A banquet. It was a perfect place for business men and women socialize and gain partners. However, for Valeria, it was horrible! It was especially so because everyone's attention was on she and Liam rather than the hosts.
Liam didn't have a problem with all this. He knew very well that everyone looked at him weirdly because he held onto Valeria instead of the other way around, but he didn't care. He flashed everyone a bright smile.
Valeria looked at her husband who was always obedient when others were around and sighed. Yeah, she had to make him stop this facade.
What no one knew was that Liam was analysing every single person they greeted. It seemed like Valeria was leading the way but it was all him. He told her who to avoid who to greet and who to befriend. She didn't really befriend anyone but she was not her usual rude self.
The hosts were the Ganvin family. Olivia Ganvin was the daughter who got engaged to Pete Hases. Olivia was not so happy about the people who stole the attention from her. Normally she stole the attention in other people's celebrations. How could she lack it in her own?
That's why Liam and Valeria were approached by Olivia. It was noticeable that Valeria had avoided her so she approached them instead. Valeria wouldn't be as stupid as to avoid her directly, would she?
"Mrs. Telever and Mr. Telever," Olivia greeted with a sweet voice. However, Liam could see the mockery. She was teasing him for marrying into a family.
"Aaah, Mrs. Hases, or should I say Miss Ganvin? You still haven't married into the Hases family you know," Valeria too gave a sweet smile.
Liam almost broke his guise. He didn't prepare his wife for this, how was she doing it so well? Did she learn so fast?
"Don't be too polite, you can call me Olivia. We are of the same age after all," Olivia gritted her teeth.
"In that case you should call us casually too," said Valeria. Only the three knew this conversation was far from friendly. Olivia was normally called Mrs. Hases even though she wasn't married. She considered herself a Hases since the day she knew about them. She hated the fact that they were not married.
This banquet was supposed to make her feel better but this woman, Valeria had to remind her that she was still not married. Olivia herself had plans to keep calling Liam Mr. Telever but now she couldn't because Valeria too would keep calling her Mrs. Ganvin!
This complex thing was understood by the three people but no other person would ever think that far. They all saw Olivia getting along with the couple.
"I wonder why Olivia is not with her husband to be?" Valeria mentioned as her eyes searched for the said husband to be.
"He's busy with something right now. As you know he is the CEO of Jalki."
"Oh my. He has to work in your engagement day? That's too bad, will he also work on your wedding day? He's too busy! When will the both of you get time together?"
Now that Valeria mentioned it, Pete was only seen less than twice the whole time. Was he that busy? Olivia could here the whispers mocking her and her face turned pale.
"What, no, he..."
"Olivia, I'm sorry, I have to leave. My husband and I have something planned out before I go to work. We always have time for each other." Valeria left with Liam. That's when the guests realized that the 'friendly' conversation was not so friendly. Olivia clutched her phone so hard that it was on the verge of snapping into pieces. Pete came back soon and was shocked to find the guests leaving. Did the banquet end already?
Meanwhile, Liam was congratulating Valeria in the car. "How? How did you know what to say?"
"I'm not stupid, just extremely lazy," she answered and drove the car. The banquet ended early as planned.
"Then why did your lazy mind think of what to say?"
"She mocked you so she mocked me."
Liam smiled then shrugged, "Just say you did it because you love me."
"The only person I love is myself," she said seriously, too seriously.
"What about your grandparents?" He raised a brow.
"I trust them," she barely whispered, "No more questions. I fear you might start drawing false conclusions."
"When have I ever done that?" He asked but didn't ask further. He had enought to understand that Valeria closed her heart. It was not a relevant information but hey, he still got it.
The car arrived at the mansion. Liam went back to his usual facade making Valeria chuckle. She stopped him from getting out of the car.
"Why do you do this?"
"You should be happy about it."
"It makes me feel uncomfortable."
"I'll still do it though. It will actually help you."
"Isn't there another way?"
"Nop."
He opened the car door and stepped out. She too got out and directly looked at the open window from where one of her aunts was staring at her. Kara quickly closed her window when she noticed she was discovered.
"Tsk, sometimes I think they don't try at all," she said as she smiled.
"She's not the only one watching," Liam said with his head lowered so that his real expression wouldn't be seen. She looked at him and shook her head.
"You know, while we're at it, let's give them something," she said and suddenly walked towards him.
"What do you me..." He didn't finish what he wanted to say. She roughly raised his chin and kissed his lips. Someone else would definitely say she was forcing him, especially because of his shocked expression.
She smiled when she let go, "I'm going to blend into my character too. Seems like it's actually fun." A third person would say she was threatening him. She licked her lips and smiled, "Make sure you use my kiss well."