*VROOM~~ VROOM~~ SCREECH~~!!*
The angry sheer white Ferrari Stradale screeched to a stop outside a private club at the center of the city, a place where prosperity was concentrated, only, with vices lingering in the shadow like tar clinging to the underside of the brightness.
Kris slammed the door of the car more valuable than a house without any care about possible damages, then stomped inside after throwing the key at the doorman like he was throwing a dagger at the man's chest.
Another valet, keeping his calm expression, opened the door for him, and he stepped into the different world beyond, the world of elegance and luxury. As he passed through the antechamber, someone stepped out of the corridor at the side, falling into step behind him even as a shadow fell over his upper body, making his appearance indiscernible:
"Sir."
Kris paused, then snapped a cold look to the side. Despite the darkness, he seemed to find the eyes of the man who had appeared. Slowly, his eyes went down, and fell onto the plate carrying a bottle of liquor and a glass.
Taking a deep breath, he forced a calm voice:
"Has she arrived?"
"Yes, sir."
The calm of the answer that contrasted with his own fiery emotions didn't faze him. He simply nodded, spun around and walked down the corridor while picking up the bottle while ignoring the glass.
As a smell of aged whiskey wafted through the corridor, Kris grinned, the satisfaction of revenge already painting his face. Raising his head, he tilted the bottle up, took big gulps, then started tearing open his top while a low growl escaped from his lips:
"What you can get, I can too. And what you can't get, I will still get."
The sound of a door opening and closing far in the distance rang through the corridor, but it remained empty, save for the man who remained at its entrance, calm, unmoving, and wrapped in the darkness.
_ _ _
_ _ _
Sharon kicked her heels off to the side, threw her purse onto the couch, then let herself fall into the softness of her couch like a sack of potatoes:
"Phew…"
The exhale contained a tangled mess of emotions that included a bit of confusion. Recalling the end of the intense competition just now, she went into a short daze as those emotions swirled within her chest. Then she sighed again.
"What are you sighing so much for?"
Glenn came to sink into the single-seater while questioning with a smile.
"How much do you think it has cost to do what Alex Lenner did tonight?"
Glenn raised her eyebrows. While thinking, she put Sharon's purse onto the coffee table and picked up the carafe of water to serve herself a glass. Afterward, as she leaned back, she answered in a tone full of uncertainty:
"Millions? Most probably dozens of millions, right? I can't say for sure, but not only did he block the roads, but he also got the logistics in place with the standard of an international competition. That must have cost a lot, and used either his influence or the influence of his family."
Hearing that, Sharon couldn't help but let out another exhale and add thoughtfully:
"And he did that in a record time. The roads only got closed after evening peak hours."
Glenn paused, the glass of water stopping before her red lips, before she nodded in agreement and closed the rest of the distance:
"You are right."
After refreshing herself by emptying the glass of water, Glenn suddenly glanced at Sharon with a meaningful smile on her lips and an amused glint twinkling in her eyes:
"What? Were you moved by our Lenner heir? Did he shake the impression you had of him in your mind? Is our famous actress starting to feel interested in getting to know him better?"
Taking in the gossipy look and teasing smile on the redhead's face, Sharon pouted, then turned back to the ceiling without deigning to dignify those words with a response. Instead, looking at the white background above, she caught onto something else and threw her friend and manager a sidelong glance:
"'Your heir Lenner'? I won't even comment on that. I thought the heirship of the Lenner family was still undecided. Why do you call Alex Lenner heir Lenner?"
As she said that, Sharon's thoughts went back to the 'mission' she had been given.
Glenn gave the actress a deep look, then restrained the teasing glow on her face and replied:
"Not just me. Most people too, especially most people not close or familiar with him."
Hearing that, Sharon's thoughts went back to the party, and she nodded in agreement. Indeed, Alex Lenner had been called like that by more than just one person tonight. That actually fueled her curiosity further, and she looked at Glenn:
"Yeah. So, why?"
Glenn displayed a smile at the corner of her mouth:
"Simple. Because he is the heir."
That simple, matter-of-fact answer actually bred a thicker layer of confusion inside the blonde's mind.
"Huh?"
Putting her glass down, Glenn leaned sideways against her backrest, and supported herself with her forearm on the armrest to face the blonde and explain:
"Alex Lenner is the heir of the Lenner family, period. And he is not just the heir apparent. He has been designated by the old patriarch himself while the latter has still been alive, and he has enough support to take over the seat of power whenever he would decide to do so. The only thing is, he doesn't seem to care. Maybe that is why his ambitious cousin hates him."
"You mean Kris Lenner?"
"Hm, him. Most people cannot ignore the allure of power and fortune, but Alex Lenner, who can easily get what others desire so much, does not care. Anyone would feel resentful, much less his cousin who likes competing against him."
As Glenn showed a casual smile and leaned back in her seat, Sharon looked up to the ceiling again and asked, her expression thoughtful:
"So that is why he commands such a huge following, with his parties always full of people? Because he is the heir?"
Eyes closed, Glenn actually shook her head:
"Yes, and no. That might be a good part of the reason why, but another important part that makes not just rich heirs but also political heirs and heirs of dignitaries gather around him and his group is because of what you saw tonight. No matter how wild their parties, they are always subjected to rules and restrictions. You can have fun, but you can't go overboard, not uncontrollably. Those things might be invisible, but think about it. Despite all the headlines the guy makes all the time, has there ever been a true scandal about him?"
Sharon was startled:
"Hm? Now that you say it, no. But…"
"There is no but. True, he is powerful, and his family even more so. However, what about rumors? Have you ever heard of any real ones?"
Scandals could be buried, but rumors were wild horses nobody could ever expect to tame, not even in an absolutely dystopian society.
Opening her eyes, Glenn smiled at Sharon's confusion, and stood up:
"Alright, let's stop talking about that. I just hope you don't develop an interest in the famous playboy. He is dangerous, unless you only want to play."
"Yeah, yeah, I know."
Shaking her head at the dismissive answer, Glenn checked her phone, then continued:
"You will be finishing your ongoing work around this time next month. Are you interested in being a CEO, a cold and domineering female CEO, not a hidden boss like you are in reality?"
"Mm… Maybe. You got something like that?"
"Yes, though I'm still negotiating."
"...Thank you."
"Gladys should have been working on this with me. This past month, she and you… Sigh, just focus on your work and don't get yourself into trouble."
"Hehe… Help me sell that Ferrari. We will share the proceeds, but you will keep mine for me."
"Got it. Sleep early."
*Clack*
Glenn closed the door. Lost in thought, Sharon turned away from the door and returned her gaze to the white ceiling.
The silence of the night returned inside the apartment.