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Novel Catalog
Chapter 35
The whispers quickly spread throughout the room, and Cordy could feel the judgment in the air. The murmurs around her grew louder as people began to gossip about her.
“How daring,” one voice said. “What nerve to show up here uninvited.”
“She doesn’t belong in this circle,” another added, snickering. “She’s just trying to climb the ladder any way she can.”
Cordy remained calm, her gaze steady as she looked at the attendant who had approached her. She knew the attention wasn’t flattering, but it also wasn’t anything new. She had faced worse scrutiny in her life, and she wasn’t about to let it faze her now.
The attendant’s stance was polite, but there was no mistaking the underlying pressure to act quickly. “Ms. Sachs, I’ll have to insist on seeing your invitation,” he repeated, his tone more urgent now.
Without a word, Cordy calmly reached into her clutch and pulled out the invitation she had received earlier that day. She held it out, her hand steady as she met the attendant’s gaze. “I have an invitation,” she said simply.
The attendant blinked in surprise, then glanced at the invitation in her hand, clearly confused. He examined it closely, his brows furrowing as he noticed the details—her name, the ornate calligraphy. His eyes flickered up to her face, momentarily taken aback.
“You… you were invited?” he asked, now sounding almost apologetic.
Cordy didn’t respond right away, but she could see the shift in the room. The crowd, who had been murmuring and judging her, grew quiet as the attendant processed the situation. Her name had, in fact, been on the guest list, and it was undeniable.
Mandy and Noel, who had been watching from the sidelines, exchanged a quick glance. The moment had not gone as they had planned. They had hoped to see Cordy humiliated, to watch her squirm in the face of exposure, but instead, they had underestimated her.
The attendant hesitated, then bowed slightly. “I apologize for the misunderstanding, Ms. Sachs,” he said, before stepping back.
The crowd’s attitude shifted once again. The whispers died down, replaced by a mix of curiosity and newfound respect. Some people were still unsure, but there was no denying that Cordy’s poise in the face of such scrutiny had made an impression.
Cordy smiled faintly, feeling the heat of the room start to ease. She turned away from the attendant and took another sip of her champagne, her eyes scanning the hall. She had no intention of letting the situation ruin her night. Instead, she would use this as an opportunity to enjoy herself and take in the atmosphere of the event—after all, she belonged here just as much as anyone else.
She didn’t need validation from the crowd or from Mandy and Noel.
As she moved further into the hall, she noticed several familiar faces—people from her past, and others she had met through her business dealings. Some of them nodded in recognition, and Cordy returned the gesture with a confident smile.
But the real focus remained on her. No matter how hard they tried, Noel and Mandy’s plan had failed. Cordy had turned the tables once again.