The Paper Wife’s Empire novel Chapter 28

Ramona turned, finding Wisteria standing there with her arms crossed, eyebrow arched as she looked at the flustered waiter. “If you can’t even organize the seating at a banquet, are you implying everyone here is just some random nobody?”

The waiter was visibly shaken, his face drained of color.

Ramona picked up where Wisteria left off. “Ms. Huxley is absolutely right.”

“Everyone here tonight is a respected figure in their field, or an important partner. For the hosts to overlook something as basic as the seating placards isn’t just disrespectful to Ms. Huxley and me, it’s an insult to all the guests.”

“With this level of professionalism, I doubt any prominent family would trust you with their events again. Certainly not the Covington family.”

“The Covington family?” The waiter went even paler, the tray in his hands shaking so badly he nearly dropped it.

Everyone knew that getting the Covington heir to attend had already been a major coup for the organizers. Ramona’s words were as good as a death sentence for their reputation.

Wisteria quirked an eyebrow, a little surprised. Ramona always seemed gentle, but when it came to telling someone off, she didn’t pull any punches.

With a flourish, Wisteria dragged two chairs over and set them by the table. “Since the hosts can’t handle it, we’ll just help ourselves. Ramona, have a seat?”

The waiter was already sweating bullets, barely managing to stumble away in a panic, off to fetch the manager.

Solenne was frozen in place. She’d been hoping to see Ramona embarrassed, but in just a few words, Ramona had turned all the attention onto the hosts’ incompetence instead.

“Wisteria? I thought you’d left.”

The moment Solenne saw Wisteria, she stood up, her smile dropping away instantly.

Wisteria was the last person she wanted to see—her adopted sister, yet somehow always the favored one. No matter what Solenne did, Wisteria would always find a way to go against her.

“I was hungry,” Wisteria replied coolly. “I figured I’d eat before leaving. I registered for the banquet, so there should be a place card with my name.”

Ramona knew Wisteria had stepped in specifically to bail her out. She offered a grateful smile, but Wisteria only gave her a cold, indifferent look.

Not that Wisteria had meant to help Ramona; she’d just overheard Solenne gossiping in the restroom. She simply didn’t want Solenne to get her way.

And besides, Ramona was Yancey’s cousin.

The way Yancey had defended Ramona last night, you’d think Wisteria was out to harm her or something.

“Thank you for your kindness, Ms. Huxley, but I think I’ll stay here,” Ramona said, turning and calmly taking a seat in the empty chair.

“Ramona, who told you to sit there?” Solenne snapped, unable to keep up appearances any longer. “Are you completely uncivilized? No manners at all!”

Ramona, unruffled, replied with a small smile, “I suppose I don’t know much about these things—this is my first time attending a banquet like this.”

The card was turned away from Ramona, but Solenne and the others caught the name immediately.

Ethan Jordon!

Everyone knew—even the Covington family’s power at home and abroad couldn’t compare to the Jordon family’s influence.

The organizers would risk offending the Covingtons before they’d ever dare cross the Jordons—especially over someone like Ramona, the newly found heiress with little standing in society.

And Ethan never attended these sorts of business functions. The fact that he’d made an appearance elevated the entire banquet to another level.

“If your mistake has left me without a seat, then wherever I choose to sit is perfectly reasonable,” Ramona said. She didn’t want to make things harder for the staff, and she could see how panicked they were, but if she gave in now, she’d only embarrass herself.

Solenne, emboldened, smiled again. “Ramona, stop making a scene. This is one seat you can’t possibly claim. Take my advice and step aside. There’s always someone higher up the ladder. Don’t embarrass the Covington family because of your pride.”

Now that Ethan’s name was out, even those who’d supported Ramona fell silent.

Instead, a sense of anticipation filled the room, as if everyone was waiting for the drama to unfold.

The Covingtons versus the Jordons.

An illegitimate daughter trying to outshine a genuine power player? The outcome was obvious: whether Ramona gave up the seat or not, she was bound to lose face.