Chapter 426 Something Will Happen Soon
8:00 PM, Swan Villa.
Swan Villa was indeed diagonally across from Leo Villa, but separated by a lake several hundred feet in diameter and located on the edge of a wetland park. It couldn't compare to Leo Villa at all.
Bruce had just bought this villa in the morning for a cool hundred million dollars as a birthday gift for Coralie, celebrating her rise to the top of Cloud Sound's popularity charts.
Seeing that the villa had everything she needed, Coralie insisted on celebrating her birthday there.
So Bruce and Marigold hurriedly moved in and invited some friends over.
Coralie also invited her best friends and colleagues.
By the time James arrived, Swan Villa was already bustling with noise. Dozens of men and women were chatting and laughing loudly, clearly having a great time.
When they saw James, many people quieted down a bit, curiously glancing at him.
James, dressed in casual clothes, stood out like a sore thumb among the stylish crowd, like a country duck among swans.
"James, you made it!" Coralie beamed as she walked up to greet him.
She was dressed in Givenchy, with La Perla stockings and Floral Elegance shoes, exuding a captivating fragrance.
James smiled and nodded. "Hey, Coralie."
"Welcome." Coralie's smile was radiant. "I was worried you wouldn't come tonight."
As she became more successful and the Howard family grew wealthier, the gap between her and James widened. She was concerned that James might feel too inferior to attend the party.
"Today you moved in, and it's your birthday. How could I not come to celebrate?"
James handed over his gift. "Happy birthday, Coralie."
It was a black plastic bag, seemingly containing a book.
"Thank you. Come in and chat." Coralie took the black bag and led James inside without opening the gift, clearly not expecting anything impressive. It was probably something like a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale.
Although James had been treated well by Daryl last time, surprising her family, Coralie felt it was just a friendly gesture, unlikely to benefit her directly.
Besides, even if James had connections with Daryl, it couldn't compare to her earnings from live streaming.
James asked, "Where's Uncle Bruce? How's his headache?"
"He's upstairs entertaining some Mystic Alliance executives." Coralie was proud. "He's been on a roll lately, signing over a dozen deals with Mystic Alliance, making more in a year than he used to in three."
"His headaches have also improved. He doesn't wake up in pain at night anymore."
"James, feel free to look around." Coralie gestured around the villa. "The house is a bit small, but the environment is nice."
"I toured several places before deciding on this villa, and it cost us a hundred million dollars."
"I scraped together twenty million, and the rest I borrowed from my dad."
"Even though he didn't charge me interest, eighty million dollars will take years to pay off. It's a lot of pressure."
Having contributed twenty million dollars to the purchase, Coralie felt a sense of accomplishment, once again feeling like a standout among her peers.
James took a serious look around and then smiled. "Not bad. This villa is great."
Coralie remembered something. "By the way, after this month, I probably won't be working at Wish Group anymore."
"Although the salary is good, it doesn't compare to live streaming. An hour of streaming can earn me what I'd make in a year at Wish Group."
"I've convinced my parents, and I'll focus on streaming. But don't worry, I'll make sure Vance takes good care of you."
She looked at James and advised, "Even though you've had some luck with deals lately, I think it's better to keep a steady job."
James smiled. "Alright, I'll think about it."
Just then, a few figures approached, wearing shawls, short skirts, and stockings, exuding an air of arrogance and a strong fragrance.
One of the glamorous women blocked their path, looking at James with a sneer.
"Coralie, you're quite the socialite now. Why do you bring just anyone into your home?"
"Have some taste. Otherwise, no matter how much money you make, you'll still be a country bumpkin."
The women with her giggled, all looking at James with amusement.
James looked up. The woman had decent looks, heavy makeup, and a short skirt, flaunting her style.
Coralie whispered, "That's Ivy Price, one of my mom's big clients and her best friend."
James narrowed his eyes slightly. Ivy's hostility was clearly instigated by someone, likely Marigold. She was worried about James getting too close to Coralie but couldn't insult him directly out of respect for Bruce.
James politely greeted, "Hello, Ms. Price."
"Do you have no shame? A beautiful woman like me is out of your league."
"Coralie, get rid of him." Ivy looked down on him. "If you don't like Mr. Murphy, I can introduce you to some rich young men who will show you what a good man is."
"Ms. Price, what are you saying?" Coralie frowned. "James is a family friend and colleague. He even helped my dad with his headaches."
"And today is a special day. As a guest, please show some respect."
Although Coralie thought James was a bit of a bumpkin, she still cared about his feelings.
"Respect him? He needs to earn my respect." Ivy sneered. "He's penniless, came from Rosewood City to Glowing Oasis, living off your dad, relying on you for a job. The most embarrassing thing is, he pretends to be rich."
She pointed to Leo Villa across the lake. "Everyone in Glowing Oasis knows that's the Rivera family's villa, yet he shamelessly claims it's his."
The women gasped, looking at James with disdain.
Coralie was about to say something, but James stopped her with a smile.
For a woman like Ivy, James felt it was best to handle it himself.
"James, right?" Ivy continued to belittle him. "I heard you're poor, your family runs a trucking business and a coffee shop, and you can't even find a job!"
"You're out of your league with Coralie. If you know what's good for you, leave. This place isn't for you."
Her friends giggled, their eyes full of mockery.
At this moment, Vance, hearing the commotion, rushed over with some people. Hearing Ivy's words, he got excited.
He joined in, pointing at James, not hiding his contempt at all. "James, did you hear that? You're a loser. You don't belong here. Get lost and stop bothering Coralie."
"Shut up! This is my villa, and you have no right to kick James out!" Coralie couldn't help but shout.
James gently waved her off with a smile. "Coralie, don't be angry."
He rubbed his nose, looking at Ivy and Vance. "There's no need to be angry with people who are about to have problems."
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