The reception was set up as a buffet-style meal. In one corner of the banquet hall, there were many exquisite dishes on display, and there were specially invited chefs and bartenders on hand to prepare dishes and drinks for the guests on the spot. It could be said that as long as you could name it, they could make it for you.
However, it was rare for people to indulge heavily in such occasions. Most took the opportunity to network with the numerous attendees.
Laila looked around the opulent hall. There were probably four to five hundred people present. The bodyguards and accompanying staff had been assigned to another area to rest, leaving only the guests and their families.
As soon as she entered, her grandfather took her away to meet his friends.
In fact, there was no need for Oswald to boast. How many people within his circle didn't know about Laila's capabilities? What they cared about was not her directing skills. Honestly, they didn't truly take her earnings from films seriously. A few hundred million dollars a year might seem like a lot, but for those big shots, it was just a small game. After all, their company's stock could fluctuate, making them tens of billions, or even hundreds of billions.
What these people were more interested in was Laila's strategic abilities. Haven't the CEOs of the Burberry and Victoria's Secret companies been grinning from ear to ear after her strategies? After her planning, the value of both companies had at least doubled, and with time and further promotion, they were poised for new peaks. Especially Victoria's Secret—Laila had just initiated her plan with them. No one could predict how successful the company would become when the one-year contract ended.
As Oswald walked with Laila into his circle of friends, those older gentlemen praised her and discreetly asked for insights into her strategies and her plans for Victoria's Secret's next steps.
Laila wasn't a naive nineteen-year-old girl. She could provide answers to questions that were within her domain of expertise, and when she couldn't, she would feign ignorance and tactfully change the subject with a smile. The veteran businessmen were all quite amazed.
This was the first time they had encountered a younger generation who could hold their own without showing any signs of unease. Even their grandchildren seemed like timid chicks in front of them, only shrinking back. But this young girl treated them like ordinary elders—with respect but without fear. Although there was a touch of cunning in her, they also wanted such a capable granddaughter!
After walking a circle with her grandfather, she spotted her mother rushing over.
"Mom, stay with Grandpa for a while. I want to go talk to a few people."
"Of course, no problem. Who do you want to see?" Janet asked curiously.
Laila pointed in a direction. "That person."
"Oh, go ahead." Janet knew that person too, so she felt at ease letting Laila go on her own.
Holding a glass of juice, Laila walked towards the other side of the hall, her eyes scanning the surroundings for the people she had brought along. Theron and Demi were in a corner, chatting with several young girls who seemed to be guests' children. There were also quite a few men who had their attention discreetly fixed on that corner—clearly, the visual impact of two beautiful women standing together was quite remarkable.
Roy was someone who knew how to enjoy himself and make a scene, and Laila did not doubt that. Didn't he even befriend Leonardo DiCaprio? He even got into a fight with Robert Downey Jr.
At this moment, he was standing amid a group of people, gesticulating wildly and discussing something. He didn't know what he was saying, but it occasionally elicited exclamations and laughter from the young men and women.
Seeing that they were all doing well in their respective circles, Laila could finally relax and consider her goal achieved.
However, before she could walk over, a figure blocked her path.
It was a woman dressed in a black robe, her face obscured by a black headscarf. She was covered from head to toe, leaving only her eyes visible, which were beautifully made up and accentuated by thick eyeliner, making them particularly captivating.
Laila could understand this—she would probably put all her effort into her eyes if she had only those to show to the world.
"Excuse me, do you need something?" She didn't think that this person suddenly appearing and blocking her way was a coincidence.
"Laila Moran, hello." The other person spoke in a somewhat exotic yet still formal American English.
Laila raised an eyebrow, sensing an air of scrutiny and hostility. "And you are?"
"My name is one you probably wouldn't remember if I told you, so you can call me Faiza." She tilted her head slightly, looking at Laila with a gaze that was reserved for lower beings. It was as if her name being known to Laila was a source of shame.
"Okay. Well then, Ms. Faiza, what can I do for you? If there's nothing, please excuse me, I'd like to continue." Laila looked at her, nodded, and was about to walk past her. She dealt with impolite people like her by maintaining better manners herself.
This was similar to an argument—if the other party used offensive language against you, responding with equally offensive language wouldn't achieve much. Aside from lowering the other person's opinion of you, what else would you gain? So in situations like these, it was even more important to display proper etiquette. After all, without a comparison, there wouldn't be a contrast, right?
"Stop!" Faiza blocked Laila again. "I know that you Americans look down on our Saudi women. But sorry, I've also studied in America. Your superiority complex doesn't work on me!"
Laila was a bit speechless. Who was more lacking in manners here? She had been the one blocking her path all along, right? If she thought Laila was impolite, then why not just leave? She hadn't asked her to come over and block her path.
"Ms. Faiza, what do you want exactly? If you're hoping for me to praise your studying experience in America, I've already sufficiently expressed my admiration for that just now."
Faiza was almost on the verge of splashing the drink in her hand on Laila's face. "Do you think I'm a fool? I told you, I'm not one of those soulless Saudi women, and I absolutely cannot accept polygamy!"
"Huh?" Laila was getting quite confused. What the heck was she talking about? She made it sound like Laila was accepting polygamy.
"I said I'm Faiza, the fiancée of Prince Naibhani!"