NovelAppChapter 77
Had it not been for Booker’s birthday bash, their paths might never have crossed. The high. society circles
weren't exactly open for just anyone to stroll into.
Booker was Tarquin’s go-to guy, his right-hand man, and Zane? Well, Zane tagged along with a mutual buddy of
Booker’s.
Zane knew he was punching above his weight class, but he was cool as a cucumber event when he realized
Tarquin wasn’t drinking. With a grin that never wavered, he said, ‘Name's Zane; I'm the current manager over at
Newsom Group. Been looking forward to meeting. you, Mr. Bradford. Figured I'd take a shot and introduce myself
today-here’s my card.”
Zane, with a gulp of courage, fished out his business card and extended it towards Tarquin.
Tarquin glanced at it but didn’t take it immediately.
Zane's cheeks flared red with embarrassment, scrambling mentally for a graceful exit. Suddenly, Tarquin
reached out, taking the card.
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Zane blinked, a rush of elation tingling through him as he silently cheered.
Tarquin inspected the card briefly before sliding it into his pocket. Then, he lifted his glass and clinked it on the
table before taking a sip.
Zane, feeling honored, quickly topped off his own glass and downed three drinks in quick succession!
The rest of the guests, ever observant, had pretended to revolve around Booker, but their attention had never
really left Zane’s interaction with Tarquin. Once they saw Tarquin accept Zane’s card and share a drink with him,
they swarmed Zane, handing out their own. cards and clinking glasses, eager to buddy up.
Total strangers moments ago, now thick as thieves. Such was the pull of Tarquin’s influence. Without uttering a
word, he could alter someone's fate.
What the crowd didn’t know was that Tarquin’s favor towards Zane was all for Elysia’s
sake.
Meanwhile, Elysia had already returned to the private lounge.
Despite her best efforts to mask her agitation, Elliot picked up on her discomfort.
“Mommy, what's wrong?”
“Nothing, sweetie, why do you ask?” Elysia responded, feigning nonchalance.
Elliot furrowed his brows, observing her. “Your hair's a mess, and your hand...why is it
09:45
hurt?”
Only then did Elysia notice the cut on her hand-likely from the ceramic soap dispenser Gage had shattered
earlier.
She lied smoothly, “Ran into an old friend, got a little too excited, and accidentally knocked over the soap
dispenser in the restroom. It was ceramic, and the shards cut my hand.”
Emmett pushed forward; concern etched on his face. “Does it hurt, mommy?”
“Not at all, sweetie. Mommy wouldn't forget about it if it did.”
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“Let Emmett blow on it; it'll heal faster,” he offered with childlike sincerity.
Elysia chuckled, “Thank you, Emmett. That's very sweet.”
As she looked down, Elliot noticed the scratches on her neck but chose to stay quiet.
Blossom, ever the carefree one, hadn't spotted the marks on Elysia’s neck but did see the injury on her hand.
She called for the waiter to bring salcohol and a Band-Aid while asking, “Who got you so worked up that
you weren't careful?”
Elysia replied, “Zane.”
Blossom expressed surprise. “You ran into Zane?”
“Yeah, he was here for sschmoozing, and we just happened to bump into each other.” “So that’s why you
were out for so long. Ran into an old friend, huh? Zane’s made quite a nfor himself in Jindale City. Mr.
Newsom's getting on in years, and with his daughter Winona, who is not really into the family business, it’s all on
Zane's shoulders. It's only a matter of tbefore the old man steps down.”
“Zane's got talent, always has since our school days. It's no wonder he caught Winona’s
eye.”
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