Holding the glass, Bianca nodded and said, “Yes, he first tried out as a singer for Phoenix Entertainment. I promised to be his agent then. Later, when he found out I was running a company, he joined us.”
Dave scoffed. Blake, being Vincent’s godson, could work anywhere in the entertainment industry, yet he chose Bianca’s company. Dave thought he knew why.
He didn’t like the idea of anyone having questionable intentions towards his girlfriend, especially if that person was always around her.
Sitting comfortably on the sofa with his legs crossed, Dave loosened his tie but didn’t say anything.
“Does it bother you that Blake’s at my company?” Bianca asked, tilting her head to look at him.
He looked at her with a charming smile and asked, “What do you think?”
“Are you still feeling jealous?”
“He’s around you every day and spends way more time with you than I do.”
Bianca straightened up and said, “That’s not quite true. Even though we work at the same company, we don’t see each other much when we’re busy.”
With that, she took hold of Dave’s strong arm, swaying slightly, and spoke softly.
“There’s nothing going on between us. We’re just friends and co-workers. Everyone at the office can back me up. And if you’re still worried, you can always check the security footage! You’re the one who set up the system, so you know how reliable it is.”
Dave looked at her. She met his gaze sincerely, her eyes soft as she tried to prove her innocence.
The jealousy in his heart melted away. He reached out and caressed her cheek.
Feeling his warmth, Bianca leaned into his hand, gently rubbing it.
“I trust you, but I can’t help feeling a little jealous,” he said, his eyes glowing in the soft yellow light.
Suddenly, Bianca threw herself at him, pinning him to the sofa. Looking down into his eyes, she said firmly, “Don’t worry. I’ll never leave you, no matter what.”
After a moment, Dave gently took her wrist and smiled. “I think your mom likes Blake, but she seems to have a problem with me.”
“That’s just because she doesn’t know you well yet!” Bianca said, her tone slightly anxious. She placed her arms beside his head and looked at him earnestly. “But I understand you. I know how good you are.”
Dave’s eyes deepened with intensity as he cradled her head and kissed her.
Just as they were lost in the moment, the door to the lounge swung open.
“Bianc, are you feeling better now?”
Madison stood in the doorway, surprised by what she saw.
Bianca quickly got up, straightened her rumpled dress, and looked embarrassed.
Dave sat up, his hands on the back of the sofa and his tie slightly askew, looking a bit disheveled.
“Come out,” Madison said sharply, giving her daughter a stern look before turning and walking away.
Feeling down, Bianca hurried to catch up with her mother.
Madison stopped in a quiet corner, turned to Bianca with an angry stare, and said, “This man was supposed to take you to rest, but I felt his intentions were not good. Did he lose control there? Would you have surrendered yourself to him if I hadn’t come in? As a young woman, you need to protect yourself. Don’t give yourself away to someone who can’t be trusted.”
“Mom, you’re misunderstanding what happened! Mr. Evans isn’t the person you think he is,” Bianca quickly explained.
“Mr. Evans?” Madison frowned. “Evans, you say?”
“Yes, what’s wrong?” Bianca asked, confused by her mother’s reaction.
“What exactly is his name?”
“Dave Evans.”
Madison had never heard this name before. However, she briefly thought of the Evans family, one of the top four families in Edenfield. The Phoenix Alliance Group, founded by the youngest Evans family member, had a mysterious reputation in the business world.
Even though Dave’s face was familiar, his name was not well-known.
Madison considered that Bianca’s boyfriend was just an ordinary employee. It seemed unlikely that he was connected to the Evans family. After all, many people had the surname Evans, so she dismissed it as a coincidence.
As Madison was deep in thought, Dave walked over from the corner, his attractive appearance and impressive presence making it clear why her daughter was taken with him.
“Ms. Lopez, Bianc, I’ve just received an urgent call from the company. I have to leave now,” Dave said, his composed manner returning with a faint smile.
Dave’s words and behavior were flawless, but the more perfect he seemed, the more uneasy Madison became. It was clear he was very skilled at hiding his true self.
“Very well,” Madison agreed, though she avoided looking at him.
“Let me walk you out,” Bianca said and turned to Dave, who nodded in response.
“Bianc.”
Unable to tolerate Bianca’s submissiveness, Madison wanted to step in, but Bianca ignored her concerns. Clasping Dave’s arm firmly, she left the banquet hall with him.
Fuming with anger, Madison picked up her phone and dialed her assistant. “Find out everything you can about a man named Dave Evans. I need details about his job and who he reports to.”
Meanwhile, Peter, Ashley, and Stacey sat in a corner, unaware of what was happening. After discovering that Peter ran a small business, the prominent people around him showed little interest in talking to him despite his efforts to network.
The atmosphere of the gathering felt cold and transactional.
Feeling ignored, Peter ate quietly, lost in his own thoughts.
Ashley tugged at her mother’s sleeve. “Mom, what’s going on with Dad? He’s been acting distant suddenly.”
Stacey looked at Peter and bit her lower lip. “He must regret divorcing that woman years ago.”
“How do we handle this? Bianca’s mother has a lot of influence. What should we do?” Ashley asked anxiously.
Holding her cutlery tightly, Stacey glanced at her daughter with a hint of envy. “I have a plan, Ashley. Don’t feel overshadowed. In terms of status, you far surpass her!”
Ashley looked surprised. “What do you mean? I don’t understand.”
Stacey didn’t elaborate further, simply cutting and eating her steak.
Suddenly, Stacey’s attention was drawn to the entrance of the banquet hall.
‘It was Bianca and her boyfriend!’
Recently, Stacey had tried and failed to get a photo of Bianca and her boyfriend, and she hadn’t expected him to show up at the banquet. Suddenly, she put down her utensils, got up from her chair, and left quickly.
“Where are you going?” Peter asked, looking puzzled.
“I need to use the restroom,” Stacey said, hiding her irritation behind a calm facade.
Peter didn’t reply, and Stacey hurried after Bianca and Dave.