The Heir

chapter 19

“Well, you are the one who signed the cooperation with the LS Group. It is your responsibility to make them come to the banquet. Invite that mysterious new president.”

“But I haven’t seen him, Grandma. It’s Vanessa Smith whom I met.”

“Invite that Vanessa Smith then and tell her to come with their new president.”

Victoria was about to say something when her grandmother ended the call. She let out a sigh of disbelief. How could she tell them to come to the banquet when she did not have the authority to do so? It was just one signed cooperation. She was not even acquainted with Vanessa Smith.

“Ma’am.” Linda approached her.

“Yes?” She turned to face the housemaid.

“Your husband said if you are done with the phone call, please come outside and join us. The food has been served.”

“Oh… yeah.” She put the receiver back to its base and headed outside the farmhouse.

When she went to the buffet table, Maximilian handed her a plate filled with food.

“What did the old Mrs. Griffith say to you?” her husband asked when they occupied one of the tables.

“Well, she told me she will be hosting a banquet to brag about the cooperation with the LS Group.” She shook her head. “My grandmother… she always brags about everything.”

Victoria sliced her meat, but when her husband noticed that she was having difficulty, he exchanged his plate with hers.

“That’s it?” he asked after a while.

“She said she will also announce the new general manager.” She turned to Maximilian and found him grinning from ear to ear while slicing the meat. And she knew very well why he reacted that way. Of course, her husband was proud of her.

“I can’t wait for the banquet. I am so excited to see Franklin’s gloomy face once your grandmother announced to the public that you are the new general manager of the Griffith Group.”

“Max…” She cupped his hand. “What did I tell you? We should not get to the bad side of my cousin—”

“But he did it first, don’t you remember?” Maximilian scoffed. “He was so arrogant towards you. And I can still remember how he humiliated me in front of—”

“Let bygones be bygones, Max.” She gently pressed his hand. “Let’s just focus on the good things in life, hmm? It’s our time.”

Maximilian just shrugged and withdrew his hand from hers to eat.

“And oh… I have one important task to do for Grandma,” she told her husband afterward.

“What task?” He turned to her with a knotted forehead.

Victoria heaved a deep sigh.

“Grandma wants me to invite Vanessa Smith and their new president to the banquet.” She winced. “Maybe I gave my grandmother a false impression when I successfully signed a cooperation with them, Max.”

“And why?”

“As if I am too close with any of the two!”

“Well, it is not a banquet for your birthday, though.” Maximilian stood up and headed to the buffet table.

He came back with two flutes and a bottle of champagne.

“You should invite them if your grandmother said so.” Maximilian filled their glasses. Now that your companies have signed a deal, this is the start of a friendship, don’t you think?”

“A friendship of convenience, most likely,” she countered and picked a flute and brought it to her mouth.

Victoria heard her husband laughed while sipping his champagne. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Come on, Victoria. I know you know very well how things work in business.”

“But I’m afraid that Vanessa Smith nor the new president wouldn’t come to the banquet.” She drew imaginary circles above the table.

“How would you know if you still haven’t tried?”

She looked at her husband for a couple of seconds and groaned.

“You know what, it seems that you are so good at compelling me to do everything.” She puckered her lips.

“Well… I only encourage you to do good things that I know you will benefit the most.” Maximilian tossed their flutes and gulped the remaining champagne on his flute.

“Well, you are right, Max. How would I even know if I haven’t tried? I better give it a try.”

Maximilian pulled her nape and kissed her deep on the lips. Her cheeks immediately flushed when she noticed that the staff were all looking at them.

“How many times did I tell you not to kiss me in public?” Victoria said in a low tone.

But her husband did not seem to care. He just grinned at her.