From Sneers to Cheers: Anthea’s Ascent ( Anthea )

The room was thick with shock and whispers.

No one expected that, of all people, Lambotte would come looking for Rebecca.

True blue always shines through.

And how it put the pretenders in their place!

But then, in a twist straight out of a drama, Lambotte breezed past Rebecca as if she were invisible, making a beeline for Anthea. "Ms. Yeager, what a surprise to see you here." Anthea offered a small, knowing smile. "Mr. Lambotte, the feeling is mutual."

There, in the midst of her grand entrance, Rebecca's hand hung awkwardly in mid-air, caught in the embarrassing limbo of greeting and retraction.

Her shock was palpable. Lambotte was here for Anthea?

How did they even know each other?

What in the world was going on?

Rebecca's face was a mask of disbelief.

The crowd was equally stunned.

Anthea and Lambotte knew each other?

Moments ago, they were mocking Anthea, and now? Now, their faces smarted with the sting of their own ridicule.

A nobody knows Lambotte?

"Becca, let's grab a drink, shall we?" Gloria whispered, sidling up to Rebecca and offering an out by changing the subject.

With Gloria's intervention, Rebecca's composure found some footing.

"Becca, how on earth does Anthea know Lambotte?" Gloria prodded.

Rebecca tried to play it off. "Well, my dad and Mr. Lambotte are quite close..."

Gloria's frown deepened, catching on quickly. "So, you're saying Mr. Lambotte greeted Anthea just to save face because of your dad? That's hardly fair to you. You're the real deal, not her!" Anthea, the audacious one!

Rebecca quickly tried to correct any misunderstanding. "Gloria, that's not what I meant. Anthea... she's actually quite kind..."

Gloria snorted. "Becca, you're the kind one. If Anthea had any decency, she wouldn't be stepping on your toes. Wait here; I'll set her straight."

"Stop, Gloria!" Rebecca pleaded, grabbing at her friend's sleeve.

But Gloria was resolute, her sense of justice as straight as an arrow. "Becca, you might tread lightly, but I don't. I can't stand to see you wronged. Leave it to me."

With that, Gloria picked up a wine glass and made her way towards Anthea, who was in deep conversation with Lambotte.

"Ms. Yeager, I received your design proposals last night. They're brilliant, truly in line with our brand philosophy. I'm confident they'll be a hit," Lambotte was saying. Anthea raised her glass in thanks when suddenly...

Crash!

Gloria barged into Anthea, spilling wine all over her.

Anthea, quick as ever, managed to save herself from a complete disaster, but her dress bore the brunt.

"Can't you watch where you're going?" Anthea's frown was sharp, her patience thin. Even a fool could see Gloria's move was deliberate.

Lambotte was alarmed. "Are you alright?"

Anthea simply shook her head, indicating she was fine.

"Oh, terribly sorry, I just didn't see," Gloria's voice dripped with insincerity.

"Didn't see?" Anthea raised an eyebrow. "You couldn't find anything else to bump into?"

Her challenge drew the crowd's attention, turning the incident into a spectacle.

Gloria played the victim, her eyes welling up. "I really didn't see, Ms. Yeager. I'm so sorry."

Rebecca, seizing the moment to play peacemaker, chimed in with a smile, "Anthea, everyone makes mistakes. Gloria has apologized. Let's not make a mountain out of a molehill, shall we?" The crowd nodded in agreement, admiring Rebecca's grace and poise.

True blue, indeed.

As the praise washed over Rebecca, she soaked in the vindication, slowly reclaiming her spotlight.

Anthea, unfazed, responded in kind, dousing Rebecca with her glass of wine.

The room fell silent, waiting for the next move in this unexpected drama.