Chapter 406
For instance, Niamh had brought Lana along.
Lana was dressed in a shimmering silver gown she’d bought from a boutique weeks ago, paired with matching heels–Niamh’s suggestion, of course. She’d even gone to the salon to have her hair and makeup done for the occasion.
“You really think dressing up like this is going to help me meet my Prince Charming?” Lana asked, clearly skeptical.
Niamh nodded with certainty. “Absolutely. I’m on the lookout for you.”
“Oh, please. If you’re picking, then I definitely need to stay away,” Lana replied, waving her hand in mock disgust.
“And why not? I think I have pretty good taste!”
“Yeah, right!”
Lana was genuinely baffled by Niamh’s blind confidence.
She shot Niamh a look. “This coming from the woman who fell for Jonathan–the king of all jerks.”
Niamh opened her mouth, but for once couldn’t come up with a retort.
Deep down, though, she still felt Lana was being unfair. When she’d first fallen for Jonathan, he hadn’t been a jerk–at least, not that she could see. People change, she told herself. Once, she’d thought her first love with Jonathan would be unforgettable; turns out, for him, it was Marina who left the real mark.
Thankfully, she’d wised up.
– “Fine, if you don’t trust my taste, you can pick for yourself!”
“Pick what? Most of these people are only here to network and close d’s,” Lana. muttered, glancing around, visibly bored. “Nobody comes to these things looking for romance. And honestly, these business types aren’t really my crowd.”
Niamh just laughed. “Come on, keep looking. Sooner or later, you’ll find someone who catches your eye.”
She was about to drag Lana toward the dance floor when an event staff member came over and whispered something in her ear.
“Sorry, Lána, something’s come up,” Niamh said.
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“Don’t worry about me. Go do your thing!” Lana replied.
Niamh followed the staff member to the entrance, where two security guards were blocking Marina’s way.
When Marina spotted Niamh, her eyes flashed with fury.
Niamh lowered her gaze and looked Marina up and down. Marina wore a pale pink cocktail dress and clutched an invitation in her hand–clearly here for the gala.
The invitations had gone out to all members of the Jewelry Association a month ago. Back then, Marina hadn’t yet been kicked out, so naturally she’d received one.
With an invitation in hand, security shouldn’t have stopped her. But everyone knew by now that Niamh was the new president of the association, and the first thing she’d done in her new role was revoke Marina’s membership.
Keeping Marina out was just a way to curry favor with the new boss.
“Niamh, I have an invitation! They can’t keep me out!” Marina protested, her voice sharp.
Her company hadn’t collapsed or gone bankrupt, but she was down to her last client. This gala was her one big chance–she couldn’t afford to miss it.
Niamh calmly extended her hand. “Who’s to say your invitation isn’t a forgery? Let
me see it.”
“Oh, please. You think I have time to fake a piece of paper?” Marina grumbled, shoving the invitation at her.
With a dramatic rip, Niamh tore the invitation in two and tossed the scraps into a nearby trash can.
Marina stared at her, stunned.
“Well, now you don’t have an invitation,” Niamh said coolly.
“Niamh!” Marina shrieked, lunging at her, but the guards blocked her path.
“If she causes any more trouble, call the police. And put out a notice,” Niamh told the staff member.
“Niamh! You witch! You’ll pay for this!” Marína screamed, still struggling as the guards held her back.
Niamh gave the guards a look. “Get her out of here.”
Without hesitation, the two guards hauled Marina away, her shoes scraping against
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Chapter 406
the floor as she kicked and thrashed, before unceremoniously dumping her
outside.
Inside the hall, Lana caught the echo of Marina’s furious shouting.
Worried Niamh might need backup, she hurried toward the entrance, her heels clicking rapidly on the floor. In her haste, she caught her heel on the hern of her dress and nearly toppled over.
Luckily, someone caught her just in time.
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