7
“Brother Blake, there are desserts over there! Let’s go check them out!”
AfDaisy noticed his reaction, her face falling slightly.
ter she dragged Blake away, Jasper released my hand.
“I’m sorry, Vivian. I hope I wasn’t out of line. I just couldn’t stand seeing them bully you.”
I nodded, looking at Jasper, my voice firm.
“Jasper, you just lack an opportunity. I’ll give you that opportunity.”
Jasper still looked a bit confused. I said nothing more, following a security guard to Mr. Thompson’s private lounge.
“Ms. Vivian, what brings you here?”
“Mr. Thompson, regarding the downtown gallery, name your price.”
I cut straight to the chase. Mr. Thompson was stunned for a second, then his face showed some difficulty.
“Ms. Vivian, it’s not about the price. There are some… human relations involved. You understand, it’s hard for me to just hand it over!”
I had anticipated such a response. But before attending the banquet, I had also investigated his background.
“Mr. Thompson, from what I know, you’re selling the downtown gallery for your company, aren’t you? The economy hasn’t been great these past few years, your company’s stock has plummeted, and you’re struggling to keep things afloat, right?”
Mr. Thompson’s face paled, his voice trembling slightly.
“You… How did you know? Did you investigate me?”
9:44 AM
I picked up the glass in front of me and placed it before Mr. Thompson.
“Mr. Thompson, this isn’t an investigation; it’s about mutual benefit and cooperation. You give me the gallery, I’ll give you 5% of the profits. Besides that, I’ll cover half of your company’s circulating funds for this period.”
Mr. Thompson’s face lit up with joy, his eyes widening in disbelief. He immediately picked up his glass and chugged it down.
“Deal!”
I smiled, knowing this truth from my previous life.
Businessmen only see profit. Their talk of “human relations” simply means the temptation you offer isn’t strong enough.
This was a lesson, specially for Blake and Daisy.
Leaving the lounge and returning to the banquet hall, Jasper handed me a small slice of cake.
“Eat something. Otherwise, your stomach will hurt later from all the drinking.”
I took the cake, meeting Jasper’s gaze.
“Jasper, you can’t let me down.”
Jasper didn’t quite grasp what I meant, but he still smiled and responded firmly,
“Don’t worry, Vivian. No matter what, I won’t disappoint you.”
No sooner had he spoken than Daisy approached me, holding a piece of cake.
Just by her sly expression, I knew she was about to pull another trick.
“Oops!”
She faked twisting her ankle in her high heels, falling straight towards me, aiming to smear the cake on my face.
I was prepared. I hooked my foot, sending her face–first to the ground, the cake landing precisely on her face.
“What are you doing, you b*tch!”
In her fit of anger, she exposed her true colors, cursing without restraint.
Blake’s hand, reaching out to help her, froze in mid–air. He stared wide–eyed, disbelieving her words, then exchanged a look with Daisy.
Daisy quickly recovered, switching back to her tearful, frail persona, her voice reedy.
“Brother Blake, I’m so hurt! Sister Vivian suddenly stuck out her foot and tripped me. She probably didn’t mean to, right?
Seeing this act, I couldn’t stop myself from laughing, doubling over.
9:44 AM
<
Daisy’s acting was so good, it was a shame she wasn’t winning an Oscar.
Blake came to his senses, helped Daisy up, and questioned me, his face clouded with anger.
“Vivian, what are you laughing at! You’ve targeted Daisy again and again. Is it because you spend all day at those business parties with a bunch of crude people that you’ve lost all your basic human decency?!”
“Sir, you shouldn’t say things like that. That lady clearly just…”
Jasper tried to defend me, but I raised a hand to stop him.
I remained unfazed, still laughing heartily.
B
“What’s the point of saying anything to a man who’s blind, deaf, and stupid? They’re both despicable. They’ll never get anywhere in life. Just treat them as clowns for entertainment.”
