Chapter 182
Yulia had heard that McNeil was waiting for Violet at the entrance, and insisted on accompanying her out.
Simms tagged along as well.
Just then, Simms’ phone rang-it was a call from one of the event organizers.
At noon, Mr. Campbell was hosting a luncheon for all the major business leaders of Starfall City, along with the professors participating in the roundtable discussion.
Simms called out to Violet, quickly relaying the news, and asked her to check if McNeil had received an invitation.
Violet nodded. “You two go ahead. I’ll let McNeil know. If he’s invited, we’ll just be a bit late.”
By this time, McNeil’s car had already pulled up to the entrance. Violet climbed in, and Yulia watched the sleek corporate car glide away, looking pleased.
“Seems like McNeil really does care about Violet,” Yulia remarked.
Simms, however, looked less than thrilled. “Yeah. I just wonder when Victoria will finally step aside and let them be.”
Meanwhile, Curtis found Victoria as he, too, was preparing to leave the exhibition hall.
All morning, Quantum Core Technologies had been the only company with anything worth showing off, and Curtis was already tired of all the attention.
Just then, both Victoria and Curtis received phone calls-Curtis got the official luncheon invitation from the organizers, while Victoria’s call was from Stein. “I’m taking everyone out for lunch at the Grandeur Banquet Hall, eighty-eighth floor of The Crescent Moon Hotel. You should come too,” Stein said.
Victoria wasn’t fond of being in the spotlight and wanted to refuse.
“I only have this one window to see you again. Once I’m back in Evermore City, it’ll probably be a long time before we get another chance. Vicky, you know how packed my schedule is—”
Stein’s sincerity made it hard for Victoria to say no.
“All right,” she agreed, and Curtis hung up his own call as well.
“The organizers said Mr. Campbell is treating us to lunch. I got them to add an extra seat. Why don’t you come with me? Good chance to meet some big names,” Curtis suggested, half-expecting Victoria to turn him down, already preparing a little speech in case she did.
“You’re the Investment Department manager. The company will need you to network with industry leaders sooner or later. Events like this are good for you- and the company,” Curtis added, giving her a serious look. “Victoria, I believe in you.”
Victoria had made V&S Group’s first fortune by investing in military drone R&D; networking with business moguls wasn’t really her priority. She was mainly going for Stein.
“Let’s go,” she said simply.
Curtis was surprised she agreed so easily. “All right, let’s go.”
He was about to fetch his car for her, but Victoria waved her own keys.
“I drove a friend’s car today, so I’ll head over separately. But I’ll wait for you outside The Crescent Moon Hotel.”
With that, Victoria left Curtis with a graceful silhouette, heading in the opposite direction.
Curtis paused, suddenly realizing he’d never actually told Victoria where the luncheon was being held. So how did she know it was at The Crescent Moon Hotel?
Victoria retrieved her car from the parking lot, just as McNeil’s vehicle rounded the
corner.
With a quick press of a button, her car’s scissor doors lifted open. At the same moment, McNeil spotted her.
Violet, seeing the license plate, realized with surprise that it really was Marcus’s car. She smiled slyly.
“Well, looks like we underestimated Victoria. McNeil, Marcus mentioned he’s interested in someone new lately-is it possible she’s the same person Curtis was talking about?”
Victoria ignored McNeil’s car-despite Violet being inside and got straight into Marcus’s McLaren, right in front of them.
McNeil didn’t answer, focused on his driving.
He’d already had the divorce papers sent to Victoria. Now, all that was left was for her to sign them at city hall. Whatever games she wanted to play before the divorce was finalized, McNeil was done; her recent behavior had extinguished whatever goodwill he’d had left for her over the past six years.
Whether she was with Stein, Curtis, or Marcus, it was no longer his concern.
Violet, seeing McNeil’s complete indifference, gave a small, mocking laugh. “That’s exactly the sort of thing she’d do but what does it get her, really? Just makes people look down on her even more.”
In her view, a woman’s biggest asset was self-respect, not using her looks to chase after men. At least, that was how Violet saw it.
No wonder McNeil had never fallen for Victoria, even after six years together-the woman was hopeless.
The Crescent Moon Hotel was the most luxurious five-star hotel in Starfall City, set in a prime location just a short drive from the exhibition hall. Victoria pulled up in about ten minutes, entering the hotel’s grand grounds.
The towering building rose into the clouds-a masterpiece designed by one of the world’s top architects, a place where money and status spoke louder than words.
Curtis and Victoria arrived at the hotel entrance at almost the same time. When Curtis saw her step out of the McLaren, he was momentarily dumbfounded.
“That car…?” He thought it looked familiar, but before he could get a closer look at the license plate, someone came over to greet him.
“Mr. Garcia, what a pleasure!” It was Mr. Scott from Apex Technologies. He’d been trying to catch Curtis at the exhibition all morning, but hadn’t managed to find the right moment—now that he had, he wasn’t about to let the opportunity slip.
Victoria smiled politely. “I’ll head in first and wait for you at the restaurant.”
Curtis had no choice but to chat with Scott, keeping an eye on Victoria as he followed her into the hotel.
Inside, the impeccably dressed hotel manager personally escorted guests to the private elevator reserved for the luncheon.