In the Lap of Luxury

Chapter 17

Chapter 17 Welcome Dinner

“There’s no harm in a marriage of convenience as long as you don’t interfere with each other, “Benjamin said candidly.

“It’s no harm for you since all you want is profit. I’m not like you!

“I want to fall in love with my wife at first sight. She should be breathtakingly beautiful and incredibly smart. That’s the kind of woman I want to marry.”

Timothy waved a hand. “You wouldn’t understand.”

Benjamin couldn’t argue with him on this. He changed the subject back to the expo. “Is there any way we can solve this?”

Timothy patted his chest confidently. “The Donegans and Amirate are collaborating on this.

All I need to do is make a call. I’m sure Aaron will do me this favor.

He picked up his phone and called Aaron.

However, Aaron didn’t answer. When Timothy called him again, Aaron rejected the call, clearly implying that he wasn’t willing to talk to him.

Timothy put his phone awkwardly down, feeling embarrassed.

His best friend had asked him for help. He had acted so confidently, only to be let down like

this.

He touched his n*eck and said guiltily, “I think he’s busy. Let me treat you to a hearty welcome dinner. We can talk about this later.”

Benjamin followed him out of his office. He knew that they were at an impasse.

Timothy wouldn’t be able to help him with this. He would have to try to get through to Grace.

Meanwhile, Aaron was sitting in an exclusive boutique where only VIPs were allowed. All the clothes here were custom–made for the clients.

He sat on the leather couch, radiating a dignified air. He rejected the phone call and glanced up at Grace, who was being measured by the designer.

“Benjamin Hawkins is in Darai. He’s asking Timothy for help.”

As he spoke, he watched Grace carefully, worried that she still had lingering feelings for

Benjamin.

Grace looked impassive. She turned slightly, allowing the designer to measure her waist.

“Just leave this to me, Aaron. I’ll deal with him.”

She looked at herself in the mirror. She looked healthier now and exuded confidence.

She was a completely different woman from the disheveled one who had lived with the Hawkins family.

This version of her was the real Grace Lewis. Benjamin could go fuck himself for all she cared.

“Babe, I missed you!” A figure threw himself at Grace, enveloping her in a long hug.

Grace recognized the voice of her best friend, Emily Jenkins. She teared up and held back a sob. “I missed you too.”

Emily let go of her. “You heartless woman. How could you not contact me for three years? I just heard from Caleb that you got divorced. Am I your best friend or not?

Grace blinked back her tears. “You’ll always be my best friend. I was just embarrassed.”

She paused and said, “You tried to stop me back then, but I refused to listen and even argued with you. Now I’m divorced…

“I couldn’t face you.”

Years ago, she had given up her dreams of running a boutique to marry Benjamin and work as his secretary at the Hawkins Group.

Emily had tried to stop her. She had said that Benjamin wasn’t suitable for Grace and that he was stopping her from realizing her dreams.

At the time, Grace had been too stubborn and hadn’t listened to Emily. She had closed down the boutique that they had opened together.

Furious that her best friend had destroyed her dreams, Emily had moved to Frenda and stopped contacting her.

Emily took Grace’s hand and said savagely, “Benjamin is dumb for letting you go! Now that you’re home, no one can bully you anymore! I’ll kill anyone who dares!”

Grace smiled at Emily, tears streaming down her face.

“Oh, don’t cry, babe.” Emily took out some tissues and wiped her tears away.

“Come on, I’ve prepared a celebration for you tonight! Here’s to leaving an asshole and looking forward to a better man!”

“Yeah!” Grace glanced over at Aaron, who was watching them, and gripped Emily’s hand tighter.

She couldn’t believe how stupid she had been in the past. How had she given up on everyone who loved her for a man who clearly didn’t?

Family and friends were more precious than unrequited love.