Chapter 241: A Situation Arises
Vivian Lowell turned and gave Julian Faulkner a surprised look.
She ignored Julian Faulkner and instead beckoned a nearby waiter to bring another wine glass.
"Vivian Lowell."
Julian Faulkner seemed angry. He shot the waiter a cold look, as if warning him not to get the wine glass for Vivian Lowell.
"What is it?"
It was rare for Vivian Lowell and Julian Faulkner to be so hostile toward each other. They both had imposing personalities, and their clash made the atmosphere all the more oppressive.
"What on earth do you want? Haven’t I already explained? She’s just a business partner. Why are you acting so crazy?"
"If you ruin this deal, the company will lose hundreds of millions!"
Julian Faulkner looked furious as well.
But Vivian Lowell seemed unfazed. She suddenly smiled and retorted, "A business partner? A business partner you’re all lovey-dovey with, one you almost embraced?"
"Does a business partner need you to take her to a jewelry store to pick out jewelry? A deal worth hundreds of millions? Is that supposed to be a lot? Julian Faulkner, I can earn that much from just a few design contracts."
"Since when do you care so much about a deal like this? Are you taking me for a fool?"
After her sharp retort, Vivian Lowell was no longer in the mood to drink. She linked her arm with Eleanor Rhodes’s, preparing to leave.
Julian Faulkner didn’t stop her. He just watched her retreating back and called out, "When did you become so unreasonable?"
’Unreasonable.’
When Vivian Lowell heard him say that, her heart still stung a little. Thankfully, she knew that this fight with Julian Faulkner was all just an act.
Vivian Lowell suppressed the pang in her heart and returned to her suite on the ship.
The suite was spacious, around a hundred square meters, with a living room, bedroom, study, and bathroom. You could even see the ocean from the living room balcony.
Eleanor Rhodes followed Vivian Lowell inside and sighed. Just as she was about to speak, there was a knock at the door.
"I’ll get the door."
Eleanor Rhodes went to the door and looked through the peephole. After confirming it was just a waitress, she opened it.
"Yes?" Vivian Lowell asked, eyeing the waitress.
The waitress smiled politely at Eleanor Rhodes and asked, "Excuse me, are you Miss Rhodes? Someone is looking for you on the second floor."
"Someone’s looking for me? Who?" Eleanor Rhodes was puzzled.
Her parents weren’t arriving until the next morning, and she didn’t know many people at the party. Other than Vivian, there was no one else who would come looking for her at a time like this.
’Could this be a ploy to lure the tiger away from the mountain?’
Eleanor Rhodes glanced back at Vivian Lowell.
𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
Vivian Lowell was on guard as well. The two exchanged a subtle glance, and Eleanor Rhodes decided to go with the waitress.
’This might be part of their plan.’
’They might as well play along!’
After Eleanor Rhodes left, Vivian Lowell was alone in the room. The occasional sound of waves from the balcony was rather soothing.
A few minutes later, the doorbell rang again.
This time, however, before Vivian Lowell could even ask who it was, the person at the door spoke. "It’s me. The bassist from earlier."
"Miss Lowell, are you all right? May I come in?"
’The bassist from earlier?’
Vivian Lowell paused. ’What is he doing here?’
’So he’s part of the ’plan’ too?’
Vivian Lowell gradually calmed down. Instead of immediately opening the door for the bassist, she first sent a text to Julian Faulkner, letting him know someone had come to her room.
Julian Faulkner didn’t reply immediately.
’Is he busy?’
Vivian Lowell frowned. Remembering they had agreed to stay in contact, she couldn’t help but sigh.
’I’ll just have to play it by ear,’ she thought. Just then, her phone buzzed. But the message wasn’t from Julian Faulkner; it was from Vance Wyatt.
"Ma’am, there’s a situation here with President Faulkner. He can’t check his messages. Was that you who texted him?"
Vivian Lowell was a little surprised to see Vance Wyatt’s message.
’Vance Wyatt is so quick-witted!’
’If this all gets resolved smoothly, I’ll have to give Vance Wyatt a bonus!’
"Yes, the bassist from the deck just came to my room. I don’t know what he wants. Vance, keep an eye on things on Julian’s end. I might need backup over here!"
"Understood, Ma’am. Please be careful."
Vance Wyatt replied instantly.
Seeing Vance Wyatt’s reply, Vivian Lowell felt much more at ease. She finally got up and went to open the door for the bassist.
The bassist was holding a bottle of wine—the same red wine Vivian Lowell had been drinking earlier. Of course, the bottle he brought was newly opened, and he had a glass as well.
"Miss Lowell. I saw you weren’t in a good mood when you left, so I thought I’d come and see how you are. I can sing for you in your room while you continue drinking."
"We can close the door so no one will disturb us."
The bassist offered a kind smile, as if he were genuinely concerned about Vivian Lowell.
Seeing this, a faint smile touched Vivian Lowell’s lips.
’If I were a Player King, I might actually be in the mood to have a little fun with this bassist,’ Vivian Lowell thought. ’Unfortunately, all I can do now is put on an act.’
"Alright."
Vivian Lowell agreed with a smile and beckoned the bassist inside. He stepped in, locking the door behind him.
The bassist placed the wine on the table. He thoughtfully opened the bottle and poured a glass for Vivian Lowell and himself. Then, he walked out onto the balcony, got into position, and began to play the bass for her.
Vivian Lowell sat on the sofa, watching the bassist from a distance as she picked up her wine glass.
The bassist didn’t drink his.
’He only poured himself a glass for show.’
’Is there something wrong with the wine?’
Growing suspicious, Vivian Lowell didn’t drink. Instead, she picked up the bassist’s glass and walked over to him.
"It’s no fun drinking alone. Since you’re here, why don’t you have a drink with me?"
Vivian Lowell handed her own glass to the bassist, keeping his for herself.
’Both glasses are untouched anyway, so what’s the difference?’
’She’d just ’mixed them up,’ that’s all.’
Seeing this, the bassist put down his instrument. He glanced at the wine glass with some hesitation but took it anyway and drank a tiny sip.
"Your tolerance for alcohol doesn’t seem to match your skill with the bass," Vivian Lowell said with a disdainful laugh.
Looking rather helpless, the bassist had no choice but to down the entire glass of wine.
Only then did Vivian Lowell nod in satisfaction before drinking the red wine in her own glass.