“Compile a list of the attendees for the upcoming LMH banquet,” Dave instructed.
Zane was surprised. “Boss, will you be going this time?”
Every year, the CEO of Phoenix Alliance Group received an invitation from LMH Group, but Dave had never attended. It was unusual for him to show interest now.
Dave gave Zane a cold look, signaling him to stop questioning.
Understanding immediately, Zane replied, “Of course, boss!”
****
When Peter got home, he excitedly told Stacey about the invitation from the LMH Group.
“Peter, if a big company like LMH is inviting us to their event, does this mean our company is finally bouncing back?”
Hearing that LMH Group was such a prestigious company, Stacey got excited.
“We’re not just recovering; we might be on the brink of a major breakthrough!” Peter said, his face beaming with pride. He was eager to meet the top people at LMH Group at the banquet and hoped to get an investment.
“But why would such a big company suddenly be interested in us?” Stacey asked, a hint of worry in her voice.
Peter, still caught up in his excitement, confidently told Stacey, holding her shoulders, “LMH’s venture capital firm looks for companies like ours-ones that might be short on funds but full of potential. They must have seen something special in us, which is why they invited us!”
Stacey felt a huge sense of relief after hearing Peter’s words.
She soon shared in his excitement about the future.
Later that evening, Ashley came home after being involved in many recent commercial shoots. She had been getting home nearly at dawn every day.
Excited beyond words, Stacey couldn’t sleep and rushed to Ashley’s room to share the news about the banquet.
“Did the LMH Group really invite us?” Ashley asked, amazed. Since starting in the entertainment industry, she was familiar with LMH, and the invitation thrilled her.
“Ashley, make sure you dress elegantly. It’s a high-end event. You might catch the eye of some wealthy young man,” Stacey advised, still hoping to marry Ashley into a rich family.
For Stacey, this wasn’t just a dream; it was a concrete goal.
Her push for Ashley to enter show business was part of her plan to get her married to a wealthy man.
“Don’t worry, Mom. I have a professional styling team from Orion Entertainment. I’ll definitely make an impression,” Ashley said confidently.
After Stacey left the room, Ashley sat on the edge of her bed with a smug grin and pulled out her phone to make a call.
The lively ringtone woke Bianca up.
Who could it be at this hour? Still half-asleep, Bianca fumbled for her phone, answered it, and mumbled, “Hello.”
“It’s me, Bianca.”
Annoyed by the late call, Bianca frowned and said, “Why are you calling in the middle of the night? What’s going on?”
“I just wanted to show off a bit. Mom and Dad are going to a fancy banquet hosted by LMH. Ever heard of LMH Group? Oh, never mind. You probably wouldn’t know. Anyway, they’re a huge international company, way beyond your level. Too bad you’re not close with us. Dad might have even thought of taking you along.”
Ashley called mainly to boast about her family’s success and to feel superior to Bianca.
Bianca was surprised, not by the invitation itself, but by the fact that Peter and Stacey were included. She figured this must have been her mother’s doing, since it didn’t seem likely they would have received an invitation from LMH Group.
A drama was about to unfold.
Bianca couldn’t help but smirk. “Ashley, why are you telling me all this? Aren’t you worried I might show up at the LMH banquet too and steal the spotlight, just like I did at the Reed event?”
Ashley was momentarily stunned, then laughed as if she’d heard a hilarious joke. “Bianca, seriously? Do you really think LMH would invite someone like you?”
Only a few people knew that the Cherish brand was part of the LMH Group.
Ashley just thought Bianca was daydreaming.
But Bianca replied casually, “If someone like you can get invited, maybe I could too.”
“Huh!” Ashley scoffed, “Bianca, if you actually show up at the LMH banquet, I’ll write my name backward.”
Bianca thought Ashley’s comment was amusing and barely contained her laughter. “Remember what you said. It’s late now, so I’m going to bed. Goodbye.”
After ending the call, Bianca raised her eyebrows in amusement, thinking about the excitement of the upcoming banquet.
The LMH banquet was held at the International Banquet Center on the weekend, a venue beautifully lit and designed.
By seven in the evening, the distinguished guests began arriving.
Peter, Stacey, and Ashley were among the first to show up. Peter had spent a lot on a custom-made suit for the event, and Stacey and Ashley were dressed elegantly as well.
Stacey wore a dark red dress that fit her perfectly. Her neatly styled hair and dark blue earrings sparkled, adding to her elegant look.
Ashley chose a champagne-colored gown. The flowing hem of her dress added to her allure under the lights.
Before the banquet officially started, Peter was already mingling with high society. Stacey and Ashley accompanied him gracefully, smiling and making toasts.