The girls looked at Ingrid’s grim face and quieted down.

The second floor of the banquet hall was relatively quiet. When Grant brought Nicole upstairs, an unruly-looking young man in an expensive black shirt stood up.

The two men shook hands briefly. Grant smiled and said, “Mr. Lichman, it’s been a while.”

Gerard Lichman laughed. The corners of his lips hooked up charmingly. “Hello, Mr. Stanton.”

Without waiting for Grant’s introduction, Gerard had already moved his gaze onto Nicole. It was