Suddenly, I Am Rich

Two days later came faster than Gray expected.

Mara had spent the night before drowning in her laptop, arranging documents, polishing notes, and double-checking the terms and agreements they wanted. Gray, too, had barely gotten any sleep for himself.

At first, he was expecting a normal meeting for him and Conrad. But Conrad had other plans.

The call from his secretary yesterday came through on their phone, informing them about the new plans.

"It won't be a private meeting anymore, Mr. Gray. Mr. Everett has arranged for a press conference. Media outlets will be present. The partnership announcement will be publicized widely."

Gray still remembered the way Mara froze when she heard that over the speaker. He was also speechless at that time.

A conference? With Cameras? Reporters?

This wasn't what he signed up for.

And yet, here they were now.

On the morning of the supposed 'meeting', Gray stood in front of his office's mirror. He was buttoning his suit's jacket. He bought a new one just for this meeting. It was probably the cleanest look he had pulled together in the past few months.

He was wearing a black suit, new, polished shoes, and a tie that was properly done. He also got a new haircut, even though he felt like he didn't need it

It was all because of Mara. The woman practically dragged him to a hair salon the day before, after they finished scrambling through the files they needed to consider.

"You'll thank me later," was the only thing she said.

And now, as he saw his own reflection in the mirror, Gray wasn't sure if he wanted to thank her or curse her. He looked like a new man because of his new hairstyle. He barely recognized himself.

Mara, on the other hand, looked stunning in her fitted navy dress. Her hair was neatly tied back, and her makeup looked subtle but sharp. When she entered his office that morning to inform him that they needed to go already, Gray couldn't help but stare at her.

"Why are you staring?" Mara's brows rose as she teased him lightly.

"Can't I?" Gray playfully smiled as he adjusted his cufflinks. He was just doing it to distract himself from staring at her.

He couldn't help but admit that it had been so long since he had seen Mara dressed up that nicely. She looked put together and was… pretty.

"Come on, let's not keep the driver waiting," Mara chuckled, but became serious afterward.

"Alright," Gray gave himself one last look in the mirror before following her out. His steps were slower than hers, but he followed her closely from behind.

When they reached the lobby, the sight that greeted them made Gray exhale through his nose. What was parked right outside the building was a sleek black sports car. There was even a driver in uniform standing on the side, already holding the door open for them,

"This is so excessive," Gray muttered under his breath as they walked forward.

They were just supposed to use the car that they had and ask Daniel to drive them around. However, the old man was too eager. He persistently asked Gray to let him send a ride just for them.

And so to stop him from bothering him further, he just said yes to it. It's not that bad anyway.

"It's Conrad Everett. You know how he is. Just go with it."

Gray pinched the bridge of his nose for a second, then sighed.

"Yeah. I know."

The driver bowed slightly as they approached him.

"Mr. Gray, Ms. Mara. Mr. Everett is already waiting at the venue."

"Thanks," Gray gave him a short nod before slipping into the back seat first. Mara followed after him, and the door closed softly behind them.

Inside, the car was quiet. The seats were made out of leather, and the windows were tinted. The mood inside was comfortable.

Gray rested his hand on his knee and stared out of the window as the car started rolling around. Mara sat beside him. For some reason, the two of them were calm. There was no anxiousness in their heart as they drove to the venue.

Maybe it was because they were prepared, and the agreement had been set anyway. They just need to agree on terms and sign the contract to seal the deal.

"You're not nervous, huh?"

Gray chuckled faintly, leaning back.

Why would I be?" Gray chuckled faintly.

"Whoa, so unlike you." Mara playfully smiled.

"There's no need to be nervous. It's not like Conrad will back out of this. We already got his word. We just need to seal the deal." Gray rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"Oh well, you're right," Mara finally said, her lips curving into a big, wide smile that. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear before adding, "I'm more nervous about the press rather than the whole event. It will be my first time on camera!"

"Tsk. It's the same for me. I don't even want to think about it now," Gray just signed as he realized that he would really see some reporters later.

"I'm scared…"

"Me too."

Silence surrounded the two after voicing their fears. On their mind, all they could think of was whether they would look good in front of the camera or not. After all, they went on extra length just to make sure they looked good for the day.

It would be a pity if their efforts were just in vain.

A few minutes passed quickly. The car ride was silent. Neither of them initiated a conversation after. The driver was quiet, too. He was just focusing on his job as if he were already used to it.

Soon, the car finally slowed down after a few more minutes. Gray's eyes lifted to the view outside. The sight that greeted his vision made him pause.

Everett Hotel.

Even from the car, its presence was undeniable.

The hotel had towering height. Golden accents could be seen everywhere. In front of the hell was a water fountain that was flowing continuously, sparkling water under the morning light.

At the entrance, the revolving doors spun slowly as well-dressed guests entered and exited. There were also bellboys in neat uniforms waiting attentively nearby.

It was one of the most well-known hotels in the entire country.

It was a five-star hotel famous for its service, exclusivity, and price that could burn a hole through even a wealthy man's wallet. Gray had heard about it countless times before, but seeing it up close was different.

It was intimidating, like it was reminding him that this wasn't just some casual business deal.

The driver smoothly pulled into the drop-off area, where a line of luxury cars was already waiting. A valet in a uniformed suit and white gloves approached immediately. The driver stepped out first, exchanging a few quiet words before handing over the keys.

Gray and Mara got out of the car next after the driver opened the door for them.

"This way, sir, ma'am," their driver bowed slightly before gesturing toward the entrance.

They walked through the tall glass doors, went in the revolving door, and were greeted instantly by the grand lobby. The floors were made out of high-quality marble and there was even a big chandelier above.

The ceiling stretched impossibly high, adorned with art pieces that probably cost more than Gray's entire apartment used to be worth.

The driver led them past the main lobby, away from the crowds of guests and staff. They boarded the elevator and went to the 2nd floor. What greeted them was a hallway. And at the end of it, double doors waited.

Two hotel staff members in sleek black uniforms stood in front, bowing respectfully as they approached.

"This is the venue, Sir," the driver explained, his tone respectful and polite. "It's a private conference hall reserved exclusively by Mr. Everett."

"I see…" Gray muttered as he loudly sighed.

He knew this hotel's reputation. He knew that booking a conference room here could cost a fortune.

Gray and Mara exchanged a look before finally stepping forward. The staff opened the double doors with practiced grace, and the two of them entered.

The first thing that hit Gray was the size of the room. It wasn't just a simple conference hall, it was a luxurious conference hall.

The carpet on the rug was thick and soft. The walls were lined with subtle gold accents and modern art pieces. Soft and warm lighting filled every corner of the room without being harsh.

It was chic, elegant, and intimidating all at once.

But what really drew his attention was the setup in the middle.

A long table stretched across the room. Multiple seats were neatly arranged behind it, but what caught Gray's eye were the two nameplates at the center. They were made out withgolden letters spelling 'Mr. Gray Adams' and 'Mr. Conrad Everett'.

Gray froze in his step. His brows twitched slightly as his gaze lingered on the table, then it went to the front of the room.

That's when he noticed them.

Cameras.

Dozens of cameras lined up in front. They were mounted on tripods and were pointing straight at the table as if waiting for the show to begin.

Bright lights had already been set up overhead, ready to light up the moment things started rolling. He could even see well-known reporters at the back chatting quietly with each other.

"Damn… You've got to be kidding me," Gray muttered under his breath.

===

A/N:

The 2-chapter update will resume tomorrow.

Anyway, thank you to all those who have been dropping Golden Tickets to the novel for the past week!

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I really appreciate it!

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