Chapter 20: Birthday Banquet
The day of Mr. Grant’s birthday banquet arrived.
The Whitman Family, as Kingsport’s new money, was invited for the first time this year.
It wasn’t just Caroline who was surprised; Franklin Whitman was even more incredulous when he received the invitation.
「Inside the car.」
Franklin sat up straight, adjusted his collar, and turned to his wife and daughter. "What do you think? This outfit makes me look classy, right?"
Caroline glanced over. Slicked-back hair, a jowly face, a menacing gaze, and hands covered in gold rings—the only thing missing was a thick gold chain.
"Mhm, very nouveau riche."
Yolanda said, "Hey, nouveau riche is still a look. I think you look great, honey."
"Heh heh, my wife’s the one with real taste."
"..."
’What a cringey couple.’
"Why do you think the Grant family invited us this year?" Franklin was still puzzled.
Caroline watched the street scenery flash past the window. "Probably because our companies are working together this year."
When they received the Grant family’s invitation, she had asked Adrian if he had arranged it.
Adrian said it wasn’t him; Gavin Grant had his executive assistant handle the invitations based on a list of corporate partners.
This morning, Ryan had been so excited, saying it was his great-grandfather’s birthday. He thought he was going to the party to celebrate and was absolutely beaming.
In reality, he had to stay home today with Miss King looking after him.
"Oh, that explains it. But didn’t we piss off Matthew last time? How can we still be working with the Grant Group?"
The "last time" Franklin was referring to was when Matthew had come to their home, using a business partnership as an excuse to propose marriage. At first, not knowing Matthew’s true character, Franklin had thought it was a good match.
But after Caroline told them how Matthew had twisted the facts and slandered her at school, ruining her reputation, Franklin would have none of it.
"Matthew doesn’t have that much say, and the Grant Group isn’t that stupid. Why would they just hand over a project in an emerging industry?" Caroline said calmly.
’At first, back when I didn’t know the Grant Group was Adrian’s company, I’d almost been fooled by Matthew myself.’
"Still, my girl’s the brilliant one."
They arrived.
It was a huge manor.
The driveway was filled with luxury cars.
As Caroline entered the banquet hall, she saw quite a few familiar faces from high school.
The St. Hector’s F4 boy band, Luna, and also Wanda Sutton, the vicious female rival who was always targeting Luna.
And Matthew, with whom she had clashed last month.
As for Adrian?
He was nowhere to be seen.
Let alone the guest of honor himself.
Caroline gave the room a cursory glance before looking away. ’This is exactly why I hate parties like this.’
At the thought of some Mary Sue-style drama breaking out any minute, she silently kept her distance from them.
"Miss Whitman, fancy seeing you here." Chase noticed Caroline and approached with a smile, wine glass in hand.
Vincent and the others with him looked over, their eyebrows raised in surprise.
’Chase is actually making a move on a woman?’
Caroline said, "It’s not a coincidence. Everyone here was invited."
Lynch raised an eyebrow. "Which Miss Whitman?"
Chase introduced her, "This is the heiress of the Whitman Group."
"Oh, so it’s you," Aiden said, surprised.
"Come to think of it, we’re alumni. She went to St. Hector’s High with us," Chase added.
Wanda was surprised. "How come I’ve never seen you before?"
Caroline replied, "It’s a big school. Normally, you haven’t seen me."
Just then, upon hearing Caroline’s voice, Vincent turned to look at her coolly and suddenly asked, "Were you in Marinus recently?"
My heart just skipped a beat. Don’t tell me he recognized my voice.
Before she could answer, Chase had already spoken for her. "She was indeed in Marinus a few days ago. She signed a contract with my company."
Aiden let out a little "ooh," finding the sight rather rare, and teased, "Well, you’re eager to please, aren’t you, Chase? She hadn’t even spoken yet, and you’re already answering for her."
"Which day?" Vincent pressed. He paused, then named a specific date. Chase nodded.
At this moment, Matthew stood with one hand in his pocket, watching Caroline surrounded by a group of men, a faint, unreadable expression in his eyes.
’She’s pretty impressive. Not only did she get Adrian to work with her, but she’s also getting along so well with these guys.’
The thought of the humiliation he had suffered in the private room that day, which had also gotten him sent to a remote branch office, made his anger flare.
His dark eyes lingered for a moment on Caroline’s curvy figure, before he thought viciously, ’If you walk out of here in one piece tonight, then my name isn’t Grant.’
Matthew stepped forward and gestured with his hand. A waiter immediately approached with a tray of wine.
"Miss Whitman, long time no see."
"Let’s have a drink. It’s my great-grandfather’s birthday today. You’ll at least do me that honor, won’t you?"
Caroline looked at the glass of red wine, hesitating.
Matthew seemed to have read her mind and sneered, "What? Are you afraid the Grant family plays dirty and serves its guests tainted wine?"
Backed into a corner like that, Caroline could only offer a small smile, take the wine glass, and down it in one gulp.
"I’ll leave you to it."
After finishing the drink, Caroline smiled and left, hurrying to find Franklin and her mother. If something really did happen, she’d have backup.
But after scanning the room... well, where were they?
She took out her phone and dialed. The call connected quickly.
"Dad, where are you?"
"Oh, I’m checking out the big garden here, watching some folks play chess right now. Your mom? She went to chat with the other high-society ladies, I have no idea where she is. Huh? Where in the garden? I’m over by a gazebo, you’ll see the guys playing chess."
Franklin’s gruff voice trailed off as his short, thick fingers hung up the phone. He then pointed at a spot on the chessboard and interjected, "Hey, my friend, you can’t make that move. His Knight will jump over to take your piece, and you’ll lose."
Master Lockwood, who was holding his Rook and about to place it, furrowed his brow when he heard Franklin. He ran through the moves in his head and realized that if he really made that move, he’d be put in check later.
So, Master Lockwood kept his hand hovering over the board, piece still in his grasp.
Franklin pointed to another spot. "Here, here, here. Put it here, and you win."
The two old men at the chessboard thought for a moment. Finally, as Master Lockwood was about to place his piece, Gavin quickly stopped him. "Hey, that’s cheating! This round doesn’t count."
Acting like a petulant child, Master Lockwood slammed the piece down with a CLACK! on the spot Franklin had indicated and said defiantly, "What do you mean it doesn’t count? I hadn’t placed my piece yet, so it’s not taking back a move."
Gavin looked furious. He turned to Franklin and said unhappily, "A true gentleman watches a game in silence. Don’t you understand that?"
Franklin chuckled. "Oh, my apologies, my apologies. I just can’t help myself; I love playing the teacher."
Gavin shot back, "You play, then! Since you love giving pointers so much, let’s see how good you really are!"
When Franklin had first arrived, no one had approached him to talk, so he had just wandered around by himself to take in the grand scene at the Grant estate.
Now, with time on his hands and a game of chess on offer, he was more than happy to play.
Gavin usually had no other hobbies besides fishing and studying chess. Now that he had met his match, the two played so quickly it seemed they weren’t even thinking.
After ten games, Franklin had won them all. He didn’t hold back in the slightest, showing no deference whatsoever.
Standing nearby, Master Lockwood burst out laughing. "You’ve finally met your match, Mr. Grant."
Franklin’s heart sank. ’What was that? Mr. Grant?’
’This old man... he couldn’t possibly be the guest of honor, could he? The man whose birthday it is?’
’I’m screwed. I just made a huge mess for my daughter.’