Avery decided to play along.
“It’s true. He’s incredibly rich. He’s just old, ugly, and barely hanging on.”
The crowd was scratching their heads trying to figure out who this old, ugly, and unfit bigshot was.
A waiter walked over to Avery and said, “Please proceed to the second floor, Miss Tate.”
Avery instantly looked up.
The building had an open concept, and the second-floor railing could be seen from the living room on the first floor.
Elliot’s bodyguard was standing by the railing and looking down at her.
When the waiter escorted her away, the faces of the people in the crowd changed from one of mockery t o one of awe.
Those in attendance at the banquet were the creme de la creme of high society.
Even the wealthy had their own form of social hierarchy.
That night, the more ordinary members of the upper class were mingling amongst themselves in the banquet hall on the first floor.
Those with more power over society, on the other hand, were invited to the exclusive second floor.
“I can’t believe Avery Tate was invited up there! Who exactly is her sponsor?!”
“I have no idea! It’s not like we can go to the second floor. All I can say is that she must have a trick or two up her sleeve! Even if her sugar daddy is some old, ugly geezer, she still hit the jackpot with him!”
“As far as I know, there aren’t that many old men at tonight’s banquet!”
“Was she just messing with us?”
The crowd looked at the second floor in unison, but they could see nothing.
When Avery arrived at the round table, there were less than ten people in attendance, and all of them were men.
She walked over and sat herself down next to Elliot.
The dining table was covered in exquisite delicacies.
Avery glanced at Elliot and asked, “You didn’t make me come here just to eat, did you?”
Elliot looked at her raised brows, then said in a low voice, “Cole will be here, too. Didn’t you secretly meet with him while I was away on business? I invited you here so that you could meet him in the open.”
Avery did not expect this to be his intention.
Did he think that she was so obsessed with Cole that they could not bear to be apart even for a little while?
Ha!
Avery was ravenous as she had not had her dinner yet, so she was in no mood to argue with him.
She picked up her knife and fork and began to enjoy the food by herself.
“Mr. Foster, that nephew of yours still owes me three million dollars! I wouldn’t usually fuss over such a small amount of money, but I heard that your relationship with him has gone sour. If that’s the case, I’ll
have no choice but to go after him for it.”
“I caught him flirting with my twenty-year-old daughter once. I called him up and gave him a piece of my mind! He didn’t manage to trick me into investing with him, so he thought he could try his luck with my little girl! It’s disgusting!” “Cole Foster is infamous in the financial world. Everything he invests in eventually goes bust. He’s so stupid that you can’t help but feel a little bad for him. He would’ve been a goner a long time ago if it weren’t for his father’s support!”
While the guests were ridiculing Cole, Elliot’s gaze unintentionally fell on Avery.
“Are you checking to see if I’ve lost my appetite?” Avery said as she met his eyes. “The food’s good, but the pasta is a little undercooked. I’m done eating.”
She put down her knife and fork, then said, “I’m not interested in what you’re talking about, so I’m going home!”
When she stood up from her seat, Elliot grabbed onto her arm to stop her from leaving.
Avery tried to shake his hand off but failed.
She glared at him and said, “You must have too much time on your hands. I’ve got a thesis to write! If you don’t let me go, then I’ll send it to you and you can finish it for me.”
Seeing her sullen expression, Elliot released his grip.
When Avery arrived on the first floor, she saw Cole with a glass of champagne in his hand. He was slightly hunched, and he was singing flattering words to a group of people. He did it with the utmost respect.
She was already completely over him, so she simply turned away and walked out of the villa.
Elliot arrived back at the mansion at 10 p.m. that night When Mrs. Cooper saw him, she asked, “Did Madam Avery not come home with you, sir?” Elliot checked the time on his wristwatch, thén raised his brows and said, “She left at eight. She’s not home yet?”