Chapter 7

The Hosts Arrive

Everything was running smoothly.

The guests were entertained, the atmosphere was vibrant, and the night was unfolding exactly as planned.

Then—

The moment everyone had been waiting for arrived.

The main figures of the event were about to take the stage.

As the final notes of the dance song faded, the hall settled into silence.

A voice rang through the speakers.

"Distinguished ladies and gentlemen," the event's speaker announced, "it is time to welcome the hosts of tonight's grand celebration."

A hushed excitement swept through the crowd.

"Please rise and give a warm round of applause as we welcome—Mr. and Mrs. McCall!"

At once, the entire hall erupted into applause.

The thunderous claps filled the air, a powerful wave of admiration and respect.

Then, with poise and grace, Mr. and Mrs. McCall stepped onto the stage.

All eyes were on them.

Tonight, they would speak before the world.

The Speech & Special Guest

"Good evening, everyone."

Mr. McCall's voice rang through the grand hall, his presence commanding the attention of every guest.

"We are truly honored to have you all here tonight, celebrating this wonderful occasion with us. Today marks the 25th anniversary of the McCall Empire, and we could not be more grateful."

A wave of polite applause filled the room.

"Many of you know my story—how I started from humble beginnings until I met my lovely wife. Together, we built this company from the ground up. And by God's grace, we stand here today as one of the most successful families in Los Angeles."

Murmurs of admiration spread through the crowd.

"Along this journey, we have been blessed with two incredible sons—Scott McCall and Stanley McCall. Unfortunately, they couldn't be here tonight, but their spirits are with us."

A subtle whisper swept across the hall at the mention of his absent sons.

Then—

Mr. McCall's expression shifted slightly.

"But before we continue with the festivities, I have a special announcement."

The air in the room tightened with anticipation.

"To our great surprise, we have a very distinguished guest in attendance tonight—none other than the world-renowned designer, Ms. Emily Gibson."

The moment her name was spoken, cheers erupted.

Excitement pulsed through the crowd.

Women whispered about how they dreamed of wearing one of her exclusive designs.

Men leaned forward, eager to see the mystery woman behind the name.

Photographers rushed forward, cameras at the ready, waiting to capture the moment.

---

Iris's Tension

In the midst of it all, Iris's heart skipped a beat.

She knew exactly what was about to happen.

Emily would draw attention to her, and that was the last thing she wanted.

She quickly tried to signal her best friend—subtle but firm. Don't do it. Don't make this about me.

Across the room, Emily's eyes caught the gesture.

And to Iris's relief—Emily understood.

The elegant designer rose gracefully and made her way to the stage.

"Good evening, everyone."

Her voice was calm yet captivating.

"It is truly a pleasure to be here tonight, celebrating such a wonderful event. The McCall family has built something remarkable, and I am honored to be a part of this evening."

She paused—just for a second.

Then, her next words sent another wave of curiosity through the hall.

"However, my reason for attending tonight is not entirely because of the McCall family, but because of someone very special to me."

A hush fell over the crowd.

Who?

Whispers spread like wildfire.

Emily simply smiled.

"I won't reveal that person just yet. But soon… you will all know."

With that, she stepped down from the stage, her confidence unshaken as the audience erupted into cheers.

Back at her seat, Iris finally exhaled, a wave of relief washing over her.

Mr. and Mrs. McCall wrapped up their speech, and the festivities resumed.

The party had officially begun.

The Dance & A Curious Conversation

The music changed, signaling a special moment.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let's clear the floor for our esteemed hosts, Mr. and Mrs. McCall," the announcer called out.

A round of applause rippled through the crowd as the couple stepped forward, hand in hand. The guests moved back, giving them space.

Joe McCall led his wife into a slow, elegant dance. Their movements were effortless, years of partnership reflected in the way they swayed together.

"What do you think about Emily's visit?" Mrs. McCall murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Joe raised an eyebrow, though he kept his focus on their steps.

"And more importantly," she continued, "who do you think she was talking about?"

Joe exhaled a quiet laugh. Here we go, he thought.

His wife was always eager to unravel a mystery, and tonight, Emily Gibson had given her a big one.

"Whoever it is, they must be here," she added, glancing around the room as if she could spot the person just by looking.

Joe just smiled and said nothing.

Mrs. McCall wasn't done.

"I wish she'd design a dress for me," she sighed, her eyes lighting up at the thought.

Joe smirked. "You know you could make that happen, right?"

She turned to him, hopeful. "Really? You'll talk to her?"

He hesitated, then shrugged. "I'll try."

That was enough to satisfy her—for now.

As the music faded, the couple took a final turn before stepping away. The crowd clapped, and the dance floor quickly filled again as the celebration carried on.

Joe glanced at his wife, knowing she wasn't going to let this go anytime soon.

And just like that, the night continued.

The celebration was in full swing. Drinks flowed freely, and the guests indulged in the carefully prepared dishes. Laughter and chatter filled the air, and games kept everyone entertained.

Iris stood at a distance, watching it all with a sense of pride. Everything was going smoothly—she was doing a great job, and she knew it.

But just when she thought the night was perfect, a loud shriek shattered the harmony.

"Are you blind?!" a furious voice rang out.

Iris turned quickly, her stomach sinking at the sight before her.

One of the servants, wide-eyed and trembling, was on the floor, desperately trying to wipe red wine off an elegantly dressed woman. The deep stain spread across the expensive fabric, only fueling the woman's rage.

"You idiot! Do you even know how much this dress costs?!" she shrieked, her voice laced with venom. "Where is the person in charge?!"

Taking a deep breath, Iris stepped forward. "Ma'am, I deeply apologize for the inconvenience. Please, let me handle this—"

Before she could even finish, a sharp slap landed across her face.

The hall fell into dead silence.

Gasps echoed through the crowd as everyone turned to witness the shocking moment.

Emily, who had been watching from a distance, snapped.

Without hesitation, she marched forward and returned the slap with twice the force. The woman stumbled back, clutching her cheek in disbelief.

A collective gasp rippled through the guests.

"How dare you?! Do you even know who I am?!" the woman hissed.

Emily's voice was calm but ice-cold. "And do you know who you just laid your filthy hands on?"

The woman's rage flickered with unease.

Emily pulled out her phone. "Hello, bro? I need a favor."

She spoke a single name—the woman's name.

And that was all it took.

Five minutes later, the woman's phone rang. As she answered, her face drained of all color. Whatever was said on the other end made her knees tremble.

Slowly, she sank to the floor. "I'm so sorry. Please… forgive me."

Emily folded her arms. "Don't apologize to me. Apologize to her." She nodded toward Iris.

The woman hesitated.

"Emily," Iris finally spoke, touching her best friend's arm, "It's enough, okay?"

Emily's jaw clenched. "Iris, you need to stop letting people walk all over you. If you don't stand up for yourself, they'll never respect you."

Reluctantly, the woman turned to Iris. "I… I'm sorry," she mumbled.

Iris gave a small nod, touching her sore cheek.

"Iris!"

Her father suddenly rushed through the crowd, his face full of worry. "Are you alright? Let's get that checked out."

He shot Emily a grateful look before leading Iris away. Emily followed, placing a protective hand on her friend's back.

As they disappeared, the whispers started.

"Did you see that?"

"Iris… she must be Emily Gibson's closest friend."

"No wonder Emily came to this event…"

And just like that, the rumors began to spread.