Lisa hurriedly supported David.
Everyone present turned their eyes to David, waiting for his response to Darnell.
Although many thought Darnell was unreliable, believing someone of his background couldn’t possibly distinguish between good and bad wine, his confident demeanor and eloquent words swayed them slightly.
Moreover, they were eager for a spectacle and hoped David would quickly retort.
David steadied himself, coughed twice, and straightened his posture before forcing a smile.
“Mr. Halford, as the top assistant and salesman at Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, your knowledge of wines is indeed more extensive than ours. You can effortlessly recount the history of any brand.”
“I truly admire you.”
David glanced at Darnell. “But calling this wine counterfeit is too much. I am a reputable person. How could I possibly serve counterfeit wine to everyone here?”
“Besides, all the guests present are either wealthy or noble, likely drinking more wine than water in their lifetime, with exceptional taste.”
“They would immediately detect counterfeit wine. Why would I ruin my reputation like that?”
He reassured everyone with a smile, “So, I hope no one will be swayed by petty provocations. Please trust in my character.”
Hearing David’s assurance, the tense atmosphere relaxed as people expressed their trust in him.
Then David shifted his tone. “While the wine isn’t counterfeit, there might have been some issues during transportation or storage that caused it to lose its quality or mix with impurities.”
“If the wine has deteriorated or doesn’t taste right, I ask for your understanding and forgiveness.”
Everyone nodded instinctively, indicating they understood that with so much food and drink at such events, minor flaws were inevitable.
Areli couldn’t resist adding, “Mr. Kemp has a point, but doesn’t this contradict your initial statement?”
David smiled slightly, “What statement?”
Areli was clearly displeased with Darnell being bullied. “When Darnell said the wine was bad, you confidently assured us that your procurement was flawless.”
“You even accused him of having a problem with his taste buds and demanded a public apology. Now you’re making excuses. Don’t you think you owe Darnell an apology?”
Her playful expression carried a hint of mockery. “Or have you forgotten what you said earlier?”
A female companion beside David snorted dismissively, “Miss Fanshaw, holding onto such trivial matters shows how petty you are.”
“The initial statement was indeed somewhat inappropriate.”
David waved to stop his female companion from speaking further and admitted his mistake gracefully. “I retract that statement and apologize.”
He then looked at Darnell. “But there’s no need to apologize to Mr. Halford. After all, I only mentioned that some of the wine might be spoiled. It doesn’t mean it actually is or that Mr. Halford drank spoiled wine.”
The bottle of wine had already been removed by David’s staff, and several bottles on nearby tables were quietly replaced.
Areli wanted to argue for Darnell but was gently stopped by him. “Miss Fanshaw, it’s fine. No apology needed.”
“I don’t need an apology. If apologies were useful, why would we need money?”
David chuckled lightly: “Mr. Halford overthinks. I don’t plan on compensating you financially either.”
Darnell sighed, “You will eventually.”
David dispersed the crowd at the right moment “Alright, everyone, let’s not gather here anymore. The matter ends here. Enjoy some food and drinks. Mrs. Pasmore will arrive soon, and then the auction will begin.”
With no more drama to watch, the guests dispersed with smiles, waiting for the auction to start.
Darnell approached with a smile and stood beside David.
“The wine is pale in color, has a bland aroma, and the flavor lacks depth and complexity. The mouthfeel is far from rich, leaving only a bitter aftertaste. Mr. Kemp, if this wine isn’t counterfeit, I’ll strip and perform right here.”
“Kid, don’t be too arrogant!”
David’s lips twitched slightly. “I’ve already said it might have deteriorated.”
“So, it’s indeed counterfeit. Mr. Kemp, you’re really pushing boundaries for profit.”
Darnell smirked, “Rumor has it that high-end counterfeit wines yield higher profits than drugs-recycling bottles and brewing them in factories before shipping them overseas for authenticity checks.”
“These counterfeits cost mere tens but sell for thousands or even tens of thousands to those who can’t tell real from fake.”
“Mr. Kemp must have made quite a profit lately, right?”
David maintained his smile while looking ahead. His lips quivered slightly. “You have some skills. You took just one sip and immediately knew it was fake.”
“I must commend you. So what if I sell fake wines and make money? Bite me! There’s nothing you can do about me.”
“Oh?”
Darnell picked up a glass of juice from the table. “I’m quite righteous. I’ll inform the eight wineries about this situation so prepare yourself for hefty compensation claims.”
He added nonchalantly, “The eight wineries formed an alliance long ago-their lawyers are formidable. Be careful.”
“You’ll inform them?”
David laughed at this remark before scoffing disdainfully, “Should I Google their numbers for you?”
He then stopped engaging with Darnell and walked towards Areli.
“Miss Fanshaw, it’s been too long since we last met.”
Ignoring recent unpleasantness, he flashed an ingratiating smile.
“Apologies if hospitality fell short today.”
He added, “Areli, you look absolutely stunning today!”
Before Areli could respond, Darnell interjected, addressing David with a smirk, “Thanks for the compliment on my girlfriend, Mr. Kemp!”
“Without you around, she’s been living quite comfortably. If you need anything, just let me know.”
Areli, feeling a mix of embarrassment and irritation, pinched Darnell’s arm. “Shut up!”
David felt a pang of jealousy. Although he had always believed that Darnell and Areli were just pretending to be a couple, hearing Darnell’s words and witnessing Areli’s flirtatious gestures made him feel frustrated. He replied, feigning composure, “Mr. Halford, I heard you’ve been seeing my former bodyguard, Tia?”
Areli stiffened at the mention of the attractive bodyguard, casting a cold glance at Darnell.
Damn! Trying to stir things up?
Darnell glanced over at Lisa and her group, who were lurking not far away, then turned back to David with a smile. “Mr. Kemp, you’re quite the gossip, aren’t you?”
“It’s not gossip.”
David looked at Areli, then back at Darnell, continuing, “I’m just concerned for Areli!”
“You and Areli are already a couple. She’s your girlfriend.”
“But you’re flirting with another woman behind her back. That’s not right. Where does that leave Areli?”
David spoke with conviction, “Have you ever considered Areli’s feelings? Think about how other people’s words might hurt her!”
As David’s words echoed in her mind, Areli felt a twinge of discomfort.
Though she believed she had no future with Darnell and that her ideal man was definitely not this jerk, seeing Darnell with other women always upset her.
However, she was a smart woman and recognized David’s attempts to drive a wedge between them, so she linked her arm with Darnell’s and smiled, “Thank you, Mr. Kemp, but this is a personal matter that I can handle myself.”
David’s smile faltered slightly as he felt awkward and uncomfortable. One of his female companions scoffed, “What an ungrateful person.”
Areli ignored them, pulling Darnell away from the gossip-fueled atmosphere.
As they left, Darnell called back, “Mr. Kemp, thanks for the hospitality!”
David chose not to engage further with Darnell. The priority for the evening was to ensure the auction went smoothly, so he raised his glass and mingled with the guests, feeling spirited.
After enjoying a lobster and a crab, Darnell wiped his hands and chuckled as he exited the garden. He made his way through a corridor and headed to the restroom.
Seeing Darnell, Shawn and his friends exchanged disdainful glances and chuckles.
Once out of the restroom and after a moment of contemplation, Darnell sent a few images to someone and then made an international call.
“Stephen, the wine from the eight wineries has been counterfeited, and there’s a distribution point here in Whiteville. I’ve sent you three photos. Take care of it quickly to avoid damaging our reputation.”
A deep voice responded from the other end. “Yes, my lord.”
Meanwhile, in the adjacent restroom, Lisa was drying her hands, wide-eyed as she gazed at the impressive figure just within reach.