Xsmyv shyly avoided the cameras, her face hidden as Jesse gently guided her head to rest on his shoulder. His guards quickly intervened, stopping the reporters from taking more pictures. Jesse leaned down and whispered softly in her ear, "Are you okay? You can look up now."
Xsmyv hesitated before lifting her head, still fidgeting. The flickering camera lights reminded her of a haunting memory—the blinding headlights of a truck on a stormy night that had veered into their car. Her mother had shielded her from harm, but the accident had left an indelible mark on her mind. She had never attended an event of this magnitude since that night. The last time she had been part of something similar was as a child, attending a party at De Richards Hotel with her parents.
Sensing her unease, Jesse gently took her hand and looked into her eyes. "You're beautiful," he said with a comforting smile. "Treat this like you're the host, and this is your show."
Xsmyv blushed deeply at his words. His voice carried a warmth that melted her fears. "My wife is the prettiest lady here," he added, his breath brushing her ear, sending a tingling sensation down her spine.
Gathering her resolve, she thought, Let's do this. I can't embarrass him. She took a deep breath and nodded, her confidence bolstered.
Jesse held her hand firmly as they entered the hall. The murmurs and stolen glances from the crowd didn't escape Xsmyv, but Jesse's reassuring presence made her feel less daunted.
"Hello, President Adams," greeted Lincoln Reeds, one of Jesse's business partners.
"Hi, Lincoln. Allow me to introduce my wife, Xsmyv," Jesse said with a proud smile.
"Your wife?" Lincoln's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, no one mentioned anything about this."
Jesse gave a subtle nod and said no more. The quiet confidence in his demeanor spoke volumes.
Nearby, Kingston leaned over to Lincoln and whispered, "Didn't we just see Madam Adams with Cynthia earlier? I thought the Brahams and Adams families were tying the knot through marriage."
"Knowing Jesse, I doubt he'd ever agree to an arranged marriage," Lincoln replied with a smirk. "It's probably just Cynthia Brahams' wishful thinking."
The group exchanged knowing glances, intrigued by this unexpected revelation about Jesse's personal life.
Xsmyv smiled graciously as Jesse introduced her to more business associates, feeling an odd mix of awe and disbelief that she was meeting people she had only read about in the news. Across the room, Cynthia Brahams made her way toward Jesse, her eyes locked on him—only to freeze when she saw him standing with a woman, his arm protectively around her waist. Cynthia's fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms. Who is she? she thought bitterly.
Meanwhile, Shante and Claire stood in a corner, their jaws dropping as they spotted Xsmyv.
"Mum, who is Xsmyv with?" Shante asked, stunned.
"I have no idea," Claire replied, her voice laced with irritation. "Let's find out."
They moved closer to the crowd, overhearing murmurs about the mysterious lady beside Jesse Adams.
"The lady with President Adams is stunning," one woman remarked.
"She's absolutely gorgeous," another added.
Shante's face turned red with envy as she stomped her foot. "Mum, how does Xsmyv know him?" she fumed. Her jealousy boiled over as she glared at Xsmyv, feeling upstaged despite all her efforts to shine tonight.
"Xsmyv, what scheme are you pulling?" Shante muttered under her breath. "Did you sleep in his bed to get his attention?"
Claire scowled, adding fuel to the fire. "My daughter, that girl is a disgrace. She moved out and now tarnishes the family's image. She has no respect for your father, her uncle, who raised her."
Jesse, oblivious to the venomous glares, introduced Xsmyv to his closest friends. "My wife, Xsmyv," he said warmly, gesturing to the three men. "These are my friends—Larry Reeds, Felix Adams, whom you've met before, and Bryan Brahams."
Xsmyv greeted them with a polite smile, her heart racing. These are the top families of Ligalia. How did I end up here?
"Can I sit down? I'm really tired," she whispered to Jesse.
"Of course," he replied, guiding her to a seat nearby. "I'll be right back."
As Jesse rejoined his friends, Larry nudged Felix. "When did Jesse get married? Did you know about this?"
Felix shook his head. "No idea. He never mentioned anything."
Bryan, who had been silent, stared at Jesse with an inscrutable expression. His sister Cynthia had always harbored feelings for Jesse, and Bryan had hoped they would end up together. But now, it seemed that hope was gone.
Jesse returned just in time to catch their conversation. "I just told you," he said casually. "We got married recently."
Larry raised an eyebrow. "You're full of surprises, Jesse."
Bryan's gaze darkened slightly, but he said nothing, sipping his drink instead. His thoughts lingered on his sister's unfulfilled dreams.
Back in her seat, Xsmyv glanced around the room, feeling out of place yet determined not to show it. For Jesse's sake, she promised herself she would hold her head high. She believes in marriage. Since jesse has told her he would give his all to make it work, she would too. Tonight, she was Mrs. Jesse Adams, and she would make him proud.
Meanwhile, Cynthia had informed Madam Adams of Jesse's arrival, carefully omitting any mention of Xsmyv's identity. Instead, she simply said, "Jesse is here, and he brought a…colleague."
Madam Adams raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "A colleague?" she asked, her tone skeptical. Jesse was famously private and had never shown interest in having women around him, apart from his previous girlfriend. Could it be her? she wondered briefly but shook her head. No, it can't be.
Cynthia, noticing the flicker of doubt on Madam Adams' face, smirked to herself. "Perhaps you should meet her," she suggested, her voice sweet but dripping with ulterior motives.
Not long after, Jesse approached his mother and greeted her warmly. "Mother," he said, bowing slightly.
Madam Adams smiled but quickly teased, "You now ignore your mother, hmm?"
Jesse chuckled. "When have I ever ignored you, Mother?"
Cynthia, standing nearby, gave him a radiant smile, hoping to catch his attention, but Jesse barely acknowledged her presence. He glanced at his watch. "Excuse me," he said. "It's time for my speech."
As he walked toward the podium, Madam Adams watched him leave. Her eyes darted back to Cynthia, who was growing visibly annoyed. "Cynthia," she said pointedly, "if there's something I should know about this 'colleague,' you had better tell me now."
Cynthia hesitated, choosing her words carefully. "Madam, I'm not sure who she is, but I can find out."
Madam Adams gave her a sharp look but said nothing further. She turned her attention to the stage as Jesse began to speak.
Jesse's commanding presence silenced the room as he stepped up to the podium. His eloquence was magnetic, and his speech captivated the audience. Many parents in the crowd whispered to each other, wishing for a son as accomplished and charismatic as him. The young women, on the other hand, could barely contain their admiration, their eyes fixed on him as if he were the only man in the room.
Xsmyv sat at a corner table, her eyes glued to her husband. She had always known he was accomplished, but seeing him in his element—confident, persuasive, and commanding respect—left her in awe. How did I end up married to a man like him? she wondered, a small smile playing on her lips.
Across the room, Shante was seething. The sight of Xsmyv seated in a place of honor infuriated her. That slut doesn't deserve to be here, she thought bitterly. A wicked idea crept into her mind, and she decided to act.
As Jesse continued his speech, Shante approached Xsmyv with a feigned smile. "Well, well, isn't this my dear cousin, Xsmyv?" she said loudly, drawing the attention of a few nearby guests.
Xsmyv's brows furrowed, but she chose to ignore Shante, turning her attention back to the stage.
"Oh, come on, Xsmyv. Don't pretend you don't hear me," Shante sneered. "What are you doing here? You really have some skills, I must say."
Xsmyv sighed and turned to her. "What do you want, Shante?"
"I'm just surprised," Shante replied, her tone dripping with mockery. "This doesn't seem like the kind of gathering you'd belong in. Don't overdo yourself."
"And this is the kind of gathering you belong in?" Xsmyv shot back, her voice calm but firm. "I didn't see any labels saying who should or shouldn't attend. If you can be here, then so can I."
Shante's smile faltered, but she quickly recovered. "Fair enough," she said, her eyes glinting with malice. While Xsmyv wasn't looking, Shante discreetly slipped her gold bracelet into Xsmyv's purse. Straightening up, she leaned in close and whispered, "Let me warn you, Xsmyv. You don't belong here. Don't get comfortable, slut."
Xsmyv clenched her fists but chose to remain silent, refusing to let Shante get a rise out of her. With a triumphant smirk, Shante walked away, glancing back once to see Xsmyv sitting stoically.
The room erupted into applause as Jesse concluded his speech. He commended his team for their hard work and dedication, announcing bonuses for the most outstanding staff. "Your efforts drive our success," he said, his voice carrying pride and inspiration. "Let's continue to build something extraordinary together."
As he stepped down from the podium, he scanned the room for Xsmyv, his eyes softening when they found her. She smiled at him, and for a moment, the tension of the evening melted away.
Meanwhile, Shante, now standing beside Claire, whispered, "Just wait, Mum. Xsmyv won't know what hit her."