Hail continued, speaking earnestly and with great weight, "By all logic, as an outsider, I shouldn't be saying these things. President Ye is so consumed by his work that he doesn't even remember his own birthday. He wouldn't pay any mind to such a minor affair."
"But if you were to give him a call, he would undoubtedly be overjoyed."
Bella listened intently, hanging on every single word. Her mind was reeling from the confirmation that the rumors must be true, and she immediately began strategizing how best to secure her hold on this influential connection.
Especially telling was Hail's description of himself as an "outsider." That simple phrase was loaded with implications, so thought-provoking it demanded her deepest contemplation.
The meal dragged on for a full hour. Hail only took the occasional small sip, while the majority of the liquor found its way into Luis's stomach. Bella merely kept pace with her drinks, not daring to utter a word.
