Chapter 111 Who Is That Woman?
A wave of jubilation washed over Isadora. The thrill of the clandestine, the allure of the unknown, was intoxicating. The thought of what Xena might be capable of, given she had already drugged Louis, was a tantalizing mystery, and when the perfect opportunity to score a point presented itself, how could Isadora resist?
Two days prior, an incident had underscored the importance of video evidence for Isadora, so when she saw Xena slink away from the crowd, she swiftly drew her cellphone from her pocket, activated the camera, and began to record...
Meanwhile, amidst the gaggle of women, Xena's departure and Isadora's sudden absence went largely unnoticed. Their attention was instead drawn to the enigma that was Paige. The incessant chatter was filled with speculation and curiosity.
"Is she really just related to the Sackler family? That haute couture gown she's wearing typically takes six months to produce."
"Surely, it's not a big deal to give away one or two couture dresses if the sizes are similar. Haven't we all gifted such dresses before?"
"Exactly, the dress might not even be hers. And look, she doesn't have a single piece of matching jewelry on."
Paige's choice of gown was intended to accentuate her presence and status. As for jewelry, she could easily be overwhelmed by the abundance of choices. However, in the mouths of these women, her gown was likely a hand-me-down, and her lack of jewelry was indicative of poverty.
However, the seasoned businessmen had a different perspective on Paige.
"Such a beauty. Even among the elite circles of Northwind, she's top-notch."
"That air of professionalism and posture, she doesn't seem like just any heiress. Could there be a new powerful, wealthy family, or a woman running the show?"
"There have been some new fortunes recently, but to get an invite from the Carnegie family, she must be nouveau riche without a doubt."
These men were more than just admirers of beauty—they were businessmen and gossips. The conversation had reached this point, and household heads, chairmen, CEOs started calling their assistants who hadn't come along to investigate Paige's background. Even the Wren family members present couldn't resist secretly snapping a photo of Paige and sending it off for investigation.
Kieran stood by his aging father, speaking in a hushed tone, "Could it be because of her exceptional healing abilities that even the CEO of Universe Group knows her?"
Mr. Suarez turned his head, cautious not to let his chastisement of his dim-witted son be overheard.
"Are you blind? Can't you see the CEO of Universe Group bowing and scraping to her?"
That...
Kieran did notice, but he found it hard to believe. That night at Louis's place, she didn't even bat an eye, just a doctor who had saved Louis using some traditional medical techniques. How could a doctor have such influence that she'd make the CEO of Universe Group submit?
Everyone's gaze was fixed in their direction, just waiting for a moment to approach. Getting acquainted with Andrew at this event would be a huge gain for them, and if they could figure out the identity of the woman whom even Andrew treated with such deference, that would be even more cause for celebration.
After Andrew introduced his companions to Paige, they exchanged pleasantries, and Paige said, "Since Mr. Andrew is visiting Quorinthus, why not stay and enjoy the city for a couple more days? Pearl, please arrange that."
Paige was well aware of how many directors, shareholders, regional CEOs, and senior leaders were dissatisfied with her sitting in this position, but for the moment, the top brass probably didn't even know about her, Xanthe's existence. That pack of old foxes was each more formidable than the last. Even as the Yuen family's sole heir and the new chairman of Universe Group, taking complete control from this clique that had dominated the company for over a decade was no easy task.
Of course, that's what those old foxes thought. Andrew's visit to the States didn't start with him reporting straight to Chairman Paige; instead, his first stop was at the Hawke Corporation's anniversary banquet, and Paige was certainly aware of his motives. In Quorinthus, the Hawke Corporation was a force that couldn't be ignored. If Andrew could secure a cooperation deal with the Carnegie family, it would cause significant trouble for Paige. It could even potentially lead to a total collapse of the current power structure.
Pearl had everything under control, but Andrew added, "It would be such a hassle for Xanthe, wouldn’ t it? We’re here for Hawke Corporation’s anniversary celebration. Raymond from the Carnegie family extended a warm welcome earlier and had it all arranged ."
With a hint of suspicion coloring her voice, Paige responded, "The Carnegie family’s Raymond? That Raymond?"
Andrew simply nodded, his smile acknowledging her recognition.
Paige's face shifted into an expression of understanding , her lips curving into a profound, mysterious smile. Yet, she chose to remain silent, her eyes sparkling with intrigue.
It struck her as odd that Raymond, rather than Louis, the current CEO of the Carnegie family, was the one looking out for Andrew. She was unsure of Raymond's intentions, but her curiosity was piqued.
Their conversation was momentarily interrupted as a group of people approached them, among them the father-son duo from the Wren family.
Kieran, a wine glass in hand, politely inquired, "Excuse me, are you Mr. Andrew, the CEO of Universe Group?"
Maintaining his gentlemanly demeanor, Andrew confirmed, "I am."
Kieran immediately extended his hand for a handshake, introducing himself, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Andrew. I’m Kieran, the general manager of the Wren family’s conglomerate."
No sooner had Kieran finished speaking than others also stepped forward to make Andrew's acquaintance.
Despite their initial flocking to Andrew, none of the businessmen failed to acknowledge Paige's presence. After greeting Andrew, each subtly toasted Paige with their glasses, making it difficult for her to excuse herself.
At this event, Paige wasn’t particularly interested in the ordinary wealthy families or their businesses. She had her sights set on an excellent project, but the time wasn’t ripe to reclaim it just yet.
Andrew's identity was well-known to everyone at the venue. Taking advantage of any brief pause, more people naturally gravitated toward them.
Even amidst a crowd of men, each exercised restraint in their gaze when it came to Paige, showing her a natural respect.
After all, none of them had yet ascertained the identity of this intriguing woman.
The men around her multiplied, but they all maintained a respectful distance from Paige.
The women, not as free to approach as the men, stayed at a distance. However, some power players among the family women gradually made their way from the elite circles toward Paige and Andrew.
