Her heart tensed up and she went forward to explain, “Alice, don’t misunderstand. I almost fell down just now. Mr. Hunter just happened to pass by and help me up.”
Alice smiled wryly, “A misunderstanding? I am sure there is no misunderstanding. Don’t say that.”
Louis walked towards the two of them and said in a formalistic tone, “Tonight, there is an important person who is celebrating his sixtieth birthday. You two, Mr. Churchill, and Mr. Felton come with me.”
“Sorry, I won’t go.”
Alice refused without even thinking about it.
“You must be there. This person has a pivotal position in the education sector. His words can change a person’s life, so I’m planning to invite him to give a speech to the students at the school sometime.”
“Then you can just go by yourself. Why should we go with you?”
Bella was puzzled.
“You don’t know this person. The thing he dislikes the most is money, so I can’t hire him no matter how much money I offer. I have to think of other ways.”
“What? Is there anyone who doesn’t like money in the world?”
Alice shrugged.
“Of course, the more respected people are, the more likely they dislike money. They agree to your request only if you have something in common with them.”
“But what can we do if we are there?”
“The four of you are excellent teachers in our school. Each of you has your own strengths. Miss. Burne-Brown is good at literature. Miss. Lee is good at painting. Mr. Churchill is good at antique research, while Mr. Felton is good at astronomy and geography. These are all projects that this important person usually likes to study. That’s why I want to bring the four of you to his birthday banquet.”
“It is hard to get this task done. I am sorry.”
“Do your best. There’s really no way if you can’t do it. The graduating class is under a lot of pressure right now. And it’s not like we’re the only school that wants to invite him. There will be many schools from other cities sending representatives over tomorrow night. So even if we can’t do it, we have to do our best.”
Louis looked serious as he spoke. Alice and Bella realized that this important person seemed to be really important to the school. Although they weren’t confidence, they made up their minds to do their best.
At 4:30 p. m., Bella received a call from Kevin, “Hey, when do you get off work?”
“At five o’clock, but you don’t have to come pick me up.”
“Why?”
“I have a social engagement tonight.”
“A social engagement?” Kevin raised his eyebrows, “What kind of social engagement do you have as a teacher?”
“I represent the school. It is very important.”
“It couldn’t have been Louis’s idea, could it?”
“It was Mr. Hunter who suggested it. Four teachers are required to go there, including Alice and me.”
Upon hearing that, Kevin was relieved, “Do you have to go?”
“Yes.”
He sighed, “I actually have a very important banquet to attend tonight. I was going to ask you to accompany me, but now it seems impossible.”
Bella wasn’t interested in those social engagements, thinking that they were just social games played by rich people. She suggested, “It’s fine to let Alvin accompany you. It is the secretary’s duty.”
“Alvin is a man, and I need a lady with me on such occasions.”
Well, it really was a game of high society.
Bella grunted, “It’s not a job. Let him accompany you. I’ll hang up first.”
At five o’clock, Bella and Alice, and two other teachers followed Louis from the school to the place where that important person’s birthday banquet would be held.
After getting off the car, Bella and Alice looked at each other. The villa in front of them was like a European royal palace. It was a very grand building. There were countless cars parked at the entrance, and most of them were brand names. From these people attending the banquet, it could be seen that this important person’s status was definitely high.
“Come in with me.”
Louis took out the five invitations that his mother had managed to get for him. And he led the four teachers into the banquet hall. Once she entered the door of the banquet hall, Bella was a bit dazzled. She thought that the Cloud Mansion was already luxurious, but she didn’t think that there was a more luxurious place than Cloud Mansion.
The entire hall could accommodate five or six hundred people, and everyone had a seat. More importantly, all the people here were dressed formally. Men wore suits and ties, and women wore professional attire. Bella looked around, and she could not find a woman wearing a strapless and low-cut dress. It was very different from those banquets Kevin brought her to.
From the dress code, Bella could tell that this banquet was very different.
Bella and Alice sat in the third row. Looking in front of the guests who were still pouring in, Alice was very nervous. She quietly leaned over to ask Bella, “Will Mr. Hunter ask us to go on stage to gain the favor of this important person?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“It better not, or I’ll leave.”
“Why?”
“It’s too embarrassing. I’ve never performed in front of so many people. Look at them! They’re either rich or famous. They must have seen many famous paintings. They won’t appreciate my performance.”
“Don’t worry. It shouldn’t be like this. There are so many people. If everyone goes on stage, then this banquet will last for a month.”
“You’re worried too, aren’t you? If you were to go up there and recite a poem or an essay, I think it’s quite embarrassing too.”
Bella laughed, “I think I am in a better Bellation. Think about Mr. Felton. He is good at astronomy and geography.”
Puff.
Alice laughed out loud. She covered her mouth and said, “If he goes on stage, everyone here will run away.”
“Why?”
“Earthquake.”
Puff.
The two of them laughed. Mr. Felton sitting next to them was a man in his fifties, wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses. He often teased a group of colleagues in the office. He always said that earthquakes would happen tomorrow. As time went by, they gave him the nickname “Mr. Earthquake.”
“Hey, isn’t that your husband?”
Alice suddenly stopped laughing and pointed to a handsome man in a designer suit in front of her. Bella followed her gaze and looked over. It was really Kevin, and Alvin was here too.
“How come he’s here too?”
“I don’t know. I’ll go ask.”
Bella got up and bypassed the crowd to get to the first row where all VIP were seated. They were invited by the birthday man himself today. Bella and Alice came here by the invitations.
“Hey, what are you doing here?”
She patted Kevin on the shoulder. Kevin instinctively turned back and glanced at Bella. He didn’t react…
“Hey, I’m asking you.”
It was only then that Kevin responded and asked back, “Is this what you call an important social gathering?”
“Yeah, so that’s what you call the party too?”
“Yes.”
Kevin nodded, and then he said to Alvin, “You, go sit in the back.”
“Why?”
Alvin saw the crowd behind him. He just didn’t like it.
“Can’t you see my wife standing here?”
Alvin reluctantly stood up and gave up his seat to Bella. He still didn’t forget to ridicule on his way out, “Hundreds of people are watching you from behind.”
“What do you have to do with this important person?”
Bella sat down and asked Kevin.
“He is my mentor. I received some inspiration from him many years ago.”
“So you’re very close then?”
Bella chuckled. It seemed that with Kevin’s help, it shouldn’t be difficult to invite this important person to give a speech.
“Not bad.”
“Then could you do me a favor?”
“What is it?”
Bella was about to open her mouth when she suddenly a woman coming in. Her face fell. Kevin followed her gaze in confusion and immediately explained after seeing Freya, “Don’t get me wrong. It has nothing to do with me.”
“Then what is she doing here?”
“I don’t know. It has nothing to do with me.”