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Novel Catalog
Chapter 62: Sponsor
Manuel turned to Roman with a smile. “Why don’t you serve us all the dishes you think are the best?”
Roman, pleased with the suggestion, eagerly accepted the menu and immediately set to work. The Australian Lobster he had mentioned earlier was the first to arrive, making Serina’s eyes light up as she stared at it.
At the Baldry Residence
Kaitlin stormed into the house, her face flushed with anger. “Mom, this is so embarrassing! The school forum is filled with discussions about what happened at the banquet yesterday. Now, everyone’s looking at me strangely!”
Lindsay immediately stood up, her face hardening with concern. “It must have been Ainsley. She’s always trying to ruin the Baldry family!”
Kaitlin’s voice wavered with frustration. “It has to be her! After I saw the posts, I went to question her. She wouldn’t admit it, but Serina confessed it was her idea. She’s clearly trying to sabotage me. I can’t even face anyone at school now!” Her voice cracked as she started to cry.
Lindsay’s heart ached for her daughter. Without hesitation, she grabbed her phone and called the school leaders, demanding they delete the posts from the forum. However, no matter how many times they were removed, another would quickly replace them.
From downstairs, Kaliyah overheard the commotion and Kaitlin’s sobbing. With a sneer, she muttered to herself, Kaitlin’s a fool. She gets into trouble and comes crying about it. But the real game, the one between me and Cason, still depends on her and Lindsay.
Determined, Kaliyah made her way downstairs. “What’s going on with Kaitlin?” she asked, feigning concern.
The moment Kaitlin saw her, her anger flared again. “This is all your fault! Last night, you came up with that stupid plan, and now I’m being blamed for everything. If I hadn’t listened to your idea, I wouldn’t be the laughingstock of the school right now.”
Kaliyah didn’t react with anger. Instead, she calmly said, “I understand, Kaitlin. I made a mistake, and I’m sorry. I just wanted to help.”
Before Kaitlin could respond, Cason appeared in the doorway, his expression cold. “You’re deflecting the blame onto Kaliyah? Maybe it’s time you reflect on your own actions.”
Kaitlin wasn’t ready to back down. “Cason, don’t you dare take her side. It’s all Ainsley’s fault! The Gage family has been protecting her for far too long. They must have been fooled by her!”
Cason’s mind briefly flashed to the image of Manuel and Ainsley at the banquet, and a tight knot formed in his chest. The thought of them together lingered uncomfortably in his mind.
Lindsay seized the opportunity to push her own agenda. “Cason, you need to make sure Ainsley’s Psychology Quiz Show doesn’t get sponsored by anyone. It’s always been the Baldry family’s tradition to sponsor it, and now she’s making it impossible for anyone else to help.”
Cason hesitated. “It’s always been us sponsoring it. If I don’t…”
Kaitlin tugged at his sleeve desperately. “Cason, you can’t let her win! She’s making all these demands just to make me beg. You gave her so much money, why can’t she sponsor herself?”
Kaliyah saw Cason’s hesitation and jumped in. “Cason, please. You know how important this is to Kaitlin. Ainsley is getting so close to Mr. Gage lately. Maybe he’ll help her.”
The mention of the Gage family caught Cason’s attention. “Are you telling me that Ainsley really has a connection with the Gage family?”
Lindsay added fuel to the fire, “That woman isn’t simple, Cason. She wanted a divorce, but you gave her all those houses. She’s playing you.”
Cason’s face darkened. “I don’t want to discuss this anymore. I’m handling it. As for the sponsorship, I don’t believe Manuel will keep helping her forever.” His gaze grew colder as he remembered what he saw at Pearl Hotel earlier. His discomfort deepened.
At Pearl Hotel
A pleasant ringtone interrupted Ainsley’s conversation. She picked up the phone, only to hear the anxious voice of someone from the Organization Department. They were pressuring her about the sponsorship.
Ainsley frowned. She hadn’t expected the Baldry family to go as far as warning other families in Seattle not to sponsor her event. The school board at the University of Washington was already reluctant to get involved, as no one wanted to risk angering the powerful Baldry family.
She sighed, hanging up. “I’ll figure it out,” she muttered to herself, deep in thought.
Manuel, noticing her mood, placed a piece of beef on her plate and asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Whose call was that?”
“It’s nothing,” Ainsley replied quickly, trying to avoid the topic. She didn’t want to owe Manuel any more than she already did.
Serina, sensing Ainsley’s worry, broke the silence. “I know what’s going on. The competition is being sabotaged by the Baldry family. It’s bad enough they won’t sponsor it, but now they’re telling others not to either. That’s gotta be Kaitlin’s doing!”
Serina’s eyes glinted with realization. “Ainsley, why are you even bothering to look for other sponsors? Don’t we have someone right here who can help?”
Manuel’s lips curled into a smile, and his gaze turned warm as he looked at Ainsley, waiting for her response.
Ainsley hesitated but then met his gaze. “So, Mr. Gage, are you willing to sponsor this competition? I truly believe it would be a great opportunity for the Gage Group. It’ll elevate your reputation even further.”
She didn’t feel entirely confident saying this. The Gage Group didn’t need publicity—they were already a symbol of power in Seattle. But mentioning the school board as a potential sponsor might make the idea more palatable.
Manuel’s smile widened. “Alright. The Gage Group needs some new publicity. Thank you, Aisy, for giving me this chance.”
Ainsley smiled faintly, then added, “But, Mr. Gage, generally, the sponsor for the finals also presents the prizes. Will you be available for that?”
Serina, ever the opportunist, chimed in, “Of course he can! Manuel, I want to compete in this competition, and when I win, you should be the one to give me my prize!”
Manuel laughed. “Then, Aisy, I guess you’ll have to take care of Serina’s ambitions.”
Ainsley couldn’t help but smile as Serina playfully grinned. “Don’t worry, I’m going to win it all!”
As the meal concluded and the dishes were cleared away, Roman waved his hand dramatically. “No discounts, Mr. Gage!”
Manuel, used to Roman’s antics, ignored him, while Serina continued to enjoy her food.
After finishing the meal, Manuel went to settle the bill. On the drive back, Serina lay in the backseat, half-asleep, while Ainsley sat in the front, quietly reflecting.
Manuel’s gaze flickered toward her wrist, where the bracelet he had given her sparkled in the light. His eyes softened as he watched her, the tenderness in his gaze undeniable.
