Chapter 441
After the president of the charity foundation stepped down from the stage, only Niamh and the host remained under the bright lights.
The host picked up the microphone once more and announced, “Now, please welcome our award presenter… Mr. Jonathan Thomas, CEO of The Thomas Group.”
Jonathan rose from his seat with calm composure. The same couldn’t be said for Sprague and Marigold, seated right beside him. Both looked visibly unsettled. Neither of them had heard there would be an awards segment at tonight’s charity auction, let alone that Jonathan would be the one presenting it.
At a nearby table, Prince William’s face had gone ashen. He shot the host a sharp look, silently demanding to know why the program was suddenly off–script. As a co–host and the evening’s main patron, he was supposed to be the one presenting the award.
The host could only force a nervous smile. He was just an employee–he had no idea why the presenter had been switched at the last minute.
Jonathan stepped onto the stage, accepted the certificate from an usher, and handed it to Niamh.
Under the stage lights, his sharply defined features were cast in striking relief, but Niamh couldn’t read a single thought on Jonathan’s face. All she saw was the faint, charming curve of his smile.
“Congratulations,” he said.
“…Thank you.”
Niamh cradled the honorary certificate in one arm and reached out with the other to shake Jonathan’s hand. That was the standard procedure at events like this, and
it didn’t strike her as odd–after all, Jonathan had offered his hand first.
.Their hands met.
Jonathan’s palm was cool to the touch.
As soon as the handshake should have ended, Niamh tried to withdraw her hand. But Jonathan didn’t let go.
She blinked, surprised, and gave a slight tug to free herself. Jonathan only tightened his grip.
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Chapter 441
Niamh lifted her gaze, glaring at him.
His professional smile didn’t falter, nor did his hold on her hand.
All eyes in the audience were trained on them. Niamh had no idea what Jonathan was playing at.
“Let go,” she whispered under her breath.
Jonathan ignored her.
Niamh remembered–Jonathan never did take advice from anyone.
The crowd noticed something was off, especially since everyone knew Jonathan and Niamh were ex–spouses. Now here they were, standing side by side on stage, still holding hands. The speculation in the room was almost palpable.
Marigold edged closer to Sprague and hissed, “What’s wrong with your son tonight?”
“How should I know?” Sprague snapped, shooting her an irritated look.
“What do you mean, you don’t know? Didn’t you say Jonathan was well–behaved, respectful, that he’d agreed to meet the Quinn family’s daughter?”
“For heaven’s sake, keep your voice down,” Sprague muttered, annoyed, but with the Quinns sitting nearby, he couldn’t exactly push Marigold away.
The truth was, Jonathan had never actually agreed to a blind date with Ramona Quinn. In Sprague’s mind, though, the fact that Jonathan had agreed to meet her one–on–one to discuss business was as good as a yes.
After all, Jonathan was sharp enough to know exactly what Sprague’s intentions were for an alliance with the Quinns.
Sprague had been pleased, thinking that once Jonathan agreed, the union between the Thomas and Quinn families was practically a done deal.
But Jonathan’s behavior tonight had left him deeply dissatisfied.
He wasn’t the only one. Marigold’s worries were written all over her face; she was terrified that Jonathan’s conduct would offend the Quinns.
