Free Web NovelChapter 768: Chapter 739: Gage Grant vs. Maeve [001]
After sending Simon Forrester and his wife back to the Forrester Family’s old mansion, Gage Grant also returned to his own home. Having been the best man for two days in a row, sleeping late and getting up early, plus drinking, he was exhausted. He took off his suit jacket and plunged onto the large sofa in his room, not wanting to get up anymore.
He thought about how Logan Lockwood was currently lying on a massage bed, letting a masseuse knead away his fatigue. He was both envious and jealous, so he dug out his phone from his pocket and called Logan.
"Where are you? Have you started the massage?"
Logan on the other end said he was still on the road. With delight, Gage immediately said, "Not yet? Okay, come to my place and pick me up."
An hour later, Gage was lying face down on a massage bed in the most upscale club in the city, enjoying the delicate and boneless hands of the masseuse working on his tired muscles.
In the quiet room, the air was filled with a fragrance that soothed body and mind. The lighting was dim, and two massage beds were placed side by side.
Logan turned his head to look at Gage, "Didn’t we agree to come together in the first place? What was up with you just after the wedding banquet, going all crazy?"
Gage didn’t respond, closing his eyes to enjoy the moment.
Logan smirked and mimicked the righteous refusal Gage had made at the State Guesthouse earlier: "What nonsense are you talking? Who’s going out with you? I have work tomorrow! I’ll just go home and sleep! Not going anywhere!"
After mimicking him, he even rolled his eyes, "Getting slapped in the face, aren’t you?"
Gage’s head hurt from his nagging, so he turned away, not looking at him, and continued to enjoy it with his eyes closed.
Tonight was Simon Forrester and his wife’s wedding banquet, and he and Logan were the best men. They had gotten red envelopes from Old Master Forrester in the morning and agreed to get massages and relax after the banquet. But right at the entrance, Logan’s big mouth had everyone nearby find out about it. Actually, he didn’t mind others knowing. A massage—who hasn’t had one? But he didn’t know what got into him; he saw that girl named Maeve, and the words just slipped out without thinking.
That’s right, he remembered now. He was thinking of whether he could ask her out for a fleeting romance that night, which is why he hastily refused Logan in front of everyone.
Who knew, the girl left with her boyfriend.
Well, he definitely needed to relax then; can’t end up empty-handed on both fronts, right?
Late at night, people tend to get sentimental, especially since he had been hyped up all day. His mind kept recalling the slender girl with short auburn hair every few seconds.
She was smoking on the balcony, oblivious to everything... standing on stage with a guitar, eyes closed, singing softly.
She wasn’t even that pretty, so why was he so obsessed... what a strange thing.
-
Three months later
After a whole day of inspection, Gage declined the business owner’s dinner invitation, getting into the car as if escaping: "Chandler, drive! Quickly!"
"Yes, Vice Minister Grant."
The car drove far enough to leave the business people behind.
Gage let out a sigh of relief and called Jack Hawthorne: "What are you busy with tonight?"
Jack Hawthorne: "Having dinner with some people from Kingsbridge Properties."
Gage tugged at his tie and said, "Then take me with you. I happen to be free tonight."
Jack agreed readily on the other end, telling Gage to go straight to The Imperial Court. Just as he was about to hang up, he finally realized something and asked, "Hey, weren’t you visiting a company today?"
The implication being, the company should have hosted him, so why would Gage go to crash his dinner?
Remembering the last nightmare of a social event, Gage shivered and complained: "The boss of this company is as stingy as anything, and the girls they called were so low-grade, you’d think they came from Tayavan. Last time, one girl was as tall as me and kept trying to snuggle into my arms, it was fucking disgusting."
Jack laughed loudly on the other end: "Alright! Then just go straight to my room later! I’ll be there shortly."
After hanging up, Gage instructed the driver to head directly to The Imperial Court, tossing his phone aside and closing his eyes to rest.
...
"Vice Minister Grant? Vice Minister Grant?"
Chandler called out twice, startling Gage awake. He sat up straight and looked out the window.
They had arrived at The Imperial Court.
Re-tying his loosened tie and picking up the phone he’d tossed aside, Gage got out of the car and walked straight into The Imperial Court’s entrance.
The lobby manager came out to greet him, nodding and bowing: "Young Master Grant, you’re here. Are you heading straight to your room?"
Gage waved his hand: "Open Jack’s room for me."
"Alright." The lobby manager quickly went to press the elevator button.
Gage arrived early today; no one was in the private room yet. He sat on the sofa for a while, started to feel sleepy, and decided to sit on the sofa behind the screen to take a nap.
He actually wanted to continue the dream he was having earlier.
In the car, he was having some intimate time with Maeve, but the driver’s call interrupted everything, leaving him quite despondent.
It was amusing—he’d almost forgotten about her, yet she could still slip into his dreams and have a tender moment with him.
And she chose his loneliest day.
Quite intriguing.
.
"Hey, Chairman Crowley, why haven’t you arrived yet?"
"What? You’re almost here? I’ll have someone come down to get you. Alright, alright..."
Jack Hawthorne’s voice came from outside the screen.
Gage opened his eyes, straightened his dark suit, and walked out from behind the screen.
Jack was busy arranging for his assistant to go down and fetch people, looking quite occupied.
Gage, with his hands in his pockets, walked over silently and asked, "What’s so special about Kingsbridge that you, Young Master Hawthorne, have to handle it yourself?"
Jack dismissed his assistant, his face darkening, opened the cigarette box on the table, and tossed a cigarette to Gage.
"It’s the old man’s friend," Jack lit his cigarette, "an old guy in his sixties, likes being flattered."
Gage nodded absentmindedly, pulled a chair over, and began puffing away.
After a while, some incoherent middle-aged voices came from outside, and soon, a group of people marched into the private room, led by a short, fat, bald old man.
Jack immediately extinguished his cigarette and greeted them with a smile: "Chairman Crowley, you’re here, welcome, welcome."
Gage also put out his cigar, stood up, and moved behind Jack.
Just as the old man was about to speak to Jack, his small eyes fixed, and he suddenly walked toward Gage: "Are you Fourth Master Grant?"
Gage smiled apologetically: "Yes, Chairman Crowley, hello."
"Oh my! It really is you!" Chairman Crowley ignored Jack, gripping Gage’s distinct hand tightly with his fat hand, "What brings Fourth Master Grant here today?"
Gage smoothly withdrew his hand, chuckled awkwardly: "I’m here to warm up the place for Jack, good brothers, you know!"
Chairman Crowley seemed quite pleased, turning his head to glance at Jack.
Jack quickly invited everyone to sit, prepared tea, offered cigarettes, and did everything possible to fulfill his role as a host.
As they just got their cigarettes lit, Chairman Crowley suddenly exclaimed: "Why aren’t there any girls here? Huh? A room full of old guys is making me dizzy."
