10x Cashback: Your Wealth Is Mine-Chapter 104: The Gala

Throughout my stay, I had been able to confirm that New York was indeed the city that never sleeps.

I didn’t know about it being a big apple, though. Maybe that’s a reference to the forbidden fruit of the garden of Eden? Who knows? People can be weird like that.

Anyway, I was as prepared as I could be as the city lights of New York blurred past me in arrays of gold as my car drove nearer to my destination.

I leaned back in my seat, reminding myself to give my driver a bonus when this is over. Yes, he was doing exactly what he was paid to do but he was so good at it that with my eyes closed, I had trouble telling if I was in a moving car or not.

Or maybe that’s just me sleeping inside the car.

My mind went to the report I’d received, going through the names, alliances and histories I’d memorized.

Elsa had been thorough as always, giving me exactly what I’d asked for and more. I hadn’t expected her to be able to deliver this much at such short notice.

The car finally slowed to a stop in front of the event hall and a few seconds later, my driver opened the door.

I stepped out of the car, adjusting my jacket in that practiced way handsome people did to look even hotter. Yep. I spent time practicing the best adjustment technique in front of the mirror.

Yeah, laugh it up. But these little things matter. They build an image of how you want to be perceived even before you open your mouth and speak.

I walked towards the entrance, already hearing faint classical music from outside. Am I becoming pretentious or am I fitting in if I tell you that classical music isn’t actually any less than the more popular types of music?

It’s… soothing, I’ll say.

Anyways, I made my way inside, mingling with the elites. Overhead, chandeliers sparkled. You didn’t think there’ll be classical music and no chandeliers, did you?

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You underestimate the power of… tradition. And legacy.

Okay, that’s my worst joke yet. It wasn’t even funny.

I walked around the room, carefulling taking note of the wealth and influence that was on display. Six months ago, I’d have been shocked. But now, it was just another party.

Jenny spotted me almost immediately and began walking towards me. Wearing a tight emerald green dress, she made a few heads turn as she crossed the room.

"You’re late." She said with a teasing smile.

"Fashionably late." I replied, grinning. "Shall we?"

She looped her arm through mine and led me through the crowd. "There are people you need to meet. They’re curious about you."

"Curious? That’s a good start." I said, scanning the room. "Who do we start with?"

We’d decided in the end that Clarisse inviting me was a good thing. We, after all, won’t spend all our time with her. Why not spend it building the alliances we need to place Jenny on the throne?

The woman in question guided me to where a few influential people were clustered around. A few board members and major investors.

Introductions were made, hands were shaken, and I played my part to perfection. Before long, we were all laughing like old friends.

That didn’t mean I had them eating in the palm of my hand, though. These were seasoned experts, not novices. They knew exactly what I was doing but just went along with it.

The topic moved from the market to my moves with Imperium and due to my study of Elsa’s reports, I was also able to shift the topic to their ventures and industries.

Then, something strange happened. Or, I thought it was strange as the room seemed to hush a bit and the screen appeared in front of me.

[Stamp holder detected.]

I froze for half a second before my brain caught up. I turned around, following the gaze of the people around me and saw the explanation for both the slight hush and the system’s message.

Clarisse Newton.

Jenny’s mother moved through the room like the queen that she was and her subjects paid their respects.

Dressed in a sparkling black gown, Clarisse was the textbook definition of MILF.

Unlike the story her silver hair was telling, she didn’t look young at all with hips that had more curves than a circle and a waist so perfect, there had to be a library somewhere in the world dedicated to all the poems that had been written about it.

On her neck was a diamond necklace that drew attention to the plunging neckline of her dress. She was the queen of this empire and the way she walked made it clear that she knew it.

She moved through the room and we continued our conversations.

The fact that she was the next stamp holder kept ringing in my head like a bell. The blue arrow over her head had confirmed things.

I didn’t have the chance to process the information and just tossed it into the back of my mind. I needed to concentrate on the here and now. I’ll unpack this issue later.

Minutes later, when we stood alone at a table, Jenny stiffened slightly. "Here she comes." She whispered. "Be careful."

"Always." I murmured back, adjusting my posture.

Clarisse reached us and her gaze swept over me like a hawk assessing prey. "Jenny." She said warmly, not even sparing her daughter a glance. "And here, we have Nicholas. Lauren’s pride and joy."

I inclined my head. "Ms. Newton. It’s an honor to meet you."

She tilted her head as her lips curved into a faint smile. A smile that I had to say, didn’t quite reach her eyes.

Lauren’s pride and joy? What was that about? Did she have beef with my mother?

"I’ve heard much about you, Nico." She said. "You’ve made… quite the impression recently."

Well, if that isn’t ominous.