Chapter 290: Aftermath
** Harper **
The gala, which had already turned out way too chaotic for Harper’s expectations, dissolved into even more chaos. In the next few moments of mayhem that followed, everything became a disorganized blur, and she could only register a handful of scenes that happened all at the same time:
A middle-aged woman, probably the old Sterling CEO’s wife, rushed onto the podium, screaming and crying for the event staff to call an ambulance. A group of emergency responders pushed through the crowd with a stretcher, and then the area was blocked off completely by security.
The president of Voyage Bank — Vanessa’s father — looked pissed, as if profoundly offended that anyone dared to faint at such an inopportune timing. The president of Sanderson Funds, on the other hand, cocked his head and regarded the scene with a skeptical expression.
Tyler, who should probably feel guilty for unintentionally causing the accident, rubbed his nose and ventured an uncertain glance at Eli. The latter walked over and gave him a brotherly pat on the shoulder. The two were saying something in a low voice when Chelsea all but crashed into Harper, yelling "oh my god where have you been I can’t believe you weren’t there by Eli’s side when the announcement came out you’re a big deal in the finance world now owner of the Sterling CEO pretty please don’t forget to invite me to the new leadership celebration party." And that was how Harper finally knew what announcement it was that she missed.
Vanessa, who obviously did not enjoy her evening at all, shrieked again and came at Harper with her hand raised, clearly intending to return Emory’s slap onto the better enemy. Harper was just debating what to do with the wine in her hand that made it inconvenient to move around amidst the chaos, so she emptied that wine with a dramatic splash onto Vanessa’s face.
When finally, Eli retreated backstage and headed to the valet with his girlfriend in tow, the chaos still had no sign of calming down in the hall behind them.
"Is your father going to be alright?" Harper asked as they stepped out of the elevator. There were just about one thousand questions on her mind that she wanted to ask Eli right now, but this one seemed the most important. "That must be too many sudden surprises all at once. I hope he doesn’t have a history of heart attacks."
Eli shrugged, not seeming particularly concerned. "Not that I know of. And even if he does, he’s outlived my mother by too many years already."