The Golden Key Award was held in Switzerland this year, inviting numerous industry leaders to serve as judges. Participants were top talents from the architecture industry worldwide.
In recent years, Callie had mostly stepped back from the spotlight. She had worked on only a few projects, but each one had won major awards, earning her widespread recognition.
When Nick arrived, he wasn’t alone; he brought along his team members. A group of boys got off the car noisily and greeted Callie, “Alice!”
“Hello, Alice!”
“With so many people taking care of Grape, you should be relieved,” Nick said as he got out last.
Callie was at a loss for words. “Why are you all here?”
Malakai answered first, “We won’t return home until the day after tomorrow. Staying at the hotel was too boring, so we wanted to get out and have some fun.”
Grape was ecstatic, mingling among the boys.
“Exactly, Alice. We’ll help you take care of Grape, so don’t worry!”
Callie raised an eyebrow.
Nick explained, “The team is going public later this year. I heard that the investors are also in Switzerland right now. Coincidentally, they are sponsoring this Golden Key Award event. I need to seize the opportunity to meet them.”
So that’s how it was. Callie didn’t comment further and entrusted Grape to the boys, giving them some instructions. “The venue is large, and there’s a garden at the back. You can take Grape to play there, just make sure she doesn’t eat anything she shouldn’t.”
“No problem!”
Callie carried her work badge, wearing a beige tight-fitting dress that accentuated her graceful figure without any deliberate effort.
Malakai’s gaze fell on Nick with a hint of mischief. “Nick, aren’t you going to make a move?”
Nick elbowed him. “We’re getting a new team member.”
Malakai frowned in surprise. “From the youth training program?”
“No, a temporary recruit. It’s a girl.”
Malakai glanced at his teammates playing with Grape. “You’re not joking, right?”
Female players were rare in esports, especially in a star team like theirs. If a girl joined, the fans would go crazy.
“During the off-season, our mid-laner is retiring. We need someone to fill the spot. This girl is very talented; we’ve signed the contract.”
After explaining, Nick patted Malakai’s shoulder and walked away, reminding him, “Make sure to take good care of the kid.”
The opening ceremony was underway at the venue. The host introduced each judge one by one. Six judges went on stage, signed their names on the backdrop, and raised their glasses together before facing media interviews.
Callie stood below the stage when a blue-eyed female reporter approached her and asked in English, “Hello, are you Alice? Could we have an exclusive interview with you?”
Callie smiled and politely declined. “Sorry, no interviews.”
The reporter looked disappointed.
At that moment, a middle-aged woman who had just finished her interview overheard and remarked, “Stop pretending to be aloof.”
It was Lily.
In her thirties, achieving such success at her age and gender was commendable, but she couldn’t stand that an even younger woman could be elected as a judge.
This made her resent Callie.
The reporter’s face turned awkward. Callie calmly apologized to her and then said, “After all, I’m not a peacock; I don’t have the habit of showing off everywhere!”
“You!” Lily glared at her.
“Alice, stop pretending. I don’t believe you got to where you are without using underhanded means.”
“Everything requires evidence. In Switzerland, I can sue you for slander.”