Chapter 18

When Alison left, Alexander happened to have something to do and offered to take her back to the city center on his way. Despite being in such a confined and cramped space together, Alison still felt somewhat uncomfortable and turned her head, pretending to look at the scenery outside.
As the car drove onto the asphalt road, Alexander looked ahead and spoke softly, "Is Billy pursuing you?"
"Huh?" Alison was surprised as she turned around. She didn't expect that Alexander would know about it too.
"I saw him giving you flowers outside Columbia University's gate that day," explained Alexander as if he knew what she was thinking.
"Oh!" Alison nodded slightly.
Alexander's handsome hand held onto the steering wheel while the noon sun shone on his profile, outlining his distinct jawline with a halo of radiance. He was both beautiful and noble-looking. His voice was low and slow as he continued speaking, "Before you consider Billy, I want to tell you something: Selina is Billy's cousin; Selina's mother is his aunt."
This revelation surprised Alison a bit- that's how it is!
Alexander said, "I don't know if Billy pursues you sincerely or not, but I feel responsible for telling you about their relationship. As for whether or not you agree to date him... that's up to your judgment."
Alison gazed out the window with beautiful eyes while her lips curved slightly upwards. "No need for judgment," she said happily. "I think he won't come looking for me again!"
"Hmm?" Alexander didn't understand what she meant but looked at her through the rearview mirror anyway.
Her eyebrows and eyelashes were very black; her lips were red while her teeth were white; there always seemed to be some makeup on her face, which made it look soft like baby fat when bathed in sunlight - one couldn't help but want to pinch it.
Alison didn't say anything. She just remembered something and smiled.
She was in a good mood when she got off the car and said goodbye to Alexander with a smile. Then, she bought two boxes of the popular starry sky candy at a dessert shop near school, took the bus back to Sag Harbor, got off at Cloud Avenue, and gave Coco one box of candy.
Back at the villa, she read books, played games, and teased Cooper - an afternoon passed quickly. Then, at six o'clock, Alison received a call from Hilda, who was already on her way there.
Half an hour later, Hilda drove her red Porsche sports car outside the villa. When she saw Alison coming out of the house, she took off her sunglasses and whistled at her, saying, "Hey, beauty! You look even more beautiful after not seeing you for only a few days!"
Alison's lips curved upwards as usual; she got into the car without changing expression.
Hilda pulled out several shopping bags from behind and stuffed them into Alison's arms. "My mom just came back from France today," said Hilda. "These are all gifts she bought for you: clothes, jewelry, and bags - take your pick."
Alison hugged everything tightly in her arms while smiling gratefully. "Please thank my godmother for me, but I don't usually need these things, so my mom doesn't have to buy them anymore."
Hilda turned around with regretful eyes while turning the steering wheel: "I told her that GK is all yours; do you need these? But my mother insisted that what belongs to oneself differs from what belongs to others! She wants to satisfy her desire to buy things, so please accept them directly."
A warm feeling flowed through Alison's heart; without saying anything else, she asked: "Where are we going?" A friend has opened a new restaurant and invited me to support it. So Taking you out for some delicious food would be an excellent opportunity! Under the setting sun, Hilda's smile was bright and confident.
Hilda's friend's restaurant is in the prime downtown location, with elegant decoration and bustling traffic outside the door. Upon entering, Hilda led Alison directly to the reserved private room.
The owner is a strong woman in her thirties named Jin Dan. She was Hilda's senior sister when they were studying abroad, and they have kept in touch since returning home. When Jin Dan found out Hilda had come, she warmly greeted her and helped them order their signature dishes and drinks.
The restaurant was busy with people constantly looking for Jin Dan, who had to leave but instructed Hilda to take care of Alison. The waiter quickly served their dishes, mainly seafood - premium abalone, salt-baked red conch shellfish, Boston lobster... all prepared exquisitely.
As they ate and chatted naturally about Alexander during dinner, Hilda became curious: "You've been going to see the Rosier family so many times; does Alexander not know about your relationship?"
Alison nodded calmly: "He doesn't."
Hilda couldn't help but laugh: "This is interesting! What do you think his expression would be if he found out?"
Thinking back on what he said at Ritz Hotel that night made Alison sigh: "Maybe he'll just throw me out!"
"That's why I told you to sleep with him first - seize the initiative!" Then, with calculating eyes full of confidence, Hilda continued: "With Alexander's physique and looks, we won't lose!"
Alison looked up at her skeptically: "Do you think sleeping with Alexander will be easy?"
Their first time together was purely accidental.
Hilda smiled mischievously: "My dear, you need to be confident! Or should I teach you some tricks?"
"No!" Alison immediately refused. "Those tricks are for men, not women. You can use them on Lucas instead."
Hilda laughed seductively: "I don't need any tricks with him!"
Alison nodded in agreement: "Lucas is the one who uses those tricks."
Halfway through their meal, Lucas called Hilda, and Alison was afraid they would talk about inappropriate topics, so she got up to go to the bathroom.
As she walked down the hallway and turned right, a man came out from the side corridor, followed by several people who were carefully trying to please him as they talked. Finally, the group arrived at the private room door, where someone opened it and let Alexander enter first.
More than ten people were sitting inside, including Billy Rosier, who stood up when he saw Alexander: "Mr. Rosier!"
"Mr. Rosier!"
Everyone respectfully greeted him.
Alexander had been away from New York for three years, but those around him still held him in awe, just like before.
Everyone in the private room stood up except for one person who didn't even look at Alexander once. Tianhai Zhao, next to him, smiled and said: "Mr. Hamilton, this is Mr.Rosier."
Billy finally stood up with his hands in his pockets, lazily smiling: "Mr.Rosier, I've heard so much about you!"
Alexander calmly sat opposite Billy without any waves or surprises as he replied politely: "Nice meeting you."
Everyone sat down again while pouring drinks and making small talk as if they were old friends reunited after a long time apart.
Tianhai Zhao raised his glass, laughing heartily, saying: "I've always wanted to invite Mr.Hamilton and Mr.Rosier together for dinner; today, we're lucky enough to have both of them here tonight."
Billy smiled meaningfully: "You should have told me earlier; I would've come. But, after all, we should've thrown a welcoming banquet for Mr. Rosier when he returned to the country."
Alexander remained calm and collected as he replied: "No need to be polite; we're all acquaintances."
Billy's smile deepened with hidden implications: "Yes, we are all acquaintances!"
The Rosier and Hamilton families cooperated in business while competing against each other. As a result, the Rosier family was the dominant force in New York, while the Hamilton family was equally ambitious.
When Billy was abroad, he had heard of Alexander before - both were heirs of their respective families, and it was only a matter of time before they would compete against each other.
Billy looked forward to that day, but when he returned home, Alexander had already left. So he waited three years until Alexander finally came back.
Everyone could sense the undercurrents between Alexander and Billy, so they spoke carefully to maintain a good atmosphere since neither could afford to offend anyone else.
...
Alison was washing her hands in the bathroom while two people behind her touched up their makeup and chatted. The woman in the blue dress laughed at the other person and said, "Linda, how did you manage to get into Warner Entertainment?"
The woman in white looked gentle and charming and replied with a warm smile, "I guess I was lucky."
"You kept it from me even though we're so close!" The woman in blue pouted and joked, "I heard that Alexander personally chose you. You're so lucky!"
She lowered her voice and asked teasingly, "Tell me, how did you sleep with him?"