Gasps tore within the hall. Few guests slapped their palms over their mouths, while some held a horrified look.
"Oh, my goodness!" one of the guests yelped.
Another exclaimed, "What in the name of heavens is happening?"
"What on earth?" The glass one of the men present held slipped out of his grip, the drink spreading across the marble floor. "Isn't that… Mr. Stolov?"
Of course it was.
Playing on the presentation screen Viviana had her back turned to was a live recording of Fernando Stolov within one of the rooms of the hotel. But that wasn't what had jaws on the floor. The dropped bomb was him holding a woman against a wall, making out with her like an animal in heat.
An unknown woman who held nothing to her name.
Amidst hosting this event, Viviana had come up with this plan, despite the risk that Fernando may not have actually given the woman an invite. She'd bought out the entire hotel and had cameras planted all over, in the rooms and the halls. Then she'd told the managers to allow Fernando to book a room if he chose to.
Everything was timed.
But even if it'd eventually ended up not going according to her setting, she had a plan B. She held messages, conversations between him and the woman, and even pictures of them that Sabrina had managed to take.
"Isn't he… engaged to Lady Di-grassi?" One of the guests glanced at her comrade.
The other party blinked in derision. "Is this what I think it is? Cheating? How scummy of him. Repulsive."
"What is the meaning of this?" Standing next to her husband, Savannah Di-grassi turned towards Fernando's family, with a darkened expression on her face.
Mr. Stolov smiled apologetically. "I don't really know what is going on, Mrs. Di-grassi. But this will be corrected, and I will find out what exactly is—"
Savannah lifted her hand, shutting him up. "Do you think that this nonsense is what I want to hear, Mr. Stolov? Look at your son up there, behaving like a whore with no manners. And you think I want to hear you spout rubbish at me?"
Mr. Stolov's face dropped, painted by frustration. "Respectfully, Mrs. Di-grassi. I understand what irritation this must all cause you, but you can't speak to me like that."
Savannah lifted a brow and then chuckled. Slowly, she stepped up to stand toe-to-toe with him, head tilted, and eyes filled with disdain.
"I will speak to you however the hell I please," she remarked. "I'm not the one whose son is up there disgracing. Don't you get it? Your son has humiliated my family. It shocks me that you stand here thinking you have the right to tell me how to speak to you. I understand we are in a deal, but don't forget your place. We are the Di-digrassis, you are the Stolovs. There is a significant difference. Keep that in mind!"
She fumed.
Mr. Stolov's hands balled at his sides, jaw clenching and unclenching. He was pissed, but he couldn't let it show, because there were reporters everywhere. A scandal was the last thing either family needed right now.
His wife, however, jumped in front of him, smiling apologetically at Savannah. "Mrs. Di-grassi, there has to be an explanation. My son isn't usually like this. He's not an animal, he wouldn't stoop this low."
She chuckled awkwardly to ease the tension.
"There has to be an explanation, really, and if you could tell the workers of this hotel to turn that thing off, that would be nice."
Savannah leveled her with a tight gaze.
"You better have an explanation, Mr. and Mrs. Stolov. My family will not accept this sort of humiliation." Then she twisted her head, ordering, "TURN IT OFF!"
The entire hall fell silent. It was a grim kind of silence.
Viviana let out a soft breath, adjusting her jacket as she walked down the steps. She approached her stepmother and stood before her.
"Why?"
"What?" Savannah grinned over at her with a glare.
"Why must we turn it off?" Viviana asked.
"And who do you think you are to question me?" Savannah's eyes burned with hatred. "I'd advise you to keep quiet, Viviana. We are before people scrutinizing us for any little mistake. So do as I said and have this nonsense turned off."
Viviana dropped her gaze momentarily with a little smile. "You know, you're very funny tonight, Ma."
"Meaning what?"
"Speak to the tech team if you want it turned off."
"Viviana!—"
"This has nothing to do with me if that is what you are wondering." She stepped into her space, leaning in till she could whisper, "And I'll be taking my leave now. Let's rehost this event another time. He's yours to deal with."
But Savannah grabbed her arm before she could walk off. "You can't just leave."
"And why is that?" Viviana asked.
"I didn't give you permission to do so."
Her left eye twitched in a silent anger, but still she put on her grossly polite smile. "What? Would you like me to wallow in shame? All eyes are on me. You see them, don't you? The man I'm engaged to is cheating on me right within this building. Do you really wish for me to stay here?"
Her stepmother stared at her.
She didn't let go. Instead, she said, "I want to ask you a question, and you better be honest with me. You are my stepdaughter, and I know what sort of a conniving little b*tch you are, and no one knows better than I do."
"Conniving little b*tch?" Viviana tilted her head with a half a smile. "Fine. Go ahead, Ma. Ask away."
Savannah Di-grassi slowly squinted her eyes at her.
"Are you behind this nonsense displaying on that screen? Answer me."