Chapter 1511
In the days that followed, Kevin visited the county dance troupe almost daily to rendezvous with Daisy. Despite knowing it was wrong, Daisy couldn't resist his relentless advances. She figured he was just caught up in the moment and didn’t push him away decisively. Besides, she enjoyed the thrill of their office escapades. At home, she felt guilty, but at the dance troupe, she could forget about being a wife and mother and simply revel in being a woman.
Kevin, on the other hand, was savoring every night with Daisy. To keep things discreet, he was extremely cautious. He always picked times when no one was around to visit the dance troupe and ensured they left separately. With the cold weather, fewer people were out in the evenings, making their secret meetings unlikely to be discovered unless someone was specifically looking for them.
Meanwhile, the project application for Sunset Valley High School was nearing completion. On Friday, the city’s education department dispatched an inspection team to review the school's facilities and hold a meeting. Alissa, representing the school, delivered a stellar presentation and received high praise from the experts, successfully passing the review.
Unexpectedly, Vanessa attended the review meeting as a representative of the city’s education department. It was evident she was excelling in her new role, which left the teachers at Sunset Valley High School both surprised and impressed. Vanessa had truly come a long way.
That evening, Oliver hosted a dinner for the inspection team at the newly opened Celestial Haven. The team leader, Terry Palmer, was an old acquaintance. Last semester, Audrey and Vanessa had attended a young female teacher training session in Starfall Town, where Terry was the training expert.
As the team leader and the senior member, Terry naturally took the guest of honor seat. Oliver sat in the host’s seat, Vanessa represented the city’s education department and occupied the secondary guest of honor seat, Audrey sat next to Terry, and Alissa sat beside Vanessa. The others arranged themselves accordingly.
With the successful review, Oliver was in high spirits. Sunset Valley High School had secured the only spot in Harmony County, outshining Maple Grove High School. From now on, Maple Grove’s principal, Lance Harvey, would have to make way for him.
Oliver filled his glass, stood up, and addressed Terry, “Mr. Palmer, it’s a real honor to have you here guiding us. On behalf of everyone at Sunset Valley High School, thank you. Cheers!” He then downed his glass of red wine in one swift motion.
“Mr. Jones, you’re too kind,” Terry hesitated. He wasn’t much of a drinker, but seeing Oliver’s enthusiasm, he felt compelled to respond.
Just then, Vanessa rose gracefully and smiled, “Mr. Jones, Mr. Palmer hasn't been feeling well lately, and his doctor advised him to take it easy on the drinks. Let me drink this for him.” She filled her glass and polished it off in one go.
Audrey watched as Vanessa and Oliver chatted and laughed, admiring how Vanessa cleverly covered for Terry. She thought to herself that Vanessa was indeed a natural in the political arena—sharp, articulate, strategic, and able to hold her liquor. Being a high school teacher was a waste of her talents, but now Vanessa had found a stage to showcase her abilities.
Following the principal's lead, the others took turns toasting the experts. Vanessa, now a successful figure, watched her former colleagues treat her with newfound respect, a stark contrast to the disdain she had faced before. Even Oliver was exceedingly polite to her, which filled her with pride. She raised her glass to Audrey and said with a smile, "Ms. Johnson, shall we share a drink?"
Audrey, who couldn’t handle her alcohol nearly as well as Vanessa, was already feeling dizzy and overheated after a few forced drinks. She didn’t dare to compete with Vanessa in drinking, but refusing her publicly would spoil the convivial atmosphere of the dinner.
Alissa frowned slightly, contemplating stepping in to drink for Audrey but hesitated, fearing she might anger Vanessa, who was now unpredictable.
Seeing this, Oliver chuckled and said, "Ms. Johnson isn’t much of a drinker. How about this, Vanessa, I’ll toast you instead. Thank you for coming to guide our work. We’ll need your support in the future."
Although Vanessa was just an ordinary staff member at the city’s education department, Oliver didn’t dare dismiss her. He was well aware of Vanessa’s potential. A beautiful woman’s career prospects could be boundless, especially with the favor of her superiors.
"Mr. Jones, you’re too funny. I’m just a regular employee," Vanessa laughed. "But you're too protective of Ms. Johnson. You didn't treat me like this when I was at Sunset Valley High School."
Oliver's face turned slightly awkward, and he glanced at Audrey, who blushed and looked down, creating a subtle tension in the room.
Vanessa had always felt that Oliver favored Audrey. Back then, Audrey got all the prime opportunities, and Vanessa was included just for appearances. Vanessa, proud as she was, had always found it unfair. Emboldened by alcohol, she voiced her dissatisfaction with Oliver, although it wasn’t directed at Audrey. After all, Audrey had Angus's backing, and Vanessa wasn’t about to make the blunder of deliberately offending her.
Alissa understood Vanessa's mindset and sighed inwardly. Women like Vanessa couldn’t tolerate being wronged. Once they gained power, they would vent all their past grievances. Audrey was just caught in the crossfire.
At that moment, Terry frowned slightly and said, "Vanessa, I think we’ve had enough for tonight. I’m feeling a bit tired. Let's call it a night. Ms. Johnson, could you help me to my room? I have something to discuss with you." He then stood up and walked out of the private room, with Audrey quickly following to assist him.
Vanessa watched Audrey and Terry leave, her expression fluctuating. Given Terry’s status in the Starfall Town education community, she didn’t dare show any dissatisfaction, but she felt increasingly unsettled. Why did everyone favor Audrey? Oliver, Quentin, Angus, Terry—they all seemed to have eyes only for Audrey and didn’t take her seriously. What did Audrey possess that she didn’t? Was it just because Audrey had more physical appeal?
Audrey escorted Terry to his room and said with a smile, "Mr. Palmer, you must be exhausted today. Get some rest."
Terry smiled slightly, "Ms. Johnson, Vanessa may not be as good as you in many ways, but she’s more adept at playing the game. You’re too straightforward. Have you given any thought to what I suggested last time?"
Terry had previously suggested that Audrey pursue a graduate degree to further her career. With her abilities, she could at least secure a position as a teacher at Maple Grove High School, which was a significant step up from her current situation.
"Mr. Palmer, I'm aware of my shortcomings. Thank you for your concern," Audrey said softly. "I’m considering the idea of graduate school, but I don't have the energy to prepare right now."
"Alright then. You’re still young. I don’t want to see someone as talented as you go to waste. That would be a shame," Terry sighed. "If you decide to pursue it, let me know. I can help you find a mentor."
As Audrey walked downstairs, she felt a heaviness in her heart. She knew Terry’s advice was sound. When Jason insisted on moving to Imperial City, she should have pursued graduate studies and moved with him. She might have graduated by now, and their relationship might not have grown so distant. She wouldn't have to fend off unwanted advances from men around her. Now, it felt too late to start.
In the lobby, she saw Vanessa, Alissa, and Natalie conversing.
Natalie, dressed in a black business suit, looked mature and composed. She greeted Audrey warmly, "Audrey, we were just talking about you. You look even more beautiful after just a few days."
Vanessa approached with a hint of apology, "Audrey, I didn’t mean what I said earlier. Don’t take it to heart. I was just annoyed with Oliver. I had too much to drink and said things I shouldn’t have. I’m sorry."
Audrey noticed that despite Vanessa’s flushed face, her eyes were clear, showing no signs of inebriation. She chose to avoid a confrontation and smiled slightly. She then turned to Natalie and said, "Ms. Flores, what brings you here?"
Natalie chuckled, "I own this hotel. How could I not be here?"
It turned out that the hotel had been struggling under its previous management, so Natalie bought it, renovated it, and renamed it Celestial Haven.
Since starting her tourism development company, Natalie had focused on promoting the county’s cultural heritage, creating a cultural tourism brand that had received high praise from Armando.
"Ms. Flores, your business is really thriving. We can't even compete," Vanessa said with a hint of envy. Although she had joined the city's education department, she was just an ordinary staff member with limited authority. Natalie, on the other hand, was a successful businesswoman, a county council member, with assets estimated to be worth over a billion dollars.
"Vanessa, don’t tease me. I heard you joined the city's education department. Congratulations!" Natalie handed Vanessa a business card and gave one to Alissa as well. "Please support my business. You'll get a 30% discount whenever you visit."
Alissa, now the deputy director of the office, with great potential for further promotion, possibly even becoming the vice principal, appreciated Natalie’s gesture, understanding it as a move to build connections in advance.
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