Chapter 7 Greyson's Gift

Elliana arched an eyebrow, instantly recognizing the man before her.

It was Greyson Spencer.

He was the legendary head of the Spencer family-someone so high above the business world that few dared cross him.

His striking looks were matched only by his reputation for ruthlessness.

There was no one better at crushing competitors.

Elliana remembered all too well how Greyson had brought down several of Leah's major ventures, earning a permanent spot at the top of Leah's enemies list.

He really was as impressive in person as all the stories claimed.

Elliana had not expected him to be tied to the Stanley family. The world really was small. It looked like she would be dealing with them as a set.

She rolled her wrist, preparing herself for whatever might come next.

Meanwhile, Dominic caught the buzz of admiration from the crowd and felt his spirits lift.

Fortune was finally turning his way. With Greyson on his side, nobody else here could touch them.

All those attempts to get on Greyson's radar had not been wasted. Dominic had even gone out of his way to let Greyson know about tonight's banquet and made sure he had his business card in hand.

Renee jumped at the chance to introduce herself, quickly looping her arm through Dominic's and flashing her brightest smile. "Mr. Spencer, it's such a pleasure! I'm Renee Fowler, Dominic's girlfriend. I've heard wonderful things about you, but I never imagined you'd be even more charming in person!"

Dominic wasted no time following up. "Uncle Greyson, Renee and I were hoping-"

Greyson's voice cut in, sharp and uncompromising, "Spare me the details of your relationship. I have no patience for such trivial matters."

His brusque dismissal sent a ripple of shock through the room.

Even Elliana felt a flicker of surprise.

What was Greyson really after?

While she tried to read his expression, Greyson's gaze shifted her way. His eyes, dark and unreadable, lingered on her for a long moment.

"Anyone with working eyes wouldn't mistake fake jade for the real thing," he remarked, the scorn in his tone so strong it drained all the color from Renee's cheeks.

Greyson then fixed his attention on Dominic, every inch the authoritative patriarch.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Apologize now. Or do you plan to shame the Stanley family even further?"

Just minutes before, Dominic had been so eager to parade his connection. Now he wilted under Greyson's glare, rooted in place, uncertain whether to defend himself or slink away.

Dominic threw Elliana a glare, silently commanding her to fix this disaster.

She paid him no mind. Instead, she turned a brilliant smile on Greyson.

Her chin lifted, her confidence unmistakable-she looked radiant and untouchable.

For a moment, she had assumed Greyson was here to bail out Dominic, but it was clear he had his own agenda.

The imposing man leaned in just enough to hear her, his tailored black suit accentuating his tall, regal bearing. There was a chill to his elegance, as if he were carved from stone.

His interaction with Elliana was a world apart from the dismissiveness he had shown Renee.

As she watched this, Renee's jealousy flashed in her eyes.

She quickly remembered that Greyson was not a man to cross.

There was the story of a famous actress who tried to seduce him with spiked wine; she was tossed out without a second thought, her career in ruins by morning.

Rumor had it she barely got close enough to touch the hem of his suit.

A new plan began to form in Renee's mind.

She put on a show of contrition, but as she stumbled forward, she used the moment to shove Elliana straight into Greyson's path.

She watched, barely containing her glee, as Elliana crashed into him.

Inwardly, Renee smirked. Now Elliana had crossed the line. She would like to see how Elliana got out of this.

She fully expected Greyson to have Elliana thrown out on the spot.

Instead, the famously distant man simply reached out, steadying Elliana with a light hand at her waist.

"Watch your step."

Renee stared, speechless, unable to process what she was seeing.

Elliana was just as stunned.

When they collided, Elliana's hand accidentally slid across Greyson's firm stomach, stopping just short of an intimate area best left untouched.

The way his abdominal muscles were carved beneath his suit caught her completely off guard.

Who would have thought he was hiding that kind of body?

She caught herself, flustered, quickly stepping back as warmth rose to her cheeks.

She soon pulled herself together, steering the moment elsewhere.

"Mr. Spencer, did you also come to meet Caduceus? The line for presenting gifts is that way."

Greyson showed not even a trace of discomfort from their earlier collision.

He offered her a quiet, almost effortless smile. "There's no need to hurry."

His attention then shifted toward Renee.

That was when Elliana remembered Renee's little shove. She crossed her arms, letting a slow, cold smile form.

"Now that I think about it, someone here still hasn't apologized. And a real apology takes more than a few empty words. A respectful bow should be enough."

She closed the distance in two calm steps and struck Renee across the cheek with a sharp, echoing snap.

The slap served as clean repayment for the attempted attack.

"You-!"

Renee's voice trembled with fury, but the combined weight of Elliana's glare and Greyson's impassive stare forced her to swallow her rage. Instead, she turned to Dominic, eyes shimmering with conveniently timed tears.

"For your sake, I'll accept this shame. Please, don't let this ruin things between you and your uncle. If you want, I'll kneel right now."

She actually began lowering herself as if ready to kneel.

Dominic's composure cracked.

If she went through with it, the embarrassment would be his to bear.

"Elliana, is all this really necessary? You've already smashed the gift. What more do you want?"

A harsh laugh slipped from Elliana, ice cold and unyielding.

She took her time with every word, each syllable dripping scorn.

"What I want is for you both to disappear. Dominic, maybe instead of defending her, you should find out what your darling Renee has been hiding from you."

Dominic just laughed off the warning.

"Elliana, don't get ahead of yourself. This event is invite-only. We walked in with our own credentials. Who put you in charge of throwing people out?"

At that moment, Trevor's voice rang out from the stage, cutting through the tension. "Your counterfeit gift has already insulted Caduceus. Please leave at once."

Dominic's complexion went pale.

The idea that the hairpin could be a forgery was unthinkable. He could not bring himself to believe Renee would ever lie to him, so in his mind, this had to be one of Elliana's schemes.

He was just about to protest when a commanding voice cut through the tension.

"Are you going to leave quietly, or should I arrange for your removal?" Greyson's tone left no room for debate.

In an instant, the Spencer family's security detail closed in around Dominic and Renee, prepared to escort them out.

A heavy silence blanketed the room, everyone watching the scene unfold.

Meanwhile, Elliana's curiosity sharpened with each passing second.

Compared to Dominic, this man was in a league of his own.

Dominic raised a shaking finger at Elliana, a comeback on the tip of his tongue, but Greyson's cold stare shut him down before he could utter a word. Beaten, he had no choice but to slink away, dragging a sullen Renee behind him.

Elliana watched Dominic and Renee slink out, a sly smile curving her lips. Renee's secrets ran much deeper-this scandal was only the beginning. Maybe Dominic would figure it out someday.

Greyson, fresh from turning his back on family without a hint of regret, stood with an unnerving grace. His calm, almost gentle smile barely softened the iron in his manner.

"The Spencer family would like to offer its gift now."

An attendant appeared at once, presenting an exquisitely crafted box for all to see.

For reasons she couldn't quite name, Elliana felt a ripple of suspense tighten in her chest. Something told her that whatever lay inside Greyson's gift might be tied to the very answers she had been searching for.