Betsalem spoke, albeit with some reluctance: “Of course”.
Allyce smiled, “It’s a bit surprising to ask you this out of the blue, but I know you’re generous and won’t mind, but thank you anyway”.
“You’re welcome, it’s all a small thing, there will be much more cooperation between our two families in the future, we should have met more often to talk and interact.
Betsalem learned business from her father, Mahoney, at a very young age and understands the ins and outs of the business world, with the difference that she has Mahoney to protect her, so she is not at a disadvantage.
After her family business grew bigger and bigger, no one had ever spoken to her again in a way that could break her and take advantage of her.
He knew Allyce was joking, but for a moment he didn’t know how to reply, and just tugged at the corners of his mouth with a leathery smile.
…
The two arrived at the place where Izar was filming the commercial, Betsalem briefly introduced her to the product and took her inside.
“Miss”.
Before the two men could enter, they were greeted by a tall man who nodded respectfully towards Betsalem.
Betsalem nodded and asked: “Is my father here too?
The man replied respectfully: “Yes, Mr Mahoney has just arrived too and he has ordered me to go out for a cup of coffee, would you like something to drink, Miss?
“Mrs. Betances, would you like something to drink? Have Gray go out and get it. Betsalem turned his head to look at Allyce.
Allyce smiled slightly and declined, “Thank you, don’t bother, I’m not thirsty”.
Betsalem raised an eyebrow and turned his head to Gray: “I’ll have an apple juice.
Gray nodded and turned to leave.
Only, before leaving, he glanced at Allyce.
Allyce smiled kindly at him and he froze for a moment, curving his lips in response.
“This is my father’s assistant, Gray, a big, dumb man who doesn’t talk much, a very dull man”. But after meeting Severo, he realises that not all people who don’t talk much are big, dull men.
It is a pity that …
Betsalem can’t help but turn his head towards Allyce when he thinks of Ree.
After all her encounters with Allyce, she still feels that Allyce is inferior to her.
Allyce walked beside her, watching the side of her face as her expression changed and wondering what she was thinking.
“This is a great angle …”
“Fix your make-up, quick!”
“…”
The two had not yet entered the studio and had only reached the door when they heard voices coming from inside.
Betsalem turned his head to look at her: “It’s a bit crowded and it’s a bit hot in there”.
“It’s okay, Mr. Mahoney is there too, I’m here, of course I have to say hello. Allyce smiled, without a hint of reluctance on her face.
Betsalem smiled back and nodded, but couldn’t help rolling his eyes as he turned away.
He had not liked dealing with exotic women, they were too pretentious.
It’s not as if she can just poke Allyce.
The studio was full of people.
Allyce entered and saw Izar from a distance through the crowd and the gaps in the crowd.
There is an added coquetry to her eyebrows, and her style is no longer the same as that of the former grande dame.
He had seen Izar smoking the last time he had taken her.
It is also true that after retiring from the screen, she was less tied down, and besides, she must not have had a good time after her hiatus.
“Dad!”
Betsalem’s cheerful voice brought Allyce back to her thoughts and, with another glance at Izar, she turned in Mahoney’s direction.
Mahoney doesn’t look nearly seventy years old, he looks well maintained and still seems agile, with white hair, blue eyes and a kindly gaze.
“Mr Mahoney,” Allyce said as he approached, a smile on his face.
As soon as Mahoney saw Allyce, a look of surprise crossed his face, “Oh, Mrs. Betances?”
“Do you know me?” It was Allyce’s turn to be surprised.
“I had the pleasure of meeting you the last time the Count of Oglesgo held a banquet at the castle of Solares, which I attended. Mahoney smiled, with a kindly face.
Allyce was secretly surprised, but didn’t show it on the surface: “It is an honour to be remembered by you”.
Mahoney, who owns the world’s largest clothing retail group and is a businessman on the world’s richest list, is not to be taken lightly, she thinks, that someone like him remembers her from a simple encounter at a party and recognises her instantly months later.
Unless, of course, she has had someone investigate her privately.
Allyce’s heart lifted in alarm and her smile faded a little.
“Ms. How come Betances is free to come today?” Mahoney finished his sentence and sat back down, indicating to the men behind him to get Allyce a chair.
“Today I finished talking business with Miss Bermudes and seeing that it was getting late, I heard her say she was coming here and I thought I would accompany her and see …”.
Allyce paused slightly at this point and turned her head back in Izar’s direction before continuing: “I’m a little curious about Miss Izar myself.
“So …” Mahoney mused lightly, “Then you can have a chat with her after this side is over.”
“Thank you.” Allyce did not object.
Betsalem was slightly surprised to see Allyce and Mahoney chatting familiarly, but didn’t say much.
The day’s ad shooting soon came to an end and the team began to relax.
Izar didn’t even change his clothes and approached.
“I didn’t expect Mr Mahoney and Miss Bermudes to come together, I’m very honoured. Izar is about the same height as Betsalem and turns his head to look at Betsalem just enough to be eye level with him.
Betsalem narrowed his eyes slightly: “I stopped by to check it out.
As he spoke, he watched Izar without moving.
This woman, not like Allyce.
How to say, he seems a bit more annoying than Allyce …
She looked away and looked at Allyce: “Mrs. Betances, didn’t you want to speak to Miss Bermudes?
“Mrs. Betances?” asked Izar, turning his head to look at Allyce, his eyes unfamiliar and his lips slightly curved in surprise.
Allyce accepted his gaze openly and spoke matter-of-factly, “Miss Bermudes must have time, let’s go out and sit down, I’ve already seen your films”.
In the last sentence, he said it as if it had a deep meaning.
Izar’s gaze narrowed slightly and he was silent for a couple of seconds before saying, “Yes”.
The two men’s eyes met in the air and then they turned away from each other.
…
By the time the two men came out, it was already dark and the lights were being switched on in turn.
Across the street was the shopping plaza and Allyce and Izar walked out together. Without speaking, the two walked in silence to a bench in the square and sat down.
There was a lot of noise with pedestrians coming and going everywhere.
Around Allyce and Izar, however, there was an unusual silence.
“You look like you’ve been having a good time lately.” It was Izar who finally took the lead.