Chapter 22 The Kind You’d Share a Bed With?
<Chapter>Chapter 22 The Kind You’d Share a Bed With? </Chapter>
Rewind to the morning.
Damian had just wrapped up a meeting, right on schedule when his grandfather's call came through.
He suspected there might be a mole planted by his grandfather among his staff.
"I apologize if I seem persistent, but I must reiterate; At seven o'clock today, Trinity and you need to meet; we can't put this off much longer."
Damian spent the whole day buried in documents and staring at his computer until his eyes ached with fatigue. He rubbed his temples, eyes shut, as faint worry lines emerged on his forehead, “And you're not concerned she might stand me up?" he questioned, skepticism shading his tone.
Anthony Hearst's voice boomed with confidence, "This meeting is largely orchestrated by the Bezos family. Do you really think she'd bail on you?"
"If that's the case, why should I worry?" Damian replied, the hint of a smirk playing on his lips, “You've taught me since I was a kid, Grandpa, to carry myself with poise, always aiming high. I think I've learned my lesson pretty well."
Anthony Hearst couldn't help but feel that in the art of ruffling feathers, his grandson was displaying a flair reminiscent of his younger self, “Fortunes ebb and flow. The Bezos clan is on the rise, who knows; they might just give KM a run for their money. When you're on the way up, never look down on your opponent. Should you stumble, you might cross paths with them again."
Damian raised an eyebrow in surprise. Grandpa had picked up on such tactics; instead of the direct approach, he was advocating for a smoother, more diplomatic strategy, “KM might slow down, but it's not heading downhill."
"You say that because you're young," Anthony Hearst scoffed.
"It's the young who have the drive. I focus on success, not failure."
"The days of going solo are over, my boy. Now, it's all about strategic alliances."
"I've always thought only monkeys moved in hordes. The true powerhouses stand alone."
His grandfather's tone hardened, “You've got the wolf's instinct and the tiger's courage; that's commendable. But the business world is a jungle; it's the ocean's depths. If you can have others dive for you, why plunge in yourself? The truly capable never leads the charge into battle. Why else would you have an army at your disposal?"
With Grandpa's sage knowledge dripping from his words, Damian knew better than to challenge him. Their generational gap and the times in which they were raised rendered resistance pointless.
"I'll be on time," Damian assured.
Anthony Hearst finally relaxed. He worried his grandson was pulling another stunt; he had a history of that, “Be polite, keep it light. It's just dinner, not a business negotiation; no need to be too stern."
"What, should I fake a smile too?" Damian shot back, half-amused and half-irritated.
"Don’t. That would only make you look weird," Anthony retorted directly.
Ending the call, Damian's brow furrowed in thought.
He could have a weird smile? He looked at the dark phone screen, which faintly reflected his face, and tentatively attempted a smile.
Before a grin could fully form, he felt a strong sense of discomfort and abruptly set the phone down on his table with a clatter.
Damian had been part of the company's top decision-making process in his twenties, always surrounded by those older and more experienced. He had cultivated an air of maturity beyond his years, always composed and strict.
Smile? That was a rarity.
Near dinner time, there was a knock on the door of Damian's office.
Thomas came over with his briefcase in his hands, "Mr. Hearst."
Damian replied, "Speak."
Two days earlier, Damian had arranged for him to go to North City to look into Trinity, who had studied there for four years before going abroad to further her studies. As for other details of her, he had never paid attention to them before.
Since he promised his grandfather to try to know her first, he must do some work about it, clearly.
Thomas opened the briefcase, and there was a thick pile of documents and photos, at the top of which was Trinity's resume, a photo of her college days pasted in the upper right corner, a young and beautiful face, long hair, bangs, light makeup, and a Van Cleef & Arpels pendant under her hair.
Girls in their teens and twenties are quite delicate in their own making.
"She's had a strong academic record and even earned a full scholarship at one point. She had helped hold several events; she is quite sociable and has a wide circle of friends. Her involvement in extracurricular activities is impressive; she's no stranger to the bar scene, not a bad drinker. She once impressively finished a bottle of vodka. She has also helped her father establish a number of business partnerships by using her connections."
Damian's brow tilted upward, "And?"
Thomas opened the stack below, "She had dated two boys in college, the first is the son of Bradly Pharmaceutical’s boss, and the second is the younger son of Kingsley Garment’s owner, the reason for the breakups is unknown; she was abroad at the time, it seems that she had unpleasant quarrels with them, and there was a fight."
"Two boyfriends in four years; she wasn't single for the majority of the time," Damian stated.
Thomas thought to himself that it was common for young people these days to have three or five relationships. Two was actually on the lower side. But think about their CEO, approaching thirty and only married once, with that sole romantic experience... Best left unsaid.
Thomas said, “These two exes, their information is here. Nothing outstanding, both are working in their family businesses, keeping a low profile.”
Damian couldn’t be bothered to look. He knew of Bradly and Kingsley, though he hadn’t met them personally. Their fathers were acquaintances, and they would have to respectfully address him as Mr. Hearst if they saw him.
Noticing the time, Thomas suggested, “Shall we head out now?”
Damian wasn’t paying attention to the time. It was the slowly sinking twilight outside the window that reminded him how time was slipping by. “What’s the rush? Let her wait. It’ll also show us how sincere the Bezos family is about this union.”
Thomas sneaked a glance at his watch. It was seven o’clock. It would take about ten minutes to get there, which was fine.
This shows his style as a boss, arrogantly taking things for granted. After all, in both work and life, there were plenty of people eager to curry favor with him, each one seemingly wishing they could prove their loyalty. Why would he need to make the first move?
Two imposing men, one seated and one standing, remained in silence as they admired the sunset through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The splendid urban view sprawled below them, yet each had their own thoughts.
After a stretch of quiet, Damian asked, "Is Jessica back yet?"
Jessica had performed hypnosis for him the other night and mentioned a business trip. Since then, Damian hadn't reached out for another session. Jessica had checked in once, but he had glanced at the message and forgotten to reply. By the time he remembered, it felt too late, so he let it be.
"Jessica lands at nine tonight. Would you like to make an appointment with her? The usual setup at home?" Thomas inquired.
"No, I will just have a short chat with Trinity. Have Jessica meet me at the restaurant," Damian instructed.
"Will do, I'll shoot her a message."
Damian left his place at 7:30 p.m. with a calm demeanor, enjoying an unhindered drive to his destination.
As his car pulled up, the restaurant manager hurried over, “Mr. Hearst, it’s been a while since your last visit."
Striding inside, Damian asked with light footsteps, "Are there any new dishes or treats?"
The manager responded, "For someone who's savored delicacies from around the world like yourself, surprising you is quite the challenge. Though, we've added a few seasonal dishes to the menu, if you'd care to try them."
Crossing the corridor to the pavilion and dining area, Damian simply said, "It's a lady friend joining me tonight, Use your judgment."
The manager hesitated, casting a helpless glance at Thomas, wondering what he meant, a friend-friend, or the kind you’d share a bed with?
Thomas, sparing the manager’s puzzled look, whispered, "The Bezos Group heiress."
Skilled in reading the room, with that clue, the manager thanked Thomas with a nod, his eyes conveying a promise of future favors.
Thomas waved him off, and the manager dashed away to prepare.
The dining area had an open view, with customers visible from the outside and every detail of the ambiance visible to those inside, a specific design requested by Damian. Dining wasn't just about the food; it was about the surroundings and the mindset. Most people he invited here were clients, partners, or rivals, and nothing escaped his observant eye.
Naturally, when Damian dined here, the expansive area was closed off to other guests.
Trinity was there, savoring tea and the view, unhurried. She had Damian's contact but didn't press him. Considerately, she had waited over forty minutes.
At last, she heard footsteps on the cobblestone pathway. The last of the sunset hung over his shoulder against the backdrop, creating a soaring silhouette reminiscent of a figure from a picture. The lantern light was adjusted such that the face, which was both strange and familiar, seemed elegant and poised.
