The Real Heiress Is Coming Back (Hannah Carter) novel Chapter 155

Chapter 155

“Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth!” Gemma shot a vicious glare at Hannah’s retreating figure.

‘Even Arthur couldn’t lock down the venue. Does she really think that scrappy kid can change the manager’s mind? She’s way out of her league!’ Gemma scoffed inwardly.

‘Even if she brings Ronin in, it won’t make a difference,’ she thought.

“The manager at Deaxen Hotel doesn’t lose his head over a pretty face. Even if you sent your sister in there stark naked, he still wouldn’t budge,” Gemma sneered.

“Watch your mouth!” Arthur warned, his face darkening.

He could handle insults thrown at him, but talking trash about his sister was crossing the line.

“Yeah, right,” Gemma scoffed. “My mouth is way cleaner than that brat’s! If you want to waste your time here, be my guest.”

She just couldn’t believe they’d actually get the manager to change his mind.

Then, she pulled an invitation out of her bag and tossed it through Arthur’s car window, smirking with self- importance.

“Don’t forget to show up at the Baker family’s annual party,” Gemma said.

Arthur watched as Gemma strutted away like a peacock, his hands gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white.

In the past, the Baker family always invited the Scott family to their annual party because Susie was Jasper’s fiancée. But this year, the two families had completely fallen out. Gemma’s invitation wasn’t out of generosity, it was a deliberate provocation.

She was flaunting the fact that she’d snatched the venue right out from under them, a blatant act of defiance.

But the Scott family just didn’t have the clout to go up against the Bakers.

He had no clue what Hannah was planning, but he was dead sure it wasn’t some dirty trick like Gemma suggested.

He turned the wheel, parked the car, and while waiting for Hannah, tried reaching out to other hotels for a le waiting for Hannah, tried reaching out to other hotels for a backup plan.

Half an hour later, Hannah came down and spotted Arthur’s car.

She hopped in the passenger seat. “All set,” she announced,

“Wait, seriously? Already?” Arthur stared at her, shocked. She’d only been up there for half an hour!

“Mhm,” Hannah replied with a little hum. “Fifth, ten a.m., same time, same place.”

“How did you pull that off?” Arthur couldn’t help but ask, curiosity getting the better of him.

‘Is Hannah actually more connected in Brynlock than I am?’ Arthur thought, a bit thrown off.

“Just used a little trick,” Hannah said with a sly smile.

Arthur remembered Gemma’s snide remark and blurted out, “Wait, you didn’t flirt your way into getting the venue, did you?”

Hannah just stared at him, speechless.

“The manager’s a total baldy,” she replied.

Arthur blinked, confused.

He’d met the manager at Deaxen Hotel before, a guy in his thirties, but the stress from working at the Thole Group had basically wiped out his hair. ‘No wonder he’s almost bald at that age. The Thole Group must be brutal,’ Arthur thought.

“I’m all about looks, and bald guys? Just not my vibe,” Hannah quipped.

‘Seriously, what does her thing against bald dudes have to do with scoring the venue?’ Arthur wondered.

Later, when Arthur ran into the manager at the Deaxen Hotel again, the man was suddenly sporting a thick, glossy head of hair. That was when it all finally made sense to Arthur.

“But let’s keep this hush-hush for now,” Hannah reminded him, a sly glint in her eye. “Trust me, when the annual party kicks off, everyone’s going to get front-row seats to some serious drama.”

“Alright,” Arthur agreed. He still had no idea what Hannah was planning, but with the venue and date locked in, she’d already saved his skin.

*****

Back at Baker Villa, the whole family and everyone at the company were running around, handing out invites left and right for the big annual bash.

The Baker Group had been getting squeezed for a while now, and Winston was pinning all his hopes on Gemma to help him make a splash and turn things around at this year’s party.

Winston brought the invitation over to the Croft family himself.

The main branch of the Croft family didn’t live in Brynlock, so only Wolfram, Mrs. Croft, Owen, and Pamela were around. Winston put on his best ingratiating smile and said,

“Mr. Croft, Mrs. Croft, Owen, I really hope you can all make it to the Baker family’s annual party at Deaxen Hotel on the fifth!”

Every year, the Bakers sent an invite to the Crofts, but the only one who ever actually showed up was Owen, since he used to hang out a lot with Jasper.

This year was a whole different story, Owen and Jasper had fallen out, and Winston was really worried Owen might not show up at all.

Gemma had been snooping around for Barnaby’s whereabouts, and as soon as he arrived at the event, she was hot on his heels.

“Barnaby….Mr. Thole,” she greeted, quickly correcting herself when she remembered how Winston had been publicly snubbed by him before.

“The Baker family’s annual party is on the fifth at Deaxen Hotel. Hope you can make it,” she said, offering the invitation with both hands.

She handed over the invitation, her posture extra deferential.

Gemma had always been a little intimidated by Barnaby, and with all those Thole family shares he was set to inherit, even she had to swallow her pride and play nice around him.

Barnaby gave her a dismissive side-eye, barely even glancing at the invitation in her hand. He strode right past her like she didn’t exist.

“Mr. Thole will decide if he feels like showing up,” Ronin said, grabbing the invite and jogging after Barnaby.

Gemma was left standing there, her smile stuck awkwardly on her face.

Barnaby had never bothered to attend any of the Baker family’s parties. She used to think it was just because she hadn’t handed him the invitation herself, that maybe he thought she wasn’t sincere enough.

But now, it hit her, her sincerity didn’t matter. Barnaby just couldn’t care less about the Baker family.

*****

Inside the elevator, Ronin flipped open the invitation and raised an eyebrow. “Wait, the Baker family’s annual party is scheduled for the exact same time and place as the Scott family’s? Gemma’s totally doing this on purpose, right?”

Barnaby gave him a sidelong look, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Is that so? Then let’s give the Scott family a show they won’t forget.”

Hearing that, Ronin mentally lit a candle for the Baker family.

Just like that, the fifth rolled around.

On the third floor of Deaxen Hotel, the banquet hall was absolutely hopping, music playing, tables loaded with fancy food, the place packed with guests, and everyone raising a glass.

Gemma and Winston mingled with the guests, champagne in hand, greeting everyone with big smiles, looking like they owned the place.

Just then, their assistant hurried over and whispered, “Sir, Madam, Mr. Croft and his family just arrived.”

“The whole Croft family actually came? Does this mean they’re officially representing the Crofts?’ Winston’s

heart skipped a beat with excitement.

Getting the Crofts, one of the four big families, to show up at their party? That was a serious badge of honor.

Winston and Gemma rushed to the elevator to greet them in person, and made sure to flag down the media for a photo op.

The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open. A waiter held the doors, and Wolfram and his wife stepped out, arm in arm, with Owen trailing behind.

The whole family was dressed to impress, elegant, refined, and every move radiated a scholarly elegance that spoke of generations of culture.

“Mr. Croft, Mrs. Croft, Owen, what an honor to have you here! Sorry we didn’t greet you sooner,” Winston said, stepping forward with a big smile.

“Mrs. Croft, you look even younger than before, and Owen, you’re looking even more handsome! Please, come on in,” Gemma said, beaming as she led them toward the banquet hall.

The guests in the banquet hall quickly picked up on the buzz.

“No way, they actually got the Croft family’s second branch, all three of them! That’s some serious connections.”

“Seriously, Mr. Croft and his family only ever show up for the most important occasions. You almost never see them at events like this.”

“Glad I came today. I have to find a chance to talk to them later.”

The guests’ whispers drifted over to Gemma and Winston, and they were beaming with pride. With the Croft family making an appearance, this was already a win in their book, the party’s main goal was basically in the bag.

The Baker family’s spot at the top of Brynlock was locked in.

“Didn’t

you say this was the Scott family’s party?” Wolfram turned to Owen, raising an eyebrow.

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