[Chapter 471: Meeting Ivanka]
On March 27, the Super Bowl officially kicked off at 3 PM.
Early in the morning, right after breakfast, the assistant Meena came in carrying two T-shirts and baseball caps -- one bearing the Dallas Cowboys logo, the other the Pittsburgh Steelers. Li Xiaoran followed, holding a bunch of natural face paints and brushes.
"Boss, which team are you rooting for?"
"Can I just not pick either?"
"That's not a great idea. We're going to the stadium to watch the game, and you shouldn't stand out too much. Plus, there's a press conference after the game."
"Alright, then I'll go with the Dallas Cowboys gear."
"Want to put some face paint on?"
"No, just ask the others."
...
At 2 PM, the group took the hotel shuttle to the Mountain America Stadium.
This stadium boasted 88 luxury suites and nearly 80,000 seats, with a retractable roof and the world's first fully movable playing field.
Since Linton didn't insist on a dress code, everyone wore jerseys of their favorite teams, but none had painted their faces -- showing that no one was a hardcore fan.
Once inside, the roar of 80,000 cheering fans waving flags was deafening. The atmosphere was already electric before the kickoff.
Robert, Scott, and Wexner led the way. Linton walked in the middle with Winnie and Catherine closely on each side. Behind them followed Meena and Li Xiaoran, surrounded by several bodyguards as they headed to a luxury suite in the center.
The suite overlooked the stadium with one open side, while the other three walls were tinted glass, offering a clear view of the field.
The suite was spacious, comfortably seating 20 people. On the table were bottles of champagne chilling in ice buckets, along with various snacks and dozens of wine glasses.
---
Shortly after Linton sat down, a New York real estate developer appeared wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers T-shirt and official cap, his face painted with the Steelers logo. Accompanied by bodyguards, he approached, followed by a striking young girl.
"Buddy, you're cheering for the Cowboys? Looks like we're on opposite sides today." The developer's social skills were undeniable as he warmly embraced Linton.
"Donlad, how did you know I'd be here?"
"Well, you're a superstar; the stadium's big screen showed your image as soon as you arrived. Once I noticed, I knew."
"Let me introduce you -- this is my daughter, Ivanka." Before Linton could reply, Donlad had already pulled the young girl forward.
Linton took a good look. Ivanka was quite beautiful, tall -- about 5'9" with golden wavy hair. Unlike her dad, her face had no Steelers logo but was lightly made up.
Though sporting a Steelers T-shirt, her figure was striking. She wore denim shorts, showing off long, lean legs full of youthful vitality.
Though only about 15 or 16, she matured early. Even at this age, she carried the grace of a princess.
He extended his right hand. "Hello, Ivanka."
"Hi, Linton! I'm your fan! Can I have a hug?" Ivanka opened her arms eagerly.
"Sure, it's an honor." Linton hugged her briefly.
"I have all your singles and albums. I've bought every movie you've starred in on tape, but unfortunately, I didn't bring them today. Would you please sign my shirt?" Ivanka looked like a true fan.
"Where should I sign?"
Still a bit shy, she said, "Thanks, Linton. Sign it on my back." Then she turned lightly, presenting her back.
Linton took the pen from Meena and signed his name across Ivanka's back with flourish. He added a message: "Wishing beautiful and lovely Ivanka all your heart's desires come true and happiness every day."
After the autograph, Donlad, ever the socialite, popped a bottle of champagne open. Meena quickly grabbed glasses and poured drinks for everyone.
"To the Super Bowl!" everyone raised their glasses.
Linton noticed a flicker of envy on Ivanka's face as she watched the champagne raised, but she quickly masked it and picked up a bag of snacks, sitting quietly beside the table like a good girl.
It seemed that Donlad's parenting wasn't too bad, but Ivanka probably had some mischievous streak she kept hidden.
...
After a couple of drinks, Donlad excused himself. Just before leaving, Ivanka grabbed Linton's arm.
"Linton, can I intern at your company this summer?"
"Intern with me? What do you want to do?"
"Be your assistant."
"Assistant? That's cool, but you'll have to wait until you're in college."
"Why wait? I've been working part-time every summer since middle school. Last summer, I even did some modeling. Trust me, I'm responsible and won't get in your way."
"It's still not a good idea. Being my assistant would be a heavy workload and a lot of running around. It'd interfere with your studies."
"Okay, then maybe the year after. And you can't say no."
"No problem, keep working hard."
...
Donlad left, and Wexner soon followed. He had to oversee the Victoria's Secret Angels to ensure the halftime show went smoothly.
Before heading out, he asked Linton, "Want to check out the models' dressing rooms backstage?"
"No thanks. I've seen all six of those Angels up close and personal; there's nothing new. Besides, with all the paparazzi lurking around, if any photos got leaked, it'd ruin my image."
Robert and Scott also had preparations for the press conference later but weren't in a hurry. They'd watch the first half of the game and halftime show in the suite before getting ready.
*****
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