Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 1289

Audrey could see right through their little performance. She smiled, easy and calm. “Honestly, I’m no one special. I just came tonight to wish Iris a happy birthday.”

Amy had been itching to say something all night. Now, with Barrie and Flora joining in, she pounced. “Really? You show up in that gorgeous dress, acting like you’re here to celebrate Iris, but you’re stealing the spotlight. If people didn’t know better, they’d think you came to stir up trouble.”

Audrey looked at her, genuinely puzzled. “Amy, what on earth are you talking about? Isn’t it normal to wear a dress to a party like this?”

She glanced over at Iris and continued, “It’s Iris’s birthday, and she’s the one in a bright red gown. She’s the real center of attention. I’m just wearing pink. Next to her, I pretty much blend in.

“And I haven’t even left this spot since I walked in. The only person I made a point to talk to was Iris, to wish her happy birthday. Since then, I’ve just been chatting with the friends I already know. I don’t think I’ve done anything out of line, have I?”

Amy wasn’t about to let it go. She’d been waiting for this chance, and now that everyone was watching, she was determined to make a scene.

A few people in the crowd, clearly on her side, started chiming in.

“You say you haven’t done anything, but you’ve been cozying up to every guy here. It’s pretty obvious what you’re after.”

“Yeah, flirting with every man in sight isn’t exactly innocent.”

“Anyone who didn’t know better would think this was some kind of shady club, not a birthday party.”

The words stung, and the people saying them kept to the back, their faces hidden, too scared to show themselves.

Someone else spoke up. “Flora just asked which wealthy family you come from. Don’t make me laugh. You’re not an heiress.”

“Exactly. You might work for NextGen Technologies and have a good degree, but at the end of the day, you’re just an employee at a subsidiary company.”

Gasps rippled through the room.

“Wait, she’s not from an influential family? I thought she must be someone important. So how did she get close to Mr. Wilson?”

“Mr. Wilson seems to treat her pretty specially. I figured there was something between them…”

Just a little while ago, these same people had been sizing Audrey up as a future Mrs. Wilson. Now, they stared at her with nothing but scorn.

Another voice in the crowd said, “It’s just because her company does some business with his. Some people don’t know their place, though. They try to use any connection to move up by getting close to Mr. Wilson.”

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