Grandpa Gilpin celebrated his eightieth birthday.
Given the stature of the Gilpin family, high-profile guests from various places eagerly attended to offer their congratulations. The entire villa sparkled brilliantly, festooned with ornate lights, extending even to the surroundings of the estate. Aurora, already accustomed to the opulence of high society, entered the venue clutching her handbag, recognizing many familiar faces.
Magnus arrived with Ivy and Zachary. Genevieve, no matter how dazzlingly she dressed, could not conceal the desolation and exhaustion on her face, a stark contrast to her former vivacity.
Whenever she tried to approach Magnus, he subtly moved away. It was evident she had come on her own, without Magnus inviting her to accompany him.
Susan entered arm-in-arm with Hayden, her face set in a professional smile. Though she tried to portray their happiness, the coldness in Hayden’s eyes was unmistakable. The event was indeed bustling, with virtually every notable figure present.
Aurora scanned the crowd for a particular person and finally spotted Jason. Dressed in a blue-grey suit, he exuded an extraordinary presence, holding a glass of red wine while chatting with someone. As Aurora made her way toward him, she was surprised to see that the person he was conversing with was Eric. Unbeknownst to her, Eric had already engaged Jason in what appeared to be a pleasant conversation.
Feeling a pang of annoyance at Eric’s quick actions, Aurora was pondering her next move when Eric, sensing her gaze, looked over. Caught in their line of sight, Aurora took a deep breath and picked up a glass of red wine from a tray nearby before walking towards them.
The two men watched as she approached from afar. Aurora wore a simple white gown that highlighted her graceful figure. The gown flowed beautifully with her movements, creating elegant arcs in the air, while the light sheer fabric trailing behind added a touch of softness. Her appropriate smile and the diamonds on her neck and earrings sparkled under the lights. Though all the women were elegantly dressed, Aurora’s pure demeanor stood out distinctly, making it difficult to divert their gaze from her.
Soon, she reached them. “Miss Montgomery, here you are,” Eric said, adjusting his silver-rimmed glasses.
“It’s Grandpa Gilpin’s birthday, so I came to offer my congratulations. Hello, Mr. Gilpin, I’m Aurora Montgomery,” she said, extending her hand professionally.
Jason, with his delicate features and a beauty mark under his left eye that added to his enchanting appearance, shook her hand politely. “Miss Montgomery, I’ve heard much about you!”
“Mr. Gilpin, we have met a few times before in the United States, but I’ve always regretted not having the time to get to know you better,” Aurora remarked, her three years of social experience guiding her conversation.
Jason’s expression was inscrutable, neither rejecting nor overly warm. “If you’re keen on making acquaintances, opportunities will surely arise.”
“I heard you enjoy coffee, Mr. Gilpin. Perhaps we could have coffee together sometime?”
“Certainly, but Mr. Montgomery also enjoys coffee. If you don’t mind, the three of us could go together,” Jason suggested.
Aurora felt a twinge of suspicion. She still didn’t know how long Eric and Jason had known each other. At the office, Eric had offered to give up his seat for her. Did that mean he was very confident? She recalled the image of the two laughing and chatting earlier. Perhaps they had known each other for a long time?
Eric had returned to Clothville three years ago, after apparently studying abroad. Since they had no mutual connections, Aurora hadn’t taken much interest in him, but now she began to feel that Eric might be someone significant. He and Jason were about the same age; perhaps they had been classmates or friends? That would explain Eric’s confidence in offering her the vice president position.
Everything came with a price. If she agreed to Eric’s conditions, who knew what she would have to repay. If things were as she suspected, it would be a difficult situation. What could she do to match their close friendship?
Seeing her hesitation, Jason asked, “What’s the matter, Miss Montgomery? Aren’t you willing?”
Aurora wasn’t sure what game he was playing. If he intended to give the order to Eric, he wouldn’t be giving her this opportunity. Regardless of his intentions, at least she had a chance.
“Why would I not?” she quickly apologized, “Sorry, I was just a bit distracted. Mr. Gilpin, do you have any recommendations?”
“Let’s meet at Indigo tomorrow at noon. Any objections?” Jason looked at them both.
“No, we’ll see you there,” Aurora replied with a smile.
“That’s best, Miss Montgomery. I hope you don’t mind, but my darling is very possessive. If she knew I was meeting a woman alone, she’d probably flip,” Jason joked, his smile carrying a hint of charm.
Aurora realized he was already married when he explained. That was a relief; her own jealousy wouldn’t be a problem.
“Of course, I understand.”
“When I say my darling is very jealous, I’m not lying. Look, here she comes,” Jason pointed to someone approaching.
It was a mixed-race woman about Aurora’s age, who scanned her up and down with a hostile gaze.
“Who are you?” she asked with an accent.
Aurora felt helpless, just as Jason had warned, the jealousy was strong!
She was about to explain when a hand suddenly wrapped around her waist, “Bella, she’s with me, I was just introducing her to Jason.”
Aurora saw Eric holding her waist and tried to pull away, but he winked at her.
Bella’s expression softened, “Oh, she’s your companion. Hi, I’m Bella.”
Aurora extended her hand, “I’m Aurora.”
“Darling, where have you been? I’ve been looking for you,” Jason pulled Bella into his arms. Their affection was evident. Aurora found the hand on her waist uncomfortable, even if Eric had meant to help.
“Mr. Gilpin, we shouldn’t disturb you any longer, I’ll be heading off,” Aurora said.
“Okay,” Jason responded, hugging Bella as they left.
Aurora quickly freed herself from Eric’s embrace, “You know them?”
Their earlier conversation had confirmed one thing: they were all well-acquainted.