Chapter 486

“Indeed, Ms. Frazier,” Joe acknowledged with a slight bow. He flicked his gaze at a nearby maid. The maid sprang into action, splashing a glass of ice-cold water onto Eve’s face.

Eve gasped, her makeup streaking down her drenched face. Her expression darkened like a storm cloud. “Have you gone mad? I am a guest here! How dare you treat me this way?”

“The Nichols family has no interest in hosting ill-bred guests. Besides, we have no record of you.” Joe regarded Eve with an icy stare, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She had leveraged her father’s connections to secure an invitation; such grand events were normally beyond their reach.

Feeling countless eyes upon her, Eve gritted her teeth. “Regardless, I am still a guest. Even if I’ve erred, it is Mr. Nichols’ place to reprimand me, not yours. You’re just a secretary. Since when do you have the authority to act like this?”

Ashley immediately echoed her words. The surrounding crowd watched the spectacle with bated breath. Joe, long known as Juan’s right-hand man, was not someone to be trifled with. These two were clearly out of their depth.

Joe offered a chilling smile. “Well then, what is it you want?”

Knowing Joe’s connection to Juan, Eve didn’t dare demand much. “I want a public apology,” she said, trying to salvage some dignity. Debra knew Eve’s personality well; that request was the most she could reasonably expect. But Eve didn’t understand that asking Joe to apologize was essentially slapping Juan’s face.

Debra interjected calmly, “Joe, don’t waste your breath. Let’s go.”

“Yes, Ms. Frazier,” Joe replied, signaling to the two security guards at the door. They swiftly escorted Eve out.

Chapter 487

Eve hadn’t even seen Tracy before the security guards manhandled her. In the blink of an eye, a man in a crisp butler’s uniform stood before her. Eve wrenched herself free, her voice shaking with rage and humiliation. “How dare you lay your filthy hands on me?”

She frantically brushed at her clothes, as if their touch had left a stain. “You must be the butler. I demand to see Mr. Nichols. He should know how his staff is treating his guests.” She was a rich lady, and no one had ever disrespected her like this.

The butler looked down his nose at her, his voice dripping with disdain. “Mr. Nichols is not for anyone to see.” He signaled the guards with a flick of his wrist. “Miss Blair has expressed her displeasure with this outfit. Remove it.”

“Yes, sir.”

The guards advanced, their hands grabbing at her designer dress. She paled, her eyes wide with terror. The sound of ripping fabric filled the air as her haute couture gown was reduced to ribbons.

She clutched at the remnants and cried out, “How can you do this to me?”

The butler sneered. “You’re just another gold-digger, trying to sneak in and seduce Mr. Nichols. You can dream on.” He tossed a bank card at her feet, like a scrap to a beggar. “There’s enough money there to buy a dozen dresses like that one. Don’t let us catch you sniffing around again. Miss Blair doesn’t take kindly to pests.”

Eve stood there, shaking, her eyes darting from one sneering face to another. She snatched up the bank card and fled to her car. “Drive!”

The humiliation had robbed her of the chance to hold her head high in high society again. Just then, Michael’s sleek black sedan pulled up. Oscar sat beside him.