Seeing her daughter seamlessly blend in with high society, Madison felt a sense of satisfaction. A small smile appeared on her lips as she looked forward to Bianca’s boyfriend arriving, confident he would feel out of place among these elites.
Then, one particular person caught Madison’s eye.
He wore a finely tailored suit, his collar pin sparkling with diamonds, exuding authority and sophistication.
“Mr. Wilson,” Madison quickly moved forward to greet him.
This was Justin Wilson, the vice president of Phoenix Alliance Group. His arrival commanded attention, and everyone stood to show their respect.
Bianca straightened in her seat and focused on Justin, relieved to see him there as well.
“Ms. Lopez, it’s an honor to meet you,” Justin said with a smile, shaking Madison’s hand. “The CEO sends his best wishes to you.”
Madison responded to him with a warm smile, “Mr. Wilson, it’s a pleasure to have you here. If we had known you were coming, we would have had someone at the door to welcome you.”
LMH Group invited members of Phoenix Alliance Group every year, but it was usually just a director who attended. Justin’s appearance was a pleasant surprise for everyone.
Bianca overheard the other guests talking and realized Justin wasn’t just the general manager of Phoenix Entertainment but also the vice president of the larger Phoenix Alliance Group.
His frequent absences from the company now made sense.
“Bianca,” Justin saw her among the crowd and approached with a friendly smile. “You’re here as well.”
Justin walked up to Bianca and greeted her, which made her feel pleased. Bianca said, “Mr. Wilson, it’s been a while.”
“I’ve been watching your progress,” Justin said. “Your company is doing great. It’s important to recognize the successes of young people.”
Bianca was surprised and touched by Justin’s praise. Since he used to be her boss, his opinion was very important to her.
She had always admired him.
Madison knew that Bianca had worked at Phoenix Entertainment before, but she didn’t know about her connection with Justin. This new information made Madison even more proud of her daughter.
Madison seated Justin in the front row, and Bianca sat right behind him.
Justin turned around and noticed the empty seat next to Bianca, smiling slightly.
“Bianc, the banquet is about to start. Where’s your boyfriend? He still hasn’t arrived?” Madison asked, clearly frustrated as she checked her watch.
Feeling anxious, Bianca replied, “He should be here any minute.”
Just as Bianca finished speaking, her phone buzzed.
Bianca picked up her phone and saw it was a call from Dave. She quickly answered.
“I’m here. Where are you?” he asked.
His calm and gentle voice reassured her. Bianca stood up and looked toward the entrance.
She soon saw a tall, impressive figure.
“Over here,” she called out, waving. The people around her turned to look with curiosity.
Dave glanced briefly and saw the young woman in the front rows energetically waving her arm.
He adjusted his expensive suit and walked straight toward her.
Guests watched in amazement as he approached.
As he got closer, Bianca’s heart started to race.
Dave was dressed in a sharp black suit with a navy blue shirt underneath. His tie was neatly knotted, and a blue diamond lapel pin shimmered. His hair was neatly styled back, highlighting his attractive features.
Dave’s dark, striking eyes were framed by golden-rimmed glasses, and he seemed calm and modest.
The crowd whispered among themselves, wondering, “Who is this man?”
A quiet spread through the room as they sensed that he was someone special, though they didn’t know him.
Standing next to Bianca, his warm smile captivated everyone around them.
“You’ve been waiting for me, haven’t you?” he said softly, with genuine affection for the woman beside him.
Bianca shook her head and was about to show Dave to his seat when Madison appeared right in front of them.
“Bianc, who is this?” Madison’s usual authoritative tone softened as she looked at Dave, speaking gently and with respect.
Bianca blushed, looked at her mother, and said, “He’s my boyfriend.”
Madison was taken aback. She looked up at the impressive man before her.
‘So, this was Bianca’s boyfriend? That opportunist!’
Madison couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She had met many people, and the way this man carried himself was impressive and seemed genuine.
Madison frowned, thinking that she might be misled without knowing more about his background. With Bianca so infatuated, she felt even more wary.
She silently concluded he must be very good at putting on an act.
With a look of subtle challenge, Madison was determined to find out his true nature.
Noticing that most of the guests were seated, Madison turned to Bianca. Speaking to Bianca but clearly addressing Dave, she said, “Bianc, since everyone’s here, let me introduce you.”
Madison went on to introduce Bianca to the distinguished guests one by one.
As the introductions continued, it was clear that Bianca was growing more nervous. These guests included top leaders and CEOs from major companies and organizations.
Their high status was impressive and intimidating.
Throughout the process, Madison occasionally glanced at Dave, hoping to see some sign of discomfort. But he stayed composed the entire time.
“Here we have Mr. Wilson, the vice president of the Phoenix Alliance Group!” Madison announced, looking at Justin in the front row.
Justin stood up, surprised, awkwardly touching his forehead and glancing shyly at Dave.
But Madison didn’t notice Justin’s discomfort. She turned to Bianca with a smile and said, “Bianc, since you worked at Phoenix Entertainment, you must know about the Phoenix Alliance Group. They own many industries and have a lot of economic power in Edenfield. While Phoenix Entertainment is a leader in show business, it’s just a small part of the Phoenix Alliance Group’s larger business network. For LMH Group to grow in Edenfield, we’ll need the support of the Phoenix Alliance Group. By the way, Bianc, which company does your boyfriend work for?”
Bianca realized her mother was trying to put Dave on the spot.
“He…” Bianca raised her head and looked at the man beside her. Strangely, there was no sign of annoyance on his face.
Dave spoke up before Bianca could reply. “I work at a small company. It’s not a big deal.”
Everyone looked at Dave with a mix of condescension and doubt.
‘What qualifications could someone from a small company have to be here?’
Madison raised her eyebrows and acted apologetically. “My mistake. I should have checked this earlier. I thought Bianca’s boyfriend was someone important. Anyway, let me introduce her. This is Bianca Scott, my daughter.”
Her casual mention of “my daughter” made nearby guests gasp in surprise.
Everyone’s attention shifted to Bianca, and even Justin looked surprised.
Dave’s eyes narrowed as he studied Madison, quickly realizing her true intention for the evening.