Chapter 369 A Gift
“Mr. Shaw, long time no see! You’ve gotten more good-looking after getting married!”
Right then, a man decked in a crisp suit came to Michael and greeted him warmly. He was evidently trying to suck up to Michael.
“Not at all, Mr. Lobston.”
Michael’s reply to Chris Lobston was placid as he raised his glass to clink glasses with the latter.
After Chris talked to Michael, some guests started to form a circle around us. I wasn’t used to being surrounded by a crowd.
“Mr. Shaw, this must be Mrs. Shaw. I didn’t get to see her face clearly during the wedding as my seat was too far away. She’s such a beauty!”
As Michael’s gaze constantly flitted to me, the crafty guests realized I was important to him and began lavishing praises on me.
I pursed my lips at the comment. I didn’t put on any makeup today, not even any lipstick. Look at how he managed to come up with that awestruck expression. I have to admit that they are good at lying through their teeth to butter someone up.
I wasn’t bothered, but Michael thought otherwise. His lips curved up upon hearing the praise as though he was delighted to hear it.
Realizing that Michael liked hearing others praising me, those who wanted to butter Michael up immediately started complimenting me. I got goosebumps from getting praised by so many people.
Women loved it when others praised their gorgeous appearances, and I was no exception, but these people’s praises had gone overboard. Hypocrites! I rolled my eyes inwardly.
Yet, the grin on Michael’s lips remained. He turned to regard me, the adoration in his gaze evident.
He seemed relaxed as though they weren’t lying through their teeth.
“I’m tired. I’ll wait for you over there.”
Refusing to stay to listen to the fake compliments, I got to my feet and strode toward an empty seat not far away.
It was clear by now that someone as straightforward as me shouldn’t attend similar events. The previous compliments got me shuddering in disgust. Indeed, business people had to be shameless in order to strike business deals.
I plopped onto a couch in a corner and sipped on a glass of juice. My gaze never left Michael’s figure.
I knew no one here, and there was nothing in common between me and the socialites, so I had no choice but to sit here and hope that the gala would end soon.
Bored out of my wits, I sipped on my juice. Soon, a pretty lady in her thirties approached me and took a seat beside me.
I didn’t know who she was, but I flashed a polite smile anyhow. She could be the wife of Michael’s business partner.
“You must be Mrs. Shaw,” the lady greeted me with a smile.
“Yes, I am. May I know who you are?”
I didn’t know she would greet me out of the blue and blinked in surprise.
“My husband is Chris Lobston. He’s the owner of a small real estate company. I am Fiona. You can call me Mrs. Lobston.”
Hearing my reply, the lady’s smile widened.
“Hello, Mrs. Lobston.” I responded with a smile.
I wasn’t too fond of talking to strangers, but the guests might be Michael’s business partners, so I couldn’t risk offending them.
“Mrs. Shaw, you’re young and beautiful. Look at how fair your skin is.”
As I fell silent, Fiona proceeded to break the silence.
“Thank you,” I replied cordially.
After hearing various compliments previously when I was with Michael, I was unbothered by her comment.
“Mrs. Shaw, I bought a diamond necklace today. Isn’t it pretty?”
Fiona whipped out a jewelry box from her LV bag and placed it on the desk before us.
She then opened the box to reveal a gorgeous diamond necklace that sparkled magnificently under the incandescent lights of the chandelier.
I wasn’t a diamond expert, but I assumed it was expensive, as she had deliberately shown it to me. Otherwise, it would be humiliating to show a cheap necklace at such a grand event.
“It looks pretty nice,” I responded half-heartedly with a tiny smile.
I didn’t know her previously, so it felt awkward for her to show me her diamond necklace as though we were friends.
“Really? I think it’s nice, too. It’s a perfect fit for you, Mrs. Shaw.”
Fiona was beaming with joy. However, I got confused to hear her response. Why is she saying that her necklace is a perfect fit for me? Shouldn’t be saying that it suits her instead?
I couldn’t really find fault with her here, so I flashed an awkward smile. Silence surrounded us while I waited for her to elaborate, and she did.
“Mrs. Shaw, since you like the necklace, I shall give it to you. It suits you better than me anyway,” Fiona told me.
I nearly spat out the juice in my mouth at her words.
“You’re giving the necklace to me? But why?”
Never in my wildest dreams did I expect Fiona to gift the newly bought diamond necklace to me. I gazed at her in shock.
We don’t even know each other. Why would she give me something out of the blue?
“Mrs. Shaw, I shall be honest with you. My husband had been wanting to work with Mr. Shaw, but we couldn’t meet a big shot like him even if we wanted to. After finding out that he’ll be attending the gala tonight, we came to try our luck out.”
Fiona’s expression turned grim after hearing my question, and she seemed nervous as she offered an explanation.
Finally, I understood her intention. She wanted to collaborate with Michael’s company.
“Michael is right there. If you want to collaborate with him, you can talk to him now. I don’t interfere in the company’s business, so I can’t make any decisions,” My answer was firm.
Only then did I realize Fiona’s motive for giving me the diamond necklace was to push for collaboration with Michael. I belatedly realized that this was how things worked in the upper-class society.
It was normal to give and receive gifts. However, as someone who grew up in the countryside, I couldn’t accept an expensive diamond necklace as a gift.
As I didn’t take the necklace from her, Fiona grew flustered. She met my gaze and parted her lips hastily.
