"Thank you..." Keith smiled confidently.
Ti-ring.
[Business Partner Loyalty Panel>]
[Subject Loyalty]
[Valerie Sawyer> 50%]
His reputation as the disgraced son-in-law of the Carpenter family poisoned the minds of all the elites around him. But he only needed one of them on his side.
Valerie Sawyer—
Their abusive and dismissive treatment had only fueled his hunger to rise to the top of the business world and crush them underfoot.
***
The birthday celebration carried on without a hitch. Soon, the segment for gift presentations began.
Presenting birthday gifts to the head of another household was a longstanding tradition among powerful families.
Often, families sent their heir or most outstanding youth to represent them, aiming to impress or forge connections.
Lesser-known families used the opportunity to win favor with the powerful by offering thoughtful or extravagant gifts, showcasing their influence and strength to everyone in attendance.
This was how alliances were forged and power maintained amongst the elite.
Keith observed as each elite family nominated a representative to present a gift to the Sawyer matriarch.
One by one, they offered priceless art pieces, rare jewels, company shares, luxury vehicles, symbols of unimaginable wealth and status.
Paparazzi and reporters documented the 80th birthday of the Sawyer Group's matriarch. It was a parade of the top 1%, and only those of the highest standing were even allowed near the estate.
And there stood Keith, wearing a commoner's clothes, drawing glares and hushed ridicule.
"Who let the gardener into the ballroom?" someone whispered.
Keith waited patiently, eyes trained on the doings of a specific pair: Jena Carpenter and Donald Matson as they approached the stage.
He activated Eye of Apollo.
To his amusement, the pair's so-called expensive gift was worth ten times less than what they claimed.
A smirk tugged at his lips. This was a perfect opportunity to expose them, let the truth ripple through the gathering in the ballroom like scandal.
But he didn't.
Standing next to Valerie had already drawn enough attention. There was no need to burn bridges so soon.
He had time.
After tonight, Keith Hall would no longer be the disgraced son-in-law of the Carpenter family.
No, he would be the man romantically linked to Valerie Sawyer—the graceful heiress of the massive conglomerate: The Sawyer Group.
***
The following morning, Keith woke up alone in one of the luxurious guest rooms of the Sawyer estate, stirred gently by a maid.
He was led to a medieval-style grand dining hall, where Valerie sat at the far end of the long table, her expression warm and inviting.
"Good morning… did you rest well?" she asked.
"I slept like a baby," Keith replied with a grin. "This place feels like a five-upon-five-star hotel. If I had the cash, I'd buy this castle from you without thinking twice."
He chuckled as he approached his seat, but stopped dead in his tracks upon taking a good look at Valerie.
She was still in her laced nightgown.
"What's wrong?" she asked, noticing his reaction.
Following his gaze, she realized the cause. Her cheeks and ears turned rosey red almost immediately.
It was an honest mistake.
Being single all her life, she was used to having breakfast in her nightwear. Her maids must have assumed nothing had changed—especially after she'd declared Keith as her fiancé the previous night.
Still, she straightened her posture and met his gaze head on.
"Would you like a closer look?" she teased, playfully adjusting the fabric around her cleavage.
Keith's eyes widened. His heart pounded.
She parted her thighs slightly, revealing a smooth pound of flawless skin and a faint blush of pink that appeared and vanished like a husky in the wind.
Just then—
"Ahem!"
"My apologies for interrupting you young ones, but wasn't I invited to breakfast?"
Valerie's grandmother stood in the doorway, her eyes twinkling.
"G-Grandmother! When did you get here?!" Valerie sprang up, flustered.
She had completely forgotten she'd invited her.
"There's no need to get up. I won't stay long, just wanted to see how breakfast is… progressing," the older woman said cheerfully.
Seeing her work-minded granddaughter going on the offensive in a relationship had her very delighted.
***
After some pleasant conversation about the party last night, the elderly woman left, giving the two some privacy.
Silence returned.
Keith stared at his hands, going over everything that had just happened.
The teasing. The misunderstanding. The timing.
He spoke up at last.
"Miss Sawyer… you don't have to do all that," he said gently. "As I said before, I was only pretending to be your fiancé for that one night."
Valerie frowned slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"Well… the timing of your flirtation and your grandmother's arrival felt a bit too convenient. I figured you were just keeping up the act. Besides…" He hesitated. "It's hard to imagine someone like you greeting a guest in that attire unless it was on purpose."
Valerie blinked.
That wasn't her intention.
Yes, she had ulterior motives, but her admiration for him had grown real. She respected his poise, his intelligence, and his quiet resilience.
But now, the words escaped her.
"…I see," she murmured.
Keith looked down, then up at her again.
"So how about we cut the crap and move straight to business… Are you buying the Ashen Halo or not?"