“Mr. Shane would like to see you.” Silas pointed to the front.
Following the finger, Natalie saw Shane holding a microphone just next to the stage. He was saying
something to a waiter. “Okay, I’ll be right over.” Natalie nodded before walking towards Shane.
“Mr. Shane,” Natalie called out softly when she reached the man.
Shane stopped talking to the waiter and looked sideways. “How long have you been there?”
“For a while. Anything, Mr. Shane?” inquired Natalie.
Shane did not answer the question. Only after adjusting the volume of the microphone did he speak.
“Get ready for your reward.”
When the man went up to the stage, the hall became quiet, and all eyes were on him.
Shane cleared his throat before getting started. “Welcome to our celebration! As you all know, the show
today was a huge success, and I believe some of you deserve a reward for it. The first on the list is
Natalie Smith!”
The crowd immediately burst into applause.
Smiling, Natalie walked up to the stage and stood beside Shane.
Shane then handed her a check.
Natalie was taken aback when she saw the amount on it. “Mr. Shane, don’t you think the amount is too
much?”
She expected to get some sort of reward at the party, but she never thought it would be five million.
“Not really. The show’s success meant that our apparel company would soon become a new blue-chip
company under the Thompson Group. In other words, you’ve just created billions in value for the group
and tens of billions for the subsidiary. This check is nothing compared to that contribution.”
Natalie felt better after Shane’s explanation, so she happily accepted the check. “Thank you, Mr. Shane!”
She was so happy that her eyes crinkled into tiny crescents.
Shane could not help being amused by Natalie’s response. A smile flashed across the man’s face before
he moved on to reward the next person.
After coming down from the stage, Natalie smiled and thanked those who congratulated her.
She got tired of socializing after a while, so she came up with an excuse to go to the lounge.
However, before she could even reach the room, someone called out to her. “Congratulations, Nat! You’ll
be a famous designer from now on.”
Natalie straightened her back and snapped her head around when she heard the voice. The woman
froze as she stared at two people holding each other.
“What brings you here, Mr. Sean?” Natalie asked Sean curiously.
The man adjusted his glasses. “Well, I am a senior executive of the group. Of course, I have to join in on
the celebration.”
So that’s why!
Natalie put her wine glass down when the realization dawned on her. “Enjoy your time here, Mr. Sean.
Please excuse me.”
She was ready to leave and go somewhere else because she did not want to be in the same room as
Sean.
However, the man suddenly grabbed her arm and smiled deviously. “Are you leaving because of me? Do
you really fear me that much?”
Natalie pulled her arm away in disgust. “I don’t appreciate the physical contact, Mr. Sean. Please refrain
from doing that again, or I will sue for harassment!”
“Wow!” Sean whistled arrogantly. “Your temper sure has gotten a lot worse since the last time we met.”
Natalie dusted her arm off to show her disdain for the man. “My temper depends on the person I’m
dealing with.”
“I can tell.” Sean held his chin as he nodded. “You’re good to everyone but me, so that makes me
special, doesn’t it?”
The man then pointed at Natalie’s chest.
She scowled at Sean. “Don’t be so sure. You don’t have a place in my heart.”
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