Summer Lowell was still trying to make sense of things when an important banquet suddenly came up.
Stellart Stellarion Division was invited to a designer banquet, attended by all the big shots in the design industry.
Elias Joyce, wishing for Summer Lowell to expand her connections for future projects, handed her an invitation.
Similarly, other outstanding designers in the department received invitations too.
Among them was Linda, a designer who didn't get along with Summer.
On the day of the banquet.
Summer arrived at the hotel, just in time according to the details on the invitation.
As soon as she entered the banquet hall, Linda was there, heading directly towards her, holding a wine glass, deliberately blocking her way, forcing Summer to face her.
Linda unabashedly scanned her from head to toe with her eyes: "Director Lowell, how do you still have the mind to attend the banquet?"
"Why wouldn't I want to attend? After all, the trouble wasn't caused by me," Summer countered, giving Linda the same brazen look-over, "If someone like you can attend, why can't I?"
Linda, feeling dissatisfied, pointedly said, "I came with an invitation from President Joyce."
"How novel, isn't everyone here with an invitation from Elias?" Summer said lazily, turning aside to grab a glass of wine.
Deliberately ignored, Linda came closer, "Just because you claim innocence doesn't mean you are, everyone knows you did it."
Summer snorted coldly, turning her head while smiling brightly and secretly grinding her teeth: "Today's guests are the prominent figures of Stellarion's art circle, if you don't want to embarrass yourself, go ahead and provoke me, but if you push me too far, I can't guarantee I won't do something that'll make you stand out."
Summer deliberately spoke with a sinister tone.
Linda was indeed startled: "You... you better not act recklessly, a lot of people are watching here."
"Whether I act recklessly... it all depends on you, doesn't it?" Summer slowly approached, noticing Linda's frightened eyes, and suddenly had an idea.
She wanted to trick Linda.
"Feeling guilty?"
Summer suddenly reached out and held Linda's arm, to outsiders, they appeared intimate, but only Linda knew the strength of the grip Summer had on her arm.
"Don't touch me!"
Linda shook her arm, trying to free herself from Summer's grasp.
But Summer was determined to hold her tight: "Why the panic? We've known each other for years, I noticed you've been a bit uneasy around me lately, did you do something behind the scenes to wrong me?"
This indeed made Linda, who was plotting against her, tremble in her voice: "What are you talking about? I don't understand, let go, if you don't let go, I'll call for help!"
As they were arguing, designers from Stellart, who had come with them, noticed Linda's signal and came over to defuse the situation.
Summer didn't intend to escalate things, she released her grip but didn't forget to leave a final remark: "You know perfectly well what you've done."
Then she stepped back, smilingly looking at Linda: "I'll find out the truth very soon."
As soon as she finished speaking, other designers from the Stellart Design Department came over, and despite their dissatisfaction, they greeted her: "Director Lowell, good evening."
"Hello," Summer raised her glass to them, "Hope you enjoy yourselves."
After speaking, Summer turned away from the crowd and headed to the balcony for some air.
Just reaching the balcony, she heard a familiar name.
"Who is that? He's so handsome!"
"You don't know him? That's Maxim Sinclair, the man in charge of Sinclair Group, if I'd known he was coming today, I would've dressed up more."
"Tch, dressing up won't help, can't you see he's with a female companion?"
Summer's eyes slightly moved, following the conversation, she looked up to find Maxim Sinclair.
As discussed nearby, Maxim Sinclair was, as always, looking dashing today.
However, this man with deep-set features and a cold expression like Satan descending onto the earth, made her heart skip a beat.
"He's really too handsome, who's that woman beside him? They look so perfect together!"
Summer, who had already looked away, couldn't help but glance again as she heard the nearby exclamations.
Beside Maxim indeed stood a woman in splendid attire, holding his arm.
And this woman looked somewhat familiar.
Summer took a few steps outside, leaning on the railing to discern the woman's features.
After observing for quite a while, she realized it was Tina Huxley.
Tina Huxley, another socialite from a wealthy family, the only one in Stellarion who could be considered Maxim's equal in status.
Most importantly, her admiration for Maxim Sinclair was known throughout Stellarion's high society.
Below, Tina also felt a special gaze from the right rear side, she turned around subtly, upon seeing Summer, her originally sweet smile immediately darkened.
Summer Lowell?
Why is she back?
Maxim Sinclair noticed the stiffness of the person beside him, lowered his head to inquire about the situation, seeing Tina's unnatural expression as she looked toward the second floor, he followed her gaze and in the next second, a flash of unusual light passed through his eyes.
"Maxim, isn't that your former Secretary Lowell?"
"Hmph, don't mention her, spoiling my mood, let's go inside, everyone's waiting."
Maxim reached out, wrapped his arm around Tina's shoulder, and moved forward.
Despite Maxim's words in her ear, Tina's eyes didn't show joy.
She had known Maxim for years and naturally understood his temperament.
To him, insignificant people wouldn't weigh on his mind.
She had seen Maxim's attentiveness to Summer Lowell before, and naturally understood how much of his tone now hid his feelings.
Anyone with eyes could see that Maxim still cared about Summer.
She couldn't just stand by.
Since Summer's return, she must find a way to make Maxim completely let go, only by pushing Summer out, would she have a chance.
Halfway through the banquet.
After dealing with several important clients, Summer took the opportunity to sneak to the terrace to cool off.
Just as she began to scatter off some of the alcohol effects, a somewhat familiar voice came from behind: "Secretary Lowell?"
Summer paused, aside from Maxim Sinclair, nobody had used that title for quite some time.
She turned to see it was Tina Huxley, whom she had seen earlier.
"Miss Huxley, hello."
"I almost thought I was mistaken earlier," Tina walked over quickly, pretending to be friendly, "It really is you, long time no see, where have you been working lately?"
Summer awkwardly smiled: "Wouldn't call it work of prestige, just earning some money to get by."
"How could you say that! You're just being modest!"
Watching Summer, who had grown even prettier after a year of absence, the thought of removing her grew even stronger in Tina's mind.