CHAPTER 279: CHAPTER 280: TEN SLAPS (3)

Walking up to Kris Cooper, Irene Spencer raised her hand to rest it on his shoulder, intending to display a sense of intimacy. But before her hand could touch Kris’s suit, he had already raised his left hand to wave to everyone.

As luck would have it, her face collided with his raised elbow.

Her nose hit the man’s hard bone; she felt a sharp sting, and tears almost welled up.

Feeling his arm bump into something, Kris Cooper turned his head.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh... I’m fine, I’m fine..." Irene Spencer managed to smile through the pain, doing her best to maintain her elegant composure. "Shall we go in together?"

His phone buzzed in his pocket. Kris Cooper paid her no further attention, merely taking out his phone and striding away from the check-in platform.

On the screen was a text message from Vera Wave.

"Checked in, back to work."

Those six simple words were enough to reassure him and bring a smile to his lips.

Irene Spencer had initially reached out to touch his arm, but by the time she extended her hand, he was already walking away. She stared at her hand hanging in mid-air, hesitating in embarrassment for a moment. Seeing the flashbulbs still going off from below the steps, she hurriedly withdrew her hand. To cover her awkwardness, she smoothed her hair and struck an elegant pose for the cameras. After they took a few shots, she turned and walked down from the check-in platform.

By the time she finally caught up to the main dais, Kris Cooper was already seated among the company’s top executives.

Since his girlfriend had gotten jealous once before, Kris Cooper was being particularly cautious this time. He had specifically instructed the staff to seat Irene Spencer a little further away from him.

"Ms. Spencer, please come sit here!" a staff member called out, noticing her standing there, and quickly ushered her to her seat.

Irene Spencer thanked him and reluctantly sat down.

「Soon, the ceremony officially began.」

Kris Cooper went up to the dais to give a speech, then invited several high-ranking government officials from the partnering groups to join him in commencing the groundbreaking ceremony.

Staff members delivered shovels. Kris Cooper and the officials he had invited then walked down from the dais, dug their shovels into the ground, and lifted a spadeful of earth, signifying the official start of the construction project.

Immediately, countless cameras flashed, capturing the significant moment.

Balloons soared in the distance as several partners and major shareholders stood up to shake his hand and congratulate him.

Irene Spencer was filled with bitterness. In the past, she would have been invited to participate in such groundbreaking events alongside him. This time, however, she could only watch from the sidelines.

Seeing everyone congratulating him, she quickly stood up and walked over, hoping to seize the opportunity for a photograph with him.

Her high heel caught on a loose stone, and she stumbled, her body swaying. She managed not to fall completely, but seeing Kris Cooper nearby, she decided to play it up. She let out an exaggerated groan and sank to the ground.

"Kris, give me a hand!"

"Tommy Taylor!" Kris Cooper called out, standing his ground and not moving an inch. "Take Ms. Spencer to the hospital."

If this had been a private occasion, he might have lent her a hand.

But in a public situation like this, with so many journalists present, he knew that if he went to help her, the reporters would undoubtedly sensationalize the incident in their reports. He had only just managed to soothe things over with his girlfriend; he wouldn’t risk stirring up more trouble.

Nearby staff members and Tommy Taylor immediately rushed over to help Irene Spencer up from the ground. The reporters nearby had already unapologetically captured her embarrassing moment on camera.

Seeing Kris Cooper preparing to leave the site with the others to attend the banquet, Irene Spencer could no longer feign injury and quickly stood up.