Chapter 27
"For sleep," William said. "You definitely haven't been resting well these past few days. After you finish the anniversary event tonight, use a little before bed—it'll help you sleep better."
Ophelia held the bottle of lavender essential oil, still warm to the touch, and her heart suddenly softened.
She looked up at William. His profile in the dim car light seemed especially gentle, unlike his usual cold, hard demeanor in business.
"Thank you," she said softly, her voice carrying a barely noticeable hoarseness.
She'd been working nonstop these past days, sleeping only three or four hours a night. She really was at her limit, and he'd actually noticed.
William smiled without saying much, just raised his hand to gesture at her. "Go on up, don't keep Della waiting."
Ophelia nodded, pushed open the car door, and got out. After taking just a couple of steps, she turned back and tapped on his window. "Mr. Brown, tonight... thank you for coming."
William raised an eyebrow, his eyes smiling. "I told you I'd have your back."
Ophelia's cheeks warmed. She turned and quickly ran into the Smith Group building, her heart beating even faster than before.
Back at the rooftop garden, Della was directing workers to adjust the sound system. Seeing her return, she hurried over. "Ophelia, you're finally back! Ms. Smith just sent someone to ask again if we needed a few bodyguards to come 'help.' I think she just wants to spy on us."
Ophelia put the essential oil in her bag, her eyes calm again. "Ignore her. We'll stick to the plan."
She walked to the stage and checked the microphones and lighting equipment, then went to the temporary kitchen to see how the food prep was going.
The vegetables from the farm still carried the fresh scent of soil. The chef was handling the free-range ingredients, and the aroma was already wafting out, making even the nearby workers swallow involuntarily.
"Ophelia, what do you think of this plating?" the chef asked, pointing to some cold dishes just prepared.
The plates were simple white porcelain, edges decorated with mint leaves and cherry tomatoes, looking fresh and refined, perfectly matching the surroundings.
"Very good, keep this style," Ophelia nodded with satisfaction. "Watch the pacing of the courses—don't make the guests wait too long."
As they busied themselves, the sky gradually darkened, and the city lights came on one by one. Looking out through the rooftop railings, it was like a brilliant galaxy.
The warm yellow string lights were all lit up, wrapped around the vines. When the breeze blew, the lights swayed gently, making the whole garden feel tender.
Della checked her watch. "Ophelia, the guests should be arriving soon. Should we go down to greet them?"
Ophelia looked at her shirt, which had gotten a bit dusty, and frowned. "You go down first. I'll go to the restroom to freshen up."
Just as she reached the stairway, she saw Freya standing there, holding a glass of red wine, wearing a fake smile.
"Ophelia, done with your work?" Freya swirled the wine in her glass. "I'd advise you not to get your hopes up too much. Mrs. Smith and Mr. Brown are both coming. If you mess this up, you'll have no place left at the Smith Group."
Ophelia couldn't be bothered with her and moved to walk around her.
But Freya deliberately blocked her way, lowering her voice. "You think Mr. Brown is really here to help you? He's just doing it for Mrs. Smith's sake. Once you're no use to him, he'll abandon you just the same."
Ophelia paused, her eyes turning cold. "Freya, you're so eager to see me fail—is it because things aren't going well for you?"
"Jeffrey's company is about to go under. Your position as the future Mrs. Adams isn't secure, so you want to drag me down with you?"
Freya's expression changed, gripping her wine glass tightly. "What nonsense are you talking?"
"Whether it's nonsense, you know in your heart." Ophelia sneered, pushing past her. "I'd advise you to mind your own business. Don't wait until Jeffrey really does make a scene and you can't even protect yourself."
Freya watched her retreating figure, trembling with anger, nearly spilling the red wine in her hand.
Ophelia went to the restroom to quickly tidy her clothes. Just as she came out, she heard car horns from downstairs—the guests had arrived.
She took a deep breath, adjusted her mindset, and hurried downstairs to greet them.
The lobby was already filled with quite a few people. Mireille wore a dark red gown, sitting on the sofa, surrounded by several Smith family elders. William stood beside her in a black suit, his posture straight, drawing frequent glances from many female guests.
Ainsley wore a gorgeous evening gown, weaving through the crowd, accepting others' flattery. When she saw Ophelia come down, her eyes immediately turned contemptuous.
"Ophelia, you're finally down. Most of the guests have arrived. Why don't you hurry up and take everyone upstairs?" Ainsley's tone was arrogant, as if she were the one hosting the anniversary event.
Ophelia ignored her and walked up to Mireille, bowing her head slightly. "Mrs. Smith, Mr. Brown, the rooftop is ready. Distinguished guests, please follow me upstairs."
Mireille looked her over, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes. "You've worked hard."
William also looked at her, his eyes carrying an encouraging smile. "Lead the way."
Ophelia turned to lead the way, walking up the stairs with a group following behind, chatting curiously as they went.
"I heard this anniversary event was planned by a newcomer. Wonder how it'll be."
"I see the venue is on the rooftop—won't that be a bit shabby?"
"Ms. Smith just said the budget was only a hundred thousand dollars. I'm skeptical."
These words reached Ophelia's ears, but she wasn't flustered at all, her steps remaining steady.
When they reached the rooftop garden entrance, everyone stopped, their faces showing surprise.
Warm yellow string lights wove together into a sea of lights. Wicker tables and chairs were neatly arranged, surrounded by greenery and flowers. The air was filled with the aroma of food and a faint floral scent.
In the distance was the brilliant city nightscape; nearby was the warm, elegant setup. The two complemented each other beautifully, so stunning people couldn't look away.
"This is so beautiful!"
"This isn't shabby at all—it's incredibly tasteful!"
"A hundred thousand dollars could do this? That's amazing!"
Exclamations rose one after another. Ainsley's expression immediately soured. She never expected Ophelia to actually pull off such results with a hundred thousand dollars.
Freya stood beside her, panicking too. She'd originally thought Ophelia would definitely mess up the anniversary event, but unexpectedly, it turned out so impressive.
Mireille's face broke into a smile, looking at Ophelia with eyes full of approval. "Ophelia, you've done very well."
Hearing Mireille praise Ophelia, Ainsley felt like needles were pricking her heart. She quickly walked to Mireille's side, taking her arm, her tone coquettish. "Grandma, don't let her fool you!"
"This setup looks flashy, but it's actually not presentable at all. It's all cheap stuff. If word gets out, people will just laugh at the Smith Group for being stingy!"