Chapter 130 Counterattack
"You're spitting all over my hands!"
The woman in the red dress totally lost it!
I picked up the water glass from the table to rinse my mouth, then spat into the plate. Under the horrified gaze of the woman in red, I spat a few more times.
"Lisa! Don't put that plate down!"
"So disgusting! Don't get it on us!"
The other women nearby started yelling. When Julie heard Lisa's name, her expression changed slightly. She quickly took a small bite of cookie and bent down to spit it near the red-dressed woman's feet.
This woman called Lisa started screaming even more frantically.
The scene immediately descended into chaos.
Jacqueline, Julie and I quietly exchanged glances, our eyes gleaming with amusement.
Lisa shoved the plate into a waiter's arms and hurried off to change clothes.
The people near us were all close to Diana or trying to curry favor with her. After the commotion died down and they saw Diana's stern face saying nothing, they gradually quieted down.
It was like a winter wind had blown in - the temperature dropped and the atmosphere grew heavy.
Jacqueline looked at me uneasily. I signaled her not to worry, gave Diana a slight smile, then raised my voice to call over a waiter and scolded angrily, "Go! Get your boss over here! There's sand in the cookies, and they smell awful. Is this how you treat your guests?"
I knew very well that sand-filled desserts were a common bullying tactic used by these self-important women, who treated tormenting people as entertainment. It had been this way for years and never changed.
But I didn't want to put up with it.
If I swallowed this mouthful of disgusting sand, there would be more tactics aimed at me.
"I'm at least half the lady of Starstream City and the owner of Platinum Haven Hotel, yet I'm eating food with sand in it here. Does your boss have a problem with me? Doesn't he want to do business in Starstream City anymore?"
I questioned loudly. On the surface I was scolding the owner of Crown Hill Estates, but I was actually mocking Diana.
Diana clutched her chest in anger. "Isabella, you're really showing off!"
Hearing this, I looked at her, softened my manner, and said with a gentle smile, "This is all I'm capable of - sorry for the embarrassment. The owner of Crown Hill Estates is truly foolish, probably doesn't know who you are."
"If they knew you were from the Thornfield family of Dawnharbor, they'd probably be shaking with fear. And when they heard you were the famous Diana, they might even faint!" I covered my mouth and laughed lightly. "How would the chef dare to be careless or cut corners with your food?"
"Actually, in Starstream City, the only good hotel is Platinum Haven Hotel. Diana, why didn't you come to me if you wanted to host a party? You should have told me in advance. I would have had everything arranged properly, and I guarantee I wouldn't overcharge you!"
In the huge venue, I was the only one talking. I showed no fear, my sarcastic remarks coming one after another, leaving no gap for anyone to interrupt.
Julie discreetly gave me a thumbs up.
Diana was used to being flattered and hadn't been confronted like this in a long time. She slammed her palm heavily on the armrest of her chair, her wine-red eye corners sharply raised, but in the end she said nothing.
"Excuse me!" She got up and left.
Jacqueline grabbed my arm, looking at me with admiration, and said excitedly in a low voice, "Bella, you're amazing! You actually dared to put Diana in her place!"
I shook my head. "Although it felt good, now no one dares to talk to us."
The three of us seemed to be carrying a virus - with us as the center, the area around us was completely empty.
The party guests gathered in twos and threes to talk, occasionally glancing at us discreetly.
Julie put her arm around my shoulders and said, "If they won't come bother us, we'll have fun ourselves. When we've had enough, we'll go home. Gale said not to make yourself suffer."
I couldn't help teasing her about Gale. Julie blushed a little. Jacqueline watched the fun with great interest, seeming like she wanted to say something but didn't.
Diana came back. She had already adjusted her mood and sat down gracefully.
The crowd gathered around her again. Since I wasn't leaving, no one dared ask me to give up my seat.
Diana enjoyed the flattery for a while, then ignored me and greeted Jacqueline. "I heard you graduated and didn't take over the family business, but started a business with friends instead?"
Jacqueline answered, "Yes."
"Your parents only have you as their child. You're the heir to the Rivera family. You should still get more involved with the family business and share your parents' burden." Diana's tone was gentle, as if she was thinking of Jacqueline, but her attitude was arrogant and made people uncomfortable.
Many people chimed in with her.
"Young people these days don't understand their parents' good intentions."
"Jacqueline has no siblings and has been spoiled since childhood. She's a bit too pampered."
"When she gets married, the family fortune might all fall into her husband's hands."
Jacqueline's expression grew increasingly stiff.
I asked Jacqueline, "What kind of business are you doing with your friends?"
Seeing my encouraging look, she relaxed and said, "Buying and selling machinery. My friend's family owns several machinery factories."
"Do you have fruit washing machines and separators?" I asked with some surprise.
"Yes."
"What about shrimp and crab shelling machines, pulping machines, and vacuum freeze dryers?"
"Yes." Jacqueline answered confidently. "Do you want to do fruit processing and seafood processing? I'll give you the machines!"
"I'll buy them from you. I need a large quantity," I said with a smile.
"Just one or two factories - I can afford to give them to you!" Jacqueline said generously, then thought of something. "Where are you planning to build the factory?"
"Chaotic Zone." I knew she must have thought of it. "Right now Chaotic Zone has nothing, but City Hall won't just leave it alone. Starstream City is surrounded by the sea on three sides with abundant marine resources - it would be a waste not to build seafood processing plants. Plus, Chaotic Zone has many naturally growing olive groves and orchards. I'm planning to buy some land and hold onto it."
The people around us gradually stopped talking and pricked up their ears to listen to Jacqueline and me discuss this.
Some of them had come to Starstream City specifically from Dawnharbor and other places for one thing - money.
Chaotic Zone was about to embark on a path of development. It looked barren now, but people with vision knew it was an unclaimed "gold mine" waiting for the first batch of people to exploit it.
A rather petite middle-aged woman asked me, "Excuse me, when will the land auction be held in Chaotic Zone?"
"I'm not sure, you can check with City Hall." I looked at her. "You're Mrs. Tate, right? I remember your family runs a home goods company. What Chaotic Zone needs most right now is household items."
"You know me?" Mrs. Tate smiled slightly, clearly developing a favorable impression of me.
Diana suddenly interjected coldly, "Those people can't even afford food, let alone household goods."
Mrs. Tate awkwardly agreed, "You're right about that."
Diana glared at me angrily. "Don't pull your little tricks at my party."
I spat a few more times.
Abruptly cutting off her words, I looked directly at her without fear. "Sorry, I haven't finished spitting out the sand in my mouth."
Diana pointed at me. "You damn—"
I continued spitting.
Diana said furiously, "That's enough!"
I kept on spitting.
Not nearly enough - I was spitting at her!