The Perfect Wife's Perfect Revenge

Chapter 184 The event organizer was starting to panic.

He hurried over and leaned down to whisper discreetly in Stein's ear, careful to keep his tone respectful.

"Mr. Campbell, your seat is over there the one at the head of the table. We reserved it especially for you. Would you like to move?" Victoria's seat, in contrast, was right by the door-practically next to the kitchen. In other words, it was the kind of spot reserved for people who didn't matter. Mr. Campbell, after all, was a high-ranking official from Evermore City. If they failed to treat him with the proper deference, the consequences could be dire.

But Stein just shook his head mildly. "No need. This seat's just fine." He added, "I didn't cto Starfall City for special treatment. Where I sit isn't important." With that, the rest of the guests had no choice but to shuffle awkwardly into the seats originally meant for Stein. They looked as uneasy as if they'd sat on pins, unable to get comfortable.

Stein glanced around the table, his expression calm and approachable.

"Please, everyone-relax. Let's enjoy ourselves and talk freely. This is an exchange after all, and I want to hear what you all have to say." The room, which had been uncomfortably silent just moments before, suddenly erupted into lively conversation. People began pitching ideas to Stein and voicing their opinions.

Once the business elites started talking, it was hard to stop them-which, conveniently, gave Stein and Victoria a chance to speak privately.

"If you need anything, now's the tto say so," Stein said quietly. "While I'm here, and while these people are all eager to make a good impression- connections, resources, whatever you want, just nit." So that was his real reason for inviting her to dinner. Victoria realized that her only goal at the expo was to give Yasmine a shot at presenting their drone project to Stein-hopefully to get him interested in a partnership.

But she had no intention of standing out in front of these people.

She knew the political and business worlds all too well. The moment you stepped into the spotlight, you beca target. There were countless examples of people who'd been taken down before they even got started.

Stein seemed ready to publicly play the role of her patron, but Victoria's real problems were with Simms and the others who wanted to see her fail. Right now, McNeil's company was so powerful that a single move could crush her.

And Stein, for all his influence, was based in Echo City-too far away to offer real help. In the end, she had to rely on herself.

"No need, big brother. I really just wanted to see you," Victoria replied smoothly, taking a sip of water as a cover. "I brought a gift for Jimmy. It's already been delivered to your suite." Stein could see she genuinely wasn't asking for help, so he let it drop.

"Jimmy's still obsessed with that gyou designed. It's a shit's not available online anymore. Any plans to have V&S Group release it?" Victoria smiled. "Soon." Their brief exchange over, Stein turned his attention to the other business leaders who were clamoring to speak with him, leaving Victoria alone.

At first, the organizers had suspected Stein was interested in the young woman sitting at the far end of the table- they'd even sent someone to look into Victoria's background.

But the investigation revealed that Victoria was only an assistant manager in the Investment Department at Quantum Core Technologies, with nothing more than an undergrad degree in finance from Northriver University. Hardly the sort of background to attract attention.

And as for Stein, he showed no particular interest in Victoria, interacting with her no differently than with anyone else. If anything, he seemed more focused on the group as a whole, which made the organizers even more anxious.

As the meal began, everyone ate and chatted, though McNeil picked at his food and barely spoke the entire time. Meanwhile, Violet's eyes stayed glued to Stein and Victoria, searching for any hint of a connection between them. But throughout the entire dinner, under her watchful gaze, she saw nothing out of the ordinary between them.

Violet took a few bites, sipped her wine, and chuckled inwardly at her own paranoia.

Someone like Victoria? Her uncle had mentioned her before-a girl who'd studied music and art in Vienna after graduation, spent sttraveling the south to gather inspiration for an art book, and had little to show for it in the world of business.

With no experience and no notable achievements, how could she possibly know someone like Mr. Campbell from Evermore City? Violet recalled seeing Victoria and Stein together in the exhibition hall er, but again, there'd been no sign of a close relationship-just as there wasn't now.

Maybe Stein was simply drawn in by Victoria's beauty, she mused. Maybe it was nothing more than a fleeting impulse. If he truly had an eye for talent, he'd be talking to her-Violet-instead of a pretty face with nothing behind it.

People who made it in Evermore City weren't fools, Violet reminded herself. Still, she couldn't help thinking about Επ' her own drone project.

With Stein sitting right next to Victoria, if he really was interested in her, maybe she could use the connection to her advantage. But Violet believed her own abilities were more than enough to impress him. Why sit and wait? This might be her one chance to salvage the deal.

Raising her wine glass, Violet stood up. Among all the seated executives and business moguls, her sudden movement drew every eye. The conversation trailed off as people turned to see what she was about to do.

"Mr. Campbell, we all know how much the Defense Department values technological innovation. Our drone project-" But just then, Stein's phone rang.

Violet frowned, irritated. Who on earth would call him at a tlike this? Stein glanced at his phone. The number was unfamiliar. Only a handful of people had this number, so it had to be a misdial.