Chapter 38 – Sophia's Castle, Sean's War Room: A Birthday Party Duet
Sean was wearing a gray suit with a white dress shirt and a patterned tie.
The collar was cut generously and the buttons positioned lower, which suited someone with a muscular build like Sean.
The straight-leg cut and comfortable fit made Sean look professional rather than like a door-to-door salesman in a cheap suit.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it was Italian and Jewish immigrant tailors who brought exquisite European tailoring techniques to America, making custom suits synonymous with quality.
The few formal suits in Sean's wardrobe were all made by an old Italian tailor named Vito.
As for why a Jewish tailor wasn't chosen?
Sean once tried a renowned old Jewish shop in the garment district.
The result was that they quoted an outrageous price of $175 for simply replacing a button!
Even more ridiculous was that the initial price of the entire suit was 60% higher than Vito's, while the materials and workmanship were not significantly different.
This Jewish owner was trying to fleece Sean like he was some Wall Street banker!
Although Sean wasn't hurting for money, he shrewdly chose "fair value" over "getting ripped off"—he had money, but he refused to be a sucker!
Today is Sophia's big day, and as her beloved uncle, Sean naturally wanted to appear appropriately dressed.
After adjusting his tie and ensuring that exactly one centimeter of his cuff showed, Sean took a deep breath, put on a warm smile, and headed downstairs to greet the guests.
Although he didn't know any of the guests present, as the homeowner, Sean still had to go downstairs to welcome and entertain them.
It felt like being a twenty-something forced to attend a corporate mixer!
Today's guests fell into two categories:
First, Sophia's playmates and their parents.
Second, Vanessa's friends.
Colorful streamers and balloons adorned every corner of the living room, filling it with a joyful, festive atmosphere. In one corner of the living room, wrapped gifts were piled high.
Looking through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you could see a cheerful, colorful inflatable bounce house standing prominently in the backyard, currently occupied by several excitedly screaming children, which had become the center of attention.
To entertain everyone, Vanessa had specially hired two caterers to set up in the house. The long dining table was already loaded with a wide variety of hot and cold dishes, served buffet-style for guests to help themselves.
Looking at such elaborate party decorations, Sean was certain he'd be swiping his credit card later!
However, the official "meal time" was obviously flexible—it would have to wait until Sophia and her friends were exhausted from playing in that bounce house.
Around ten o'clock, most of the guests had arrived, filling the house with laughter and cheerful conversation.
Sophia wore a carefully chosen tulle dress, the soft pink color making her little face glow, and the hem swayed gently as she ran.
Upon seeing Sean in his suit, she rushed over to him, her face beaming with joy.
"Thank you, Uncle Sean, for throwing me a birthday party!"
Facing this little sweetheart, Sean kissed Sophia on the cheek, then set her down, gesturing for her to go play happily with her friends!
After all, Sophia was the star of the show today.
Before long, even Leonard and Will Giovanni, who worked for Sean, arrived.
Leonard, the car dealership owner, was a man who ran a legitimate business while operating in the gray areas.
As mentioned earlier, he was responsible for helping Sean with some of the dirty work that couldn't be handled officially.
He tried to force a friendly smile, attempting to blend into the children's birthday atmosphere, but his street edge still showed through.
Following closely behind was Will Giovanni.
Unlike Leonard, he wore a well-tailored navy blue suit, his hair was neatly combed, and he carried a sophisticated leather briefcase. His steps were steady, and his demeanor was capable and composed.
He looked like a mid-level professional at a prestigious law firm.
Giovanni—a surname that instantly sounds Italian, meaning 'God's gift.'
This young lawyer had a dual identity:
He was not only the legal counsel for "Value Autos" but also Sean's personal attorney.
His areas of expertise focused on criminal defense, complex civil litigation, and ensuring business compliance.
Will and Leonard's roles inevitably overlapped—Leonard's street connections were sometimes an efficient channel for resolving problems, while Will was responsible for legally cleaning up or covering the "evidence" of these solutions.
However, Sean had used an offer that Will couldn't refuse to firmly bind him to his team:
A salary of up to $240,000 a year.
The compensation was comparable to that of a partner at a major law firm.
For a young lawyer who'd lost his job due to the financial crisis, Sean's offer was undoubtedly a lifeline.
A timely opportunity and generous compensation were enough to earn Giovanni's loyalty!
Sean never thought the money was wasted.
He had witnessed Will's sharp defense in court, observed how he could corner opponents at the negotiating table with precise legal arguments, and admired his caution and creativity in handling those "gray areas."
In this world, what happens in the shadows ultimately needs the cover of law to make it legitimate.
Sean needed a long-term partner who understood the nuances of legal code and could be trusted, acting as a "legal shield" and "rule interpreter" to speak up at crucial moments.
Even if they might never need it.
However, "not having a weapon" and "having a weapon but not using it" are completely different things.
"Giovanni, how have you been lately?"
Sean inquired about his situation.
Sean led the two men to a room in the southeast corner, a room meant for private discussions. As the host, Sean poured Giovanni a glass of Asti Spumante, an Italian sparkling wine.
Sean's house had enough rooms to easily accommodate a dedicated conference room.
Serving someone a drink that suited their background was a way of showing respect.
Sean poured Leonard a glass of bourbon, simply because the latter preferred it.
The dark curtains completely blocked out the sunlight; the room was illuminated only by warm incandescent lighting.
Giovanni, as one of Sean's team, addressed his boss's inquiry in detail:
"I'm currently handling Vanessa's divorce case, and I'm absolutely certain I'll take her ex-husband to the cleaners."
Sean nodded, having entrusted Vanessa's divorce case to Giovanni based on complete confidence in his abilities.
Sean then looked at Leonard. Even sitting across from Sean, Leonard was still somewhat nervous. No matter the situation, even a phone conversation could make him tense.
"The matter you asked me to handle."
Leonard cleared his throat, trying to make his voice sound steady and reliable:
"I've already had Derek take care of it. By now... he should have reached the destination."
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