Chapter 35
As soon as Loretta made her inquiry about meeting the chairman, Janet Amster became notably vigilant and cautious. Just a couple of days prior, Andrew had specifically asked her to keep a close eye on Loretta. It was curious that, on her very first day at the Blackwood Group, Loretta was already requesting to see the chairman. This unexpected behavior set off alarm bells for Janet.
Janet observed the young, attractive woman standing before her and wondered what her true motives were. ‘What could be the reason for her visit to the Blackwood Group? Why is she so eager to meet the chairman right from the start?’ Janet mused to herself. With a polite and warm smile, Janet said, “Our chairman doesn’t visit the office frequently, but if he does come in, I will make sure to inform him of your request and let you know if he is available to meet with you.”
Loretta’s smile wavered slightly, but she managed to maintain a pleasant demeanor. “Thank you, Miss Amster. I appreciate it.”
Once Janet was back in her office, she wasted no time in reporting this development to Andrew. The news of Loretta’s request to meet him on her first day made Andrew more alert and cautious. It was becoming clearer that Loretta’s visit to the Blackwood Group was not as straightforward as it appeared.
Andrew’s curiosity was piqued. Why was she so insistent on seeing him? Did she have any ulterior motives, perhaps intending to cause trouble or to manipulate him? The idea of her possibly being a threat or having a hidden agenda was troubling. Regardless of what her true intentions might be, Andrew knew he needed to stay vigilant and avoid revealing his actual identity to her.
That night, following Loretta’s first day at work, Clara had made arrangements for an elegant dinner at a top-tier restaurant for herself and Loretta. As Andrew was Clara’s husband, he was also expected to attend, which was a bit of a letdown for him. He had hoped to keep a low profile and avoid interactions with Loretta, but this dinner was an unavoidable obligation.
Reluctantly, Andrew got ready and accompanied Clara to the restaurant. When they arrived, Andrew was taken aback to discover that Clara had booked a table at the prestigious Grand Sky located in the Grand Pavilion. The Grand Sky was known for hosting only the most esteemed guests, and it was unusual for anyone to secure a reservation there, let alone book the entire space.
A prominent notice at the entrance announced, “Grand Sky is reserved for distinguished guests and will not be available to the public during this time. We appreciate your understanding.”
The sight of this notice left many of the onlookers in awe. The idea of someone having reserved the entire Grand Sky was nothing short of astonishing. There had been countless high-profile individuals hoping to host events there, only to be turned away. The notion that someone had succeeded in booking it was both surprising and impressive.
Clara’s eyes widened as she read the notice. “Wow, someone actually managed to reserve the Grand Sky! That’s quite an achievement!”
Andrew, finding the situation amusing, responded, “What’s the big deal? It’s just a venue. Why shouldn’t someone be able to book it?”
Clara looked at him with a hint of disbelief. “You don’t quite get it, do you? The Grand Sky isn’t just any venue. It’s a part of a luxurious global hotel chain, and typically, only top-tier members can use it. It’s not open for reservations to just anyone. For someone to secure it for a private event is extraordinary!”
Clara then sighed, adding, “I wonder who the person behind this reservation is. They must be someone truly remarkable.”
Andrew, trying to appear nonchalant, suggested, “Maybe it’s someone who deeply values their partner and wanted to celebrate their anniversary grandly.”
Clara’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “Wow, if they’re willing to go this far for their loved one, they must have a very special relationship. It must be wonderful to be their partner!”
Andrew was pleased to hear Clara express such sentiments. It was exactly the kind of reaction he had hoped for when choosing such a grand venue for their anniversary celebration.
They proceeded into the Grand Sky and took their seats. It wasn’t long before Loretta arrived.
“Clara!” Loretta greeted warmly.
“Loretta!” Clara responded with equal enthusiasm.
The two friends embraced, and their joy at seeing each other was palpable as they reminisced about the past. Their conversation was filled with excitement and fond memories as they caught up.
Eventually, the excitement settled, and Loretta playfully scolded Clara. “Clara, you really went all out by booking the Grand Sky for dinner!”
Clara laughed, her joy evident. “Well, I wanted to make sure this evening was special for you!”
Loretta smiled. “You’re the best, Clara!”
Clara then added, “To be honest, I wasn’t able to book this place myself. I had to ask Miss Janet Amster to use her membership to secure the reservation for us.”
Loretta’s eyes widened slightly. “Wow, the Grand Sky has such high standards, doesn’t it? I heard it’s only available for their highest-tier members, correct?”
Clara confirmed, “Yes, this is actually my first time here as well!”
Loretta expressed her gratitude, “Thank you so much for this wonderful experience, Clara!”
She continued, “By the way, I saw the notice on my way in. It mentioned that the Grand Sky is reserved for three days starting from now. Is that accurate?”
Clara nodded. “Yes, it’s unusual because the Grand Sky doesn’t typically accept reservations. I’m curious about who managed to book it.”
Loretta replied, “There was a viral video a while back about a mysterious wealthy individual in Beverly Hills. The video showed this person arriving in a convoy of luxury cars, surrounded by bodyguards, and spending an enormous amount of money. The speculation is that this person is the new chairman of the Blackwood Group.”
Andrew’s reaction was subtle but noticeable. He was momentarily caught off guard but quickly regained his composure.
Loretta went on, “With such a significant reservation at the Grand Sky, I believe this person might be the same individual from the video.”
Clara chuckled. “You haven’t changed. Still chasing after the latest gossip!”
Loretta laughed. “Gossip is just part of the fun for us!”
She then expressed her own excitement. “I plan to come back here in three days to see for myself who is important enough to book the Grand Sky!”
Andrew was growing increasingly concerned. He had intended the anniversary dinner to be a private celebration and hadn’t anticipated that it would attract such public interest. The allure of the Grand Sky had clearly created a buzz, and it seemed that many people, including Loretta, were eager to uncover the identity of the person behind the reservation.