The DataPulse banquet took place three days after the Valerie Corporation's event, and Marco arrived notably early that evening.
The atmosphere felt lighter without Niall, Cullen, and Maverick present, resulting in a smoother event with no major disruptions. The guest list was extensive, keeping Veronica and Dario occupied throughout most of the evening.
It wasn't until halfway through the festivities, when they spotted Marco engaged in conversation with Phillip, that they realized something unusual—Marco was still at their event. This surprised them since the Crystal family was hosting their own banquet that same night. They had naturally assumed Marco would make an early appearance at DataPulse before departing for the Crystal gathering. But there he was, still mingling with their guests.
Dario couldn't hide his satisfaction. "Now this is what I call valuing a business partnership," he remarked with approval. "A perfect example of professional courtesy. Unlike Maverick... I won't even start on him."
Veronica shared his surprise at Marco's extended presence.
Given Marco's show of respect, it would be impolite for the hosts to ignore him any longer. They approached him together, offering courteous greetings.
"Mr. Valerie," Veronica said warmly, "we have quite the turnout tonight. Please forgive us if our attention has been divided among so many guests."
Throughout the evening, Marco's eyes had occasionally lingered on Veronica when nobody was watching. He raised his glass now, clinked it gently against theirs, took a measured sip, and responded casually, "Among friends, such formalities aren't necessary."
Despite their smooth business relationship thus far, Dario never considered them actual friends. He recognized Marco's words as mere social pleasantries rather than genuine sentiment. Still, he had to respect how Marco separated personal matters from business dealings.
Though Marco addressed Dario, his attention remained subtly fixed on Veronica.
The banquet centered primarily around celebrating Dario and Veronica's achievements. Despite Dario's protective presence, Veronica had consumed more alcohol than intended. Her cheeks now carried a rosy flush, and her typically sharp gaze had softened slightly, giving her an almost endearing vulnerability rarely seen in professional settings.
Marco's grip tightened imperceptibly around his wine glass before he deliberately shifted his focus elsewhere.
While Veronica had been drinking steadily, she maintained her composure. As the evening wound down, she accompanied Marco to the entrance to bid him farewell.
He paused just before stepping outside. The winter air rushed through the doorway, and his gaze briefly dropped to the glimpse of her slender leg visible beneath her flowing gown.
"No need to escort me further," he said evenly.
Veronica nodded. "Very well. Travel safely."
Marco looked at her intently, seeming on the verge of adding something more. After a moment's hesitation, he simply turned and departed without another word.
After the VIP guests had left, Veronica finally entered Phillip's waiting car to leave the hotel. What she didn't realize was that Marco hadn't actually departed yet.
Concerned about her safety after drinking, he had remained watching from a distance. Only after confirming she had safely entered Phillip's car and driven away did Marco instruct his driver, "We can go now."
The following morning, Veronica enjoyed breakfast while Poppy and Mary enthusiastically discussed their Bloom Celebration preparations.
Tomorrow would be Bloom Celebration Eve, and starting today, the company had officially begun its holiday break.
"I'll join you both for the preparations," Veronica offered casually.
Mary's face lit up with delight. "Wonderful! We'll make it a group outing."
After a brief pause, Mary hesitated before carefully asking, "Ver, will Sa be spending the holidays with the Dennis family this year?"
At the mention of Sabrina, Veronica's smile dimmed noticeably. "I believe so," she replied quietly.
She recalled her chance encounter with Cullen in the elevator after her meeting with Griffin. Cullen had subtly suggested that he hoped she would look after Sabrina. Yet since that conversation, neither Cullen nor Sabrina had made any attempt to contact her again.