In the banquet hall,
Most of the families, businessmen, and women met the Matthews family and congratulated them enviously.
To the question of why Alvin brought the company shares, Casper found the proper solution without taking credit or making it seem suspicious.
"Alvin is very competitive. He doesn't give up what he aims for. He wanted to prove himself that he is capable and here he is."
"Impressive. You must be proud of him." The man said looking at softly smiling Gianna and prod Casper, while Cordelia was sitting aside on a chair with Secretary Harrison on her beck and call.
Gianna sweetened her smile, glancing at her husband, "Absolutely. We are lucky." She carried on their act of being good parents.
But Ricardo Porter appeared yet again while a wine glass, he clinked on Casper's glass and congratulated them with a big amusing smile, "Congratulations again, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews."
Ricardo sipped the wine while Casper nodded, reluctantly sipping his whisky. Gianna knew Ricardo was a business rival who always competed with Matthews and he was eager to invest in Alvin's start-up years ago. Seeing his foxy smile, she knew he was up to no good.
Ricardo continued after enjoying his wine, "But I have a doubt, Chairman Matthews, why didn't Alvin Matthews invest in Matthews Industries and make it more successful? Or bought the shares of another company?"
It was well known in the business field, nobody invests so much money in one place. A smart businessman always balances his investments so that if one faces a loss, another could manage it.
Casper had the whole day to prepare for any kind of question that could be thrown at him. So he smiled and pretended to be looking around.
"Is there any company that stands above us?" He asked sarcastically.
Ricardo gritted his teeth at the man's arrogance. It was true he wasn't able to secure the top position even one year. Casper was always ahead of him. Whenever he tried to overtake, Casper would have built his mountain much taller for his reach.
The other listeners looked at each other without understanding where Casper was going with that kind of response.
"Oh, no one. If Alvin had bought other company shares, would so many of you bothered to attend the event?" Casper flashed a sly smile. Yes, he was losing to Alvin, he wasn't going to fall in others' eyes.
Then he added sarcastically, "If I am not wrong, President Porter, you canceled your business trip to attend the Skylark conference of Skylark, don't you?"
Not just Ricardo, many had postponed their plan, or sent their substitutes, or sacrificed their peaceful weekend to attend and meet Alvin without even knowing who he was.
Gianna cut in and spoke like a modest lady, "Let's not talk all that. We are here to celebrate. Please enjoy."
Ricardo could see Casper came prepared, unlike how he was cautious in the morning. Anyway, he commented, "I know the truth, Chairman Matthews." Then he walked away, grabbing others' attention.
What is the truth? It started spreading that there was a truth about the Matthews that only Ricardo knew.
"Gianna, long time…" A woman in her late forties greeted Gianna amiably and air-kissed, cheek to cheek, and looked at each other. "What happened to you? We were trying to reach you for so many days."
Gianna had a delicate smile as she glanced at Casper who wasn't letting her go and join the others. She turned to the lady and held her hand, "Miranda, I missed you all. I was busy with a lot of work, you know."
Miranda misunderstood just as Gianna wanted, "Anybody would be busy if they had such an amazing son." She paused and glanced at Casper, "Chairman Matthews, I hope you don't mind me stealing your wife. "
Casper had to mind it as Gianna was capable of doing anything in just a slip second, "Mrs. Atkinson, as you can see, we have to meet other guests."
Gianna forced a smile above her clenched teeth. "Yeah, I need to keep tabs on his drink. He isn't young anymore."
Honestly, she didn't want to go to the group of females who were hungry for gossip. They would speak nonstop about Alvin and Anya so she didn't want to go.
Casper didn't care what reason Gianna would give. He was satisfied with her management. However, Miranda wasn't. She pulled Ginna towards her, "Chairman Matthews, it won't be long."
Then she took Gianna away to the group of high society ladies who wanted to gossip about their breakup with Daltons, Alvin, Alvin's wife, and their son.
Gianna had an image to follow. So she couldn't let go of it and lied about the Daltons and said she knew about Anya which was true.
However, the questions changed to, "What is your daughter-in-law doing?"
"Which family is she from?"
"How old is your grandson?"
Gianna could see them green with envy for having a grandson. She carefully answered, "Anya is from a simple family and studied at Imperial. Alvin liked her so we let them get married. And Zane is five years old."
"Oh my god."
"Really? What is Alvin's age by the way?"
"My son and Alvin were in the same class. Twenty-seven perhaps. Did they get married so young?"
"Here my son is still changing his girlfriend."
Gianna forced a smile, itching to go back. But she picked on her, "Gianna, how could you keep this a secret from us?"
"You didn't even call us for their wedding."
"Why didn't you celebrate for your grandson?"
As the question grew the ladies started getting suspicious of their actions. Gianna took her time before she started lying like a loving mother-in-law.
"As I said, Anya is from a humble background. She was reluctant to appear and get any attention. And you know, Zane was so small, Anya doesn't understand how it works in our circle. We are accommodating with her."
The ladies were amused. They never knew the Matthews was so accommodating. However, the Matthews are dazzling in the sky with a star called Alvin. So they fawned over Gianna.
"Oh my my, Gianna, look at you spoiling your daughter-in-law."
"You must love her too much."
"Right, if my daughter-in-law hears this, she loves it."
"What daughter, if my mother-in-law was like Gianna, I would have been flying in the sky."
Clenching her teeth Gianna was hearing them when a group and cops in uniform entered the hall. Even if cops are invited, they won't come in uniforms. So everyone's attention shifted to the door.
The event manager went to them and spoke, "Excuse me, how may we help you? Are you looking for someone?"
The captain who was leading the group, looked around as he asked, "Where are Mr. and Mrs. Matthews? Call them." His clear crisp voice reached half of the hall, causing the hall to fall eerily silent.
Casper was away at the front so he didn't listen whereas Gianna, Cordelia, and Harrison heard it.
Gianna clutched her wallet tightly. What was Alvin up to? Or is it Anya?
'No, Anya resigned. She won't have control over the cops. Does she?' Gianna didn't dare to look anyone in the eyes.
Harrison rushed to the cops while the event manager asked in confusion, "Captain, we have two couples by that name. Could you be precise?"
The captain checked the letter in his hand and announced, "Alvin Matthews and his wife, Anya Owen."
Gianna, Cordelia, and Harrison: "..."
This time, many heard the cop's voice and they spread it to the rest of the members. The ones who were at the door, heard the cop and ran to the other party hall and updated everyone.
"The cops are here to arrest Alvin Matthews and his wife."
In no time the attendees of the other hall, crowded in the lobby of the main hall. The security failed to manage them. The business circle highly doubted Alvin committing an unlawful act for such huge money to buy the Matthews company shares.
"I doubted how he got so much money."
"I knew there was something wrong."
"I couldn't believe Alvin Matthews couldn't even survive a day in business." The people continued to gossip.
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