Chapter 2

As a senior marketing manager, it wasn't hard for Bianca to get the public contact info of the CEO's office.

Soon, the call went through.

On the other end, a highly professional male voice answered, completely different from Nicholas's deep, magnetic baritone.

"Hi, Manager Sterling. How can I help you?"

I recognized the voice. It was Arthur, Nicholas's executive assistant.

Bianca explained that she was playing a game at the Annual Gala, only to receive a formal reply: "I'm sorry, Manager Sterling. Mr. Vance is currently in an important board meeting and is unavailable to take calls."

With that, the call was disconnected.

Bianca hadn't put it on speakerphone, so only those of us on stage could faintly hear the robotic, professional rejection.

But even after being rejected, her face didn't betray her. She put on a sweet, slightly annoyed pout and complained to the host, "He's just too busy. He's stuck in a board meeting and can't make it."

The crowd immediately started buzzing again:

"The rumors are real! Bianca and Mr. Vance are definitely together!"

"She can call the CEO's office directly. That status is unmatched!"

"Beautiful and capable, Bianca is living the dream!"

The host smoothed things over. "That's a pity. Who are you going to invite next, Bianca?"

Bianca tilted her head, acting cute. "Let me think. I have too many options."

While Bianca was "thinking," the host seized the opportunity to keep the program moving and had me draw my card.

As fate would have it, I drew the exact same task.

The host obviously didn't care about a low-level admin like me. Her smile was purely polite and superficial. "So, Chloe, who are you going to invite? A colleague?"

I shook my head. "No, not a colleague."

The host asked again, "A friend or family member then?"

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"May we ask who it is?"

I thought about the stubborn guy at home... If I invited someone else to a stage game like this, he would definitely throw a tantrum...

So, I said his name: "Nicholas Vance."

The host's smile froze instantly.

Immediately, the whispers below erupted into a loud roar, and countless mocking eyes locked onto me.

"What is wrong with Chloe?"

"How does she have the nerve? The CEO belongs to Bianca. Why is she inviting him?"

"Is she trying to clout-chase? She must be desperate for attention!"

The admin team and the planning crew standing backstage were both thrilled and stressed.

Thrilled because my shocking declaration had instantly made the crowd's attention skyrocket, making the atmosphere incredibly tense.

Stressed because the gossip was getting nasty. Bianca’s loyal followers were pointing and laughing at me, and they were worried it would ruin the company's image.

Loving the drama, the host said to me, "Then, Chloe, can you show us your contact name for Mr. Vance?"

I looked at the massive crowd below and shook my head reluctantly. "This number is not for public eyes."

This was Nicholas's private personal number. It couldn't be displayed in a place like this.

The crowd erupted into loud jeers and laughter.

"She's lying through her teeth!"

"How could a nobody like her have Mr. Vance's private number? What a joke!"

Only one or two reasonable voices tried to defend me.

"Well, she has a point. If she showed a private number, his phone would be spammed to death..."

Unfortunately, those sensible comments were quickly drowned out by the wave of mockery.

Bianca's face darkened, and she spoke in a sarcastic tone. "Some people really need to know their place. Chasing clout might get you attention, but the backlash will ruin you."

I didn't bother to reply. I just dialed the number on my screen.