Dear Sweetheart

Chapter 34

Chapter 34 This Cocktail Reception Is So Posh

As Gabriel spoke, he uncapped the thermos flask.

Inside the flask was the sweet soup. Its fragrance wafted through the air, and Gabriel also caught a whiff of it. He explained, “It’s from Ms. Garland. She said it’s a thank-you gift.”

“Sweet soup as a gift? How practical.” Gazing at the pink thermos flask, Curtis had trouble containing a smile. He pulled his empty coffee cup toward him and poured the soup into it.

Then, he took a sip. It was warm and sweet.

Taking in the aroma, Gabriel could not help saying, “Mr. Faymon, that’s too sweet for you. Would you like me to take it away and order something else for you?”

Curtis shot him a frosty look. “No need for that. Get back to work.”

Gabriel fell silent immediately.

At a little after four o’clock in the afternoon, Gabriel made a trip to the translation department to return the clean thermos flask to Rayna. “Here you go, Ms. Garland.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t have. You could’ve told me to go and get it. There was no need for you to return it personally,” Rayna replied, smiling.

“I happened to have to go downstairs and get something.” He reassured her that it was no trouble and was about to leave when he hesitated for a while. Finally, he walked back to Rayna and asked, “Ms. Garland, could you make some for me next time?”

“Oh, do you like to eat sweet things too? Of course. The next time my mother makes it, I’ll bring some for you,” Rayna replied. She had thought Gabriel would not have a sweet tooth.

“Your mother is great at cooking,” Gabriel complimented.

“She used to cook for others.”

“Ah, no wonder.”

For some reason, Gabriel and Rayna fell into a conversation. The longer they chatted, the more the pair got along like a house on fire.

She discovered that despite his aloof demeanor and usually serious expression due to the nature of his job, he was actually a big softie. He even had a cat and a dog as pets.

After talking for a while, she asked him cautiously, “Mr. Faymon has been coming to the office rather often recently. Is everything okay?”

Gabriel knew she was discreetly enquiring about the company’s matters. “Everything is fine. You only have to focus on your job. Even if something does happen, the upper management will handle it. It won’t affect the rest of you.”

Hearing that, Rayna refrained from asking more questions.

He has a point. Even if there’s a problem, it’s the higher-ups’ business and has nothing to do with us.

Bright and early on Saturday morning, Rayna went to City Hall.

After waiting for a while, she got back two invalidated marriage certificates. She felt relieved but also a little wistful.

I thought it’d be a marriage where we’d live happily ever after. Alas, it ended after only a year.

However, the feeling only lasted for about half a minute. She soon headed to the shopping mall to buy groceries, and she was even in such a good mood that she purchased several pots of flowers. Then, she arrived home just as a deliveryman came to deliver a package.

She put away the groceries in the kitchen before opening the big box. Upon lifting the thin layer of paper, she found a neatly-folded, champagne-colored gown nestling inside the box. It was incredibly gorgeous, and the sight of it made her gasp.

I was fortunate enough to have attended Valentino’s pre-spring show a few months ago and saw this gown on the catwalk. At the time, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the model, and I kept gushing over how gorgeous it was. However, it was way too expensive. I never imagined I’d end up owning it!

“Is she so well-connected that she even managed to secure an endorsement deal from Valentino?” Rayna murmured. She stared at the logo on the box, still feeling that everything was too surreal.

Jefferson seemed partial to this brand as he used to love giving me various haute couture pieces and bags from Valentino. Could it be from him?

Nonetheless, Rayne quickly dismissed that thought. I’ve never introduced him to my family, and there’s no way he’d get to know that silly sister of mine. I’m overthinking this.

When noon rolled around, she had a quick and simple lunch.

Dame Estate was quite some distance away, and Rayna still had to get her hair and makeup done. Hence, she only stayed home for a short while that afternoon before heading out, and it was past four o’clock when she finally exited the salon.

Roxanne sent a message saying she had a few scenes to reshoot and told Rayna to go ahead to Dame Estate first.

Having no other choice, Rayna hailed a taxi and headed over there.

She was not very familiar with Dame Estate and had only heard it was a private manor situated near beautiful lakes and mountains. Thanks to its breathtaking surroundings, the wealthy often used it as the venue for cocktail receptions, parties, and such.

The sky gradually darkened, and after the taxi drove uphill, she spotted the manor’s open-air parking lot from afar. Many luxury cars were parked there, and most of them were limited editions.

The entire manor was aglow with lights, looking as though it were a large luminous pearl under the night sky. Two rows of attendants stood by the manor’s arched doors, and all the guests who walked in were lavishly dressed and exuded an elegant air.

Although Rayna had only gotten out of the taxi for a minute, she had already spotted quite a few familiar faces. They were all business magnates whom one could hardly find on the pages of a financial magazine, and she could not help feeling slightly shocked.

This cocktail reception is even grander than what Roxanne made it out to be!

When she approached the entrance, an attendant stopped her. “Could you please show me your invite, miss?” Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

Rayna gave him a barcode to scan, but after the attendant checked his phone, he said to her apologetically, “I’m so sorry. The invitee is Roxanne Griffith, so you’ll need to wait for her to arrive before you can go in. You can’t enter on your own.”

She was dumbstruck.

What’s with this admission procedure? It’s ridiculous!

She hesitated for a while before asking, “Could you make an exception? Look, it’s so hot outside. I’ll go and sit where you can see me. Is that okay?”

“The areas around the manor, including this doorway, are equipped so that heat dissipates quickly. Hence, it won’t be hot.”

Rayna was at a loss for words.

Suddenly, she heard a low chuckle behind her. The familiar voice sent a chill down her spine.

“She’s my friend,” Jefferson said as he approached Rayna, his voice as warm and pleasant as a spring breeze. He wore a black tuxedo and held a golden invitation card between his fingers, which he handed to the attendant.

The attendant immediately became very respectful when he saw the golden invitation card.

“Oh, it’s you, Mr. Hamilton. I hope you have a pleasant evening.”

“Thank you.”

Turning around and seeing Rayna standing rooted to the spot, Jefferson’s smile widened. “Are you here for the cocktail reception with friends? I’ll take you in.”

“N-No, thanks.” Rayna shifted a few steps further from him, avoiding him as though he were a venomous snake. Every time she was near him, she would have trouble breathing, and a sense of fear would surge within her.

“I have no other intentions. I merely want to bring you inside.”

Rayna looked away. “I’m fine with standing here. The person I’m waiting for will arrive very soon.”

“Very well. I’ll be going, then.” Jefferson did not press her further and left swiftly. However, just as he approached the door, he turned and looked back at her as she stood at the bottom of the stairs, his eyes twinkling with laughter.

I made the right choice. She looks stunning in that dress.

After watching Jefferson go in, Rayna immediately had the urge to leave. However, before she even took a step, she thought of Roxanne and desisted.

Jefferson’s company is a player in the Epean market. Although he doesn’t have businesses in Hawen, he’s still quite well-known. Hence, it’s definitely no surprise that he’d be able to attend a reception of this scale. Roxanne finally joined the entertainment industry but still hasn’t gotten a firm foothold. She lacks resources and investors, and a cocktail reception like this would benefit her in those aspects. Since she’s my sister, I’ve no choice but to help her.

Rayna did not have to wait long at the entrance before a minivan drove in. As soon as its door opened, Roxanne rushed toward her while lifting the hem of her dress.

“Didn’t I give you the barcode? Why are you just standing out here foolishly?”

Rayne shot Roxanne an annoyed glare after getting called foolish. “Do you think I want to stand here? That person said you’re the one who got invited and that I can only go in after you’ve arrived.”

Roxanne’s expression darkened. “Who was it that was so unaccommodating?”

“Forget about it. Let’s head in.”

The manor’s first floor was the size of five basketball courts and done up in an exotic style. It was majestic and resplendent. The wealthy and influential guests were decked in their finest, mingling and chatting away happily.

There were locals and foreigners with various skin tones and hair colors. They were elegant and sophisticated, and they looked as though they were all there to talk business.

Rayna was barely inside the hall for more than three minutes before she had already scanned the entire area.

This cocktail reception is so posh!

However, Roxanne was not as discreet as Rayna. She shouted a greeting at everyone she passed, regardless of whether she knew them or not. It doesn’t matter since I have my “brother-in-law” backing me up. There’s nothing to fear!

“Where’s the director you were talking about?” Rayna asked.

“Huh? L-Let me see if I can find him…” Roxanne could not help feeling a little guilty as that was merely a story she had made up to get Rayna to attend the cocktail reception with her. I’m in trouble now.

Fortunately, there were many guests from Epea. Roxanne spotted a familiar-looking man, and upon recalling that he was the director of some movie, she exclaimed immediately, “That’s him!”