Since Mavi and Jennifer were already staying at the hotel, they didn't have to rush over from elsewhere.
Tonight, Mavi was dressed in his tailored suit. As for his date, Jennifer, she appeared stunning in a strapless black evening gown.
To give Mavi some added prestige at the party, Jennifer intentionally wore a diamond necklace worth over $3 million.
"Why are you suddenly wearing a necklace?" Mavi casually asked her while they were in the elevator.
Instead of answering directly, Jennifer responded with a question of her own. "Isn't the necklace beautiful?"
"Hmm… the necklace isn't that pretty," Mavi teased, deliberately saying the wrong thing.
Jennifer immediately shot him a glare, her beautiful eyes filled with annoyance.
But just then, Mavi casually added, "You, on the other hand, look much prettier."
The moment he said it, all her irritation vanished. Instead, a smile broke through her feigned anger. Judging by her expression, it was clear that Jennifer was both charmed and exasperated by him.
Their playful banter in the elevator helped ease Jennifer's nervousness. However, Mavi was more focused on the challenge ahead.
His previous business ventures—whether acquiring companies or investing in real estate—had all been about capitalizing on opportunities. In short, he had managed to "show off effortlessly."
But this time, he was up against a giant of the entertainment industry—someone whose assets were a hundred times greater than his own. This was an entirely different battlefield.
As Mavi and Jennifer gracefully entered the banquet hall, they found that many distinguished guests had already gathered.
Since it was Disney's 30th-anniversary celebration, the banquet hall was decorated in an extravagant and refined manner. The ceiling was painted deep blue, with a bright crescent moon and countless twinkling stars.
One of the evening's highlights was the presence of models dressed as Disney princesses. Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel… each costume was exquisitely recreated, adding a youthful and lively atmosphere to the celebration.
Jennifer, however, had no interest in the Disney princesses. Right now, she was focused on finding her father, the chairman of Marriott International.
About thirty seconds later, Jennifer leaned in close to Mavi and whispered, "Mavi… my father is over there."
Following Jennifer's gaze, Mavi spotted the middle-aged man he had coincidentally encountered in the hotel lobby the day before.
The man had his hair slicked back in the classic American style of the era. Dressed in a vintage black suit with impeccably polished leather shoes, he carried himself with an imposing air.
Jennifer's father, named Marriott, oversaw a hospitality empire spanning 54 countries, managing over 1,600 hotels worldwide.
Before Mavi could respond, the man—who had been engrossed in conversation with his friends—suddenly seemed to sense something. He glanced over in Mavi's direction.
And then… he froze.
The polite smile that had been on his face stiffened slightly.
"Excuse me for a moment," Marriott said, before striding straight toward the couple. His sharp gaze never left Mavi, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
"I thought you said you had other plans and weren't coming tonight?" Marriott asked his daughter, skipping the pleasantries he reserved for outsiders.
"Uh… well, this is my 'other plan,'" Jennifer said coyly, pulling Mavi closer. She was placing all her hopes on him now.
"Oh?" Marriott took in her actions and expressions, reading between the lines like the seasoned businessman he was.
Turning his attention to Mavi, he asked, "And this young man is… a friend of yours? May I ask for your name?"
As a father, Marriott couldn't simply ignore the situation and pretend nothing was happening. Right now, the only thing he wanted to know was this young man's background.
Mavi looked young, and Marriott had never seen him before. Something about that made him uneasy.
However, before Mavi could respond, a white-haired yet energetic elderly man suddenly approached them.
"Good evening, Mr. Marriott. Long time no see! How are you enjoying Disney's 30th-anniversary party?" the man greeted with a smile.
Marriott's expression immediately shifted to a more pleasant one as he responded, "Good evening, President Davis. The party's atmosphere is fantastic—I'm really enjoying it!"
The "President Davis" Marriott was referring to was none other than the CEO of Walt Disney Studios. He was also a long-standing figure within Disney, holding a significant amount of stock, with a net worth exceeding $3 billion.
"Glad to hear that," Davis replied before shifting his attention toward Mavi. "By the way, Mr. Marriott, could you introduce me to this young man?"
Though Davis appeared to be asking out of curiosity, he had already been briefed by his subordinates about Mavi's identity. He was simply playing along.
Hearing the CEO of Disney take an interest in his daughter's date, Marriott found himself momentarily speechless. His expression turned awkward as he silently hoped the young man would have the sense to introduce himself.
At that moment, Mavi gave Davis a slight smile and replied calmly, "Mr. Davis, I believe you already know who I am, don't you?"
As soon as Mavi uttered those bold words, Marriott's expression changed dramatically.
Who is this young man? he thought, startled. How dare he speak to the CEO of Disney like that?
However, what shocked him even more was Davis's reaction. Instead of being offended, the old executive burst into hearty laughter.
Marriott was completely bewildered.
By all logic, a man of Davis's status should have found Mavi's words presumptuous. So why was he laughing so happily instead?
What Marriott didn't know was that in his previous life, Mavi had been familiar with Davis's story and personality. Combined with his knowledge of how Disney had treated Marvel in this lifetime, he had a good grasp of what kind of person Davis was.
"Haha! It's been a long time since I've met such an interesting young man!" Davis exclaimed, clearly pleased.
Most young entrepreneurs were either overly cautious or too nervous to speak freely in front of him. That kind of behavior bored him.
Since both men were sharp, Davis didn't bother with pleasantries. He got straight to the point.
"So, Mr. Mavi," Davis said, his eyes gleaming with interest. "Regarding the collaboration between Disney and Marvel on a film… have you given it any thought?"
(End of Chapter)