Chapter 291

Layla automatically linked Joseph and Samuel Holland. She didn't want to go.

"I already have plans for tomorrow night."

"But I've already made arrangements. Sorry for the short notice. Can you reschedule your appointment? It's Christmas Eve, and you can spend Christmas with friends. The dinner is also part of the job, a chance to expand the network. Besides, you secured the Sheeran Group project, so I naturally want to take you."

"Layla, please, do me this favor, won't you?"

Thinking of Levi's usual care, Layla swallowed her refusal and said, "Okay."

The next day, on Christmas Eve, everyone was dressed up, ready to celebrate the holiday. Layla received several gifts from her colleagues.

"I'm sorry, I didn't prepare any gifts for you."

"It's okay, just treat us to a meal next time."

"Yeah, we'll have plenty of opportunities to work on the Sheeran Group project together."

"The most important thing is that you like the gifts we gave you."

Layla was still busy drawing. "I'll open them later."

Her colleagues exchanged glances, feeling that she was being impolite, but they didn't dare to complain.

"Who's Layla?" The deliveryman came in with a bouquet of flowers and an exquisite pink gift box.

"I am." Layla signed for it.

"Layla, who sent the flowers? They're so beautiful. They must be expensive."

"Of course, they're from an admirer. Layla was as beautiful as a goddess, so she has many admirers."

"I'm so envious. Layla, you're really lucky." The flowers were from Anthony.

Layla opened the gift box to find a delicate music box, which tugged at her heartstrings, bringing back memories.

When she was a child, she had an identical music box. She would listen to the music inside to fall asleep when she couldn't. Later, the music box was destroyed in a fire. She never expected him to remember. Layla's heart softened.

Just then, Anthony's name appeared on the screen, and Layla went to answer the call.

Outside, snowflakes were falling gently from the sky.

"Merry Christmas." Anthony's voice was gentle and charming.

"You too, Merry Christmas," Layla replied with a light laugh. The romantic holiday put everyone in a cheerful mood.

"Would you honor me by having dinner together tonight?"

"I'm sorry. I have to accompany my boss to the Sheeran Group's Christmas banquet."

"That's okay, how about tomorrow?"

"We'll see." Layla hesitated, not wanting to refuse, but not wanting to agree either.

"Okay. Are you busy with work? Do you get along with your colleagues?"

"Work is busy, and as for my colleagues..." Layla looked around at the masks everyone wore and replied, "They're great, and I'm happy at work."

"That's good. I won't disturb you at work. Let's make plans tomorrow."

Just as Layla hung up, she received another delivery, a scarf knitted by Alice, warm and woolen. She called to thank her. "Merry Christmas!" Alice's voice was always full of vitality, infecting Layla, who smiled from the heart.

"Merry Christmas, thank you for the scarf."

"I spent three days and nights knitting it, and my eyes are almost blind," Alice said.

"You knitted it yourself?"

"Of course, am I particularly talented?"

"Well, no wonder it's so warm. Don't you knit for your boyfriend?"

"I'm waiting for you to introduce one. I'll practice on you first, and then I'll knit one for my boyfriend next year."

Layla laughed, "So I'm just a guinea pig?"

"No, you're my Honey."

"You are so sweet."

"How's the new company? Are there idiots bullying you?"

"Yes, come and rescue me."

"Wait, I'll bring a knife with me. I'll chop anyone who bullies my sister." Layla's nose tingled. "Alice, I miss you."

"I miss you too. After you left, I lost all motivation for work. How about I switch to your company?" Layla whispered.

"Forget it, you know I won't stay long. You stay with Susan. There's a bright future ahead for the Holland Group."

"Thanks for your kind words. Take care of yourself and my godson. Eat more, drink more water, and wear the scarf I gave you every day."

"Sure."

At six o'clock, Layla left work with Levi. The employees knew they were going to the Sheeran Group's Christmas banquet. In previous years, Levi's companion was always Fanny, but this year, there was a change, and some people who supported Fanny were a bit uncertain. Levi took Layla to change into a formal dress and put on makeup. Seeing her all dressed up, Levi couldn't help but feel his heart race. Layla was beautiful, that much he knew, but she was introduced by Susan, and her work was impressive, so Levi never had any other thoughts, but everyone has a sense of beauty, and he couldn't help but have some thoughts.

Levi joked, "It's a big loss for all the male employees in our company to have such a beautiful girl without a boyfriend."

Layla just smiled. There were also male colleagues at Brightness Design Company who showed interest in her, but she politely declined. The Sheeran Group's Christmas banquet was held at the entire Hilton, even more grand than Layla had imagined.

"So many people?"

"Yes, it's the Sheeran Group's turn this year," Levi said.

"What do you mean?"

"Huh? Don't you know about the tradition among the big families in A City? They take turns hosting the Christmas banquet every year, and this is the grandest event of the year."

Layla was taken aback. She thought it was just a private dinner for the Sheeran Group, but did that mean all the major families would be there? Would the Holland family and the Eilish family also attend?

"What's wrong? Nervous? You don't have to be. Just treat it as a regular dinner. Maybe you will meet a handsome guy, that would be amazing. If you're lucky, you'll marry into a wealthy family and won't have to work hard every day." Levi handed her a glass of champagne.

Soon, Layla saw Joseph, the host of tonight's banquet, and the protagonist. The beautiful woman on his arm was his fiancee, and there have been recent rumors online about their marriage. Joseph was a well-known playboy in the entire city of A, and it was certain that his fiancee was also aware of this.

For the wealthy, marriage and love were originally two different things, which was one of the reasons why Layla was not interested in marrying into a wealthy family. Joseph looked at her with a displeased look, and Layla looked away. She didn't come to seek his favor, but Levi had this intention and adjusted his tie. "He's Joseph. Let's go over and say hello to him."

"I don't know Joseph."

"You'll get to know him after saying hello. Let's go." Levi insisted, and Layla had no choice but to accompany him.