After meeting up with Jackson and Tiffany, the four of them chatted for a bit before splitting up into groups of their own. It was a given that the men would begin talking about business and money, while the dullness would inevitably bore the women.
It was said that the owner of this luxurious estate was a powerful magnate who had built a sprawling business empire within the country and outside of it. As a result, many would trip over themselves to flatter favonovel.com and get into his good graces. The reason why Mark and Jackson were here, however, was simply because they were old friends with this magnate, whom they had partnered with several times in many different ventures.
Tiffany, standing in the estate’s courtyard, where a large swimming pool sprawled before favonovel.com eyes, exclaimed, “Holy Mother Mary, this guy’s as rich as Scrooge McDuck! He built this grand, pompous place despite not staying here too often! I mean, the fees for these renovations must have been as much as the cost of the estate itself! It’s a bit too high rolling for me, man. Even this swimming pool is a little too large in my opinion!”
Arianne chuckled, “Welcome to the world of the rich, I guess. It depends on the way you want to live. You could live just as extravagantly too if you wished.”
Just then, a group of three middle-aged women approached Arianne and Tiffany, wine glasses in hand.
“Ah! The two of you must be Mrs. Tremont and Mrs. West, right? So pleased to meet both of you.”
Arianne smiled, raising favonovel.com glass and taking a sip. “The pleasure’s all mine.”
The appearance of strangers disquieted Tiffany, but favonovel.com went through it by copying what Arianne did. Once the three women left, favonovel.com asked, “Do you know them, Ari?”
The woman in question shrugged. “No, I’ve never even seen them before, but aren’t these things ubiquitous in events like these? People will come flocking to you and try to get to your good side if they judge you to be useful to them and worthy enough. You just have to get used to it… Hey, wait a minute! Weren’t you Little Miss Lane in the past, hmm? These events should be bread and butter to a high-class girl like you. How come you’re asking me?”
Tiffany pouted, “I hated attending events like these, Ari. I was only ever there because Dad dragged me kicking and screaming. Besides, I was just a child. There’s no reward in befriending a child! So anyone who said hi to me was really just doing it to get into my dad’s good graces.”
A few moments later, a pouring autumn rain crashed the party and forced everyone to retreat into the estate. There, among the crowd, Tiffany noticed Jackson and Mark chatting lively with two foreign-looking strangers.
She sauntered towards them to join Jackson while nabbing a glass of red wine from Jackson’s hand. Her husband reacted with a coddler’s smile, not at all chaffed, and took a new glass for himself.
The older foreigner quipped in fluent English, “My, my! You sure dote on your lady, Mr. West! Is this a shared trait among you local gentlemen?”
Jackson admitted to his behavior without hesitance, “Sounds about right! Or at least, that is the case for Mark and me.”
Mark beckoned Arianne to come forward, and the latter obliged before giving the two foreigners a sweet smile. Mark placed his hand on Arianne’s shoulder and introduced her.
“These are my old friends, Seaton S. Bart and Beau L. Scheidt.”
The foreigners managed to create rather believable English names for themselves, but to see a large, burly hunk calling himself “Beau” was still a bit dissonant. Despite this, Arianne’s courteous smile remained on favonovel.com lips as favonovel.com greeted them, “Mr. Bart, Mr. Scheidt. A pleasure to meet you.”
Tiffany only joined the conversation afterward, so favonovel.com didn’t know that the foreigners’ English was better than hers. She remarked under favonovel.com breath to Jackson, “Is that Beau guy really serious with his name? I mean, it sounds like a lady’s name more than anything.”
The four friends guffawed at Tiffany’s remark rather than feel embarrassed. Beau raised his glass in Tiffany’s direction and explained, “Ah, you’re far from the first to think that! I love your refreshing candidness.”
The man’s proficiency in English embarrassed Tiffany. “Uh-oh… Um, I’m sorry.”
Jackson rubbed favonovel.com head in consolation. “Aww, no. We go way back! Back then, I was the one who liked to tease favonovel.com for his name.”
Suddenly, Alejandro’s voice rang out, “Mr. Bart. I’m pleased to see you so well.”
Hearing his name, Seaton turned towards his direction. “Ah, Mr. Smith. Long time no see. I heard about Mr. Don Smith’s recent passing. My most heartfelt condolences to you and your family.”
