"Madame, let me help you up the stairs," August spoke softly and rushed to wards Hendrik's wife's side to help her up the stairs as she entered the venue.
They had already passed the media lining up front to take pictures and their own scoop for tonight's event.
August had just arrived at the venue when he saw the chairman's wife slowly entering as her second son held her left hand. August rushed to her right side to help her.
Nina Henderson slowly lifted up her head to see who had offered to help her. Her smile is immediately wiped away and replaced with a scowl when she sees that it is none other than August who offers her help.
Nina pushed August away angrily and gave her right hand to her second son, Vincent, who is Reeve's uncle.
"Stay away from me! My blood always boils whenever I see your face. My goodness, I'm really going to die early if my husband would still refuse to get rid of you." Nina spoke scornfully as she distanced herself from August.
Used to Nina's hateful words and receiving bad treatment from her, August did not force himself on Nina and allowed her to curse on him and move away from him.
Clarence, who was there with him all this time, was greatly confounded when he saw how the chairman's wife had treated him.
The chairman dotes on August the most, yet his wife hates him with a passion. Clarence wondered what exactly is August's relationship with the chairman aside from the fact that he is working with them as an employee.
Vincent and August's eyes connected when they glanced at each other because of Nina's outburst. Vincent broke their eye contact first, having nothing to say to August. He didn't even feel the least bad about how his mother had treated August so disrespectfully.
"Grandma," someone spoke behind them, making everyone turn to the person who spoke.
"Reeve, my eldest grandson!" Nina beamed. All the hate and anger on her face immediately melted away when she saw her grandson hurrying towards her.
"Let me help you, grandma." Reeve offered his arm to his grandma, which Nina accepted gratefully.
August had finally forgotten about Nina, and he did not even pay any attention to Reeve's arrival when he saw the woman who came along with him.
It was Gwyneth Tinsley, August's secret girlfriend.
Gwyneth Tinsley and August Hayes have been dating since high school. This means that Gwyneth came from a rich family background to be able to study at a prestigious school where August and Reeve were enrolled to study.
Although August was the school outcast and a target for bullies, Gwyneth never disliked August just because he wasn't born into a rich family. Unlike all the other rich and spoiled kids, Gwyneth has a kind heart who never takes the bully's side.
Gwyneth was the only person who treated August with kindness at school. As the two got close to each other, a romantic relationship flourished between them, and Gwyneth became August's secret girlfriend.
August agreed to be in a secret relationship with Gwyneth to protect her. He knows that Gwyneth would also become a target for bullies once they find out that she is dating a loser like him.
Besides, Gwyneth is also from a rich family. There's no way that her parents would approve of their relationship when they found out that August did not come from a rich family like them.
Although Gwyneth and August's relationship was kept a secret, they loved each other very much and remained loyal to each other. August worked hard every day so that someday he would become worthy to ask Gwyneth's hand for marriage and her parents would accept him as their son-in-law.
August studied well and did his job properly despite the mistreatment he had suffered because he loved Gwyneth so much. He wants to be worthy of her so they would no longer have to hide their relationship as a secret.
Gwyneth stared at August with huge eyes like a deer that was caught in headlights. August stilled when she saw how Gwyneth's arm was tightly interlaced around Reeve's arm. Their fingers were even interlaced together as if they were dating.
When Gwyneth realized what August was looking at, she immediately took back her arm from Reeve's hold.
August blinked and stared back at Gwyneth's eyes, almost demanding an explanation. Instead of explaining herself or moving to August's side, she ignored August completely as if she did not know her.
August was left speechless as Gwyneth and the Hendersons all left him. August squinted his eyes as different thoughts clouded his mind. He shouldn't be haste in making assumptions. There must be a reason why Gwyneth attended today's party with Reeve.
Gwyneth and he had been through a lot in their relationship since high school. August trusts Gwyneth and the love she has for him. He should wait until everything is over so he can talk to her privately and ask her for an explanation.
"Sir, we must inform the chairman that Sir Reeve has already arrived. We must also deliver these documents to Sir Calvin as soon as possible," Clarence reminded August in a whisper, pulling him away from his thoughts.
August nods slightly before he enters the venue to meet the chairman and deliver the folder.
As they neared the chairman's table, they saw Hillary Henderson, Chairman Henderson's favorite granddaughter, sitting beside him.
Hillary Henderson is the best in the Henderson family line. You can say that she is Henderson's cream of the crop. Born as the only child of Chairman Henderson's youngest son, Hillary holds beauty that is incomparable to others.
She is the most beautiful lady in the whole city, and all the rich bachelors wish to have her as their wife.
Aside from her famous beauty, she is also famous for her great talent. She is a violin prodigy and has won different international competitions in her younger years.
Although she is very talented in playing the violin, she still continued her education and graduated with Latin honors in her business degree.
In all of Tuxmont City, no woman could ever surpass Hillary.
"Chairman, Ms. Hillary," August bowed his head to his two masters. "Sir Reeve has just arrived," August reported upon raising his eyes to look at Hendrik.
Since Hillary is sitting beside her grandfather, August naturally had to glance at Hillary and was again amazed by her beauty.
Gwyneth is beautiful, but compared to Hillary, her beauty is nothing. Still, August loves no other woman than Gwyneth.
"August, you're here!" Hillary smiled widely at August. "How was your trip to Hungary?" Hillary's beauty shined even more because of her charming smile.
Not all of Hendrik Henderson's family hated August. Unlike Reeve Henderson, who tormented him, Nina Henderson, who despised him, and the other Hendersons, who discriminated against him, there is still Hillary Henderson, who treated him with kindness the same way that her grandfather did.
August flashed Hillary a smile. "The business venture went well. There is nothing for the chairman to worry about."
"As I had expected. You are still the same as ever; my grandfather can always rely on you," Hillary complimented him, making August feel humbled.
Hillary is the closest family member to her grandfather. Not only because she is Hendrik Henderson's favorite granddaughter but also because Hillary is the only person who cares for Hendrik the most.
The other Hendersons are only after Hendrik Henderson's fortune. Only Hillary sincerely cared for her grandfather.
"You give me too much flattery. I was just doing my job," August replied back respectfully to Hillary.
Since Hillary has a close relationship with her grandfather, just like August, August and Hillary would see each other often at the office, which is why they are also pretty close with each other.
However, because August is working under Hendrik, he always treats Hillary professionally as his boss, just like how he treats the other Hendersons.
August's relationship with the Hendersons will always be just boss and employee.
"I should go, Mr. Chairman. I need to deliver these documents that Sir Calvin had asked for," August spoke professionally.
"Go ahead. He must be around somewhere," The chairman replied before August left.
"I thought the rumors were just exaggerating, but I did not expect that Miss Hillary would be much more beautiful than the rumors say." Clarence couldn't keep his amazement to himself.
"Even so, people like us will never be worthy of her. A woman like her would never be with people like us. The chairman would pick the best man for her." August told him the harsh truth that he knew so well.
After all, that's also the same reason that keeps him and Gwyneth apart. The rich are for the rich, and the poor are for the poor. Status keeps people apart.
Clarence's heart fell in the pit of his stomach when he heard August's pessimistic words. "I know that. I was just saying that Hillary is pretty."
"Then it's good if it's true. You should drop whatever feelings you had for her while it's still under your control," August gave him useful advice, hoping that Clarence wouldn't end up on the same path as him.
He doesn't want Clarence to experience what it's like to fall in love with a person who is born from a different world. August's relationship with Gwyneth is full of heartaches and uncertainties, and it was the love that they had for each other that helped them pull through.
"August, have you done what I asked you to do?" Calvin asked August as soon as he saw him.
August handed him the folder of documents without saying anything.
Calvin smiled as he took the document from August's hand. August will really do whatever is asked of him, just like a dog.
"The event is about to start, and Reeve is about to make his speech. Why don't you sit here beside me." Calvin patted the only empty seat beside him, leaving Clarence no room to sit on.
"Sir, I'd sit with my friends at the back. You do not need to worry," Clarence whispered to August, understanding the situation.
August nodded his head and sat on the empty seat beside Calvin. Clarence left to find a space for him to stay at.
The whole crowd gave a round of applause as Reeve entered the stage to make his speech. Calvin and August also clapped their hands along with the crowd.
Calvin sipped his wine as Reeve made his boring speech. August, who is mentally and physically tired, dozed off in his own thoughts, watching Reeve give his own speech but not understanding a thing he said.
August stared at his glass of wine. He couldn't drink while he was in the middle of his job.
August jumped back to reality when the crowd clapped and cheered when the new product was announced.
"Now that you have seen the surprise you all have been waiting for, I have another announcement to make," Reeve spoke with a professional smile.
The whole room fell silent with great anticipation, including August.
"Today, we are not just going to announce our product's release, but I also want to take this as a chance to introduce my fiancé to everyone."
"Fiance? I don't even know that Reeve is dating someone." August thought to himself, wondering who this fiance was.
"Everyone, meet Gwyneth Tinsley, my fiance." The whole crowd stood up in joy as they whistled and gave a round of applause for the newly engaged couple.
August turned, frozen in his seat. Time slowed down as he watched Gwyneth walk onto the stage with a huge smile on her face, showing off her diamond engagement ring to everyone.
"Am I dreaming?" August thought to himself as his ears tuned out the noise of the crowd. "I'm not dreaming."