Chapter 140: Banquet 2

The banquet was held at a hotel. Amanda Vance and Cecilia Reed went there directly after getting styled.

Mrs. Young came to greet them the moment they walked in.

She glanced at Amanda Vance, puzzled. "And this is?"

She remembered Amanda. At a previous banquet hosted by the Ford family, Amanda had been sitting with Samuel Ford; they seemed to know each other. But that wasn’t what concerned her most. The key was Cecilia Reed’s attitude toward her.

After all, President Reed wasn’t known for being particularly amiable. Yet now, the look she gave Amanda Vance was incredibly gentle. Beyond the affection of a close friend, there seemed to be a hint of awe and respect.

’Toward a girl even younger than her?’

Mrs. Young truly couldn’t make sense of their relationship.

Cecilia Reed glanced at Amanda Vance. Seeing her nod, she finally said, "This is my boss, the founder of July. Her surname is Vance."

’The founder of July?!’

It took Mrs. Young a long moment to process what she’d just heard, and she still found it unbelievable.

Five years ago, the market for haute couture and luxury goods was almost completely monopolized by foreign brands. That is, until July burst onto the scene. Built upon Celestian cultural elements, it sparked a sensation the moment it launched, rapidly carving out a market and making everyone aware of the Celestian brand named July.

But no one knew who the founder behind it was.

Mrs. Young knew a little more than most; she knew this founder was also July’s lead designer, and that every piece she created was a limited edition—sought-after, yet priceless.

She had speculated endlessly about this mysterious founder, but she never would have imagined it would be such a young, beautiful woman.

Her astonishment gave way to haste. She quickly extended her hand, her attitude far warmer than before. "Hello, Miss Vance."

Amanda Vance remembered her as well and took her hand. "Hello."

Amanda’s demeanor was perfectly composed—neither fawning nor arrogant. Mrs. Young nodded to herself in approval. Perhaps it was the halo effect of her status as July’s founder, but she found herself taking a strong liking to the young woman and proceeded to properly introduce herself.

Her maiden name was Fang, and her husband’s surname was Young, which was why everyone called her Mrs. Young.

And that was what Amanda Vance called her.

Mrs. Young expressed her desire to open a franchise branch.

Currently, July wasn’t a chain; the only store in the entire country was the one in Aethelburg, managed by Cecilia Reed.

However, Cecilia Reed and Amanda Vance had discussed this possibility before. Once Cecilia saw that Amanda was open to the idea, she had quietly put out some feelers. A few wealthy socialites and heiresses had expressed interest, but most of them were just looking for a hobby. Mrs. Young was different. She had studied design in college, but she got married right after graduation and became a full-time housewife.

Speaking of her past, Mrs. Young grew a little wistful. "Back then, all I wanted was to spend more time with my children. I never thought so many years would pass by. Now that the kids are older, I want to do something for myself. It’s just... I don’t have any real work experience."

As she said this, a look of apprehension crossed her face.

Admitting her shortcomings so bluntly was a cardinal sin in an interview. However, she knew that if July were to seriously consider a partner, they would conduct a thorough background check. Being exposed later would be far more humiliating than simply being honest now.

Most importantly... she raised her gaze to the young woman sipping tea across from her. Despite Amanda’s youth, Mrs. Young didn’t dare underestimate her. Meeting those eyes, she had the distinct feeling of being seen right through, and she found herself unable to tell a lie.

Besides, she had a feeling that Amanda wasn’t someone who appreciated pretense.

Sure enough, when Amanda Vance heard her out, there was no hint of judgment in her eyes. Instead, she said, "You’re very impressive, Mrs. Young. Taking care of a family is no less demanding than working a full-time job."

To many, being a full-time homemaker seems like just doing a few chores, but it’s often those very chores that are the most draining. The effort they put in often goes unrecognized and unappreciated.

Amanda Vance had never been a homemaker, but she knew how difficult things could be for women, and she held no prejudice on the matter.

"But you have a point, Mrs. Young. If you want to re-enter the workforce now, it might be even more challenging for you than for others." Amanda Vance set down her cup. "Are you certain you’re mentally prepared for that?"

Catching the implication in her words, Mrs. Young’s face lit up. "I’m certain! I know I don’t have experience, but I’ll work hard and learn everything I need to."

Amanda Vance nodded and glanced at Cecilia Reed.

Cecilia Reed was a little resigned. ’How should I put this... her method for hiring people is certainly... bold.’

She thought back to a few years ago. She had been penniless, wandering the streets, with one side of her face disfigured. Everyone who saw her recoiled in fear. Only Amanda had dared to take her in. Later, she even put her in charge of July’s Aethelburg store. Amanda had been the same way back then, asking only if she had the confidence. When Cecilia said yes, Amanda had sent her back to her home country to start.

Seeing Mrs. Young’s astonished expression, Cecilia Reed suddenly realized she must have reacted the exact same way back then. Recalling this, she let out a soft laugh. Perhaps already seeing Mrs. Young as one of them, her tone grew warmer, with a hint of teasing. "Once you’ve been around her for a while, you’ll learn that’s just Megan’s way."

Mrs. Young blinked, then couldn’t help but laugh as well. "Thank you, Miss Vance."

"Don’t thank me. Thank yourself for being willing to take this step. You can do this."

"Yes!" Mrs. Young nodded emphatically, her expression growing more resolute. "I definitely won’t let you down, Miss Vance." After a pause, she remembered something and added, "And I won’t let myself down, either."

"Mm-hmm." Amanda Vance nodded, the smile on her face becoming more genuine.

"If you run into any difficulties, you can go to Cecilia."

Hearing this, Cecilia Reed put on an "I-knew-it" expression. ’Of course she’d want to be a hands-off boss again.’

’A boss like her is probably the kind everyone dreams of—good pay, minimal oversight, and never micromanages.’

Thinking about it, she felt truly lucky.

As Cecilia Reed and Mrs. Young chatted, Amanda Vance sat to one side, casually eating a small cake from her plate. ’It’s actually pretty delicious,’ she thought.

Noticing that she was nearly finished, Cecilia Reed smoothly passed her another piece. It was a different flavor from the last, but one she also liked.

Amanda continued eating, her head lowered and chin propped on her hand. She looked utterly relaxed and at ease, clearly uninterested in their conversation.

This display of trust moved both Cecilia Reed and Mrs. Young, and they each secretly resolved to do their absolute best.

To an outsider, however, the scene looked quite different.

The moment Shirley Vance walked in, she spotted Amanda Vance. Her mind immediately flashed back to the incident at the hospital. ’I only lost to her then because I never expected she’d actually get physical. With so many people around now, she wouldn’t dare try anything.’

Her gaze shifted, and she saw Mrs. Young. Her eyes lit up. Mrs. Young was a relative of Madam Ford! Her mother had worked so hard to build a connection with her, but then for some reason, Mrs. Young had suddenly cut off all contact.

’But why is she sitting with Amanda Vance now?’

’Do they know each other?’

The moment the thought occurred to her, she was certain she knew why Mrs. Young had started ignoring them. ’It must have been Amanda, spreading rumors and badmouthing us behind our backs.’

’Amanda Vance!’

She inwardly seethed, repeating the name like a curse. The hatred erupting in her eyes was so intense it was as if she wished her gaze could manifest as knives and slice Amanda into a thousand pieces.