Chapter 187: A Dinner Meeting or a Set-up?
Ryder Clark waited by the entrance, his mind replaying the events that had unfolded in the private room.
The more he thought about it, the more something seemed off.
But he couldn’t exactly pinpoint what was bothering him.
While he was lost in thought, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
Turning around, Ryder was greeted by a woman with striking makeup, wearing a low-cut tank top, denim shorts, black stockings, and strappy high heels.
Her figure was undeniably appealing, curves and all, accentuated in the right places.
Her perfume was also very overpowering.
Although she had more than average looks, the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes hinted that this woman was around thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old. The prime of life, some would say.
The woman broke the ice. "Are you Ryder Clark?"
Ryder Clark nodded. "Yes, I am. And you are?"
With a sly, captivating smile, the woman replied, "I'm the guest your father-in-law welcomed downstairs. Name's Mary. Just call me 'Aunt Mary,' okay?"
Ryder thought to himself that, given her age, 'Aunt Mary' was indeed a more fitting address. Although he thought it, he certainly wouldn't say it.
"Alright! Let's head upstairs, everyone's waiting for us there,” he said.
No sooner had he finished speaking when Mary suddenly 'tripped' and fell right into Ryder's arms.
Ryder instinctively caught Mary, his hands inadvertently landing on something he should not have touched. He quickly retreated and coughed. "Mary, are you alright?"
Mary, unfazed, stood straight and teased, "Whoa! I wouldn't have guessed, but you're pretty strong for your age. Lucky for me, these are the real deal; otherwise, you might've just popped them!"
Ryder's face flushed with embarrassment. This woman was bold!
She was acting so brazen in public! But Mary simply gave him a flirtatious glance and said, "Come on, let's not joke around anymore. Let's go inside."
With lingering awkwardness, Ryder led the way.
Ryder didn't know that, Karen was across the street from the Moon Bay Hotel, at that very moment, surreptitiously snapping pictures with her phone of Ryder catching Mary, then walking into the hotel together.
After checking the photos to ensure they were clear, Karen messaged Sarah Johnson. "Honey, hurry home! Got something super important to tell you! ASAP!"
The message sent, Karen looked at the Moon Bay Hotel, eyes narrowing with a cold smirk. ‘Oh, Ryder Clark! If Sarah doesn't divorce you after this, I'll write my name backwards! And your fortune is all going to be ours!’
...
Ryder led Mary to the private dining room.
Ernest Johnson and the others had already ordered the food.
More than a dozen dishes and a considerable array of drinks filled the table.
Ryder asked, puzzled, "Why did we get drinks too?"
Ernest Johnson declared with a chuckle, "Hey! What's a dinner without a few drinks, right? Can you even call it a gathering if the glasses stay dry?"
He winked at Mary as he spoke.
Mary hastily chimed in and added, "This round's a must—we're all old friends who haven't caught up in ages!
“Besides, we've heard so much about you from Boss Su... er, I mean, from Big Sis Sue. We've been eager to toast to you, the standout son-in-law. We can't skip the drinks!"
Seeing the group's enthusiasm, Ryder Clark couldn't help but agree, though his confusion deepened.
Truth be told, it wasn't that he preferred dry dinners; it was because Karen had set strict rules in the past, forbidding Ernest from drinking when he was out.
One time Ernest had stealthily snuck a couple of drinks and returned home with less than two shots in his system. Karen had smelled the alcohol on him and slapped him twice, punishing Ernest by having him kneel at the doorstep all night long.
So, from then on, no matter what kind of dinner he attended, Ernest never came back reeking of booze.
Ernest being so eager to drink today raised suspicions that there might be hidden motives or messy affairs involved.
But Ryder didn’t address it— it was best to go with the flow and see where things led.
Everyone settled at the table and began to enjoy the meal.
Ernest even suggested that everyone turn off their cell phones to avoid any outside disturbances.
Curious, Ryder initiated a conversation. "Mr. Reed, Mr. Carter, and Mary... how are you related to my father-in-law? I don't recall him mentioning you before."
The three exchanged glances then looked at Ernest before answering in unison, "Oh, we... we were classmates!"
"Classmates?" Ryder nodded, suddenly enlightened. "So Sister Dan must be quite young, to have been in the same class as you two and my father-in-law. Someone might believe she's his daughter rather than a classmate!"
Ernest coughed to clear his throat and quickly clarified, "Well, actually, Mary was our junior. Mr. Reed, Mr. Carter, and I were the ones in the same class."
Mr. Reed and Mr. Carter both nodded in agreement.
"I see," Ryder continued. "So, Mr. Reed and Mr. Carter, since you were classmates with my father-in-law, you must have quite the stories. May I ask how you two distinguished yourselves, so I can admire your achievements?"
Faced with his relentless questions, Mr. Reed and Mr. Carter seemed uneasy and at a loss for words.
Ernest Johnson poured himself a drink and rose to his feet, facing Ryder Clark with a warm smile. "Hey buddy! Forget about work for now, your old man's treating you to dinner tonight, so I'm raising the first toast to you! Bottoms up!"
"Sounds like a plan!"
Ryder stood up, clinked glasses with Ernest, and downed his drink in one go.
After they finished, Ernest winked at Mary discreetly.
She got up and poured drinks for both Ryder and herself, cooing, "You were such a gent to come down and meet me, Ryder. This drink's on me, down it in one!"
"Sounds like a plan!"
They both polished off their glasses.
Then, Mr. Reed rose with a chuckle. "I've been hearing about Ryder's exceptional talent. Meeting you today has truly been extraordinary. Here's to you, son—drink up for respect!"
"Sounds like a plan!"
...
The drinking continued without pause.
More than an hour later…
The faces of Ernest, Mary, and the other "classmates" in the private room were flush with the warm glow of alcohol, their heads swirling with tipsiness.
But Ryder, who was across from them, was the picture of composure, showing no signs of drunkenness.
Seeing this, Ernest signaled to Mary with a look. Mary spoke to the group, "You guys go ahead and enjoy. I need to use the restroom. Be right back."
She left the room.
Ryder's eyes flickered. He rubbed his head, pretending to be utterly befuddled and said to Ernest, " I'm suddenly feeling dizzy and a bit sick. I'm going to the restroom to throw up; I'll be back to continue drinking with you all!"
"Alright, hurry back!"
Ryder staggered out of the room.
Outside the room, Ryder saw Mary's figure heading toward the stairwell, not the restroom.
With a sly smirk, he carefully followed her...
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