Chương 5: Embarrassing Mr. Chris Henderson

During dinner, Mr. Henderson Sr. only talked to Damian. Some people at the table tried to chime in a few times, but they quickly went silent after they failed to impress the old man.

After a while, no one tried to intrude on the conversation between Mr. Henderson Sr. and his beloved son anymore. They just busied themselves with the lavish twelve-course menu that was laid before them one by one during the entire dinner time.

Against her wish, Irene became the center of attention, just third after Mr. Henderson Sr. and his youngest son.

The old man was clearly pleased to see his son accompanied by a seemingly decent woman.

"Damian," he said once he was done with other more important topics, "why don't you introduce your girlfriend to me?"

Damian and Irene exchanged looks.

The man then averted his eyes and went to charm his father with a placating smile.

"We are still talking about it, Father."

Irene sipped at her wine.

Talking? When were they even talking about it?

Or was offering her wine part of "talking about it"? Damian Henderson was an interesting character indeed.

Mr. Henderson Sr. raised his eyebrows and formed an understanding "O" with his mouth.

"I see. Well, how is everyone else doing?"

The other people who sat at the table suddenly sat upright and started to speak at the same time. Irene thought that they looked a lot like the flowers in children's animation videos. As soon as they got watered, they perked up.

"Father, my son just entered the university this year!"

"Father, my daughter is about to get married to the youngest son of the textile tycoon in South East Asia!"

Finally, Chris Henderson got to speak up.

"Grandpa, my wife June is pregnant! And Primavera is doing so well this month. The profit is hitting the roof!"

As expected, Mr. Henderson Sr.'s attention was quickly piqued whenever Primavera was mentioned.

Encouraged by the patriarch's appreciative nods, Chris further continued, "And I am wearing the signature fragrance that contributed to the increase of sales two years ago!"

The man puffed out his chest and rose from his seat, as if prompting his grandfather to take a whiff personally. That was when everyone at the table gasped in shock.

There were ugly dark brown stains all over the otherwise immaculate white suit. Around his collar, on the inside part of his elbows, and some more around his lower abdomen area.

Chris himself was not aware until people pointed it out. Once he was, he let out a yelp of surprise.

"Oh, Lord!" he shouted.

Mr. Henderson Sr.'s facial color switched from normal to dark red, then purple, and then finally settled with ghostly grey.

"Is this the signature perfume that you are so proud about??? Along with the ugly stains???"

"But..." Chris blubbered like a child. "No, I..."

Chris' gaze flew toward Irene right away, who exhausted all her acting capabilities to look shocked.

She could not be blamed, really.

She sprayed both Chris and June. June's white dress was still as white as the first snow of winter.

What Chris did not know was that the perfume that she sprayed on his suit in the afternoon while she was disguised as his secretary reacted violently with the perfume that she sprayed on him and June that night.

This was naturally something that only the perfume creator knew.

Something that the thieves could not steal as easily as they stole the formulation.

"You are an embarrassment!!!" Mr. Henderson Sr. hollered. He was so angry that he did not bother to lower his voice to save his grandson a drop of dignity. The veins at his temples even popped up from fury.

"Father, please don't be agitated," his family members shouted one by one. Some might be genuinely worried for the elder man's health, but most were just trying to get on his good side.

These greedy birds of prey...

Damian Henderson on the other side was entirely disinterested in what his father had to say to Chris. The handsome man had his eyes trained on the ugly brown stains on Chris' suit. He seemed to be deep in thoughts, but he made no comment at all.

"ENOUGH!!!" Mr. Henderson Sr. shouted furiously.

He pointed at Chris with a trembling finger.

"I thought that you learned something beyond flaunting a two-year-old success to my face! And you could not even pull it successfully! If I hand Primavera over to you, Primavera will be doomed!"

Irena could hear the collective sound of people sucking their breaths at the same time.

It was coming.

Grandpa Henderson was going to announce his heir!

For the first time in years, Chris wished that Grandpa Henderson would delay the announcement. His disadvantage was written all over his face.

"Everyone, I would like to introduce to you the new CEO of Primavera, my son Damian Henderson!"

An awkward silence filled the room.

Damian Henderson and Grandpa Henderson exchanged eerie glances. And then the younger man finally rose to his feet and said, "I am honored to be able to serve Primavera. Thank you, Father."

Only then did the guests break into a cheer and a round of applause.

Irene was ecstatic.

Her first scheme ended up with Chris losing his claim for Primavera.

Next to Chris, June looked as if she was going to explode anytime soon. She shot her husband icy daggers, to which Chris was merely able to respond with despondent looks.

Irene turned to Damian to congratulate him.

"All the best," she said sincerely. "I am sure that you will do splendidly."

She believed that she heard a low chuckle coming from the handsome man, but it might be her brain playing tricks on her.

"Thank you," Damian Henderson replied.

His manners were impeccable. He was the very picture of elegance, as opposed to the other man who had brown stains all over his suit.

After Irene achieved her goal for the night, she did not have any more reason to stay. She thus excused herself to powder her nose and headed out of the dining hall.

Outside, she almost bumped against a woman who stormed past her into the dining hall.

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