Chapter 131
Lola scanned the faces of the crowd, struggling to comprehend their behavior.
Despite Dominick’s remarkable abilities, he was still a newcomer to Aerionia and had yet to establish himself in the region. Did they really need to lavish such praise on him?
“I had heard rumors about an extraordinary young man gracing our presence, but I was skeptical at first. Now that I see you in person, I must say, I’m truly impressed. What a fine–looking gentleman you are, Mr. Sinclair!”
The flattery continued, much to Lola’s discomfort. They only knew Dominic was a capable businessman but were blind to the kind of person he really was behind closed doors.
Fine–looking gentleman? To her, he was nothing short of a devil!
“Hey, is this young lady here with Mr. Sinclair? She looks familiar.”
At last, someone in the crowd noticed Lola, his voice drawing a wave of attention to them.
“Isn’t this Ms. Lewis? I recall hearing some gossip about her and Dominick recently. Ms. Lewis, what brings you here? I thought you’d avoid the spotlight for the time being.”
Dominick’s face tensed slightly, betraying his irritation.
“She’s here for the banquet, obviously. Isn’t that a rather stupid question?”
Arnold Kellis, the CEO of the Kellis Group and a prominent figure in Aerionia, asked the question.
Dominick’s bold response without any regard for his pride left everyone stunned.
Given his boldness in speech, it was evident that he wasn’t afraid of Arnold. Others were clearly surprised, not daring to speak a word.
Arnold’s expression morphed into an awkward one, understanding Dominick’s clear intention to protect Lola.
With Dominick’s backing, no one dared to make a jest of the situation anymore.
Lola had anticipated that they would undoubtedly seize upon the rumors surrounding the two of them.
She stood silently behind Dominick, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor.
Dominick’s discontent grew. “Aren’t we here for the banquet? Why are you all in my way?”
As Dominick’s words fell, the crowd outside the door parted to make way.
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“Mr. Sinclair, please,” they ushered.
Dominick escorted tola through the entrance, paying little heed to the curious gazes that followed them.
Meticulous preparations had already been made, adorning the hall with an air of luxury and sophistication.
seat in a secluded spot.
Dominick, averse to crowded gatherings C
The recent unpleasantness had temporarily spared them from any attempts to curry favor with Dominick, granting them a moment of peace.
“Not in the best mood?” Dominick swirled a glass of red wine, eyeing Lola sideways.
Lola’s demeanor remained indifferent. “What do you think?”
Dominick took a sip of wine, maintaining his patience despite Lola’s attitude.
“You’re upset because I forced you to come, and now you’re caught in the crossfire of these people.
“But this is just the beginning. I could help you today, but what if you were with someone else tomorrow?”
Dominick tried to teach her the ways of the business world. “I don’t have any ill intentions toward you, but I can’t say it’s the same for others.
“I’ll take you slowly through these experiences. Since you’ve chosen to get involved in business as the leader of the Lewis Group, these are all the things you need to learn. Do you understand?”
Dominick pushed a glass of red wine toward her. “What you need to do is not to stay idle nor to make a mess of things.
“For others, they may do whatever it takes to achieve their goals, and they’re not going to care about what you think. But what you should do is endure it rather than sulk over it, you silly.
“These are two different concepts. Endure it for now, and when you have enough power to resist them, strike decisively.”
Lola slightly furrowed her brows.
“Why are you telling me this? Are you trying to teach me?” Lola’s expression was complex.
Dominick’s serious demeanor didn’t seem like a joke, but the idea that he had forcibly brought her here to impart lessons about the workplace seemed almost laughable.
Dominick raised an eyebrow slightly. Only partly.”
Lola was exasperated with Dominick and chose to ignore him.
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Chapter 131
“Keep a composed expression. Don’t always look like you’re angry; you won’t look pretty in the photos if you do,” Dominick gently reminded her.
Lola’s brows tightened in frustration as Dominick’s words cut through the air, igniting a simmering anger within her striking gaze.
“Dominick, what’s your endgame here? What do you want? Are you determined to have the media capture us together? Do you take pleasure in seeing my life in a mess? Is that what brings you joy?” Lola’s anger flared as her perception of Dominick as self–absorbed intensified.
Before Dominick could respond, several big shots from the industry approached and engaged him in a lively conversation.
“Mr. Sinclair, have you given any thought about the collaborative project we discussed last time? I’ve been waiting for your response,” inquired one of them.
“Well, well, Mr. Sinclair, how come you’re with Ms. Lewis again today? I remember that just a couple of days ago, the rumors about the two of you caused quite a stir, and now you’re together again. Does the innocent have nothing to fear?”
Peter Bain’s remark drew everyone’s attention, including the several media representatives who had slipped into the venue. They noticed the commotion and discreetly set up their cameras.
“Yeah, Mr. Sinclair. I thought you two would lay low for a while. It seems that’s not the plan, huh?” chimed in another.
Lola bit her lip. Was this the spectacle Dominick desired? To intentionally make things awkward for both of them?
Dominick’s expression remained a mask of calmness, showing no urgency to respond as if he was waiting for something.
“Mr. Sinclair, aren’t you going to explain this to us? What’s going on here? Your relationship with Ms. Lewis seems rather unusual.”
“Indeed, it is,” Dominick finally said, his voice steady and composed.
Lola’s eyes narrowed sharply, and she hissed a warning, “Dominick, what are you saying? You better not sprout any nonsense here when there’s nothing going on between us. Are you trying to make everyone misunderstand me?”
Dominick appeared completely unperturbed. He set down his wine glass with deliberate calmness, signaling he was ready to address their questions.
“First of all, Ms. Mitchell is currently the CEO of the Lewis Group. Naturally, the relationship we have is a work- related and professional one.
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“The Lewis Group is an excellent partner, so the two of us signed a contract yesterday for our upcoming collaboration. As business partners, why can’t we attend this banquet together?”
Dominick’s explanation was clear and direct, leaving Lola momentarily stunned.
“So, you two are business partners. That makes sense. The Lewis Group is really fortunate since they’re the first company you have partnered with since your arrival here, right?”
Another
person eagerly chimed in, “Mr. Sinclair, since you’ve already partnered with the Lewis Group, could you also sign the contract I sent over? My company has much to offer as well.”
