The dinner party started punctually at eight. Even though the invitations were last minute, many people had attended it because they respected Second Young Master Sharp. He had been very supportive of Elena that night, too. He was also ready at the venue by a quarter past eight.
The gentle and elegant Second Young Master Sharp made the people around him feel as calm as the gentle breeze of spring. He had worn a white suit that night. Most men would have looked garish in a white suit, but Henry had looked elegant, almost like an elven king. Most of the women there were so enthralled with that vision that they could not take their eyes off him.
Second Young Master Sharp seemed to be in a good mood, too, as he had a faint smile on his lips. It was a subtle smile that tickled the ladies’ hearts. How they wished they could lunge forward to knock him over and feast on him.
At half-past eight, the atmosphere at the event peaked when Eldest Young Master Williams arrived. Ava had been so furious when she knew about Elena’s press conference that evening. When Eldest Young Master Williams finally responded to her calls, he had agreed to fund her animation studio. He told her that she could go to the finance department the next morning to get the money that she needed for her venture. Levi would personally stamp the seal of approval on her application.
She thought that she had moved pretty fast. She could have established her studio in just two days. She did not expect that she would lose out to Elena. What kind of black magic did she perform on Second Young Master Sharp that he listened to her every want?
Her anger finally subsided a little when she entered the banquet hall with Eldest Young Master Williams. She felt a rush when the men stared at her longingly, and the women glared at her with jealousy.
Her vanity was greatly satisfied.
“Michael, Grandmother said that she likes the taste of osmanthus recently. Why don’t we plant some osmanthus shrubs at WongRiver Pavilion? Grandmother can enjoy the flowers whenever we have her over there.”
She did not dare to get too close to Michael as she knew that he had always been repulsive toward women.
Not only did he not allow her to hold his hand, but she was also not allowed to be less than three steps away from him. However, they sounded so intimate when they talked to each other that it drove other women to jealousy.
“Hmm.” Michael responded plainly. He did not sound eager or impatient at her suggestion.
However, they had discussed family affairs! Even though Ava had not talked loudly, everyone still heard her. Ava had used ‘we’ in her sentences; it must have meant that the two had lived together! Ava could already predict the thoughts in those women’s minds, so she had loved every minute of it! She was excited when the other women hated her good fortune. Their deep hatred for her just reaffirmed her popularity.
“Michael, shall we go check out if there are new varieties of the osmanthus plants when we leave tonight?”
Michael did not respond to that question. However, Ava was not embarrassed. She kept her smile and covertly inched closer to him.
“Michael, Grandmother said that she hasn’t been out to the sea in a long time. When you are free, let’s take her to the beach, shall we?”
Michael frowned. The image of the old madam flashed in his mind. Since she had taken ill, she had not been to any other places except the hospital and Williams’s mansion. Perhaps it was time for him to take her out for a walk.
He nodded and strode toward the crowded banquet hall. Ava smiled elegantly and proudly. Did those women see that? Michael had nodded and agreed with whatever she had said. Who on earth would believe that she was not his special someone?
“Eldest Young Master Williams! You have arrived.” Henry put the glass back on the waiter’s tray and greeted his big brother personally.
“I appreciate that you could make time for this dinner party, Eldest Young Master Williams.”
“Well, how can I refuse Second Young Master Sharp’s personal invitation?”
Michael took the tall wine glass from the waiter, and Henry did the same. Then they toasted each other. “I heard that you guys are also setting up an animation studio. I am so sorry to have outmaneuvered you.”
“Really?” Michael raised an eyebrow.
Did Williams Corporation also want to set up an animation department? He had not heard anything about that. He had the idea to do it previously because of Elena. However, he had not continued with that plan after the girl decided to cooperate with Sharp Corporation instead.
“Oh, haven’t you heard about it?” Henry smiled in surprise.
Someone from the Williams Corporation had kicked up a fuss at his company that morning. They even threatened Sharp Corporation with bankruptcy. It turned out that his big brother had not known anything about that. Henry was not a tattletale, especially when it was about such a small issue. It did not deserve his attention.
Ava pouted her thin lips in dissatisfaction. “Michael, you had agreed to grant me funds for my animation company just now. Have you forgotten about it already?”
Michael glanced at her, though he did not pay attention to her words. He nodded, but he no longer wanted to bother with her.
He looked at Henry and said, “Do you have time next month? It’s time to go for a walk.”
“Of course, I have time for you. Where do you want to go?”
“Aryastan,” Michael replied plainly.
Henry frowned. “Why? There’s chaos everywhere; do you really want to go there?”
“Yes.” Some issues must be resolved as soon as possible.
Sometimes, chaos was not a bad thing. Heroes were born in troubled times. Perhaps he could muster a group of influential people.
“I’ll ask Fourth Brother.” If they did not tell their fourth brother that they were going to Aryastan, he would go berserk when he found out about it.
“Hmm.” Michael nodded. He placed the empty glass back onto the waiter’s tray and picked up another one.
His eyes subconsciously scanned the venue. He did not look at anything or anyone deliberately; it seemed like he only glanced around casually. However, as one of his closest friends, Henry could already guess what was on his mind.
“The person that you were looking for hasn’t arrived yet. Do you want to see her?” Henry smiled.
Michael glanced at him and snorted coldly. “You must have had too much free time on your hand recently.”
It was merely a small animation department in Sharp Corporation. Did he have to spend so much effort on it?
Henry was the leader of Sharp Corporation. His status was only second to Old Master Sharp. He had so much power, and yet he had personally set up a new but small department. How did that make sense?
“It seems like you are not quite busy as well, Eldest Young Master Williams,” Henry rebutted.
If he had been busy, why would he bother to attend such a small dinner party? Even if Henry had personally invited him, it was still an insignificant event. It was only 300 million dollars. It might have been an enormous amount of money for Elena and her friends, but it was only an amount that equated to what they would spend on a holiday. That small and insignificant dinner party was not one that Michael would ever care to attend.
Ava did not understand their conversation. Furthermore, it seemed like the two men had totally forgotten that she was there!
“Michael, I’m a little tired. Why don’t…”
Michael ignored her. His eyes continued to scan the venue. Finally, his eyes landed on a figure!