Chapter 15

Revealed

Joyce burst into uncontrollable laughter, her body shaking as she nearly folded over from the sheer hilarity.

Alexander extended a hand to steady her.

Joyce faced the camera and exclaimed, "Guys, if Daniela's really the CEO of Elite Lux, I'll eat a fresh pile of crap for dessert."

Joshua stood to the side, his jaw dropping.

Inviting Joyce had been his call, but now unease crept in, the thought of upsetting Daniela making his heart race.

With a storm in his stride, Joshua marched up to Joyce and delivered a stinging slap across her face. "Have you lost your fucking mind?" s

The laughter vanished from Joyce's face,replaced by a stunned silence. She touched her swelling cheek,staring at Joshua in utter disbelief. "Why did you hit me?"

With a fiery glare and a low growl, Joshua spat, "What the hell is wrong with you? She's the freaking CEO of Elite Lux, and you're sitting here spouting nonsense about eating crap? Where is your sense of decorum?I told you to bring a gift, not insults. Where is the gift?"

His gaze flickered towards the two boxes Alexander clutched in his hands.

Joyce pointed to the less expensive of the two,priced at eight thousand dollars. "That one."

Without hesitation, Joshua yanked the box, gripped Joyce's arm, and went straight for Daniela.

With a strained smile plastered on his face, he began,"Ms. Harper, please accept my apologies for the disruption. This is my friend, Joyce Holt. We crossed paths overseas a few years back." He tapped his temple lightly, his expression awkward as he went on,"She's a bit out of sorts today. Nevertheless,she's one of your ardent admirers and even brought a present for you."

As he lifted the lid of the box, an eight-thousand-dollar golf club was revealed.

With one glance at the contents, Joshua's expression grew grim. He shot a quick, piercing look at Joyce,then at Alexander.

Daniela, on the other hand, let out a chuckle as she picked up the golf club. "An admirer, you say? This club..."

She glanced at the price tag, a wy smile creeping across her features. "Eight thousand dollars..."

Red-faced and clearly flustered, Joshua shoved the golf club into the box. "I'm so terribly sorry, MMs.Harper. These two, well, their judgment can be a bit off at times!" ①

He then spun around to confront Joyce, his voice thick with frustration.2

"Joyce! Are you seriously this clueless? This is Ms.Harper, the CEO of Elite Lux! Her empire includes golf courses that stretch over thousands of acres, and here you are offering her a golf club worth a mere 8,000dollars. Are you out of your damn mind? This is simply outrageous!"

In a fluster, Joshua scrambled for the other box.

Upon opening it, his features relaxed, a look of relief washing over him. Now, this was a gift befitting the occasion.

With both hands, he presented the box to Daniela.

Daniela, who had so far seemed unimpressed, now raised an eyebrow, her eyes glinting with a touch of irony as she inspected the box. She reached into the box and drew out a stunning,custom-tailored golf club, its flawless finish radiating sophistication. Joshua added, "Ms. Harper, please consider the first one just a small extra token. This right here is the true gift meant for you."

As a golf enthusiast, Joshua immediately recognized its value-it was worth at least ten million dollars.

A smile tugged subtly at the corners of Daniela's mouth as she studied the club. "Is this golf club really for me?"

The second she saw the club, recognition washed over her-it was the very gift she had bestowed upon Richard.

Alexander's face clouded over. He remained silent,choosing not to answer Daniela's query.

To him, a golf club was merely a piece of sports equipment. Surely,Daniela couldn't actually recognize this specific one,could she?

Daniela pointed at the grip of the club, where the surname "Bennett" was elegantly engraved. "I didn't know the Bennett family was involved in making golf clubs."

Upon hearing that, Joshua suddenly stiffened, his smile faltering completely. He peered down at the golf club, and a crimson flush spread across his face.Seriously, even the dumbest person alive would know this club was custom-made.

"Re-gifting, huh?" Daniela pressed, her voice even but laced with unmistakable sarcasm. "Mr. Bennett,you certainly have a talent for business."

Joshua was taken aback. Having just returned from overseas, he was utterly baffled by Daniela's insinuation.

At that moment, Lillian stepped in, her fingers wrapping around the club's handle. "If Mr. Bennett is going to treat our boss's generosity like trash, then we're more than entitled to take it back." She brought the golf club back.

The atmosphere turned excruciatingly tense, the silence bearing down like a merciless weight,suffocating any chance of recovery.

The only disruption was Joyce, muttering incredulously to herself, "What the hell? How on earth could this even be possible?"

She couldn't accept the revelation that Daniela, of all people,was the CEO of Elite Lux.

Daniela was disowned and discarded by her own father,Caiden. How on earth had she ascended to such heights?

Joyce's mind reeled from the shock. With a brittle chuckle, she turned to Joshua, desperation coloring her tone. "Joshua, come on, cut the act. How much did Daniela pay you to concoct this elaborate prank?It's not amusing in the slightest."

Joshua's cheeks flushed a deep shade of crimson,his discomfort palpable.

Alexander's gaze was dark and inscrutable.

Meanwhile, on the internet, the announcement about Elite Lux set off a frenzy, with everyone buzzing in excitement and speculation.

"Everyone, look at this! Elite Lux just dropped a bombshell on their official site!"

"Elite Lux is branching out! They're penetrating the domestic scene, spearheaded by none other than their CEO, Daniela Harper. She's leading the charge into Olisvine. The company is all praises and is rooting for her success!"

A chilling quiet enveloped the room, the air so heavy it seemed to stifle even the faintest sound. Every gaze was fixed on Elite Lux's official announcement, expressions ranging from shock to disbelief-everyone except Joyce, who seemed oddly unaffected.

"Ha! Daniela, look at you,all high and mighty! You even went so far as to hack Elite Lux's official site to spread your fake news. Just wait till they catch on and hit you with a lawsuit!"①

Joyce's laughter rang out, bordering on maniacal.

As her laughter echoed, she caught the sober stare of everyone around her.