Chapter 131 The Atmosphere is Perfect for Kissing
The sand excuse worked perfectly.
I kept cutting Diana off mid-sentence, then put on an innocent face. Diana gripped her wine glass so hard her fingertips turned white, and she raised her hand to splash the wine in my face.
Sensing her intention, I grabbed her wrist first.
"Oh, I almost forgot—I have a gift for Diana."
I stood up, and Julie and Jacqueline followed me, putting three steps of distance between us and Diana.
Adrian entered the banquet hall, followed by five servers carefully wheeling in a 6-foot-tall champagne tower on carts.
Layer upon layer of glasses were arranged in an elaborate castle shape.
"What kind of champagne is this? The color is gorgeous!" Jacqueline gazed at the tower with delight.
"It's top-shelf champagne called 'The Blessing of the Olive Tree,'" I said.
Julie added with a smile, "This champagne is made with honey and olives. It was originally a wine recipe from Starstream City that's been refined into champagne in recent years, making it even better. Rich aroma, slightly sweet and smooth taste, but the production is very limited—nearly a thousand dollars per bottle."
Everyone looked amazed, their eyes fixed on the elegant champagne tower.
I looked at Diana, my voice carrying clearly across the room. "There are over five hundred glasses of champagne here, using nearly a hundred bottles of 'The Blessing of the Olive Tree,' dedicated to Diana. May you stay forever young and beautiful."
Light filtered through the crystal glasses, casting fragmented, dazzling reflections. Diana's expression softened, a pleased smile playing at her lips.
As the servers slowly pushed the champagne tower closer, stopping just a foot away from her, it no longer felt beautiful to her—it felt oppressive.
"Be careful," I reminded the servers at just the right moment. "Don't knock it over."
I smiled at Diana. "If this champagne tower falls, getting drenched in champagne would be lucky. Unlucky, and someone could end up with a cracked skull—or worse."
Diana understood my threat. She gripped her wine glass tightly, fury churning in her eyes, the atmosphere around her frighteningly tense.
I didn't push her further, pulling Julie and Jacqueline toward the buffet table loaded with food.
We were still hungry, after all.
The frozen atmosphere gradually warmed up again. Freya Tate walked over with a glass of champagne, cheeks flushed, eyes bright. "Isabella, this champagne is really good."
I smiled and chatted with her for a bit before the conversation turned to the Chaotic Zone.
I knew what she wanted to hear, and she wasn't the only one—plenty of others were keeping tabs on our conversation.
I said bluntly, "The Chaotic Zone has limited space. City Hall wants it, but so do others. Sure, the original residents don't have money, but other citizens of Starstream City do have some cash."
"Once all kinds of businesses move in and shops open up everywhere, the investment will double back quickly." I took a sip of wine, pretending to be a bit tipsy. "Anyway, I won't say more, but if you find the right approach, isn't the profit better than playing it safe in stable areas?"
Freya also took a sip, but my words were so tempting she probably didn't even taste the champagne.
Others were equally captivated, wishing they could invest today and profit tomorrow.
Someone couldn't hold back and came closer to ask, "Isabella, what are your plans? Can you give us a hint?"
"The Sorelli family's current assets might struggle to take over the Chaotic Zone alone, right? Have you considered partnerships?"
These women—either from good families themselves or married to powerful men—crowded around me, eyes eager and fixed on me.
Diana sat in the main seat, watching me become the center of the party, her expression growing colder.
I shook my head. "I can't make these decisions. The one who really decides is Gale."
The women nodded in agreement and stopped ignoring Julie. Julie deployed her formidable social skills, handling various questions and flattery with ease.
Diana lost her composure and left outright.
A group of people clustered around her as they departed Crown Hill Estates. I watched them go, a flash of coldness in my eyes.
With the host gone, the party naturally had to end.
I looked at the people still lingering, verbally agreed to get together again soon, then arranged for cars to take them home.
Quite a few were unhappy with their temporary accommodations, so I generously invited them to stay at Platinum Haven Hotel.
Some felt I should be flattering them, others just wanted to take advantage, but either way, this gesture of goodwill could be exchanged for useful connections later.
Dusk fell, the noise faded.
Julie, Jacqueline, and I went to Julie's house, stripped off the dresses and heels that had confined us all day, changed into cotton pajamas Julie provided, and had a relaxed and satisfying dinner.
Around nine in the evening, Jacqueline was picked up by her driver. Thinking of those wealthy ladies who'd checked into the hotel today, I had Adrian drive me to the hotel to make some detailed arrangements.
The car's temperature was comfortable. I leaned back in the leather seat with my eyes closed. As we neared the hotel, Adrian said, "Ms. Sorelli, it's Mr. Valeri."
In front of Platinum Haven Hotel was a musical fountain square.
Lights blazed brilliantly, water jets shooting skyward became hazy in the glow, refracting gentle, colorful fragments of light.
Lucas stood by the ornate railing at the fountain's edge, tall and striking in the light and shadow.
Lush artificial flowers wound around the railing, looking real. He seemed to stand among flowers, making even the night feel gentle.
Lucas must have had some business engagement tonight—he wore a well-tailored suit, and the pin on his collar was one I'd carefully chosen for him in the past.
Alfred pointed in my direction. Lucas turned to look, lips curving into a smile.
He invited me out of the car. I pushed open the door and felt a blast of cold wind, immediately regretting it.
Lucas grabbed my scarf from the seat and wrapped it around my neck, adjusting it somewhat clumsily, his gaze focused.
"The night view is beautiful. Let's take a walk." He took my hand and placed it in the crook of his arm. I was about to refuse, but a gust of wind hit me head-on. I shivered, and not only didn't let go, I instinctively tightened my grip on his arm.
Whatever. Warmth beats dignity.
The evening breeze carried moisture across my face. We stopped at a spot with the best view.
Lucas surveyed the entire square. "This square is well done. Lively, distinctive."
I smiled. After becoming vice chairman, my first project was renovating the square in front of the hotel, building this multi-tiered musical fountain.
Many citizens liked coming here for dates—there was even a young couple not far from us.
They nestled close together. The guy leaned down and whispered something in the girl's ear. She blushed and gave him a light push, then they leaned closer and closer until they kissed.
Lucas lowered his voice. "That guy said, 'The mood is perfect—it'd be a waste not to kiss.' What do you think?"
"Think about what?" I exhaled a puff of cold air, wondering when winter would finally end, and shot him a sidelong glance. "You shouldn't eavesdrop."
Lucas turned to hold me, his gaze deep. "I also think the mood is perfect."
His words were suggestive, but his eyes were completely obvious.
I raised an eyebrow, deliberately challenging him. "That couple isn't actors you hired, are they?"
Lucas leaned down, forehead against mine. "Just tell me directly—kiss or no kiss?"
I said nothing.
He braced himself for rejection, not too disappointed, and shifted slightly to block the wind for me.
The sound of flowing water surrounded us, light illuminating the tenderness in his eyes.
I rose slightly on my toes and kissed his lips.
—I also thought the mood was just right for a kiss.