The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

Chapter 184

The event organizer was starting to panic.

He hurried over and leaned down to whisper discreetly in Stein's ear, careful to keep his tone respectful.

"Mr. Campbell, your seat is over there the one at the head of the table. We reserved it especially for you. Would you like to move?"

Victoria's seat, in contrast, was right by the door-practically next to the kitchen. In other words, it was the kind of spot reserved for people who didn't matter. Mr. Campbell, after all, was a high-ranking official from Evermore City. If they failed to treat him with the proper deference, the consequences could be dire.

But Stein just shook his head mildly. "No need. This seat's just fine."

He added, "I didn't come to Starfall City for special treatment. Where I sit isn't important."

With that, the rest of the guests had no choice but to shuffle awkwardly into the seats originally meant for Stein. They looked as uneasy as if they'd sat on pins, unable to get comfortable.

Stein glanced around the table, his expression calm and approachable.

"Please, everyone-relax. Let's enjoy ourselves and talk freely. This is an exchange after all, and I want to hear what you all have to say."

The room, which had been uncomfortably silent just moments before, suddenly erupted into lively conversation.

People began pitching ideas to Stein and voicing their opinions.

Once the business elites started talking, it was hard to stop them—which, conveniently, gave Stein and Victoria a chance to speak privately.

anything, now's the time to say so," Stein said quietly. "While I'm here, and while these people are all eager to make a good impression- connections, resources, whatever you

goal at the expo was to give Yasmine a shot at presenting their drone project to Stein—hopefully to get him interested

she had no intention of standing

you became a target. There were countless examples of people who'd been taken down before they even

problems were with Simms and the others who wanted to see her fail. Right now, McNeil's company was so powerful that a

Echo City-too far away to offer real

big brother. I really just wanted to see you,” Victoria replied smoothly, taking a sip of water as a cover. "I brought a gift for Jimmy. It's already been delivered

genuinely wasn't asking for help, so

a shame it's not available online anymore. Any

Victoria smiled. "Soon."

attention to the other business leaders who were clamoring

the organizers had suspected Stein was interested in the young woman sitting at the far end of the table-they'd even sent someone to look into

Core Technologies, with nothing more than an undergrad degree in finance from Northriver University. Hardly the

he showed no particular interest in Victoria, interacting with her no differently than with anyone else. If anything, he seemed more focused on the group as a whole, which

though McNeil

glued to Stein

connection between them. But

nothing out of the ordinary

sipped her wine,

like Victoria? Her uncle had mentioned her before-a girl who'd studied music and art in Vienna after graduation, spent some time traveling the south to gather inspiration for an art book, and had little to show for it in the

experience and no notable achievements, how could she possibly know someone like

earlier, but again, there'd been no sign of a close relationship-just as there wasn't