Chương 16: The Gardens

Amelie took a sip of white wine and looked at the rectangular screen of the old mobile phone. She hadn't received a message from the mysterious man since that day and wondered whether she should text him first to find out how long she was supposed to hold onto this "valuable" item.

Perhaps it was the wine that gave her a bit of extra courage, but Amelie's fingers moved on their own. She finally pressed the send button, delivering a message to the enigmatic recipient.

"Why did you say your name was Captain Pantaloons?"

The man replied almost immediately.

"It is the name of one very annoying dog who is being treated like a king."

That message was quickly followed by another one.

"Do you want to know who I am?"

"I do, but I won't insist if it's uncomfortable for you."

His reply was only a smiling face emoji, and Amelie thought their conversation was over. Suddenly, the phone vibrated once again.

"I am one of the guests for the benefit."

Amelie's eyes widened in shock. Her assistant Anna handled the guest accommodations at the Emerald Hotel, but for security reasons, all guests were registered under aliases. If Amelie wanted to find out who they were, she would have to go through their credit card history. Given that most people used company-wide accounts to pay for business trips, this would be a tedious task.

And even then, what would it give her?

Her busy mind was interrupted by yet another message notification.

"If that helps, my room number hasn't changed."

Amelie felt more disappointed than intrigued. She couldn't believe the man staying in the suite next to hers was one of their guests all along. Not only had she failed to greet him properly, but she had also been rude to him on the phone, and now, she was being too casual with her messages.

It was embarrassing.

Still, the man's behavior was equally rude, and it was already too late to change her own attitude.

"How shameless of you to put me in such a difficult position! You should have told me who you were right away."

His immediate reply was just as brazen.

"No, it's more fun this way."

Amelie scoffed and shook her head. He was right; it was fun.

***

Since the benefit was taking place at the Emerald Hotel's VIP venue, Amelie spent all her time in her office there. The hectic preparations for the event's opening night demanded her constant presence, and after her message exchange with her mysterious "friend," she felt too anxious to overlook any detail related to the important guests staying at the hotel.

As she was scanning one of the financial reports, Anna Hayden knocked on her door and entered once Amelie granted permission.

"Mrs. Ashford, Mr. Liam Bennett is here to see you."

Caught off guard, Amelie almost dropped the papers on the floor. She instantly recalled their first encounter, and hot blood rushed to her cheeks.

She felt embarrassed to face him, but at the same time, there was no way she could refuse to see him. She had already managed to neglect one important guest; she wouldn't make the same mistake again.

"Please ask him to come in."

Anna nodded and invited Liam into Amelie's office.

The moment he stepped inside, the room filled with the assertive scent of his cologne—a leathery aroma mixed with woody undertones. She found his scent soothing, yet somewhat hypnotizing.

The initial discomfort brought on by his presence instantly dissolved when Liam stretched his lips into a warm smile, addressing Amelie in the most friendly tone.

"Hello, Miss Ashford! I heard you were extremely busy preparing for the benefit, so I came here to be an even bigger burden!"

Amelie arched her eyebrows. "Pardon? And it's Mrs. Ashford."

"I consider it a crime to be cooped up in the office all day when the weather is so wonderful! I came here to steal you... No, to ask you to take a walk with me and show me around the hotel. It's so beautiful and vast that I feel like I need some guidance or else I will get lost."

Mrs. Ashford's confusion lingered. It was true that the Emerald Hotel was more of a city resort than a mere hotel, but it wasn't so grand as to require a personal tour. The designated members of the personnel could have done that in her stead if needed.

Nevertheless, given that Liam Bennett was one of the most influential figures in the business world, she had to be attentive to his request. And she had to admit, she did need a break.

"Very well, let me show you around then."

Their tour inside the hotel was brief because Mr. Bennett was already quite familiar with its interior. Instead, they headed straight for the hotel's most famous feature—the flower gardens.

As they walked in the shade cast by the tall, meticulously tended trees, Amelie found herself overwhelmed with strange feelings. With her busy and hectic life, she couldn't remember the last time she had come here and actually appreciated the garden's beauty, despite it being part of her own domain. She almost felt regretful.

Amelie was instantly jolted out of her calm state when she heard a familiar female voice calling out her name.

"Mrs. Ashford!"

She turned to her right and saw Samantha rushing towards her.

'What the hell is she doing here?' Amelie furrowed her eyebrows as Samantha came to a halt before them, breathing heavily as she tried to catch her breath.

"Hello! I had no idea you'd be here, another pleasant coincidence," Samantha said cheerfully.

Mrs. Ashford didn't reply, her eyes narrowing slightly. Samantha, however, seemed uninterested in Amelie's reaction. Instead, she turned her attention to Liam and smiled brightly. "Good afternoon. My name is Samantha Blackwood. I'm a friend of Mr. Richard Clark."

Liam quietly examined her appearance with his sharp gray eyes, taking in the new presence with an unreadable expression.

'Richard Clark's friend? Ahh... I see.'

He, too, offered her a polite smile and nodded. "Liam Bennett, nice to meet you."

They shook hands, and Amelie noticed Samantha blushing. This time, it wasn't an act—she was genuinely flustered to meet Liam.

Recalling her husband's words, Amelie decided to let Samantha be. Being rude to her in front of Mr. Bennett really wasn't worth it.

She forced a smile and looked at Liam. "Mr. Bennett is the youngest son of the Bennett family and is about to inherit the Diamond Group. He has just returned from abroad."

Samantha's eyes lit up with excitement. "From abroad? Where were you exactly?"

Liam chuckled. "Just... all around Europe."

"Wow, I've always wanted to visit Europe! Do you mind telling me how it was living there? I can show you around, and we can get to—"

Suddenly, Liam cut her off with an unexpectedly cold tone. "I'm sorry... Miss Blackwood, was it? I was in the middle of my walk with Miss Ashford, and our conversation isn't one that involves someone I have just met. Please excuse us."

He gently touched Amelie's arm and quickly led her away, leaving Samantha alone and completely bewildered.

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Chương 17: The Benefit

Amelie couldn't tell how long they had been wandering around the garden. The uncomfortable silence between them made every minute feel like an eternity.

She glanced at Liam, noticing that his usually bright and cheerful face was now dark and serious. It dawned on her that he, too, knew how to put on a mask when necessary.

'I guess no one can avoid this. People of our status learn to be fake just as naturally as they learn to walk or read,' she thought.

Suddenly, Liam let out a dramatic sigh and, with an obviously feigned upset voice, asked, "Miss Ashford, what do you think about me?"

Amelie stopped and raised her eyebrows, giving him a surprised look. The question caught her off guard, but she took a moment to consider her response.

"I'm not sure... Are you interested in my first impression of you or what kind—"

Liam only laughed.

"No, do you find me handsome at all?"

Amelie was dumbfounded once again. What kind of question was that?

Although she found it rather ridiculous, she couldn't help but feel flustered. His handsomeness made her way too nervous; it was unnerving and very embarrassing.

Liam noticed Amelie's pink cheeks and laughed again; his laughter made Mrs. Ashford think that he was easily amused.

He continued, "You looked too uncomfortable after seeing that woman, so I thought I'd try to cheer you up with my shenanigans."

Then, his face turned serious again, as if he were a completely different person. He turned around and examined the spot where they had met Samantha, his dark eyes scanning the area before he broke the silence once more, "So she is your husband's 'friend'? Mr. Richard Clark must be a very... strange man."

Amelie gave him a curious look. "Strange? What do you mean by that?"

Liam didn't say anything for a while, offering her only a somewhat melancholic smile. A sudden gust of wind fluttered his black hair, making it feel like they both were in a romantic movie scene.

'This... Right now... He looks even more beautiful,' Amelie thought, feeling embarrassed by her own bold thoughts. Fortunately, the wind caught her hair as well, sending her long, fair locks dancing around her face like ribbons, hiding her blushing cheeks.

Liam gently tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear and smiled lightly. "One would have to be completely blind to push a woman like you away. That's why I find him strange."

Amelie's heart skipped a beat. Her entire body felt hot while her mind went completely blank.

Why would he say something like that? To him, it might be just casual flirting, something he was used to, but to her... Especially now, those words meant the whole world.

Liam resumed their walk and said in a rather endearing voice, "I hope I can hover around you during the benefit, Miss Ashford. I'm all alone here, you see; I didn't care enough to make any friends."

His emphasis on the word "friends" made Amelie feel at ease again. Finally, her face brightened, and she, too, was able to laugh.

Liam stretched his lips into a wide smile and gently touched Amelie's arm, inviting her to continue their walk.

***

The first night of the benefit was traditionally the most extravagant of all. This year, it featured ballroom dancing accompanied by live music from one of the country's most renowned musicians.

Guests could either donate money upon arrival or "pay" for a dance with a partner of their choice. They could do both, with the dance contributions adding to their initial donations.

As the event was organized by the JFC Group, Amelie and Richard, as always, were assigned the roles of hosts, greeting the guests together, side by side.

The atmosphere was charged with excitement; the setting, meticulously designed by Amelie's hired team, along with the evening's elegant concept, transported the guests back in time, evoking a sense of meaningful nostalgia. This event, like all its predecessors, was poised for memorable success.

Once the official greetings were finally over, Richard spotted Samantha in the crowd and went to her, leaving his wife completely alone.

"Sam, I asked you not to wear high heels tonight. Are you sure your leg is fine?" he asked her with evident concern.

Samantha smiled and nodded. "Of course it's fine! Thanks to your care, I was able to recover very quickly!"

Their saccharine exchange of words reached Amelie's ears, and she couldn't help but feel abandoned. Nevertheless, she knew she couldn't show it; there was no need for unwanted attention. Not tonight.

"Lily, everything looks amazing!" Elizabeth's voice brought Amelie back to her senses. "As always, you have done an incredible job with this place! You have no rivals when it comes to organizing such important events."

"Thank you, Lizzy." Mrs. Ashford offered her friend a smile, but in truth, she wasn't happy at all. For the first time in her life, she felt like a stranger in such a familiar place.

Suddenly, Elizabeth nudged her lightly and asked, "Is that who I think it is? Liam Bennett?"

As if out of nowhere, two more of her close friends appeared beside her. Emily Crane gasped and shook her head. "Gosh, such a gorgeous face! I wouldn't mind taking him as my lover. In fact, it would be a crime if I didn't!"

Lauren Weil joined in. "Do you think all the rumors about him are true? I wonder if he'll leave this hall with another one of his future ex-girlfriends by his side."

"Regardless of his reputation, he's still next in line to inherit the Diamond Group," Elizabeth added. "Imagine being the woman who inherits all that wealth with him. I honestly wouldn't care if he cheats on me as long as I have all that money and power behind me."

Elizabeth's remark was cold, but it still managed to make her friends laugh.

Amelie listened to their conversation silently while watching Liam mingle with other people in the middle of the hall. Suddenly, their eyes met, and Liam winked at her in his usual playful manner. Once again, Amelie felt flustered, her cheeks turning red and hot.

"Excuse me, girls, I should go check on the other guests," she said, smiling at her friends before stepping aside to mingle with the rest of the crowd. As she walked through the expansive venue, she couldn't help but overhear people talking about her husband's new "friend."

Amelie stopped to take a glass of wine from a passing waiter when she was approached by Mr. Godard, one of Richard's business partners. He greeted her rather casually before finally asking, "I'm sorry, Mrs. Ashford, but did you really make a joint donation with that woman?"

Amelie's eyes widened in shock. "Excuse me?"

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