Chapter 154 Counterplay
Teresa's evening lecture ran from seven to nine. Before it started, Gabriel texted her the address for Kyle's birthday bash which was one of Kyle's villas.
Teresa glanced at the message, replied with a quick "I'll be there after class," and then muted her phone before heading for the class.
The party at Kyle's villa was set to kick off at 7:30 PM. Russell, Kyle’s younger brother, had thrown himself into organizing the event, which was impressively staged and boasted no small number of guests. After all, it was Kyle's thirtieth, a milestone birthday; not just the elite social circle but also the cream of the entertainment industry made an appearance.
To be invited to Kyle's party was a badge of honor for these celebrities, given that the Campbells family held sway over a good third of the entertainment industry.
Gabriel, a childhood friend of Kyle's and a scion of Capital Construction, struck a balance in his arrival, never too early, never too late, and certainly never absent. Skipping the event was out of the question, it would be taken as a slight to Kyle and the Campbells' honor. Such a mistake could sour the bonds between them.
Waiting for Teresa would mean turning up around ten, clearly too late. So, having wrapped up his tasks, Gabriel aimed for a punctual appearance, arriving at around 8:30 PM.
By then, the villa was already buzzing with energy. The grand space was swarming with lively guests and gorgeous people moving all about.
The moment word got out that Gabriel had arrived, the boisterous villa fell into a hush as all eyes turned toward the entrance.
"Gabriel, my buddy! We've all been waiting for you!" Russell, as the chief organizer, along with his clique of heirs of wealth who knew nothing beyond their lavish lifestyle, came forward to greet him, "Hey Gabriel!"
Gabriel stepped out of his car, straightening his blazer. He ignored the surroundings, his gaze locked solely on Russell as he asked, "Hey Russel, where's your brother?"
Indifferent to the barrage of curious glances cast his way, Gabriel didn't so much as acknowledge them.
"Heh... Kyle and Liam are upstairs playing poker, let me show you the way," Russell said with a nod, his obsequiousness a hundred percent genuine.
Everyone watched as Russell, the second-born heir of the Campbells clan, treated Gabriel with supreme deference. They didn't dare to approach, only watching from a distance.
After all, Gabriel's stature, looks, and aura were in a class of their own, unmatched by anyone present, not to mention his distinguished status.
Observing Russell, Gabriel gave a slight nod, buttoned up his suit jacket, and slipped a hand casually into his pocket as he confidently strode toward the three-story villa. Russell and his entourage scrambled to follow on his heels.
All eyes remained glued on Gabriel until he disappeared inside the house and took the elevator upstairs. Then, the chatter resumed as everyone started speculating amongst themselves.
The hot topic of the gossip was Gabriel and Teresa, the seemingly perfect couple. Why hadn't Gabriel brought Teresa to the party? Could it be that all the affection displayed online was just for show and their love wasn't as deep as it seemed?
In the third-floor lounge of the villa, the man of the hour, Kyle, puffed on a cigarette. He was playing poker with Liam and Aaron, each with a woman by their side.
Sitting next to Kyle was a newly famous young actress, a film academy student of just twenty. Next to Liam was the hottest starlet with Campbell’s enterprise; already acquainted with Liam, she was 28 or 29 but cunning and calculating. Always low-key in public, she'd held the reign as the queen of the entertainment industry for the last five years.
And then there was Aaron, accompanied by a genuine socialite lady, the same one he had been set up with on a blind date. Initially feeling they were a mismatch, Aaron changed his mind after spending the night with her. Now he was giving dating a go.
Before Gabriel's arrival, the twenty-year-old actress was draped limply over Kyle, one hand around him, while the other roamed a “danger” zone.
As for the starlets with the Campbell’s business, Kyle had been with more than a few, but it was typically a one-time affair. However, with this girl, who had risen to prominence, he had broken that rule twice. Hence, she saw her importance significantly elevated and was flirting at every opportunity with Kyle.
In the beginning, Kyle's mind was on the cards and talking shop with Liam, but gradually, her teasing drew a reaction. Tossing his cards aside and removing the cigarette dangling from his lips, Kyle squinted at her, who was practically burying her head in his chest, and exhaled a plume of pale smoke, "What's the rush?"
"Oh, stop it!" Helen pouted, immediately withdrawing her hand from the “Danger zone”.
Across the table, Aaron's companion glanced at Helen with a smirk of disdain in her eyes.
"Kyle, Gabriel's here," Russell's voice rang out excitedly from around the corner.
Everyone looked over almost simultaneously, and when they only saw Gabriel, without Teresa by his side, a fleeting look of disappointment crossed Liam's eyes, so brief that no one caught it.
