THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 292: The Banquet: Face Slapping
It was finally the day of the banquet organized by Director Wyatt to introduce Kathleen to the public as her long lost daughter and heiress.
The grand ballroom, adorned with chandeliers and draped in opulence, buzzed with excitement as dignitaries, celebrities, high profile business moguls from all walks of life and the media, made their entrance one after the other to witness the grand occasion.
It had long been rumored that the heiress was an astounding beauty and excelled in business amongst other things. So everyone was here to see this new heiress of Wyatt Corporations.
All the prestigious families within and around Baltimore were also there to form an alliance through marriage between their sons and the new heiress or with President Jason and their daughters.
’Wasn’t it funny how from nobody, I have become someone that dignitaries will gather and look forward to Meeting?’ Kathleen couldn’t help but think when she saw the huge crowd that was gathered just to meet with her.
The banquet was held in Hotel Chrisland, one of the five star hotels in Baltimore owned by Hudson Corporations.
Director Wyatt and his wife had already told Kathleen that they would be responsible for her dressing from head to toe and that she shouldn’t bother getting anything for herself.
The cost of the custom made gown she was putting on was way beyond her imagination. When she had complained about it, her mom had said that it was nothing compared to who she was to them.
"I guess they also knew if I was allowed to get a dress for myself, I wouldn’t have gone for one with such an exorbitant price."
The dress was a long gold sequined dress that hugged and further accentuated Kathleen’s curves at the right places.
There was a long slit a little above the knee running down to the full length of the dress revealing her second most outstanding asset, her long slender legs, clad in a pair of Moon Star shoes which was worth almost twenty million dollars.
When she had seen the shoes, she had immediately gone online to search for it and she gaped at the cost. She found out that the pair of heels were created from solid gold, 30 carats of diamond, and meteorite dating back to 1576.
"You look breathtakingly gorgeous today, Sis. I doubt if President Hudson would be able to keep his eyes from you tonight."
Kathleen cast a playful glare at Jason, who was standing beside her looking as handsome as ever. He was dressed in a bespoke black suit with a gold tie which she was sure he deliberately picked out to match with her outfit.
"Stop joking around, you also look dashing yourself. By the way, where is the so-called President Hudson?" Kathleen asked in a nonchalant tone.
"He should be here soon. Are you that eager to see him?" he teased.
"Eager my foot," Kathleen blinked as the flashlights from the cameras entered her eyes.
"Who is this goddess and why is she standing so close to President Wyatt? Could it be that she’s the bride already prepared for him by his family?"
"I can’t remember seeing her before. She doesn’t seem to be someone from our circle," Another socialite pointed out.
Although she wasn’t known by most people, Kathleen, who was confident in her looks, was sure that her flawless beauty would attract the attention of everyone today.
And as expected she saw them staring at her and some of the men couldn’t help but drool.
As if that wasn’t enough, her standing beside Jason was already a talking point.
"Wait for me, Sis." Jason whispered in Kathleen’s ears and left on spotting one of his friends who had flown in from New York.
Linda took the opportunity to approach Kathleen, a sly look on her face.
"And who do we have here? If it isn’t the leech that preys on successful business men to survive."
Kathleen’s forehead furrowed in a frown as she heard the all too familiar voice. "What is she doing here and how did she even get admitted into my party?" Kathleen groaned.
She gritted her teeth and muttered under her breath. "You had better have a perfect explanation for this, Jason."
"What? Are you too shocked to see me that you suddenly lost your voice?" Linda, who was all out to humiliate Kathleen tonight continued when Kathleen did not say anything.
When she had entered the hall dangling on the arms of the Mayor, many of those two timing bitches she called friends couldn’t believe their eyes. She could vividly see the shock and envy as they stared at her.
Perhaps they thought that after her family business went bankrupt and her mother jailed, that that was the end of her. Little did they know that she would bounce back.
Her joy which knew no bounds as she walked past them without sparing them a greeting suddenly faded when she saw Kathleen standing next to President Jason in that beautiful gown that she was yet to know where she got it from.
She forced a smile as she exchanged pleasantries with the people that came to socialize with the Mayor while waiting for the perfect chance to strike.
Her chance eventually came when she saw Jason whisper something in Kathleen’s ear and walked away. Luckily someone also excused the Mayor, leaving her free to cut Kathleen to size. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺
Seeing Kathleen looking so angry, she smirked. "I bet you never expected that I’d still be alive. That will prove to you that you can’t do anything to me, no matter who you claim to know. I am way connected than you and I will never stop until I completely ruin you," she threatened in a tone that only Kathleen could hear.
"Why are you so passionate about me? Are you that jobless that you must always bother me everywhere I go?"
"Who is passionate about you? It’s just that I hate liars and people who pretend to be what they are not," Linda retorted, this time loud enough to draw the attention of the people and reporters standing close by.
Feigning surprise, she exclaimed,
"Wow, what a beautiful purse you have there, Ms Crawford. I bet you got it from the clearance sales outlet on Harbour East."
"What?" Linda’s sarcastic remark succeeded in gaining the attention she needed.
"Ms Crawford? Doesn’t that name sound familiar?" One of the reporters asked.
Linda hurriedly chipped in when she sensed that they were about to link Kathleen with the person that trended for weeks and foil her plans by steering the conversation away from the main point.
"Look at the pendant you have on, it’s definitely a fake. Everything that you’re wearing is from a fast fashion brand that’s imitating high fashion."
At Linda’s comment, those women who were already threatened by Kathleen’s beauty now had disdainful expressions on their faces and began to speak in low voices.
"That bag actually looks original. To think I was even wondering if I could ask her where she got it."
"Are you all blind, can’t you see the label on the purse? It doesn’t look fake at all," someone else said.
Everyone was instantly drawn to the bag as someone exclaimed in a shrieked voice.
"Tsk!" Spat Linda Beazell. "What’s so special about a mere heart shaped purse, embedded with cheap stones? Can it compare to Ms Stanford’s limited edition Chanel handbag?"
Oblivious of the queer look people were giving her, she continued shamelessly, "I bet I can buy ten of those cheap purses in a single shopping spree."
She was still making a fool of herself when Mr Dalton Brooke, the founder and CEO of Brooke’s Fashion House dealing in high end, limited edition luxury bags and shoes cried out;
"Holy Cow! That’s The Mouawad 1001 Nights Diamond Purse. It is a handcrafted 18-karat gold handbag. It comes adorned with a total of 4,517 diamonds, and comprises 105 yellow diamonds, 56 pink diamonds, and 4,356 colorless diamonds."
"It was put for sale last year at Christie’s auction preview in Hong Kong and I didn’t know the buyer then but everyone clamoured for it."
"That’s right." Ms Stanford who was a top model and a bag freak affirmed. Her hobby was collecting limited edition bags and as a result, never uses a bag twice.
"Anyone that can get this bag is definitely not an ordinary person."
Everyone was stunned, including Kathleen.
’Wow! Way to go mummy!" Kathleen gave her mother and father a thumbs up in her heart. ’I knew the bag was unique, but didn’t know it was this awesome.’
Instantly those people that were still standing beside Linda Beazell gradually distanced themselves so they wouldn’t be seen as having no fashion sense at all. She was left alone and seething in anger.
"I thought someone said she can buy more than ten of those bags just now."
"Yeah, that same someone said the pendant on Ms Crawford is fake. Can that also be a lie?"
People were murmuring everywhere and some even cast dainfully looks at Linda.
Already they were pissed with her and didn’t have any goodwill towards her. So when they saw the chance to vent, they wasted no time.
Linda was clearly embarrassed but still smiled calmly, earning herself Kathleen’s respect for her self control.
"How can the pendant specially crafted and designed by me turn out to be fake?"
Out of the crowd, a beautiful lady with long black hair cascading down her waist, walked over. She had a composed charm around her that reflected her noble background.
