Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1196

People in the crowd started whispering, shooting glances and pointing at Isabel and her team. Isabel’s face was stiff with anger and embarrassment. She never thought Emmy would call her out like this in front of everyone. Worse, her own teammate had been careless enough to get caught, making the whole team look like fools. With all these eyes on them, if she didn’t handle things well, it would drag down everyone’s reputation.

She steadied herself with a deep breath and forced her expression into something more composed. Turning to Abis, she spoke with the most sincere apology she could muster.

“Sir, I’m truly sorry for all this trouble.”

She glanced at the ruined suit and continued, “It was my team member’s fault that your clothes got dirty. Since it’s our responsibility, we’ll make it right. I’ll cover the cost, six hundred thousand dollars, in full.”

Then she shot her team member a sharp look. “What are you waiting for? Apologize to the gentleman.”

The girl looked like she might burst into tears right there. Six hundred thousand dollars was unthinkable for her. But with Ms. Summer stepping in, she had no choice but to take the blame. She bowed deeply, her voice barely steady.

“I’m so sorry, sir. I didn’t mean to ruin your suit. Please forgive me.”

The man didn’t even acknowledge her. His attention stayed on Emmy, a faint smile growing in his eyes, clearly pleased by the way Emmy had stood up for him. He seemed to savor the feeling of being defended, even though Emmy had no clue who he really was.

Emmy missed the subtle shift in his expression. Once the apology was done, she didn’t want to drag things out. She turned to Abis, her tone warm and genuine.

“Thank you again for your help. I’ve got something urgent to take care of, so I’ll be going now.”

She nodded politely to the man, then hurried off with Harlene and John, making their way toward the elevators.

Abis stayed right where he was, holding the stained suit. He didn’t follow, just watched Emmy’s figure disappear into the elevator, his gaze lingering until the doors closed.

Isabel had been watching him carefully the whole time. Her instincts screamed that this man was far from ordinary, and the way he looked at Emmy was… interesting. Sensing an opportunity, she stepped closer.

“Sir, how about we exchange contact info? If you send me your bank details, I’ll arrange the payment right away.”

…

The gala was about to begin. The huge, circular hall sparkled under the lights, every seat filled. Emmy’s group had arrived early, and after a quick chat with a few well-known professors, they found their seats.

The hall was arranged in tiers. The research teams had seats near the front and center, making it easy for them to get on stage for awards and speeches. Since this was John’s team’s first time making it into the finals of such a big international competition, they were newcomers. Their seats ended up a bit further back, right beside a wide aisle.

Across that aisle, in the slightly raised section, were the VIP seats reserved for wealthy investors, powerful business tycoons, and political figures.

Not long after Emmy sat down, John, worried she might be nervous, swapped places with the person next to her and started chatting to help her relax. The hall was noisy, so the two of them had to lean in close just to hear each other.

Meanwhile, right in the center of the VIP section, James settled into his seat, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. Even sitting down, he was taller than most people around him. His aura was sharp and commanding, so different from the businessmen nearby that he couldn’t help but stand out.

As soon as he sat, his eyes swept across the research teams, searching for someone. Almost immediately, he spotted a familiar, slender figure. But in the next moment, James’s expression darkened.