Accidentally Slept With The Ruthless Billionaire

Chapter 613: You’re Being Modest

Still, the memory of what happened last time lingered in her mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it than coincidence. She had been mulling it over for a while, but she still couldn’t make sense of it.

“Better safe than sorry,” Dave replied sharply. “Tonight, I’m going to test the waters.”

After a few more words, he ended the call.

They had agreed to meet at the Edenfield Hotel, a safe choice to avoid any tampering with their drinks. The hotel was part of the Phoenix Alliance Group, and tonight, the regular staff would be replaced with Dave’s most trusted secret bodyguards. He wasn’t about to risk another incident.

“Mr. Evans, we’ve made significant progress,” Wyatt said as he hurried over, speaking in a low voice. “I’ve put in the hours, and we’ve finally uncovered something.”

Wyatt leaned in, his voice a mix of excitement and disbelief. “You won’t believe how this all turned out.”

He pulled several photographs from his jacket pocket and handed them to Dave.

Dave examined each one carefully, his eyes narrowing as he absorbed the details.

In the evening, at the Edenfield Hotel’s Ostcrest Hall.

As the hotel’s finest banquet hall, the decor was exquisite. The space was divided into two sections, an outer hall and an inner hall. The outer hall was elegantly decorated, with beautiful artworks displaying the surroundings.

The inner hall held the dining area.

Bianca and Dave arrived early, waiting at the entrance to greet Brenda and her companion, Blake.

It was Brenda’s first visit, and the moment she stepped into the outer hall, she was drawn to the artworks. Each piece was displayed under glass, but that didn’t take away from its beauty.

“It’s so beautiful,” Brenda said, still in awe.

Blake also studied the artworks with interest. He had some knowledge, but he was still an outsider.

“I don’t understand much, but these look very valuable,” he said.

“Great works of art are priceless. You should work on refining your taste, Mr. Lawson. These are clearly genuine pieces, some I’ve only ever seen in photos,” Brenda said. She was rumored to have a sharp eye for art.

Since Dave was an expert in the field, he began discussing the pieces with her.

“Just as rumored, Miss McGee has a deep knowledge of artwork.”

“It’s just basic knowledge. I’m nowhere near as knowledgeable as you,” Ashley said with a slight smile.

She had prepared well after learning she would be here tonight. Luckily, Rupert often visited this place and knew the collections in the hall, or they might have been unprepared.

Ashley’s mannerisms were similar to Brenda’s, but it was impossible to fake true expertise. Knowledge came from years of learning. Even with another year, Ashley still wouldn’t be able to fully master it.

“You’re being modest. I know you rarely appear in public, but when you do, it’s usually at auctions.”

Dave gestured toward the inner hall. “It’s almost time. Let’s take our seats.”

“You’re quite knowledgeable, Miss McGee,” Blake teased.

“It seems Mr. Evans knows me better than you do. Not many people are aware of my interests,” Ashley said with a smile.

Blake had been nervous at first, but Ashley’s flawless performance comforted his mind. She had clearly put a lot of work into this, not only copying Brenda’s appearance but also holding up under close scrutiny.

Before coming tonight, Blake had told Ashley he was worried Dave might see through her disguise.

Ashley had told him, “I don’t think Dave suspects my identity. And even if he did, I’m confident in my disguise.”

At the time, Blake thought she was overconfident. Now he realized she had meant every word. He knew better than to underestimate anyone seeking revenge, especially a woman.

The atmosphere at the banquet was relaxed. Brenda praised Dave for the arrangements.

“This is the most lavish dinner I’ve ever had. The local cuisine in Morecastle is truly exquisite.”

Bianca noticed that, like Ashley, Brenda didn’t touch any dishes with coriander. She remembered that when Ashley first visited the Scott family, Stacey had told Peter about it. Sometimes Peter forgot, and Ashley would quietly pick the coriander out of her food.

“You’re welcome. There are still several main dishes coming, all from Edenfield. I noticed you don’t seem to eat coriander. I’ll have the cook take them away.”

Dave then told a nearby waiter to remove all the coriander.

Blake shared a quick glance with Ashley, then quietly switched on the recorder in his pocket.

Ashley, still in the role of Brenda, asked with curiosity, “Now that the competition is in its final stage, I wonder what you two have in mind, inviting me to such a wonderful banquet tonight?”

Bianca gave Brenda a gentle look, with a hint of apology in her eyes. “I think you misunderstood. I don’t have any hidden plans. It really depends on the artists and their skills.”

Dave agreed with a small nod. “She’s right. We just wanted to be welcoming.”

The competition was still underway, and if people heard about tonight, they might think Dave and Bianca had brought Brenda over to tip the scales in their favor.

They did have their own reason for inviting her, but it wasn’t that.

Bianca had never believed in taking shortcuts. She held on to her principles and refused to lower herself to such tactics. Whatever she wanted, she would earn it herself and prove it with her own abilities.

This was what guided Bianca, the core of her strength, and it was something Dave really admired.

In truth, both Brenda and Blake had assumed Bianca might resort to underhanded tactics.

They had even brought a recorder, ready to catch her offering a bribe. But Bianca never said anything like that. She shut down the idea completely, leaving Blake’s plan in pieces.

Still, that failed attempt didn’t stop their bigger revenge plot. Ashley had prepared several backup plans, ready to switch paths depending on how things played out.

“You might be right,” Brenda said with a smile. “Bianca, I really respect you. I hope your artists win. I’m looking forward to working with you in the future.”

As the night went on, more dishes were served, and after a few glasses of wine, the atmosphere grew more relaxed.

Blake started talking about his recent work with Dave, pretending to seek advice. “Mr. Evans, I didn’t expect this competition to have such a big commercial impact. Now, a lot of companies are approaching me for partnerships, but I don’t have much experience. I was hoping you could give me some guidance…”

He then turned to Bianca. “I’ve just settled into my role as CEO, and I’m worried about the problems that might come up later.”