Back to the Banquet

That afternoon, when the banquet began, Kenneth arranged for the clients to be seated, then very naturally took the seat of honor with Emily.

Looking at the table filled with dishes rich in color, aroma, and flavor, the clients' eyes lit up, and praises came one after another.

Kenneth quickly introduced Emily.

"This is all thanks to my assistant, Emily. She said that since you've traveled such a long way, you should definitely get a taste of our local cuisine."

Hearing Kenneth praise her so openly, Emily immediately understood the cue.

She stood up at once, enthusiastically introducing the dishes and eagerly showing off.

"Please try this luxurious seafood bisque. This special concoction here holds flavors from half the world, with eighteen top-grade ingredients all packed into a broth that is slowly simmered over low heat for several hours.

"And this one here: pan-seared halibut with citrus-honey gastrique. I know you're not used to spicy food, so this dish will definitely suit your taste. It's sweet and sour, a very refreshing and appetizing combination."

…

The clients ate happily. Kenneth and Emily exchanged a glance and smiled at each other, convinced that this business deal was already in the bag.

The other colleagues also felt success was imminent and began raising their glasses to toast the two of them. The atmosphere was lively and harmonious.

Just then, one of the clients' wives, Aini Baccus, asked, "Why hasn't Ms. Hardings arrived yet?"

Kenneth's smile froze for a moment before he forced one back onto his face.

"My humble company couldn't accommodate her greatness. She's already resigned, so she won't be coming–"

Before he could finish his sentence, a familiar voice rang out. "Sorry to disappoint you. I'm here."

My sudden appearance made both his and Emily's faces fall instantly.

Kenneth frowned deeply. "Why are you here again? You saw that the banquet is going smoothly and the company's about to soar, so now you regret it, huh?"

Aini, however, was delighted to see me. She stepped forward and hugged me. "My dear Olivia, we finally meet again."

She then explained to Kenneth, "Without her making the introductions, this negotiation would've been very difficult. I specifically invited her today to thank her."

Emily suddenly spoke in a mocking, insinuating tone.

"Mr. Majeed, you probably don't know this yet. Ms. Hardings resigned precisely because she didn't want us to properly entertain you, didn't she?"

The way Tomas Majeed and Aini looked at me changed instantly.

Just as I was about to explain, Kenneth cast me a disdainful glance.

"If you want to come back to the company, that's fine. Apologize to Mr. Majeed and his wife right now, then get on your knees and apologize to Emily. On top of that, you also need to write a thousand-word self-criticism.

"If you can do that, I'll treat that resignation letter of yours like it was bullcrap."

The moment he finished speaking, the steaming pot of meatball soup was served.

The broth was luscious, with meatballs floating in the milky-white broth, interspersed with striking red petals. It was a visually stunning dish.

All the clients stood up to look, pulling out their phones to take photos.

Seeing their reactions, Emily grew even prouder.

"You really should eat more. I spent a long time marinating these meatballs, and with all the slow simmering, it's an incredibly labor-intensive dish."

Seeing the guests so pleased, Kenneth hurried to echo her words.

"That's right. To entertain you properly, she spent a lot of time learning how to make this. She's truly dedicated to her work. She just hopes you'll have a wonderful and enjoyable time in our country."

Touched by Emily's apparent sincerity, several clients raised their glasses to thank her.

She drank her wine in flustered delight, then stood proudly by the table like a peacock showing off its feathers.

Urged on by their enthusiastic recommendations, the large pot of the meatballs was emptied in the blink of an eye.

One of the clients, ignoring the scalding heat, could not wait to take a bite. With a look of surprise, he asked the interpreter.

"Why are these meatballs so delicious? I've never had anything like this before. What kind of meat is it made from? It doesn't feel quite like beef or lamb."

Before Emily could react, I spoke up first.

"These meatballs are made from premium pork hock. It's truly a dish that rewards patience and careful work. To ensure the freshest ingredients, Emily even went out of her way to use freshly slaughtered pork."