Chapter 61: The Gossip

Morgan noticed the sudden stiffness in Isobel’s posture. Following her gaze, he immediately spotted the source of her distraction.

Kristoff Dalton.

Morgan’s brows drew together slightly.

He had seen the way Isobel looked at Kristoff before.

Far too often and she would be in a daze.

The girl had probably fallen harder than she realized.

Unfortunately, the man she had chosen was the worst possible choice.

Kristoff was engaged.

Not only that, but his devotion to Charlotte was well known among the upper circles.

Morgan had little interest in other people’s relationships, but he did not want to see Isobel get hurt.

"Isobel, let’s go."

His voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

She blinked and quickly looked away.

"Yes."

Unfortunately, there was no avoiding Kristoff.

As the host of the summit, he stood before the grand double doors of the hall, personally welcoming distinguished guests.

The closer they got, the more acutely Isobel felt Kristoff’s gaze on her.

It was impossible to ignore.

Morgan noticed it as well. His eyes shifted to Kristoff, and a faint mocking smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

So, the great Kristoff Dalton was staring after all.

The smile lingered only for a moment.

By the time they reached the top of the staircase and stood before him, it had transformed into a polished, professional one.

The kind exchanged between powerful men who respected each other’s abilities, yet never missed an opportunity to gain the upper hand.

To an outsider, they looked cordial.

Only those who knew them well would recognize the rivalry hidden beneath their smiles and polished hand shakes.

"Congratulations, Kristoff."

Morgan extended his hand.

"I heard you’ve changed careers."

A faint smile appeared on Kristoff’s face as he accepted the handshake.

"I couldn’t beat you at your game, so I built my own playground instead."

His gaze briefly swept over the luxurious surroundings.

"One playground isn’t big enough for the both of us."

Morgan chuckled.

"Smart move."

His eyes flicked toward the towering windows overlooking The Horizon.

"The Apex and Horizon projects exceeded everyone’s expectations."

This time, Kristoff’s smile became genuine. Praise from Morgan Foster was not easily earned.

"Thank you."

His confidence was evident as he continued.

"I intend to make the theme park an even greater success."

"It will be." Morgan nodded.

There was no hesitation in Morgan’s response. For a brief moment, mutual respect replaced their rivalry.

Then Kristoff’s attention shifted.

To Isobel.

The warmth vanished from his expression. His eyes turned cold and distant.

"So this is your new secretary?"

The question hung in the air.

Isobel’s fingers tightened slightly around the strap of her handbag.

Morgan, however, let out an amused snort.

"Secretary?"

The word sounded almost insulting to him. He glanced at Isobel before looking back at Kristoff.

"She’s far too talented for that role."

For the first time, Kristoff’s expression faltered. Just slightly.

Morgan caught it and smiled.

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"She is an important asset to my company.."

Kristoff frowned.

Morgan wanted to introduce her as the creator of KitKat but Isobel cut him short.

"I am just Mr. Foster’s executive assistant."

...

The summit was scheduled to last the entire day. The opening session began with the welcoming remarks from the host of the event.

As the heir of Dalton Holdings and the CEO of Dalton Realty, Kristoff personally took the center stage.

Dressed in a tailored black suit, he immediately drew the attention of the entire hall.

The spotlight illuminated his sharp features. A loose fringe fell across his forehead, softening his otherwise commanding appearance and lending him an effortless charm.

The chatter in the hall gradually died down.

Kristoff accepted the microphone from the host and strode to the center of the stage. His strides were confident and composed and the way he carried himself was flawless, as though he had been born to stand before a crowd.

Isobel found herself watching him closely. She had to admit it. Kristoff was exceptional.

Whether it was his bearing, his confidence, or the way he commanded the attention of hundreds of people with a few simple words, there was something captivating about him.

His speech was neither overly long nor unnecessarily grand.

Every sentence was deliberate and every word carried weight.

He spoke of innovation, collaboration, and the future of technology with such ease that even those who were not interested in business found themselves listening.

For a brief moment, Isobel forgot where she was. Her eyes remained fixed on him.

On the stage, Kristoff continued speaking without missing a beat.

Yet before concluding his remarks, his gaze swept across the audience.

Row after row of executives, investors and industry leaders.

Then his eyes zeroed in on Isobel.

She was seated beside Morgan at the VIP table. Just as she had been during the engagement party.

The sight struck him harder than it should have.

An unfamiliar tightness settled in his chest and Kristoff hated it. He hated the fact that his attention kept drifting toward her and that he could not seem to control it.

By the time the applause erupted through the hall, his mood had already soured.

After leaving the stage, he was preparing to head toward the VIP section when his secretary stepped beside him.

"Boss."

Her voice was lowered.

"There is something you might find interesting."

Kristoff glanced at her.

"What is it?" ℯℯ𝑙.

She subtly nodded toward the VIP table.

Toward Isobel.

"When our theme park team visited Aoiryx for the collaboration meeting, they heard some rumors."

Kristoff’s expression remained neutral.

"They said Morgan Foster’s nanny was hired by Aoiryx and immediately given a management position."

His eyes narrowed slightly. The secretary continued.

"According to the gossip, she got the position because she climbed into Morgan’s bed."

For a moment, Kristoff said nothing. His gaze instinctively found Isobel again.

She was listening attentively to the speaker who had taken the stage after him.

She looked poised in her seat. She looked professional and confident.

Nothing about her resembled the image painted by the rumor.

And yet...

The thought had already taken root. A dark emotion he refused to acknowledge stirred within him.

Jealousy.

His expression grew colder.

"So that’s how it is."

His gaze lingered on her for several seconds.

Then he looked away.

"So even with impressive school credentials, she still needed a man to climb the corporate ladder."

The words left a bitter taste in his mouth.

A bitterness he could not explain.