CHAPTER 4

Jeremy Lightwood★

Lightwood Enterprise is celebrating its 40th anniversary this evening. Last night did not go as planned when she stared at me as if I hadn't said anything before retiring to bed.

"How did your it go with Miss Rosa last night?" Gran Mels inquired as she served me breakfast and settled in to sit. Before I could respond, the sound of heels echoed through the room as Rosalind entered, dressed in a powerful suit and sharp trousers. Gran's face lit up upon seeing her and she stood up in excitement.

"I was just inquiring about you from..." Gran Mels trailed off, searching for the right word. Rosa simply smiled at her and Gran graciously gestured for her to sit, pulling out a chair for her to take a seat.

Why does Grandmother look so elated after seeing her? Gran went to the kitchen, leaving an awkward silence in her wake. Rosa dropped the document on the table and poured herself a glass of water.

"I couldn't help but notice that you seemed hesitant about signing the proposal," I observed.

"I've already signed it, so I hope you'll keep your promise," she said, forcing a smile as Gran returned with waffles and poured Rosa a cup of coffee."Thank you, Grandma," Rosa graciously complimented. 

"We should..."she began, but was interrupted by my phone call from my secretary reminding me of the early meeting with the head of the event coordinator."I apologize for needing to leave, but can we continue our conversation later tonight?" I asked, and she nodded in agreement.

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As the clock struck noon, exhaustion and tension weighed heavily on me. After shaking hands with the man, I guided him back to his vehicle. "Have all the invitations been distributed?" I asked my secretary.

"Yes, Mr. Lightwood," he replied. I halted in my steps upon hearing a voice emanating from my father's office.

What's dad doing at the company?

"Anthony, it is clear that Jason should be occupying that seat, not Jeremy, and let's not forget that Jason is married and could potentially produce an heir at any moment," the man remarked with a pointed tone.

"I do as I please," Dad simply replied, his tone unwavering.

"Have Jason and Clara returned from their trip to the states?" I asked.

"I believe so, Mr. Lightwood."

"Mike, I'd like you to send one last invitation to someone right now" I told my secretary and walked away. 

ROSALIND LIGHTWOOD★

The bustling fashion house was filled with people coming and going, while my phone buzzed incessantly with missed calls from both my parents. As I anxiously waited for Jeremy to keep his promise, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the chaos around me.

"My assistant rushed in, exclaiming, 'Boss, we have a problem!' I followed her to the scene where there was commotion as she added, 'She keeps saying she wants to see the CEO.' 

'What happened?' I asked her.

 'She claimed the dress she bought was torn and packaged that way, and she hit the employee in the face when she tried to apologize.'My assistant added.

I walked up to them and bowed respectfully. All eyes turned to me, capturing the moment on their phones.

"Who are you"The lady asked me. 

"The CEO you wanted to see"I replied.

After she threw the cloth at me and scoffed, I inspected the dress and promptly handed it to my assistant,Lauren. "It appears that you are selling low-quality dresses at high prices and have neglected to properly train your staff," the lady remarked.

As murmurs filled the room, I calmly addressed the woman, acknowledging her concerns about my employee.

I turned my gaze to the employee, "ensure that no customer disrespects you to avoid any repercussions,as for the dress...".

I diverted my eyes to the lady, "we will gladly exchange it for you to avoid any further inconvenience, next time,you  speak with the receptionist for assistance," I stated before gracefully exiting the scene.

As the sun set, I organized my belongings and prepared to head home when my assistant hurried over and handed me a card. "What's this?" I inquired, examining it closely.

"A gentleman arrived and requested for the card to be delivered to you," she replied.After inspecting the card's contents, I glanced at the time and then turned to my assistant.

"Could you showcase the exquisite black dress currently in stock?" I inquired politely.

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The opulent banquet hall was teeming with affluent guests, their lavish attire and extravagant jewelry unmistakably signaling their wealth.

As I nervously clutched my purse, I presented my invitation card and made my way through the crowd. The penetrating gazes of the attendees followed me as I entered the hall and was guided to my designated seat.

Shortly after, all the guests were comfortably seated. Just as the event was about to begin, a mysterious message appeared on my phone: "Sorry for borrowing you tonight." Instantly recognizing the sender as Jeremy, I couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and apprehension. 

The Master of Ceremonies then took the stage, setting the tone for the evening. Following his introduction, a distinguished man in his sixties, Mr. Lightwood, stepped forward to make a heartfelt toast, a man who had once left my parents with no choice but to entrust me to his son's care, forever changing the course of my life.

"Good evening everyone," Jeremy, resplendent in a meticulously tailored black suit, confidently strode onto the stage clutching a crystal flute of champagne. "First and foremost, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the esteemed partners of Lightwood Enterprise who have graced us with their presence this evening; your unwavering support is truly appreciated. Secondly, I must express my deepest appreciation to my father for entrusting me with the responsibility of leading this esteemed company as his successor," he eloquently praised, eliciting a resounding round of applause from the audience, myself included.

"Before departing, I feel compelled to express my profound gratitude to a singular individual whose presence at this momentous anniversary celebration truly enhances its significance," he added, his words hanging in the air like a delicate wisp of smoke. Deep within the recesses of my mind, I fervently prayed that I would not be the subject of his acknowledgment, my grip on my purse tightening as I closed my eyes in a silent plea for anonymity. 

"...my wife, Rosalind Lightwood.'" The bombshell announcement sent a ripple of murmurs and whispers through the crowd, each guest eager to uncover the identity and significance of this mysterious figure in the esteemed gentleman's life.