Skylar felt her head spin from the barrage of harsh questions. Overwhelmed and humiliated, she wished she could disappear, escaping the endless questioning.
She couldn’t understand how the journalists knew about the disaster or why everything had fallen apart when she had been so sure everything was under control.
The reporters crowded around Skylar, bombarding her with questions all at once. Skylar struggled to keep her balance, almost losing control.
Security guards quickly surrounded her, blocking the reporters, while a staff member quietly guided her to the back exit. Even though things were chaotic, Skylar tried her best to stay calm as she left through the back door.
In the banquet hall, Bianca stared at the spot where Skylar had been moments before. Although she was upset by how Skylar had talked to her, Bianca couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. No woman would be happy to learn that her partner had called off their engagement.
Still, Bianca was surprised to see someone as accomplished as Skylar in such a difficult situation.
Bianca had only come to the party because of Skylar. Now that the engagement was canceled and Skylar had left, she saw no reason to stay. She turned to Blake to see if he was ready to leave.
Brady was chatting casually with Rachel and Lucas, trying to hide his boredom. While he exchanged the usual pleasantries, he couldn’t help but scan the room for someone he knew, hoping to find an excuse to leave.
His search suddenly stopped when he saw someone who looked exactly like Everleigh. He stared in shock, unable to tear his eyes away for several seconds.
“Brady? Brady?”
The annoyed voice pulled Brady out of his trance. Turning to see Rachel frowning at him, she said, “Dad’s talking to you. What’s with the daydreaming?”
Brady quickly smiled and apologized.
Before either Lucas or Rachel could respond, Brady quickly mentioned that he had seen someone he knew and wanted to go chat with them for a while. However, he didn’t move until he got a nod of approval from Lucas.
Blake was only here to keep Bianca company, so he’d have no reason to stay if she decided to leave.
But Blake soon was trapped in an unexpected situation. With Skylar gone, the guests lost their focus and began searching the hall for someone new to entertain them. Their eyes landed on Blake, who had recently gained attention online for his good looks and talents.
In no time, Blake was surrounded by a group of beautiful women, all of whom wanted to get his contact information and connect with him.
“Hi, Mr. Lawson. Our company sponsored the second episode of that talent show. Can I have your number so we can stay in touch?” a calm, graceful woman in a white dress asked.
Almost immediately, a bold woman in black snapped, “There are so many sponsors for Star Search; how can anyone remember you? Mr. Lawson, I’m studying music right now. How about we exchange contact info and talk about music sometime?”
A few other women chimed in, wanting Blake’s contact details as well, and soon, he was caught in the middle of a group of bickering women. Feeling desperate, he looked to Bianca for help.
With a small smile, Bianca stepped forward, guiding Blake out of the crowd and standing protectively in front of him. “Sorry, ladies, but Blake is my company’s artist, and we have strict policies about not connecting with non-professionals. You can friend me instead, and I’ll make sure to pass any messages along.”
She politely flashed her QR code. The woman in black recognized Bianca as the one they had mocked earlier. Her face twisted in a condescending snarl as she demanded, “Who the hell are you?”
“I’m Blake’s agent, and I handle all his external affairs.” Bianca smiled, unruffled by the woman’s attitude.
The women were visibly taken aback, their eyes wide with surprise. Their attitude shifted immediately, and the woman in the black dress let out a nervous laugh. “Oh, the agent! Well, in that case, how about we become friends?”
Bianca swiftly pulled her hand back as the woman in black moved her phone closer to scan her code. Her smile remained, but her eyes grew sharp. “Sorry, time waits for no one.”
Then, without another word, she took Blake’s hand and led him toward the entrance.
The group of socialites watched them leave in silence, their faces a mix of frustration, anger, and regret. They all silently wished they hadn’t mocked Bianca so quickly earlier.
Just as Bianca and Blake reached the door, a distinguished-looking middle-aged man suddenly stepped in their path.
Brady smiled warmly and said, “Hi, you must be Blake, right?”
Blake was surprised that people recognized him so easily. He looked a bit confused and replied, “Yeah, I’m Blake, but have we met before?”
Brady slightly smiled as he saw Blake’s puzzled look. “I’m Brady Lawson from the Lawson Group.” He extended his hand for a handshake.
“It’s nice to meet you.” When Blake heard “Lawson Group,” his expression darkened a little, but he still shook Brady’s hand. “So, what’s up? How can I help you?”
Brady explained that he recognized Blake from watching the talent show.
“I used to be a big fan of Everleigh Pearson. The way you performed her song, even though it’s been decades since she last sang it… That’s really impressive.”
Brady looked at Blake with admiration, noticing the strong resemblance to Everleigh. This young man not only shared his mother’s calm presence but also had some serious vocal talent. Lost in the moment, Brady didn’t realize he looked a little like an overly sentimental father.
Blake nodded humbly. “You’re giving me too much credit.”
Brady handed him his business card. “I’m a fan now. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out.”
“Thanks for the kind words,” Blake said, smiling as he took the card.
Brady hadn’t noticed the woman standing next to Blake until now. Her blue dress highlighted her soft, pretty features.
“Wait, is she… your girlfriend?” he asked.
Blake was caught off guard. Before he could answer, Bianca quickly spoke up, “No, I’m his agent. Blake is still single.”
Blake looked down, a quiet sound escaping his lips as disappointment flickered across his face. Was Bianca not interested in being his girlfriend? Why was she so quick to clear that up?