Chapter 5: Stupid

Eve smiles to herself, pleased with the results. Since the first phase was a success, the next thing to do was, changing Molina's image.

Her light golden eyes turn to the seat next to her, it was her colleague and a promising young woman in her department. The brunette woman who was wearing a simple red evening gown named Yulia Clark was caught looking at Molina and the beautiful lady stared openly back at her.

Yulia turned red seeing how the other person raised her brow as if asking if she needed anything.

" Oh I didn't mean to be rude," Yulia says, her brown hair almost covering her eyes as she tries to hide her rose-colored face, she was embarrassed, and didn't think she would react shyly since Molina was her colleague.

" I saw you... checking with the stock market pages and got curious, I'm not really lucky when it comes to stock exchange but I wanted to try before but it failed, that's why I was surprised seeing you interested in it" She says and laughs at herself, she started to babble about the stock market and garnered a few attention hearing the young miss Sylvia checking the stock market.

" You look kind of different today too Miss Sylvia, it feels like being with my mature big sister--oh--I--I'm sorry if you feel uncomfortable talking to me, I've been chattering nonstop now, I might annoy you. I'm sorry, I'm not usually like this.... hahaha"

Yulia says and laughs a bit helplessly and grip fighting on the red fabric of her gown, the rest of the people near that had been glancing at their table had heard their conversation and even the people seated at Molina's table were curious about how the woman would react.

Unlike what they expected, Molina casually leans back and showed Yulia her phone screen.

" I've just got a notification that my stocks had been bought and sold in a private trade, so after discussing the price I was checking at the stock market prices online. " Molina spoke and her voice was unlike before, full of calmness and even a hint of warmth could be heard. As if she was talking to a young child.

Yulia was surprised seeing how Molina had just extended to offer her to see the content of her smartphone.
Yulia had carefully took the device and looked at the screen.

" OH MY GOSH, THIS MUCH???? MILLIONS???? " The young brunette had screamed in disbelief, her voice was loud for most people to hear. She didn't care if it was too loud knowing the program has yet to start.

She continued to scan through the past transition and exchange with disbelief. Yulia accidentally backtracks the email and saw even more shocking notifications of investments that had been successful and garnered the young miss more money. She even saw digital receipts and documents filled with Molina's name for the land and building investments.

" Forget about millions!! You even invested in a recent resort and hotel in other countries?!! What's this?? L Business Group??? You invested to them? "Yulia couldn't help but talk about it with great interest. Molina had waited for this moment, but she didn't think she would have only needed one person to draw a few interesting gaze to their topics.

" I guess I could tell you some of my secrets, "Molina says and takes her phone, Yulia wants to learn her secret and had inched closer to her. Even the people around their table had wanted to know about it.

The sudden talks of investment had piqued a few higher up's attention, but before they could move towards the women's side. The emcee of the event had suddenly announced for the party to start and greeted everyone.

Molina turned off her phone and smiled at the young girl next to her.

" Guess we will have to wait until the first part of this event is over "As Molina says, she looked at the stage and the people around settle down to their seats. Yulia's excitement suddenly diminished and she looked half-excited and half-impatient for the event. Even the people who wanted to learn her secret were left unsatisfied with the conversation being cut off.
While everyone was busy talking about the small news of Molina Sylvia who had entered the stock market trade, Diana's table had looked a bit gloomy based on their expression.

As the even proceeds till the night, Molina who was expected to cause a shameful scene of shouting and being angered for no reason was sitting quietly on her seat and had never spared a glance at Diana's table. Molina's attention were either at the people around her table as she politely chats with them, or at the stage where the emcee would give their awards and announcements.

When Hubert Graham was on stage starting his speech, everyone usually looks at Diana and Hubert, and see how fond the older gentleman was of his daughter, he wouldn't even look at the biological child who would always have an envious and ugly expression on her face. She would usually glare at her father and the stepsibling of hers for being so openly fond of their small family of two, leaving her out of the picture.

Hubert had stood on the stage yet Yulia and the rest of the people had looked at Molina and was surprised to see such an unusual expression. Yulia's eyes shook seeing her co-worker.

The calm young woman next to her, whose hair was as dark as ink, eye glowing because of the stage light, and her unaffected calm expression as she ignores the man on the platform, as she was looking at her phone as if there's nothing more pleasing than the photos of condominium buildings and luxurious apartments spaces than watching her father on stage.

Yulia's jaw drops and she was left gaping like a fish.

Not once did Molina spared her attention to the man on stage nor the stepsibling just a few tables away that was looking at her.

Hubert casually glances at Diana's table, she was placed near the stage for him to see her easily, and when he realized she had been looking at somewhere with a scowl on her face, he followed her gaze and found the source of her distraction.
Just five tables away from the stage, Hubert Graham found the raven-haired woman seated gracefully and her temperament calm and serene. The young woman looked like she was scrolling something important and looking at her phone with great interest.

Hubert was busy with his speech but seeing his daughter uncharacteristically ignoring him the whole time he was on stage had given him a shock. When he was done and was walking down towards his table, he glances back to Molina's directions, and surprisingly, she had put down her phone and was listening attentively to the emcee.

Everyone that were interested in gossips saw such an act, Molina was showing openly her lack of care for her two family members inside the hall. This had made people whisper around and glance at the two step-siblings from time to time.

As if they were wondering if there would be no dramatic scene to happen since Molina was acting unusually calm.

After the first part of the event ended, it was finally time to eat. The dinner event was what everyone was waiting for, even Molina was famished and wanted to eat the plated meal without reserve. She spoke with Yulia in a low voice and looked like she was having a great time with the people at their table.

Molina enjoyed the whole event without causing any fuss, her eyes never searched for anyone as she was busy talking and mingling with people after dinner, and people around heard how her investments were going well.

While chatting with a few business-minded people, Molina had gathered business cards and had exchange hers with them, politely declining some offers and even giving out a few compliments to people which she knows would help her future.
She was about to excuse herself when she felt a presence behind her, a few gasps and murmur with surprise looks made her smirk.

" I guess you can't stand being ignored by the public and want the spotlight to yourself " She quietly said only for her ears to hear.

Molina had one hand holding a glass of champagne as the other was crossed on her chest and resting on the other biceps, she acts as if she didn't know a stupid woman was behind her trying to cause a scene.

" It was nice talking to you Mrs. Holley, I've learned so much from our conversation," Molina says and smiles at the ladies in front of her, they weren't into gossip and didn't care much about issues as long as their investments were safe.

Mrs. Holley saw Diana walking towards them but didn't acknowledge her, even if she was the doted daughter of Hubert Graham, business was business and unique and intelligent people with interesting business talks were her priority before anything else.

"Indeed, talking with a young person with a fresh mind like you is a different experience, I usually have business deals with people my age and would disagree with many things before reaching a conclusion. It turns into a long-winded useless talk the moment we older people would be in one room " Mrs. Holley laughs and the rest followed to agree. Joking about how they sometimes focus on disagreements before they finalize things.

" I think that's one trait we younger generations should have, " Molina says and looks at the ladies who had influence and money in them, knowing Molina in the past wanted to be such a woman, a person who would be respected and look up to, Eve had felt rather respectful towards them.

" To disagree means to work on things you find as an error that would affect both parties' opinions, it's not useless, rather it's informative. After all, the mother to failure is success, and communication is needed when there are business deals, so I find it rather useful to have disagreements, it means both are finding ways to take out what is unnecessary to each other and are working to find an agreeable way for both parties " Molina says and sips her champagne, she then smiles at Mrs. Holley

Pleased with her answer, they chatted a bit more, ignoring the person who was expecting to draw their attention. Diana Graham stood there and the people who saw her sudden approached were a bit confused.

Dave and Jonathan were busy with business talks with a few investors and even Hubert Graham was with them. Diana who was left alone had gathered her strength to chat with Molina but seeing how even she was talking about the stock market and investments, Diana was left standing behind.

She didn't want to call Molina and waited for a few minutes, only to realize no one in the circle planned to announce her approach.

Molina was still busy with her back facing Diana. A few people had started whispering at each other seeing how Diana had approached Molina.

Such an unexpected turn of events.

Everyone knew she was scared of her elder step-sibling and would usually tremble in fear the moment Molina enters the room, but seeing her standing and waiting to be noticed was something else.

The doted daughter couldn't take it anymore, standing and doing nothing wasn't what she planned. So she walks next to Molina and everyone's attention was fully on her now.

" Hi! I heard you talking about investments and such, can I interrupt? I want to join the conversation? "

Diana's innocent eyes would have garnered anyone's pity and acceptance if it was people who had never talked to Molina and don't believe in rumors. Unlike other people, the ladies with who she had rudely interrupted and even didn't introduce herself wouldn't be affected by just playing nice.

The older women looked at each other as if talking with their silence and then had looked at Diana. Molina, on the other hand, finished her glass and had a small smirk on her lips.

I'm not sure if she's doing this on purpose or she is just stupid enough to read the mood.