The shimmering light from the crystal chandeliers reflected off her navy blue evening gown, making her look like a star against the night sky. The moment she appeared, the atmosphere in the hall seemed to pause for a brief second. The chatter gradually died down, replaced by the gaze of curious and admiring eyes fixed on her.
Mr. Meller, with a self-satisfied smile, gently introduced Emma to a few old friends. But before he could finish his sentence, the men around them quickly approached, unable to take their eyes off Emma. They looked at her as if she were a rare treasure freshly discovered, each of them eager to learn more about this mysterious woman.
"May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?" a distinguished middle-aged man with silver-streaked hair stepped forward, his voice friendly but unable to hide his eagerness.
Emma smiled, her eyes glancing over each face around her. "I'm Emma, the president of Alens Corporation," she said, her voice soft yet full of confidence.
As soon as they heard the name "Alens Corporation," some of the men in the crowd immediately changed their expressions. They exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with curiosity.
"Oh, Alens Corporation!" a young man with a slick smile quickly spoke up. "I've heard so much about the achievements of your corporation. It's an honor to meet the president of such a prestigious company."
"Yes, indeed," another man chimed in hurriedly, as if afraid to miss the chance to flatter her. "Alens Corporation is renowned for its pioneering projects. It's truly a pride of this city."
Emma smiled as she listened, but inwardly she felt disgusted by their hypocrisy. She knew very well that they were just sucking up, trying to impress her without any real understanding of her corporation. Alens wasn't thriving in Tomasso as these sycophants claimed; it was a powerhouse in Switzerland, where it had its headquarters.
"Thank you," Emma responded, her voice still calm and graceful. "Alens Corporation still has a lot of work to do to achieve greater success, and I'm always looking forward to opportunities to collaborate with outstanding businesses like yours."
Her words were like fuel to the fire, making the men around her even more enthusiastic. They crowded around her, showering her with compliments and asking about the projects she was pursuing, even though it was clear they had no understanding of the field in which Alens operated.
"It's unbelievable that such a young woman can manage such a large corporation," one man said, his voice full of admiration while his eyes unabashedly scanned her evening gown.
"You are truly remarkable," another chimed in.
Emma smiled in response, but inside she felt suffocated by the falsehoods surrounding her. These men only cared about her appearance and reputation; none of them truly understood the hardships she had endured to reach her current position. But she knew she had to maintain her image, so she skillfully responded, using each sentence to continue building relationships that she might need in the future.
Amidst the praise and lustful glances, Emma suddenly realized something: she wasn't just attending a party; she was entering a psychological battle where everyone wore a mask to hide their true intentions.
"May I offer you a drink, Miss Emma?" a voice called from behind, pulling Emma out of her thoughts. A young man, polished and confident, extended a glass of wine toward her. "I would be honored to share a drink with you."
Emma turned, accepting the glass from him, her eyes briefly scanning his face. "Thank you," she said, raising the glass as if preparing to drink.
Just as Emma lifted the glass, a flurry of other men rushed over, each holding a glass of wine, their smiles wide and their eyes alight with anticipation. "Miss Emma, please join us for a drink," they said, nearly all at once.
Emma chuckled softly, feeling the pressure from all sides, but she remained unfazed. "I'd be delighted to drink with you gentlemen," she said, lightly touching her lips to the glass and taking a small sip. "But I must also take care of my health so that I can continue engaging with everyone tonight."
Her tactful words made the men laugh, but none dared to pressure her to drink more. They understood that Emma wasn't an easy woman, and her confidence made them more cautious in their words and actions.
Inside, Emma mocked the men trying to win her favor. Did they think a few compliments and a glass of wine could conquer her? How naive. But she also knew that to achieve her goals, she needed to maintain these relationships, even if they were based on false pretenses.
"Miss Emma, what do you think about future investment opportunities?" An older man, who seemed to be an investor, asked, his eyes glinting with curiosity.
Emma looked at him, her smile gentle yet sharp. "I believe the current market presents many opportunities, but to capitalize on them, we need to have a long-term vision and be prepared to face challenges."
Her words made the man nod, appearing to agree, though he probably didn't fully grasp her meaning. Emma knew this well, but she didn't care. What mattered was that she maintained control of the conversation, and she intended to keep it that way until she achieved her objectives.
As the evening wore on, Emma was constantly surrounded by wealthy and powerful men, each one eager to claim a piece of her attention. But no matter how hard they tried, Emma remained composed and shrewd, responding to each compliment, each drink with a subtle yet meaningful smile.
In her heart, she knew she was playing a dangerous game, but it was a game she had chosen, and she wouldn't let anyone defeat her. Every word, every smile was carefully calculated, like moves in a chess game she had to win.