Chapter 419 Mr. Abbott's Professional Ethics Are Mediocre
By the time Susanna rolled up, the place was already buzzing with guests, and the parking lot looked like a luxury car showroom. Even the media vultures were hanging around, waiting for some juicy scoop.
The second Susanna's car pulled up, the reporters pounced. They knew it was the Jones family's ride and were itching for a story.
Seeing the mob of reporters, Susanna groaned. "Seriously? I switched cars today! How the heck did they still figure it out?"
Aaron jumped in, "Hold up, don't get out yet."
Susanna watched Aaron step out and take a deep breath. The reporters saw a bodyguard emerge and exchanged puzzled glances.But Aaron, with his poker face, walked around and opened Susanna's door. She ducked out, and bam, the reporters swarmed her, shoving mics in her face.
"Ms. Jones, we heard you and Mr. Thornberry have set an engagement date."
"Ms. Jones, the media caught Mr. Thornberry kissing some internet celeb at a bar. Your thoughts?"
Susanna's eyes flashed with annoyance. The Thornberry family was a pain, spreading rumors about her and Roman getting engaged. What a joke!
Aaron stepped up, shoving the mics back with force. His presence screamed, "Don't mess with me."
Susanna stood behind him, staring at his back, feeling oddly reassured.
In seconds, Aaron didn't say a word, but the reporters backed off. Susanna couldn't help but give him a mental high-five; the guy was effective.
Aaron led the way, clearing a path. The bodyguards flanked her, keeping the reporters at bay.
The walk to the sign-in area was surprisingly smooth.
Susanna grabbed the pen from the event staff, signed her name, and struck a few poses for the cameras. She'd always stayed low-key to avoid Aaron's notice, but no more hiding.
After signing, she slipped stepping down from the platform. In a split second, she fell into Aaron's arms, avoiding a faceplant.
The reporters gasped, cameras clicking like crazy.
Susanna glanced up at Aaron, who was rocking sunglasses. Thank goodness for those shades; he probably wouldn't be recognized!
She quickly stepped out of his arms, adjusted her dress, and headed for the banquet hall.
Aaron followed, his eyes on the back of her dress, frowning.
They walked into the hall.
With the reporters out of sight, Susanna turned to Aaron. "Thanks for that. I would've been so embarrassed in front of the media!"
But then she felt something on her shoulders. Aaron had draped his jacket over her.
Susanna looked at him, puzzled. "What are you doing? It's not cold in here; I don't need a jacket."
"You took a fall, and your dress is torn in the back. You sure you wanna go in like that?"
Susanna's eyes widened. "Really?"
"Believe it or not, up to you."
She glanced at him and decided to keep the jacket. No way was she risking more embarrassment.
Susanna had barely grabbed a glass of champagne when Claudia strutted over in her high heels, looking all smug. "Susanna, really? You show up at a business shindig wearing another dude's jacket? Trying to make Roman look bad?"
Susanna raised an eyebrow, not missing a beat. "Roman's got nothing to do with me. And whose jacket I wear? None of your business."
Claudia scoffed, "But the buzz is you and Roman are about to get hitched. Both families are in on it, and your opinion doesn't change squat. So, better start playing nice."
Susanna rolled her eyes. "My family never agreed to any engagement with the Thornberrys."
The Thornberrys had been running their own show, even using the media to spread their BS.
Just then, a middle-aged woman sauntered over. "Ms. Jones, don't be shy. Roman's really into you. Just say the word, and we'll start planning the wedding."
Claudia nodded, "Yeah, Mom, but Susanna's here in another guy's jacket, clearly dissing Roman. She's not good enough for him."
Kayle, Claudia's mom, noticed the jacket draped over Susanna's shoulder and chimed in, "Ms. Jones, once you're in the Thornberry family, you'll have to follow our rules and drop all your bad habits."
Susanna was floored. The Thornberrys were shameless.
She'd always kept the peace among the rich families, but now, seeing their audacity, she figured it was time to set them straight.
Susanna shot back coldly, "Roman's been engaged a bunch of times, right? Always to some rich heir. And every time, their family's wealth got gobbled up by the Thornberrys. Is there a curse or something? Roman's bad news; anyone marrying into the Thornberrys is doomed."
"Susanna, what crap are you spewing? Roman's a catch."
"If he's such a catch, then why do all these rich heirs' families go bankrupt after getting engaged to him?"
Kayle, looking a bit rattled, said, "That was because their families were poorly managed. Nothing to do with us. The Thornberrys were just kind enough to acquire their businesses."
"Kind enough? Then why call off the engagements right after the takeovers?"
"Because the Thornberrys have standards. Roman can't marry into a bankrupt family."
Susanna smirked, "But those families were fine before they got engaged to you. Once they did, their luck tanked, leading to bankruptcy. If it's not a curse, then what is it? Roman's bad news, plain and simple."
Kayle, fuming and embarrassed, snapped, "Susanna, don't get too full of yourself. The Thornberrys are a big deal in Novaria. How is Roman not good enough for you?"
Claudia jumped in, "Exactly. We're negotiating a huge deal with the Abbott family, one of the richest in Lindwell. If it goes through, we'll be even more powerful, and the top spot in Lindwell and Novaria will be ours."
If the Abbotts really teamed up with the Thornberrys, they were in for a world of trouble.
