A face only a mother could love
As the night descended upon the Montero Mansion, the sprawling estate was bathed in the soft, silvery glow of the moon.
The grand hall of the Montero Mansion had been transformed into a scene of unparalleled opulence.
The occasion was the highly anticipated auction of Valentina Estates, a world-renowned vineyard famous for producing the grapes that made some of the world's finest wines, and the Montero family, the gracious hosts of the evening, had recently acquired the prestigious vineyard from the Valentine family.
Crystal chandeliers, meticulously polished to a brilliant shine, dangled from the high ceilings, casting a luminous, dancing light upon the room.
The glistening marble floors echoed the footsteps of the guests, who had donned their most exquisite attire for this extraordinary event.
Even the air was filled with a tangible sense of excitement and anticipation.
Guests, a mix of elite wine connoisseurs, wealthy investors, and curious onlookers, milled about, admiring both the setting and the array of items on display.
Valentina Estates was no ordinary property; it was the crown jewel of the wine industry, and those who had gathered here tonight were fully aware of the potential riches and prestige that came with it.
Some engaged in hushed conversations about the potential of acquiring Valentina Estates, while others couldn't help but marvel at the rare artifacts and treasures strategically placed for auction.
"I couldn't believe the Monteros were successful in acquiring the Valentina Estates. As you know, although the Valentine family lack the funds to keep the business running, they are still quite proud of their long-standing business," whispered a bespectacled woman to her companion as they examined an exquisite porcelain vase.
"Well in the face of more money, all sentiments will be gone. Besides, the land has fallen into the hands of the second branch of the Valentine family so it can't be too surprising that they do not know the value of such a fine land." Her companion whispered back.
A man in a tailored tuxedo overheard them and chimed in, "Indeed, Valentina Estates has been producing some of the finest grapes for years. If I get my hands on it, I might finally impress the critics with my wine collection."
The bespectacled woman cast a glance at her companion and sighed, "It's none of our business anyway. I don't have the financial or mental strength to auction for such a large piece of meat with the daredevils of the business world. I'd rather just settle for the jade pendant created by RX Jewelries and gift myself many more years to live."
Then she lifted her glass of red wine towards her companion who clinked glasses with her in return. "Cheers."
As the hall continued to fill with esteemed guests, the hum of conversation swelled.
The room buzzed with a combination of whispered discussions and exchanged business cards, while the waiters elegantly moved through the crowd, offering flutes of champagne and hors d'oeuvres.
However, like a thunderclap in the midst of a summer storm, the once boisterous hall was silenced with the arrival of a particular individual.
Daniel Kozlov strode into the room with an air of confidence and his secretary, Lucas, followed close behind, carrying a sleek leather briefcase.
As they settled into their seats, ready to participate in the upcoming auction, another group of impeccably dressed people gathered together.
"I think we should give up now." A man said as he grabbed a scone from a plate and bit into it in feigned anger.
"Give up? We should just go home instead." A potbellied man dabbed at the sweat on his partially shiny bald head and sighed in defeat.
A woman dressed in a wine dress pursed her lips, "No one said he was coming so I thought that I'd have a chance at least."
"If Dad found out we were foolish enough to challenge Daniel Kozlov, he'd turn so red that he'd make a ripe tomato look pale and spontaneously combust from sheer anger! Sis, let's just go." A younger woman chimed as she held the woman's hand.
"No, we're not going home. There are drinks and foods of all kinds, so let's wait and enjoy the show."
And just like that, about a third of the people who came into the auction dropped their placards and drifted to the buffet section and waited as spectators.
Dressed in a cream-colored blazer and perfectly fitting blue jeans, Jake's casual elegance seemed at odds with the opulence of the Montero Mansion.
His confident stride carried an air of nonchalance as he approached Daniel, and he swiftly occupied a vacant seat in front of him.
His words oozed with playful sarcasm, delivered with a devil-may-care attitude. "Tsk…Tsk, Daniel Kozlov, the master of dramatic entrances, has done it again. With his mere presence, he banished his competitors into submission. How's that for headline news tomorrow?"
His tone was lighthearted, and a cheeky grin danced on his lips.
Daniel, as always, remained the epitome of composure. He replied in his usual understated manner, "Does your father know that you're so free?"
Lucas couldn't help but turn his head to the side, attempting to stifle the laughter that threatened to burst out. He knew better than to intervene in the friendly banter between the two powerful figures.
Jake playfully feigned shock, placing a hand on his chest with an exaggerated expression, "Daniel, bro. Are you threatening me?"
Daniel's response was as enigmatic as ever, his steely gaze holding steady. "Threatening you, Jake? I simply stated a fact. Behind you," he replied coolly, his words carrying an undertone of amusement.
Jake turned his head to look behind him, momentarily distracted by Daniel's cryptic remark.
His eyes fell upon a tall man with brown hair and slightly mature features donning an exquisite purple suit and black pant trousers. He was leading a group of people into the hall.
Jake whipped his head back and ducked behind the backs of a group of men sitting before him, "Damn it! If he sees me here, another pile of documents will be on my table in the next ten minutes!" His tone was frantic, his green eyes searching for a possible exit as if he really dreaded the fact that his father would lay eyes on him.
Daniel remained motionless at his friend's antics while Lucas cleared his throat and asked with a whisper, "Then why aren't you leaving?"
Jake stared at him wide-eyed as if he could not believe what he just said, "But I just got here! Do you know the epic quest I undertook just to grace you with my presence? Honestly, you should roll out the red carpet and give me an award right now."
Lucas was struck speechless while Daniel brought out his phone and kept busy with the rising stocks.
Amongst the group of people Rodrigo Montero led into the hall were Simon Nielson and his daughter Silver.
"Simon, I see you dared to honor my invitation. I hope your legs won't turn to jelly at the end of tonight." Rodrigo spoke with a wide grin on his face.
Simon chuckled, raising an eyebrow. "Oh, Rodrigo, you underestimate the stamina of these legendary legs! I've trained for this moment all my life. You better be prepared to witness the greatest display of liquid courage in history."
Rodrigo leaned in a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Ah, my friend, you may be good, but remember, I've been practicing since I was a fetus. It's in my DNA to handle alcohol."
As their banter continued, Silver rolled her eyes with a sigh, 'Well, this is going to be a long night.'
After leading them to their respective seats, Rodrigo exchanged more banter with Simon and soon left to attend to other guests.
Simon glanced at Silver sitting next to him and asked, "Do you see anything you like Silver dear? Although Rodrigo is a scheming little son of a baloney, he still has eyes for good things. What about the diamond bracelet over there? I hear they are from RX Jewelries."
Silver turned to look at the bracelet her father was talking about and was blown away.
However, there was something else, or rather someone who captured Silver's attention the most. Sitting beside a plastic model that displayed a jewelry piece was a handsome young man who exuded an air of sophistication.
His sharp jawline and impeccably styled hair hinted at meticulous attention to detail, and he wore a tailored suit that oozed power and wealth.
'Daniel.' She thought, her heart skipping a beat.
Meanwhile, Simon's mischievous grin matched his playful tone as he continued, "You know, dear, if Rodrigo were an auctioneer, he'd probably sell you, too! Now, tell me, what do you think of that dazzling bracelet?"
Silver's eyes sparkled with the reflection of the jewelry, and she replied, "It's exquisite, Father, but there's something even more captivating over there."
Simon raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Oh, do tell."
Silver pointed discreetly toward the handsome young man beside the plastic jewelry model. "Him," she said, "I think he's the real gem in this room."
Simon followed her gaze with a squint and chuckled, "Well, my dear, I suppose we can't exactly buy him, but we can certainly try to strike up a conversation."
This was the first time that his daughter spoke about a man and he was beginning to get worried. But now that she's stated her choice, he'd make sure that she got what she wanted.
With a nod of approval from her father, Silver decided to make her move. Her goal for following her father today was to meet this man and finally, she had the chance.
'But does he still remember me though?' she thought as she glided through the bustling hall.
Simon grinned in amusement as he watched his daughter's rapid footsteps. He had never seen her like this and it was quite novel to him. He took another look at the young man sitting elegantly and murmured,
"Although I can't quite see what he looks like as long as he doesn't have a face only a mother could love, he'll be just fine. Ah, where did I keep my glasses?"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Daisy_T
Daisy_T A face only a mother could love...Haha... Simon is hilarious!~
NB: To the new readers of TCPHEW (Phew...that was long), thank you so much!! Muchos gracias~
~A huge shoutout to Dawn_Graceson! Thank you so much for the powerstones! A little gift for your gift; My next character will be named after you.
~To my other readers, I appreciate you just as much. I hope you enjoy your reading and stay with this novel till the end!
Thank you!
Love,
Daisy.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone