Chapter 269

Chapter 269

Grand Vista Hotel

The first-floor lobby was already packed with guests—clearly, people took the Forbes Group seriously.

Charlotte didn't see Nicole or Landon anywhere. She was about to explain the situation to Keith and leave when Sabrina, who'd been accompanying Alexander as he greeted guests, spotted her.

Without hesitation, Sabrina strode over, champagne glass in hand.

"Mr. Wood? I thought you'd be too protective of Charlotte to come, so I forgot to save you a seat."

Keith's expression darkened. Before he could respond, Sabrina added with a smile, "But I never expected you'd bring Charlotte along too."

She quickly turned and ordered a server, "Hurry—bring over three stools."

Everyone else had plush, comfortable chairs. Charlotte's party got plain wooden stools.

The contempt dripping from every word wasn't lost on anyone present.

Jenna was about to lose it, but Charlotte gently held her back.

Keith frowned slightly.

They'd both graduated from Aurora College and spent over twenty years in the design world, yet here he was, being treated like dirt by someone half his age. Naturally, it stung.

Charlotte caught the look on his face and quickly stepped forward, positioning herself protectively in front of Keith.

"I thought the Forbes Group was loaded, but I guess even they have to pinch pennies at a party?"

Sabrina's face went pale. Before she could respond, Charlotte pressed on: "Good thing I reserved the VIP lounge upstairs in advance. Otherwise, when Mr. Lewis and Mrs. Nicole Forbes arrive, they wouldn't even have a place to sit. Now that would be embarrassing."

Sabrina froze.

Charlotte had reserved the VIP lounge upstairs?

Impossible!

After all, she'd heard that lounge was booked solid for the next six months.

Sabrina gave a light laugh. "Charlotte, you're joking, right? The VIP lounge upstairs has been reserved for ages."

"Excuse me, are you Ms. Charlotte Spencer?" A middle-aged man wearing a manager's name tag approached with a smile. "Please, come upstairs. The VIP lounge has been prepared exactly to your specifications."

Everyone except Charlotte and Jenna—who already knew—looked stunned.

Sabrina's face registered pure disbelief.

Even Keith was secretly shocked, wondering if he'd heard correctly.

The Grand Vista Hotel's VIP lounge wasn't something just anyone could book, let alone on such short notice.

Had someone's reservation been canceled at the last minute, giving Charlotte a lucky break?

As Keith pondered this, two figures entered through the main doors, causing an immediate stir.

It was Landon and Nicole.

Spotting Charlotte and Keith standing there, Nicole's eyes lit up.

"Mr. Wood, Charlotte." She immediately abandoned the crowd of sycophants and walked toward Charlotte, Landon's hand in hers. "Why are you standing here?"

Despite his irritation, Keith remained respectful toward Nicole.

"Ms. Sabrina Spencer just told us the first-floor hall is full. So we were about to head up to the VIP lounge."

"Mrs. Forbes, why don't you join us upstairs?"

Hearing Keith's words, Landon—who'd been supporting Nicole—let his gaze sweep coldly over those three plain stools.

Then he suddenly winked at Charlotte, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes.

Charlotte lowered her head guiltily.

After all, her arrangements were essentially a public slap in the face to the Forbes Family. Landon and Nicole would probably be furious when they figured it out, right?

Nicole's gaze bounced between Charlotte and Landon, as if she'd seen right through everything.

She actually laughed. "The VIP lounge? The view up there is spectacular. Landon, help me upstairs."

Landon complied immediately, supporting Nicole as they headed for the stairs.

He'd already received word that someone had reserved the Grand Vista Hotel's VIP lounge.

That alone wasn't particularly noteworthy—but what was noteworthy was that this mysterious person hadn't made a reservation at all. It had been completely last-minute.

The Grand Vista Hotel's owner had even paid a hefty sum to compensate the original client.

Landon was certain that even he wouldn't receive such preferential treatment.

His curiosity was growing by the second.

Seeing that Nicole was actually about to follow Charlotte to the upstairs VIP lounge, Sabrina finally panicked.

"Mrs. Nicole Forbes, please wait."

Today was the Forbes Group's fortieth anniversary—a major milestone. Nicole was the company's founder, a woman of considerable status. Many of the heavyweight guests had come specifically for her.

If she left with Charlotte, what would be the point of this banquet?

Landon helped Nicole turn around slightly. "What's the problem? Didn't you say your first-floor hall was full?"

That single, simple sentence left Sabrina completely speechless.

Fortunately, Alexander sensed something was wrong and quickly emerged from inside.

"Grandma, for you, I even made a point of inviting Nova."

"I just got off the phone with her. She's on her way—she'll be here any minute."

At the mention of Nova's name, Nicole's eyes immediately brightened, and she stopped in her tracks. "Nova? I can't believe you actually got her to come."

Nova wasn't just a legendary figure in the design world—years ago, when the Forbes Group had been on the verge of collapse, she'd extended a helping hand.

Without Nova, the Forbes Group wouldn't have achieved its current success.

Seeing Nicole waver, Sabrina quickly added, "Mrs. Nicole Forbes, Nova still hasn't renewed her contract with the Forbes Group. Maybe she's planning to sign publicly during this celebration."

"If you're not present for such an important moment, wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

Sabrina was still thinking about renewing Nova's contract?

Charlotte's lips curved in a cold smirk. She was curious to see what other tricks Sabrina had up her sleeve when another commotion erupted at the entrance.

A striking woman in her early thirties with long, elegant hair appeared first in Charlotte's line of sight.

The moment she saw Charlotte, she opened her arms wide. "Charlotte! So good to see you!"

After they embraced, the refined and gentle Declan walked in as well. "Charlotte, it's been too long."

Charlotte smiled, her eyes misting slightly. "Declan, it's been too long."

Everyone had assumed from the woman's confident entrance that she must be Nova, but it turned out she was just an acquaintance of Charlotte's.

Then again, people reasoned, Nova always appeared in public wearing her signature butterfly mask. Why would this time be any different?

Just as everyone was about to disperse, the long-haired woman suddenly exclaimed, "This is the Forbes Group's anniversary celebration?"

Sabrina had also mistaken the long-haired woman for Nova earlier. Now, seeing her make such a fuss, she couldn't hide her displeasure. "I don't suppose you've seen this kind of event before, have you? Want to stick around and broaden your horizons?"

The long-haired woman looked at Sabrina with obvious disdain. "Broaden my horizons? Seriously?"

Then she pulled something from her bag and waved it directly in Sabrina's face. "If it weren't for this invitation, I wouldn't have bothered coming."

Sabrina's eyes widened in shock!

Wasn't that the special gilt invitation designed specifically for Nova?

Could this woman actually be Nova?

Forgetting all decorum, Sabrina snatched the invitation right out of the woman's hand!