"Mr. Fernard. Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it."
"Of course. An invitation from you is difficult to refuse these days." The middle-aged executive smiled as he shook Gray's hand.
Gray nearly laughed at that, "I think you're giving me too much credit, Sir."
"Not at all." Mr. Fernard glanced around the venue. "Look at what you've built around here."
"It's a team effort."
"Still." The executive nodded. "You should be proud."
The two exchanged a few more words before Gray personally guided him toward the reserved guest section.
Unfortunately for Gray, that was only the beginning. As more guests arrived, his responsibilities multiplied almost immediately.
One supplier introduced him to another, and there's also an executive who wanted to discuss future opportunities. He also entertained a representative from a partner brand, who congratulated him on the store's growth.
