Chapter 694 Playful
Despite all the complaining Barrett could muster, deep down, he genuinely admired Oliver for both his abilities and character.
Barrett had known Oliver for a long time, even before everyone thought Mr. Windsor was just someone disfigured obsessed with gossip.
Barrett faced challenges during his youth, struggling academically and frequently engaging in fights, causing disruptions and needing Oliver or Isaac to help him out. He relied on them to avoid the consequences his father would bring if he found out, likely leading to serious repercussions.
Mr. Sinclair recognized his son's tendency for mischief, yet he saw the ability to resolve the resulting issues as a skill. Additionally, being connected with Oliver and his group had its advantages, especially with his elder son effectively managing the family business.
Barrett quickly finished his meal and arranged the venue for the afternoon's gathering, then reached out to those he wanted to invite.
After having brunch, Natalie spritzed herself with a grassy floral perfume.
The venue was set at a well-known estate in the Paykston suburbs, a place that had opened just last year, marking Natalie's first visit. The estate offered a range of entertainment options such as golf, boating, karaoke, shooting, and even paragliding.
"Mr. Windsor, right this way!"
“Mr. Windsor!”
"Natalie! Natalie ah!"
A group of young men and women had already arrived, chatting and sipping coffee in small clusters. As Oliver and Natalie approached, greetings flew their way. Most of the attendees were people that Natalie had met before.
Among them were former "teammates" from a summer camp, and the rest were socialites and well-to-do sons of Paykston's elite. Even if they hadn't met directly, they'd seen each other at various social functions.
Upon seeing Natalie and Oliver arrive hand in hand, Mia was thrilled and excited. She instantly became as spicy as jalapeño chicken.
Ethan, standing by her side, looked utterly numb and even thought about how to shut his silly wife up.
So, what in the world was on his mind when he agreed to give her an extra hundred thousand dollars in spending money to indulge in her fangirl crushes?
Natalie then realized that she and Oliver were the last to arrive, which made her feel somewhat apologetic. "I'm sorry, we're late," she said.
"No need to apologize, sis," one of them chuckled. "If you and Mr. Windsor arrived before us, then we'd be the ones feeling guilty!"
The others nodded in agreement.
Oliver casually draped an arm around Natalie's waist, unfazed by their reaction. It was exactly what he anticipated. If he wasn't mistaken, Barrett must have deliberately pushed back the meeting time he gave to him and Natalie by half an hour to give the others enough time.
"Natalie, I heard you're a whiz at bridge, how about we play a round?" a bright and handsome young man eagerly suggested.
Mia, not so much defending her master but her idol, interjected, "Mr. Kensington, everyone knows how good you are at bridge. Isn't that like picking on Natalie?"
This Mr. Kensington was a notorious "card shark" within the Paykston crowd, who had just returned from graduate studies abroad. To him, there were no ‘beauties’, only cards.
Mr. Kensington laughed, "Sister-in-law, don't be a coward! Mr. Windsor's loaded, and you don't even have to count! I remember you won eight million from Barrett right at the beginning."
"What do you mean I lost eight million right at the beginning? Was that all my money? Weren't other people involved in that?" Barrett rolled his eyes dramatically, "And Kensington, you come back from abroad and you've stopped being decent, haven't you?"
Natalie was amused by their banter and turned to look at Oliver. Both friends were on either side, and whether they would play or not was mainly up to Oliver. As for her, she was indifferent to it.
"Just play, I'm not short on cash," Oliver said with a hint of a smirk, looking like he was ready to throw money around generously.
The others who hadn't been part of the high society gathering were confused and shocked, "What did we just hear?!"
Mr. Windsor had said "Your husband!"
"Does Mr. Kensington know how to play Dominoes?" Natalie asked.
Being known as the "little gambling god," of course, Mr. Kensington knew how to play Dominoesand he nodded.
"Then how about we play Dominoes?" Natalie suggested, "Honestly, I'm getting a little tired of playing bridge."
Oliver couldn't help but lift the corners of his lips once again. His precious lady was dishing out sly comments; he must be taking good care of her.
The others, once more, were astonished.
Mr. Windsor was smiling?
Mr. Windsor was truly smiling, and not a sneer?
Some felt that this was a once-in-a-lifetime sight.
Only those who had attended couples summer camp with them weren't surprised and even felt they had been force-fed a mouthful of dog food, so to speak.
The group waited for the staff to bring over the table and the domino tiles.
Mr. Kensington pulled Barrett aside, quietly asking about Oliver and Natalie's situation.
"They don't really look like they're still in the chasing or being chased phase, do they?" Mr. Kensington mused, "And wasn't today's gathering supposed to celebrate the two of them making up?"
Barrett finally found a sense of accomplishment in something he was well-informed about, "They went to a couples summer camp together, what does that tell you about their relationship?"
Participating in a couple’s summer camp surely meant they were back together.
"But why not just say it outright?!" Mr. Kensington couldn't understand.
Barrett asked him, "How do you feel right now?"
Mr. Kensington admitted, "Played."
Barrett replied with conviction, "Then your gut is spot on."
"No, but why, honestly? Mr. Windsor can't be that boring, can he? I don't buy it," Mr. Kensington remarked.
"It's just marital pleasure. Could you understand? Anybody whose life revolves solely around cards wouldn't get it," Barrett teased.
"Come on, stick to the point. Why the personal attack?" Mr. Kensington retorted, his pride pricked by his childhood friend's jab, "I play cards to win money, okay? It's a career!"
Barrett couldn't suppress an eager smile.
An hour later…
Mr. Kensington watched his chips continuously slide over to Natalie's side of the table until he was finally down to his last dollar, metaphorically speaking.
"No way, sister-in-law, are you pulling my leg? Haven't you played Dominoes before?" Mr. Kensington remembered how Mr. Windsor was coaching Natalie in the game earlier, back when he still thought Mr. Windsor and his wife were just going to lose some easy money.
Natalie gave a small, confident smile, "It's my first time, but it's honestly not that hard."
Mr. Kensington was at a loss for words.
What? Dominoes is not that hard? Yet you’re playing it so well… “easy”? Are you kidding me?
Seeing Mr. Kensington's life-questioning expression, Mia and the well-heeled crowd burst into laughter.
Oliver, sitting beside Natalie, counted her chips and said, "For Natalie, cards are simpler than teaching oneself the Sanskrit scriptures."
A tender softness touched the normally stoic man's eyes as they rested on the elegant woman holding her tiles with her right hand. He even seemed proud as he spoke.
A question mark symbolically formed above Mr. Kensington's head, "Wait, what? Sanskrit? Are we talking about the same scriptures I'm thinking of?"
Oliver explained to Natalie, "Mr. Kensington and Barrett are on the same level."
Natalie understood. Although Barrett and Mr. Kensington had average academic achievements, good EQ, and personality. They still were no match for Oliver and her. Natalie and Oliver were of a different caliber.
People like them couldn't comprehend why someone might be able to teach themselves Sanskrit and the Buddhist scriptures.
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