CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: "UNSPOKEN RULES

The celebration event for Sunfield Corporation was held at the third-floor banquet hall of The Elysian.

Holly arrived just before noon, and the banquet hall was already crowded with people.

The number of attendees was more than she expected, with several mainstream media outlets and a few industry big names attending, which surprised Holly.

But what made her more uncomfortable were the furtive looks she received.

"Is that Holly Crowe?"

"I heard she has been with President Pence for seven years... No wonder she got promoted so quickly..."

Ever since she entered the banquet hall, she had noticed people whispering about her.

Most of these whispers came from former colleagues at the company, along with their sidelong glances and those ambiguous yet contemptuous smiles.

Holly’s fingers were icy cold.

Secretary Lynch hurriedly brought her to a quieter area, speaking softly, "Crowe, don’t take it to heart, those are just rumors..."

Holly smiled faintly, "What rumors?"

Lynch was taken aback, his eyes flickering, "Well... the rumors going around the company recently..."

She responded coldly, "Rumors about what? Saying I got promoted through underhanded means? Or that I’ve had a seven-year clandestine relationship with Zion Pence?"

Lynch awkwardly smiled, not daring to respond.

"Crowe, not everyone thinks that way."

Lynch tried to explain further, wanting to say more, but was interrupted by other colleagues calling him away, leaving him no choice but to leave Holly with the words, "Crowe, I believe in you" before being pulled away.

Rumors spreading at such a critical time.

Whoever’s behind it, their intent is despicable!

The person behind this collusion is obvious!

Holly remained silent, raising her eyes to look at Zion Pence in the center of the banquet hall.

He was in a smart suit, with a bright smile, basking in compliments and flattery from those around him, appearing smug and in control of everything.

"Ha."

Holly smiled, is this his proof?

Using gossip to corner her into submission? Leaving her with nowhere to escape, eventually begging to return to him?

From within the crowd, Zion Pence seemed to sense something, turning his head to meet her gaze, his eyes lighting up. He said something to those around him, then walked straight towards her.

"Holly," he addressed her upon reaching her, his voice insincere, "You look beautiful today."

Holly kept her eyes down, refusing to look at him.

Zion Pence was indifferent to her aloofness, confidently smiling as he spoke, "I knew you’d come."

Despite her having blocked all his communication means, she still showed up in the end.

This was enough proof that Holly still had feelings for him.

Zion Pence unabashedly sized her up. She was wearing a long, dark green dress today, highlighting her fair skin, making her stand out among the crowd.

Holly looked up, her gaze icy, "The company rumors, they’re from you."

It was not a question, but a certainty.

Zion Pence did not deny it, stepping closer with falsely passionate sincerity, "Holly, I promised I would prove it to you."

In his self-righteousness, he even added, "Besides, how could it be a rumor? It’s the story of our love."

"Love?"

To Holly, it sounded like the world’s biggest joke, "Zion Pence, not everyone can turn love into a game, deception into deep emotion like you do."

Using such despicable means to force her to yield, and still thinking it’s deep affection?

It’s truly disgusting!

The smile on Zion Pence’s face froze momentarily, but quickly returned to normal, "Have you forgotten? You always wanted us to go public back then..."

"That’s because I was blind back then!"

Holly’s voice suddenly rose and then she struggled to suppress it, "I didn’t know you were a liar! That’s why I was so deceived by your lies! But now I’ve awakened!"

Zion Pence wanted to say more, but a few journalists approached from not far away, "President Pence, may we have an interview? Regarding the future development plans of Sunfield Tech..."

Zion Pence was forced to halt his steps and turn to handle them.

Holly immediately spun around and seized the chance to leave, but before she walked too far, she overheard more unabashed gossip.

"Look, look, coming out one after the other, there must be something going on."

"See? Holly being a non-major fresh graduate can become President Pence’s secretary right after graduation, there’s no such thing as free lunch in this world, right?"

"Tsk, tsk, the role of a secretary indeed runs deep..."

The chatter wasn’t loud, but it was like a venomous snake snaking its way into Holly’s body, impossible to shake off.

The proposals she stayed up late preparing, the deals she negotiated until she vomited at the drinking table, the patient strides she took every step of the way...

Seven years of hard work, dismissed so lightly by just a few words.

The saying "Three men make a tiger" rang true.

The word ’underhanded’ completely overshadowed all her efforts.

Holly let out a deep breath.

"If the affair between Secretary Crowe and President Pence is real, then what about Mia Chapelle?"

Though their voices were lowered, the tone of excitement and anticipation could not be masked.

"Let me tell you, just these few days Secretary Crowe was on leave, Mia Chapelle has been frequenting President Pence’s office often."

"So does this mean Holly has been surpassed?"

"Isn’t that just too pathetic? All that effort to climb up, only to end up as someone else’s stepping stone...

At this point, those people again looked at Holly with eyes bearing a mix of pity, but upon closer look, that pity was wrapped with schadenfreude.

Holly suddenly became the topic center.

She knew, through their perspective, she must be a joke now, someone who climbed up with the help of a man, only to be abandoned in the end.

But what did it matter?

Holly glanced back.

Within the crowd, Zion Pence was eloquently speaking with the reporters.

Holly’s lips curled into a sneer as she headed for the banquet hall’s rear door.

Over there, Zion Pence was effortlessly managing the press interview.

During the open questions session, several reporters eagerly raised their hands, with questions revolving around Blake Sinclair, clearly trying to extract some rumors about Blake Sinclair from him, which was their purpose in attending today.

Zion Pence casually picked one reporter’s question to answer, then his gaze stayed on a specific reporter in the middle of the third row, and their eyes met silently in the air.

The reporter approached with a microphone, deliberately raising their voice, "I would like to ask President Pence, is it true you have plans to marry soon?"

The banquet hall fell notably quiet.

Eyes darted back and forth between Holly and him.

Zion Pence smiled slightly, subconsciously twirling the microphone, revealing a wedding ring on his hand, "Yes, we are indeed preparing for the wedding recently."

"Congratulations." The reporter pressed further, "Could you share about your partner?"

Zion Pence looked past the crowd at Holly not far away, his tone filled with an intentionally orchestrated warmth, "She is a truly wonderful person, consistently supporting my career in silence."

Pausing there, he continued, "She has stood by me in the company for all these years..."

As he spoke, he didn’t notice the sudden commotion arising within the crowd not far away.