Chapter 18 Rivalry
Maggie frowned, regretting her decision to attend the class reunion.
After ending the phone call, Jane handed the phone back to Maggie with a joking demeanor, "Maggie, you don't mind, do you?" Then, looking around at the others, she said, "The man of the hour is about to arrive. We're all classmates here. And so what if he's a junior employee? Anyone who can get a job at Visionary Futures Group is definitely not a loser. So, watch what you say, guys."
Everyone had their own thoughts. Nowadays, academic excellence wasn't a guaranteed ticket to success.
What if one work for a big company? Still just an employee.
Samwise had been silent. He was curious to meet the man who had won over Maggie.
Losing Maggie to a junior employee, Samwise felt a twinge of dissatisfaction deep inside.
Maggie found herself in a tricky situation. Now part of the working world, she couldn't just do as she pleased.
Moreover, with the teacher present, it wasn't easy for her to just leave.
Mr. Lee noticed Maggie's discomfort and, with a smile, tried to ease the tension, "Maggie, when choosing a partner, character is the most important thing. It's all about fate. The one that's right for you is the best choice."
Maggie responded with a soft "Yeah." She never cared whether Fiorello was rich or poor, but she still felt nervous. What would she do when Fiorello arrived?
She was worried not just about encountering her ex-boyfriend Samwise but also the backhanded comments from her classmates, which could make Fiorello uncomfortable.
Dulcinea whispered to Maggie, "Should I make an excuse and we both leave?"
The class reunion was like a mirror, reflecting the various social attitudes.
Those who were doing well would be fawned over, while those who weren’t would be distanced and ridiculed.
It was a stark reality.
Shaking her head, Maggie didn't see any option but to endure the event, especially after Mr. Lee spoke up.
Maggie made up an excuse, "I need to use the restroom."
A classmate laughed, "Mags, there's a bathroom right in the private room. Don't use it as an excuse to escape, okay?"
Maggie scowled and went into the bathroom, and immediately called Fiorello back.
Soon, Fiorello picked up, "Maggie, what's going on?"
“Where are you right now?" Maggie asked.
"On my way to MaSa," Fiorello' deep voice came through the phone, "I'll be there in about ten minutes."
Maggie quickly said, "I'm almost done here. You don't need to come over. Dulcinea will give me a ride home later. It was just a prank by some classmates, don't worry about it."
"It's no trouble, I can swing by and pick you up on my way home," Fiorello said with a warm smile, "Don't worry."
Even without being at the scene, Fiorello, with his extensive experience, could guess what might have been happening at the party.
If he didn't show up, Maggie might have been embarrassed.
Hearing his soothing voice, and his comforting "Don't worry," really settled Maggie's nerves.
"Then drive safe, and take your time," she said.
"Okay."
After hanging up, Maggie let out a long sigh of relief and returned to her seat.
Jane immediately asked, "Maggie, how much longer until your husband arrives? He isn't bailing, is he?"
"He'll be here in a few minutes." Maggie was well aware of their ulterior motives: they were worried she was hiding Fiorello, too scared to have him come and meet everyone.
Maggie was open and honest, and she did not care for that vanity. She and Fiorello were legally married, and there was nothing to hide.
With this realization, Maggie's heart settled down.
Everyone eagerly awaited, glancing at the door from time to time. Samwise was growing increasingly agitated.
About ten minutes passed, and suddenly the door to the private room opened.
Everyone perked up, only to see a waiter coming to change the dishes.
As they turned their attention away, a warm and mellow voice suddenly came from the entrance.
"Maggie."
They all looked again, and standing in the doorway was Fiorello himself.
Fiorello was dressed to the nines, having just come from a busy day at the office. His well-tailored suit made his striking appearance all the more impressive, his handsome features flawless, exuding an unmatched presence.
With Fiorello standing there, everything else seemed to pale in comparison.
A female classmate couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, he's so handsome."
"He's even more handsome than Brad Pitt."
"No wonder Maggie was being so protective, keeping him hidden away. With a husband that good-looking, I'd keep him at home too."
Upon seeing Fiorello for the first time, any hint of superiority Samwise felt was washed away instantly.
His intuition told him he was facing a formidable opponent.
Samwise was elite, having turned down lucrative offers from companies seeking his expertise as a legal consultant abroad, choosing instead to return to the country to further his career.
It was the first time he'd encountered someone with such a powerful presence.
Maggie stood up, her face breaking into a smile. "You're here."
Fiorello walked to Maggie's side, and they were the picture of a perfect couple—handsome and beautiful together, a match made in heaven.
Maggie formally introduced him to everyone. "This is my husband, Fiorello."
Fiorello greeted everyone with a warm and polite, "Hello."
The crowd snapped out of their daze, and one of their classmates enviously said, "Maggie, your husband is so handsome, he looks like he could be an actor."
Whether they were wealthy or not was beside the point—their facial aesthetics alone were a pleasure to the eyes.
A liking for beautiful things is human nature.
Maggie smiled, and suddenly, Samwise took the offensive. "Fiorello, I heard you work at Visionary Futures Group. May I ask in what department? It's not easy to get into Visionary Futures Group. I met with the CEO abroad two years ago, we have a bit of a connection. I'm also familiar with several of the leaders at Visionary Futures Group. You seem a bit unfamiliar, Fiorello."
His implication was clear: Fiorello wasn't a high-level executive at Visionary Futures Group.
Samwise had never actually met the CEO of Visionary Futures Group. To be precise, he'd only seen the man's back from a distance and had no real connection at all. His comments were just a way to puff himself up and make an impression in front of Maggie.
Fiorello had already surveyed everyone in the private room when he entered and had sensed the hostility coming from Samwise.
Among this crowd, Samwise shone brightly, and as a man, Fiorello could sense that there might be something between Samwise and Maggie.
With a slight curl of his lip, Fiorello said, "I'm in the R&D department."
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