Chapter 123 Going to the Bar to Catch My Wife on the First Day of Marriage
"Are you sure Emma's here? Don't tell me we're making another wasted trip!"
Nora had been accompanying Andrew everywhere looking for Emma lately, but the places Emma hung out were either too high-end for them to get into, or she switched venues so quickly that they couldn't catch her at all.
"She's here. The people at Aurora Tower said there's some rich kid's birthday party in their circle today, and Emma's here celebrating with them."
Andrew pressed down the cap on his head to avoid being recognized.
Nora wore heavy makeup that made her unrecognizable.
Watching Andrew pull down his cap, Nora thought to herself sarcastically: What's with the act? Does he really think he's still that award-winning actor? Thalia crushed him so badly he can't even stand up anymore, and now he has to rely on his old loyal fans to make a living.
Who's he even putting on this show for?
They got in the elevator and went straight to the bar on the second floor.
The moment Andrew walked in, an arm hooked around his neck and spun him into the dance floor.
It happened so fast that Nora couldn't even react.
"Wanna have some fun, handsome?"
In the dim bar, colorful lights flashed everywhere, making it hard for Andrew to see Evelyn's face clearly.
Remembering why he came today, Andrew pushed her away: "I'm here looking for someone, thanks."
Evelyn hooked his neck and pulled him closer, her breath brushing past his ear, making Andrew shiver. He thought about how back when he was an award-winning actor in the entertainment industry, women threw themselves at him all the time, but now those same women looked at him like he was a rat crossing the street.
After a long dry spell, Andrew found himself losing control a bit from Evelyn's teasing.
"Looking for who? Tell me, who in Emerald City doesn't know what I'm capable of? All I have left is money."
Andrew sized up the woman in front of him. Low updo, diamond studs on her earlobes sparkling under the lights.
Around her neck was a limited edition necklace, and the dress she wore was one he'd recently seen in a magazine - a haute couture piece, supposedly designed by some wealthy young lady from Emerald City and produced exclusively for her.
One of a kind.
Just from this quick assessment, Andrew could tell she was definitely worth a fortune.
Either a rich young lady or a wealthy socialite.
He thought for a moment: "Ms. Wood."
"Which Ms. Wood? The one who just got out of prison?"
Andrew: ..........
"She's not even worthy of carrying my shoes, okay?" Evelyn said drunkenly.
She reached out and patted Andrew's cheek: "How about it? Sleep with me tonight? One million dollars."
Evelyn tugged at his clothes and continued hooking onto him: "Think about it?"
Andrew had ended up in this situation mostly because his agent had been scheming behind his back, putting him in an awkward position. But now that he'd been knocked down from his position as best actor, he didn't dare make any rash moves.
Latch onto a rich woman and live the good life? No, that would only be temporary.
The best option for him right now was to find Emma.
Then stage a romance with a wealthy young lady and make a comeback.
"No thanks."
"Really not considering it?" Evelyn seemed a bit disappointed.
"Sorry."
Andrew pushed her away.
Evelyn clicked her tongue and pulled out a card to give him: "I'm way richer than Emma, you know. When you've thought it through, text me. You know what I want to see."
Evelyn said this while lifting his chin with her finger, then pointed to a spot not far away to show him where Emma was.
.........
Sunset Blvd Villas.
After removing her makeup, Evelyn came downstairs in her nightgown to find Thalia sitting cross-legged on the sofa, looking at something on her tablet.
"I've done everything you asked me to do."
Thalia didn't look up from her tablet, and Evelyn got a word of thanks.
"What are you looking at?"
"Emma's Facebook."
"What? Got any ideas?"
"Know your enemy and know yourself, and you'll never lose a battle."
Evelyn picked up her glass and took a sip of water: "What's your reason for getting Emma to Aurora Tower?"
Thalia's slender fingers scrolled across the tablet: "Because of all the places Emma goes, Aurora Tower is the only one Andrew can get into."
Evelyn was stunned: "Andrew's really fallen that far?"
"What else? What did you think? In the entertainment industry, there's a huge difference between being famous and not being famous."
Evelyn acknowledged: "I can see that."
"What's next?"
Thalia curved her lips: "First, let them develop some feelings."
"And then?" Evelyn asked.
Thalia gave her a meaningful smile: "You'll find out when the time comes."
Evelyn knew Thalia wouldn't let Emma off that easily.
She also knew that after spending so long in the entertainment industry, Thalia had seen plenty of dirty tricks and had plenty of methods up her sleeve.
"You and William got married but don't live together?"
"Sexless marriage?"
Thalia glanced at her: "You think that's possible?"
A man like William - if she could have a sexless marriage with him, she'd write her name backwards.
William's scheming ran so deep he could probably take over the world.
Thalia looked at Evelyn: "If he doesn't come looking for me or make demands, I'm certainly not going to go looking for him."
"Yeah, you're the princess."
Stay proud then!
"To celebrate you entering the grave, shouldn't we go get a drink?"
"Let's go."
.........
At the law firm, William took off his gold-rimmed glasses.
Rubbing his eye sockets, Angelina put away her files, shut down her computer, and stretched in her chair: "First day of marriage and you're already trying something new?"
"You two aren't doing a sexless marriage, are you? I mean, on your wedding night you're not going home - Ms. Smith must be thrilled!"
"Ms. Jolie, can't you wish me well for once?"
"Employee happiness must be built on the boss's suffering. Seeing you unhappy and miserable makes me feel balanced, like it's not just us ordinary people suffering - you have things you can't handle too. God can't make anyone perfect."
Angelina rested her chin in her hand.
Imagining William's miserable future life made her mood brighten.
William couldn't be bothered with her and grabbed his jacket from the chair, ready to leave work.
Angelina spun her chair around to watch William leave, calling out mockingly behind him: "Mr. Brown, it's so late, have some late-night snacks before you go."
"Single people don't get to have late-night snacks with me."
William said this and got in the elevator.
Leaving Angelina sitting there cursing his entire family.
"Boss," as soon as William stepped out of the elevator, Finn rushed up and handed him his phone: "Mrs. Brown is at a bar."
Finn quickly changed how he addressed her, thinking about William and Thalia's marriage.
William took the phone, zoomed in on the photo, and let out a cold laugh. Sure enough, Angelina was right - his married life was going to be very "exciting."
William opened the back door and tossed his briefcase and the jacket from his arm inside.
"To the bar!"
Finn's heart tightened: Going to catch her in the act?
Exciting! He liked it.