Chapter 115 - PROVOCATION
"Yes, my future wife wants it," Ramon replied briefly and this answer drew a lot of smiles from the people around them, especially Hailee, who felt that all eyes were staring at her with amazement because she succeeded in making a man like Ramon Tordoff kneel before her and make him do everything he could to please her.
But, that was not the case with Giana.
Although the sweet smile that appeared on her red lips could still be seen, it did not reach her eyes at all and she was not happy with Ramon's answer and the response from the audience.
In this room, there really weren't any reporters because this was a private event, but it was certain that this moment would remain in the memories of the people attended tonight.
And with any luck, maybe the reporters could find a way to get news of what Ramon said just now.
You know, sometimes those journalists have a thousand and one ways to get what they want, as the influence of the mass media is very strong.
After saying this, Ramon returned the mic that had been given to him, indicating that he no longer wanted to answer any questions.
On the stage, Giana felt that this task was much tougher than she had expected, as at this point she wanted to go to Ramon and ask him why he could forget about the two of them, but what she was really doing right now was smiling brilliantly to finish that night's auction.
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The auction ended just as the hour needle hit midnight and, of course, Ramon managed to get Hailee the tiara, which she would be wearing at their wedding.
The amount of money Ramon had to spend was simply exorbitant and the tiara was the most expensive item to be sold at tonight's auction.
At first, Hailee felt bad that Ramon had to spend that much money, but after seeing that the man did not even blink when he signed the tiara purchase, Hailee could only reply to Ramon with a sweet smile and a kiss.
Which received applause from the guests present. They congratulated the lovely couple who were getting married next week.
Even after the event was over and they were in the adjoining hall enjoying the prepared drinks and food, several people Hailee did not know or whom she only saw on television, came over and congratulated her in person.
They seem to be on friendly terms with Hailee as one of the socialite women in her forties, whom Hailee even forgot her name for, even told Ramon to leave Hailee and join the boys' chat.
Ramon smiled politely at the woman.
"Are you okay with them?" Ramon asked Hailee, tidying up the few strands of her hair that were starting to come out of order.
Hailee wanted to tell Ramon to stay with her, or better yet, if they could go home now, but what came out of her lips was very different from what she wanted to say. "Yes, it is okay." Hailee smiled slightly at Ramon, to make sure that the expression on her face didn't show her true feelings.
How can you refuse when the questioner looks at you expectantly? It is a basic of politeness.
Hhh ...
Hailee wanted to go home soon.
Being at a party you are not comfortable plus not knowing anyone there except your future husband, sometimes creates a lot of pressure.
However, luckily Hailee had been taught enough about social interaction among socialites and attended several parties with her father and mother before this, to understand one main rule in the parties you attend, namely; whatever you feel, keep smiling
And that's what Hailee is doing now.
She smiled at the joke, which wasn't funny in the slightest, from the woman who had suggested Ramon to leave her side.
Hailee forced herself to smile until her cheekbones felt stiff, as this chat was not for her at all.
Because she did not know what to do and could only answer 'yes', 'no', 'oh' and 'great', as well as telling them that the preparations for her wedding had been going on and what entertainment would be offered at her wedding, or about the background of her family, who are not very well known in town A, luckily they were polite enough not to mention it, most of what Hailee did was keeping silence or drink her cocktail.
However, this last activity made Hailee feel an urge to go to the toilet immediately.
"Sorry, I am going to the toilet for a while," Hailee said politely to the three women, who were way enthusiastic to her liking, and they teased her by saying that she wanted to run away and see Ramon because Hailee missed him.
Yeah, if Hailee could and was crazy enough to put modesty aside, for her the idea of going over to Ramon right now didn't seem that bad…
"I will be right back." After promising as such, Hailee immediately left there, but she could still hear those laughing on jokes about her missing Ramon.
Well, whatever ...
Hailee quickened her pace, but was careful enough on her high heel shoes, so as not to fall, she didn't want to embarrass herself in such a way, especially when this was the first formal party Hailee attended together with Ramon.
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Giana had been watching Ramon from the very beginning. The man entered the hotel hall with a girl named Hailee by his side.
She intended to approach Ramon, but didn't want to be too obvious, it was just that Ramon was constantly beside Hailee and the two of them had never left one another.
From the interaction between the two of them, Giana could see that Ramon looked comfortable with the girl and this made her jealous as she felt all of this unacceptable.
How could Ramon forget what happened between the two of them just like that? Did he really feel nothing when he was around Giana?
It was true that at that time Giana was too aggressive and didn't give Ramon time to think for a moment, but ...
"... so, what do you think Mrs. Smith?" A man who owned a well- known textile business in town A, suddenly said her name and this surprised Giana a little because she didn't really follow the conversation with this person in front of her.
"Ah," Giana smiled to mask her nervousness because she had missed the person's question and chose to answer diplomatically. "I agree with you," she replied straightforwardly.
Giana chose to stand in a position where she could observe Ramon and when she saw an opportunity, namely when some socialites approached Hailee and Ramon said goodbye to leave her, Giana did the same and allowed Dillon to make small talk with those people in her place.
"Sorry, excuse me for a moment," Giana smiled briefly and immediately walked away even before hearing the answer from her interlocutor.
The woman in red followed the man who had been in an affair with her for the past two years and lined up her footsteps with Ramon before he reached the small group of middle- aged men who were old money in city A.
"I want to talk to you," Giana said, she didn't want to make small talk with Ramon to convey what was on her mind.
Ramon glanced at Giana who was now walking beside him. "I guess there's nothing to talk about," he said quietly.
"Ramon, we are in public, I bet you don't want to get these people's attention. Or get embroiled in a scandal a week before your wedding." Giana's cheerful expression did not match the threatening words she spoke to Ramon. "You always wanted your private life to be a secret and that is the reason why we were together for two years without anyone knowing." Giana then nodded politely in return to someone who waved at her.
Giana didn't really want to use threats against Ramon, she knew very well that this man didn't like being threatened or forced to do anything he didn't want, regardless of the situation.
However, Giana had no better way, because Ramon had repeatedly refused her phone calls and appointments.
"Then it remains a secret." Ramon didn't slow down at all and acted as if he didn't know Giana.
"You know that we need to talk seriously about this," said Giana. "I will be waiting for you on the balcony on the left, come over when no one is noticing."
After saying that, Giana took the opposite direction and walked toward the balcony she mentioned earlier, without waiting for Ramon's reply.
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Hailee finished her business in a toilet stall and just as she was about to leave, she heard the voices of two women gossiping together.
However, what kept her from opening the door was her hearing them mention her name and Ramon's.
"… Hailee Tatum, if I am not mistaken," said a woman with a slightly hoarse voice, like someone who has been smoking for decades. "If I am not mistaken she is the daughter of the owner of a famous diamond company in the city of R."
"Oh, I didn't know that… it seems like her family doesn't really have much influence in town A," replied the second woman in her voice that was slightly loud.
Didn't they think about the possibility that the person they were talking about might be in one of these toilet cubicles? Hailee couldn't stop thinking about the women, but then she was really engrossed in listening.
"I can't stop thinking how can someone like Ramon Tordoff marry a woman with such an unfortunate background as the Tatum family? Meanwhile he can marry any woman from the upper classes," said the first woman.
"That's right," agreed the second woman. "After all, Ramon Tordoff can have whoever he wants, but it's a shame he ended up with that woman. Well, although her face is not too ugly, but you can't say she is very beautiful like the model that was rumored with him in the past." It was clear that she was envious from the way the woman spoke.
'That woman?'
Hailee hissed inwardly, what kind of women do they mean?
Then in the next second Hailee opened the door to the toilet cubicle where she was hiding and walked toward the two women and their shocked expressions were really priceless.
Then, casually, Hailee stood between the two of them and took out a lipstick from her tiny handbag, and while dabbing her lips with it, Hailee looked at the two women who were frozen in place through the mirror and said.
"Why did Ramon choose me? Of course because I have something those socialite ladies don't." Hailee then glanced at them arrogantly.