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After that, she asked me a lot of questions and she even wanted to know more about my relationship with Amy. It was obvious she didn’t want to be pitied, and she talked to me with so much confidence. If it wasn't for the fact that we were in a hospital room and she was hooked up to things, she came across as a totally normal, teenager. Occasionally she talked about Amy, revealing things that her mother didn’t.
I looked at Amy, thumbed toward Jordan and said, “She’s a bright kid.”
“She has a great teacher,” Amy boasted.
My smart watch buzzed and reminded me that I still had a charity event to attend. I had completely forgotten.
“Ladies, you will have to forgive me, I have an event to attend and the organizers need me to be there. Amy, I can send my driver back for you.”
"No, don't worry," Amy answered, holding Jordan's hand. "I'll get an Uber or taxi home."
As much glamor that the event tonight promised, I really wanted to just stay where I was. The truth was that I had to constantly be in the spotlight of events like this to further douse the rumors and speculations surrounding the company.
It truly was exhausting.
Chapter 27
Daniel
IhadleftAmyand Jordan just to attend this charity ball. I hated it and the obnoxious vibe of the whole event. Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t the charity ball I hated; it was the selfish reasoning that had now primed its existence. The ball was originally intended for the rich to donate to the less privileged, but the function was merely a veil that the rich hid behind in their quests to be seen as philanthropists in the eyes of the public.
It was the kind of event I typically avoided. Reed Biotech donated a lot of money and resources, but my father was the face of all that. The contributions I gave were in silence, but I had to do this to save the face of the company. The public did love a good story about huge charity donations. I stepped out of my car and took a deep breath.
I handed my keys to the valet and walked up the stairs that led to the entrance of the hotel. The hotel was grand, right from the entrance. Its austere appearance gave it a unique look. It was different from the other hotels I had visited, and that had been a lot.
I was led to the hall where the event was taking place and, to my surprise, there were a lot of people already here. I let out a slight grunt when I saw an unwelcome familiar face: Bentley. Of course he would be here. He lived for parties like this. At least I knew what seat to avoid. I settled down and brushed my suit with my hands after snatching a glass of champagne from a passing silver tray.
The table had fewer people than the rest. I guessed it was because it was in the middle of the room. Less accessible to the press as the cameras were on the either side of the ballroom. Why come to these events if you don't want your photo taken?
“Is this seat taken?” An all too familiar voice asked me.
“Jolene,” I said, standing up.
“Hey, handsome.” She smiled as I drew her chair back for her.
“Thank you,” she said quietly.
“Yeah, sure. You look great,” I complimented.
“You don’t look too bad yourself. I can see you no longer have problems with wearing suits,” she laughed. Jolene was extremely beautiful. She had an amazing body and gorgeous features. Her long, dark hair extended all the way to her shoulders and her green eyes sparkled. The ball had a black and white retro theme, but I believed that wasn’t the reason why she wore a long black dress. She had always loved the color black, wanting to appear mysterious.
“It was a misunderstanding,” I said, placing my palm on my face.
“You wore a hoodie to prom.” She laughed harder, and I hoped we didn’t startle the people around us.
“Evan pranked me, you know,” I tried to explain.
“Of course, I know.“
“So the great P.I. Jolene, what brings you to this part of the country? Last I heard, you were cracking a case in Baltimore.”
“Well, my work indeed makes me travel a lot,” she chuckled. “Why are you here?” she asked.
“Same reason why you're here,” I replied, trying not to pay attention to the woman who sat on the opposite side of the table.
“Let me guess. You're here to socialize with aristocrats plagued by incessant character and egos the size of planets, just so you can appease your father and be a modern face of a thriving empire?” She laughed.
“You must have heard. My company is not doing so great right now.”
