章 182: The Party Begins
As Jake entered the villa, the grand hall was already filled with people. These individuals held glasses of wine, mingling in small groups, engrossed in conversation. For them, this occasion presented an excellent networking opportunity to meet and connect with others.
Jake's arrival went unnoticed by the crowd. Apart from one person, Bill, he didn't recognize anyone there. Jake didn't mind and found a corner to sit in, patiently waiting for the birthday party to officially begin.
After what felt like a long wait, just as Jake started to feel a bit bored, a familiar voice sounded in his ear, "Jake?" Jake looked up and saw Dirk approaching with a surprised and delighted expression, holding a wine glass.
"You're here too? Why didn't you mention it during the day?" Dirk asked with some astonishment.
Although Dirk held Jake in high regard, he knew that Jake's current achievements were not enough to draw the attention of the Xenia family, such a prominent clan. So, he shouldn't have been invited to this party.
"I didn't hear from you during the day either," Jake replied with a smile. "Xenia is my student, and she invited me."
"I see," Dirk nodded, but he still had some doubts.
Xenia had many teachers at school, so why had she only invited Jake? Could there be some special connection between them? As for Bill and Verna, who were also teachers, they were invited because of their family connections.
"There are quite a few people here tonight. Let me introduce you to some of them," Dirk offered to help Jake.
The guests at this party were not ordinary people. Jake was preparing to open a restaurant, targeting the upper-middle-class population of J City, so getting to know such individuals was beneficial. Dirk was intentionally assisting Jake.
Jake understood this and expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Dirk."
"No need to be so formal between us," Dirk replied.
Shortly afterward, Dirk led Jake around the venue, introducing him to various people. Meanwhile, not far away, Bill kept a close eye on Jake. When he saw Dirk warmly greeting Jake, he was filled with surprise.
When did these two become so close? They didn't even know each other the last time they were at Kailomen, but now they seemed like old friends. Bill couldn't fathom how Jake, whom he had looked down upon, not only owned such a luxurious car but also had a close relationship with Dirk. It was challenging for him to accept.
"Huh? What's that?" Bill suddenly noticed a small box where Jake had been sitting moments ago. Bill was sure that Jake had dropped it.
Bill watched Jake socializing with Dirk and the others and grew envious. He approached the box, which turned out to be a jewelry box, and opened it to find a necklace inside.
"This must be the birthday gift that Jake prepared for Miss Xenia. Poor people will always be poor; at such an event, he's giving her such a shabby thing," Bill sneered. He looked at the box for a moment but then stopped himself from returning it to its original place. Instead, he placed it on the floor and gave it a swift kick, making it slide under the sofa, out of sight.
"Haha, I can't wait to see what birthday gift you'll give later," Bill thought to himself, as if he could already imagine Jake making a fool of himself in front of everyone.
On the other side, Jake was still unaware that the birthday gift he had prepared for Xenia had been "hidden" by Bill. He followed Dirk around the venue, then returned to his original seat.
"The people I just introduced to you could potentially be your restaurant's clientele. Make sure to stay in touch with them," Dirk said as he sat down beside Jake.
"I will," Jake nodded in response.
In reality, Jake had also noticed that while these people were polite on the surface, it was mainly due to Dirk's influence. They didn't really consider Jake as someone significant. This was not surprising, as Jake had been a relatively unknown figure, and his restaurant hadn't officially opened yet. These people didn't know Jake, so they didn't pay him much attention.
Dirk soon had to attend to other matters and left. Jake once again found himself sitting alone, but he didn't mind; in fact, he found it peaceful.
At some point, Verna noticed Jake and came over to greet him. She, too, was surprised to see Jake there but didn't mock him like Bill had. She simply found it a bit strange.
As time passed, more and more people filled the hall.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" At exactly eight o'clock, a middle-aged man who bore a resemblance to Xenia took the stage, wearing a smile. He addressed the microphone, "Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to join my daughter's birthday party. We appreciate your presence and hope you all have a wonderful time tonight."
Applause filled the room. Then, Xenia descended from upstairs, accompanied by the applause. As soon as she appeared, she captured the attention of everyone in the room, and many were struck by her stunning beauty.
Xenia was dressed elegantly for the evening in a red evening gown, which portrayed her as both regal and alluring. While there were undoubtedly other beautiful women in the crowd, in this moment, Xenia outshone them all.
She wore a gentle smile on her face, different from the seductive allure that Jake had seen before. This time, she exuded a sense of grace and sophistication, yet her charm remained undiminished, if not enhanced. Xenia approached the stage, curtsied gracefully to the audience, and delivered a brief thank-you speech. Afterward, the party officially began.
"I wonder who Miss Xenia will choose to dance with for her second dance tonight," a young man beside Jake said, his eyes eagerly fixed on Xenia dancing with her father on stage. He turned to his companion and said, "If I could be the one, I'd gladly give up a year of my life."
Typically, at such events, the first dance was reserved for a father-daughter dance, but the second dance partner Xenia would choose was a matter of great curiosity and anticipation for many attendees.
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