Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 346

Dennis Williams clearly had no intention of dragging out the conversation. He spoke in his usual calm tone, “I’m sure you’ve got your hands full tonight, Mr. Thompson. I won’t keep you any longer.”

That was the cue Mr. Thompson needed to snap out of his daze—Dennis was politely showing him the door.

He quickly got to his feet, chuckling awkwardly. “You’re absolutely right. Well, I won’t take up any more of your time. I’ll go mingle with the other guests.”

Dennis nodded, and with that, Mr. Thompson made his exit.

Aaron watched the man wipe a nervous bead of sweat from his brow as he left, and couldn’t help but shake his head with a wry smile.

Meanwhile, the main hall was buzzing with life. The crowd swirled around Camila Davis, Jessica Harris, and Walter Wilson, a steady stream of guests eager to chat and raise a glass in toast.

Though N.Z. Teck was a newcomer compared to the old-guard corporations, everyone could see their rising star. It was only a matter of time before they’d be leading the pack.

Making an enemy was never wise in this field. Better to make a friend—or at the very least, a useful connection. And who knew? A little networking tonight could lead to juicy collaborations or insider tips down the line.

The lively clinking of glasses and bursts of laughter filled the air—cheese platters and fancy hors d’oeuvres circulating on silver trays. Camila tried to keep a low profile, but there was no escaping the customary rounds of champagne. She ended up sipping more than she wanted, but at least she made some valuable contacts.

On the other side of the room, Sandra Taylor finally caught up with Jordan Smith. Thanks to The Smith Group’s clout, plenty of guests came over to schmooze with Jordan.

Some of them glanced curiously at the woman by his side and couldn’t help but ask, “And who do we have here?”

Before Jordan could answer, Sandra jumped in with a dazzling smile, eager to make a good impression. “Hello, Mr. White. I’m Sandra Taylor—Jordan’s date tonight. I’ve heard so much about your legendary business sense, and it’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

She turned to the next guest. “And you must be Mr. Green! I’ve read about your early ventures; it’s an honor to shake your hand.”

Sandra’s charm and easy social skills put everyone at ease. The CEOs and bigwigs all seemed delighted by her poise.

She really was a natural at this.

But not everyone in the crowd was buying it.

Jordan’s expression darkened, and Sandra’s face went pale. There was nothing she could say—he was throwing her past right in her face. She’d already paid for her mistakes, so why wouldn’t they just let it go?

This was supposed to be her shot at a fresh start, and now it was slipping away—again.

She glanced around desperately. The guests who’d been laughing with her moments before were suddenly backing away, their smiles gone.

Sandra trembled with anger and humiliation. Walter’s words were poison, and he’d nearly spelled it out: he thought she’d try to steal from The Smith Group again.

Now everyone was looking at her with thinly veiled contempt.

She could barely stand it. “Jordan…” she whispered, pleading with her eyes for him to step in.

Jordan looked furious, but he managed to keep his cool—at least on the surface. He shot Walter a hard look and said, “Mr. Wilson, the formula theft was committed by someone else. That person has confessed and been prosecuted. The police closed the case long ago—Sandra had nothing to do with it.”

“As for why she’s here, she’s attending as a member of The Smith Group’s team. If you have a problem with how my company handles its business, maybe we should discuss it privately?”