The Petty Secretary Vs The Literal Sister Chapter 04

The Petty Secretary Vs The Literal Sister Chapter 04

Things stayed quiet for three days.

On day four, Thorne Digital Solutions held its product launch event.

Word about the engagement between our families had already spread through the business circle, so Maren and I were expected to attend.

Before we left, Dad pulled me aside. “Drew, don’t make a scene.”

I nodded seriously. “As long as nobody starts making jokes, I won’t.”

Dad looked at Mom.

“You hear that? That’s her way of saying she’s absolutely going to make a scene.”

Mom calmly sipped her soup.

“Let her. My daughter hasn’t done anything wrong.”

Dad promptly shut up.

The launch was held at The Sterling Grand Hotel downtown.

Gavin stood onstage in a bespoke suit, looking like he owned the place.

Sloane sat in the front row in a silver evening gown.

If you didn’t know better, you’d think she was the hostess of the evening.

The second she spotted Maren and me, she stood and walked over. Her smile was flawless.

“Maren, you look gorgeous tonight.”

“I saved you a seat in the front row, right across from Gavin.”

“When he gives his speech, you’ll be the first person he sees.”

Very thoughtful. Almost suspiciously so.

The seat happened to be surrounded by reporters.

If Maren sat there all night, every flicker of emotion on her face would get picked apart by the cameras.

Look serious for a moment, and she’d be the unsupportive fiancée.

Smile a little less, and suddenly the relationship was in trouble.

I glanced at the seat. Then at Sloane.

“You’re incredibly thoughtful.”

A flicker of smugness crossed her eyes. “Of course.”

I took Maren’s hand and walked straight to where my parents were sitting.

Sloane’s expression stiffened.

“Drew, that’s the family section. Maren should really be in the front row.”

I smiled. “She’s with her family. She hasn’t married anyone yet.”

A few people nearby nearly choked trying not to laugh. Sloane’s face went pale.

The event officially began. Gavin introduced their new project.

An AI-powered healthcare analytics platform designed for medical institutions.

Applause filled the ballroom.

I looked down and skimmed through the materials.

The project hadn’t originally belonged to Thorne Digital Solutions.

Three months earlier, Gavin had approached my father because of a funding gap.

He said that with investment from Callahan Holdings, the project could finally get off the ground.

Dad liked the technology. And it gave him a chance to evaluate Gavin as a future family.

Looking back now, the verdict was simple.

The tech was solid. The man? Not so much.

The speech ended. The Q&A session began. A reporter suddenly stood.

“Mr. Thorne, there are rumors that your company secured investment from Callahan Holdings because of your upcoming engagement to Miss Callahan.”

“Does that create a conflict of interest?”

The room went still.

Gavin smiled. “Business partnerships are built on value.”

“My relationship with Maren has never influenced corporate decisions.”

Then Sloane smoothly took the microphone.

“The truth is, Gavin never wanted to make his private life public.”

“He’s the kind of person who would never mix business with personal feelings.”

“Maren has been incredibly supportive. She’s even expressed interest in learning more about company management for his sake.”

It sounded like praise. It wasn’t.

To every reporter in that room, it translated into one thing.

The fiancée was using the engagement to worm her way into the company.

The second journalist immediately followed up.

“Will Miss Callahan be taking a role at Thorne Digital Solutions?”

“Was management participation part of the investment agreement with Callahan Holdings?”

Maren’s expression shifted.

Sloane, meanwhile, was watching her with a gentle smile, waiting for her to stumble.

I reached over and took the spare microphone from an event staffer.

“No.” I said.

Every camera turned toward me.

I stood up and smiled.

“Callahan Holdings won’t be requesting management rights.”

I paused. “Because Callahan Holdings is pulling out of the deal.”