Chapter 340 Front Row Guest Seats, Gabriel
Gabriel wasn't just a fleeting memory; he was etched into Jessica's heart—untouchable, unscoldable, and unspeakable.
No one dared to mention Gabriel's name around her anymore. Even the Harriman Group avoided it. Drivers knew to steer clear of the city center to avoid passing the Harriman Group building when Jessica was in the car.
But what they didn't know was that Gabriel was always around Jessica because he wanted to be.
Now, even if they told the driver to go to the city center or stop at Harriman Group, they still wouldn't be able to see Gabriel.
Back then, socialites did everything to bump into Gabriel or get a chance to meet him, but it never worked.
Gabriel had reached such heights that if he didn't want to be seen, you could pass by the Harriman Group a million times and still never catch a glimpse of him.
Mackenzie only hinted at Gabriel without saying his name, but Jessica still shot her a cold glare.
Zoey and Mackenzie exchanged a look and quickly changed the subject to work.
"So, Kevin's confirmed as the lead for 'Shadow Kill'?" Mackenzie asked.
"Yeah," Jessica replied, making herself a cup of coffee and glancing at Zoey to see if she wanted some.
Zoey quickly waved her hand. "No, thanks. Coffee keeps me up all night."
Jessica took her coffee and sat down next to Mackenzie.
"The script's good. You've got a movie coming out soon, even if you're just the third lead. If the box office does well, and with Sebastian's 'Shadow Kill' being a big-budget film, it should do great. If you can make a name in movies, that'd be huge."
Jessica stirred her coffee. "Rising too fast is dangerous. It's better to take steady steps to avoid a big fall."
"As long as you stay clean and avoid scandals, even if people in the industry are watching you, they can't do much. They might release some negative press, but without evidence, it'll just fizzle out."
Scandals depended on how they were spun and photographed.
For example, if Jessica held a white pen somewhere, getting ready to write, and a paparazzo caught it from a tricky angle, it could look like she was smoking in public.
Or if Jessica, due to a tight filming schedule, hadn't slept well for several nights and was photographed with dark circles and no makeup, it could be turned into Jessica suspected of drug use.
After selling her old house, she didn't purchase a new one, as her studio required funds.. Instead, she rented an apartment near Star Tower, which had great security and was close to her studio.
This way, her commute was shorter, and she wasn't often photographed in her daily life. Caroline and a nanny Mackenzie hired took care of Danielle, and the nanny drove her to and from preschool. Danielle was well-protected, and if she was occasionally photographed, Mackenzie and Lynn would find ways to buy the photos to keep Danielle from being overly exposed.
Lynn knocked and walked in, handing Jessica a fancy invitation.
"This weekend, there's a high-end tech exhibition. A new software company wants you as their spokesperson. The CEO wants you to show up at the exhibition and then officially announce the endorsement. No need for a gown; just dress formally since many top executives will be there."
Jessica glanced at the details on the invitation. "Saturday from 2 to 5 PM? Do I have anything scheduled then?"
Lynn nodded. "You had an interview, but I moved it to next week. No rush."
Mackenzie chimed in, "You like that software, right? You've asked about the endorsement contract a few times. Since the CEO wants you to make an appearance, they probably want you to make a good first impression. There will be a lot of high-end attendees, more important than the usual star-studded events. Let Lynn go with you."
"I have plans this weekend. You go with her," Lynn said to Mackenzie.
Mackenzie shot her a look. "Are you back in the love game? You're juggling a lot, yet you still squeeze in some dates?"
"Love? With so many good-looking guys in the industry, do I need to find someone else to date?" Lynn rolled her eyes. "It's a friend's kid's birthday. I have to go. These exhibitions are usually very formal, with many elite attendees. There won't be any messy situations. Mackenzie, you go with Jessica."
"Fine." Mackenzie put down her coffee cup and looked at Jessica. "I'll go with you to pick out an outfit tomorrow. Let's get a women's suit, something sharp to impress the big shots."
Jessica glanced at the invitation again and asked, "Do you know which companies are invited?"
"No idea."
On Saturday, several luxury cars pulled up outside the exhibition hotel.
Jessica's Mercedes stopped in front of the hotel. In the scorching summer heat, as she stepped out of the air-conditioned car into the blazing sun, Jessica squinted slightly.
She wore a custom-made white women's suit, a new summer design. There weren't many celebrities at today's event; most attendees were business elites. Although she didn't need to wear a gown, she was representing the software as their spokesperson. She needed to be low-key but not too low-key.
The suit perfectly matched her identity and the occasion.
As they entered, Mackenzie, holding a bag, reminded her, "I asked some friends in the industry about today's exhibition. It's mainly about introducing new software. Many tech company CEOs will be here, making it a networking event for them. Just do your part. If unfamiliar people approach you, respond politely. No need to stay in your public persona."
Jessica nodded. As they reached the red carpet at the entrance of the exhibition center, she greeted a few familiar partners, shook hands, and accepted a champagne glass from a waiter. She was about to look at the names of the software on the big screen when she noticed a line of text at the bottom of the screen.
Specially Invited Partner: The Harriman Group.
Then she saw the name tag on the front row of the guest seats: Gabriel Harriman .
