Chapter 83 The Video
All eyes were fixed on Cara and Romeo yet the two walked without a care of the world. Cara would not lie that a part of her was feeling nervous but she managed to keep it from showing.
Thanks to the man she had right next to her, anything seemed possible and nothing seemed impossible.
She walked with her hand wrapped around his, keeping each other close no matter what.
Romeo on the other hand was not worried a single bit, it was not the first time for him attending such a gathering and it was definitely not the first he would have all eyes focused on him.
He had gotten used to having so much attention on him and being in the spotlight from a very young age thanks to the family he hailed from. It was his strength and weakness.
Mr Knowles rushed from the stage and hurried towards Romeo. "Mr Armani! I didn't know you would be the one attending the event."
Romeo gave him a gentle smile. "It is a pleasure to see you too Mr Knowles. Is my presence not gracing enough?" He let his brow arch slightly.
Mr Knowles let out a rushed nervous laugh. "Oh no! No of course not! Your presence is more than gracing! I am so pleased to have you here instead! Your presence is the most gracing of all the people here!"
Romeo did not say anything in response. He simply followed Mr Knowles as he led him and Cara to their seats at the high table.
After they sat down, Mr Knowles gave a deep bow to Romeo and tipped his head for Cara just so he would not upset Romeo. He hated the fact that his own former daughter in law was now someone he had to bow his head to greet.
And he also knew that if he decided to feed his pride and not greet her then that would be him waging war against the Armani family. Romeo Armani to be precise.
He went back to the stage and gave a formal apology for cutting off with the introduction earlier before continuing. "Once again, I warmly welcome you all to this blissful event put together by my one and only daughter in-law. None of this would have been possible if it was not thanks to her skill and will to handle things properly."
Jessica gave an innocent smile and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You flatter me too much, father. All of this is possible only because of you. You are the inspiration behind all of this."
He gave a loud laughter and one of the condemning women from earlier rolled her eyes.
Mr Knowles cleared his throat softly. "It is with great pleasure that I announce it here in front of all of you that my own daughter in-law, Jessica Knowles, has proved herself of this title I am about to bestow on her. From this moment onward, Jessica Knowles will take over the position of loss control and financial accounting management."
Murmurs filled the hall in an instant. "What? Loss control and financial accounting management!"
"Isn't that the position of his own wife!"
"Why would he do something like that?"
"He is not even trying to hide his affair anymore!"
"How despicable!"
Sarah felt uncomfortable in her own skin. Rather than applauding, people just whispered and murmured to each other about his decision on taking away his own wife's position and giving it to his daughter in-law whom he was rumored to be dating.
She cleared her throat and adjusted her clothes. Forcing a smile to her face, she began applauding and even rose to her feet.
People followed in her lead, with only a few rising to their feet though, they all applauded and Jessica gave a deep bow with a bright smile on her face.
Mr Knowles laughed cheerfully. Raising his hand, he stopped the cheering and spoke. "My wife has a few words she would like to say to congratulate our daughter in-law."
Sarah arched her brow at him while trying hard to keep her smile from breaking. She was forced to walk up to the stage and with anger boiling in her veins, she snatched the microphone from her husband.
He handed her a note with a speech already drafted there. She hated how much of a fool they were making her. Her eyes traveled to where Jessica was standing and she wanted to throw herself at her and pull out every strand of hair on her head.
But she had to comport herself and act accordingly.
Clearing her throat, she started. "Uhm... I don't really have much to say. I just want to let everyone know that everything grows old, even a beautiful rose as myself is bound to get older.
"As much as I want to keep working hard and helping our blissful company, I also have a company of my own to look after. My fashion house needs more attention than ever these days so I have to be there to answer to every call but I cannot do that when I have to be taking care of things here as well.
"So I decided to hand it over to the one woman I..." She cleared her throat. "I trust the most."
Forcing a smile to her face, she looked up from the written note, hands trembling in anger and heart racing with fuming rage. Yet a smile played on her face.
She dropped the note and bowed her head slightly to the guest.
Jessica ran up to her and threw her arms around her. "I can't believe you would say such sweet words about me!" She faked a tear. "I love you so much."
Sarah stood still like a log of wood, trying her best not to act out. If Jessica did not let go of her, she would be forced to push her away, not caring for the amount of eyes that were watching them.
It was as if Jessica already knew what was on her mind. She leaned closer to Sarah's ear and whispered. "If you keep refusing to play along then I will be forced to play the recording I have with me."
Sarah's eyes widened. "Re--record--" the words hung in her throat.