ITAYA 47

~Chapter 47~

At that time, Graham Bank was suffering from uninvited guests again.

Heres stood with his big body, blocking the way of Madam Rosemarlin and her group. Heres was tall and strong—just looking at him felt intimidating.

“Didn’t you hear me? I’m the bank president’s mother-in-law! I have a right to go inside!”
—Rosemarlin’s face turned red as she raised her voice.

The bank workers glanced over. Rosemarlin shook with a mix of anger and embarrassment.

“Your relationship with the president doesn’t matter here. It’s work hours, and she’s preparing for an important meeting.”
—Heres spoke in a heavy voice, not the gentle tone he usually used for Anais.

He stared coldly at Madam Rosemarlin.

“Is that meeting more important than me? More important than Constantine?”
—Rosemarlin was upset.

“It’s not business, so yes. If you want a work meeting, I can book you an appointment.”
—Heres was doing his job perfectly.

Anais would have been impressed by the scene.

“What appointment! Do you know who I am?”

Rosemarlin looked to Gwenndolyn and Countess Crenvell for support.

Countess Crenvell, with her gray hair, was famous in the capital as a strict etiquette teacher.

Rosemarlin felt as if they were disappointed in her. She decided—she must get past this door, for her pride’s sake.

She raised her voice again.

“This is the first time I’ve seen such rudeness! Do you not have parents?!”

Her sharp voice echoed through the bank. Even customers downstairs looked up.

‘Is the bank really so important? More important than your mother-in-law? Well, let’s see. If I make enough trouble, she’ll have to come out!’

She doubted the secretary would use force, so she shouted even louder.

“If you keep this up, I’ll call the Duke! Let’s see if you’re this stubborn in front of him!”

But Baldwin wouldn’t take her side—and she didn’t know that.

Heres frowned as customers started whispering. What should he do? Normally, he’d call security. But this was the mother-in-law of the president.

If he messed up, he might get in trouble. While he hesitated, Rosemarlin became braver.

“If you don’t want that, move!”

At that moment, the office door finally opened.

“Come in.”
—Anais spoke coldly. She looked at Rosemarlin, Gwenndolyn, and Countess Crenvell.

‘She brought back-up this time.’

Anais blinked tiredly.

‘Yesterday it was Sophia. Today it’s the mother-in-law. Who will it be tomorrow?’

She sighed and stepped aside. Rosemarlin walked in proudly and glared at Heres.

Anais patted Heres on the shoulder and said:

“Good job.”
—“No, Madam. If you need help, let me know. I’ll bring the Duke right away.”
—Anais smiled, “Yes, please do.” (Though she had no plans to bother Baldwin with this.)

Anais entered. The three visitors sat down rudely, as if the office was theirs.

Anais’s face turned cold. She knew this would happen, but seeing it in person was still unbelievable. There was no sign of the manners or class these nobles always talked about.

“Don’t just stand there, sit.”
—Rosemarlin sounded annoyed.

“I feel sorry to trouble Countess Crenvell like this, Duchess.”
—“No, I’m here to teach. I don’t mind,” Countess Crenvell answered, eyeing Anais critically.

“If you learn, you’ll improve, Duchess. The Graham Bank’s standards have really dropped. Guests should be served tea within 10 minutes. The staff need better training.”

“See, Countess?”
—Rosemarlin sighed.
“She can’t even control her own staff.”

Gwenndolyn watched in silence, eyes shining with joy. She enjoyed seeing Anais brought down.

But to Anais, their united front was just ridiculous.

“Well? Didn’t you hear Countess Crenvell? Bring tea right now.”

Anais replied in a cold voice:

“This isn’t a mansion, Mother. The staff here weren’t hired to serve tea. And guests are people who made appointments.”

It was almost funny.

“Duchess!”
—Rosemarlin was angry, but Anais didn’t care.

“If I don’t make time for you, will you just keep showing up and making trouble?”

“I hope you know, all this is for you,”
—Rosemarlin said, determined not to back down.

Anais checked her schedule and said coolly:

“I think I’m free tomorrow. 2 to 5 p.m.—does that work?”

“You should have said that from the start,”
—Rosemarlin grumbled.

“Why make things so difficult? Like I said, we’re doing this for your sake. Don’t tire out Countess Crenvell and Gwenndolyn again. Or me.”

Gwenndolyn smiled sweetly, finally speaking:

“I don’t mind, Madam. I’m happy to help for Baldwin’s sake. It’s actually funny—someone with no manners is the Duchess… Oops, did I say that out loud?”

“But it’s true.”

Anais checked the time—she had a mountain of paperwork. Since the Constantine deal, new clients were signing up, and there were plans for new branches.

Anais clicked her tongue.

“Will you keep taking my time? If so, I’ll have to cancel tomorrow’s appointment to catch up.”

“No, don’t do that.”

“Then please leave. I have a meeting in five minutes, Mother.”

Anais tried to stay polite. Rosemarlin was still Baldwin’s mother—she wanted to keep some respect, even if Rosemarlin had forgotten hers.

That’s what Cesares taught her:

‘If you act like the people you look down on, your own standards will fall too. Always try not to lose yourself.’

Rosemarlin glared at Anais, who stayed expressionless, just like a rock. It reminded her of Baldwin, and she felt a chill.

Rosemarlin got up, unsure of herself.

“Let’s go home, Countess Crenvell, Gwenndolyn.”

“Yes, let’s.”

The two guests left, not even saying goodbye to Anais.

Gwenndolyn was last, meeting Anais’s eyes.

“See you tomorrow, Duchess.”

Then she smiled brightly and added:

“I’ll have to help a lot. Since you know nothing at all. Baldwin doesn’t like that kind of scent, you know. As his friend, I have lots of advice to give you.”

Gwenndolyn spoke proudly, like a winner.