[Chapter 474: One Against Six, Upgraded]
After the press conference wrapped up, it was already 7 p.m. Linton made his way to the back lounge where he met up with Robert, Scott, Winnie, and Catherine.
Victoria's Secret was hosting a thank-you cocktail party nearby at the Hilton Hotel. The group split up: Linton, Robert, and Scott headed to the Hilton, while Winnie and Catherine returned to the estate villa for a quiet evening.
Linton wasn't actually too keen on attending parties like this. With his current status and star power, he'd inevitably become the center of attention the moment he walked in. A swarm of women would likely flock to him -- there was no stopping that. The problem was, none of these women were that famous or exceptionally beautiful anymore, so it was hard for him to get interested.
But after all, he was the second-largest shareholder of Victoria's Secret. Today marked the spectacular debut of the Victoria's Secret Angels, which had created a huge buzz. It wouldn't look right if he didn't show up.
He decided he'd just make a brief appearance to show his support, mingle a little, and then quietly slip away.
...
The party was a typical industry event. The spotlight was definitely on the six Angels who had just finished their runway show. Each one radiated charisma, and they were surrounded by a crowd of admirers.
As soon as Linton entered the ballroom, Heidi spotted him right in the center of the crowd. Politely excusing herself from the people around her, she swiftly made her way to Linton and hooked her arm around his with a radiant smile.
Linton casually grabbed two glasses of champagne from a waiter and handed one to Heidi. "Congratulations. The show today was fantastic. The Angels definitely made a strong first impression."
"Likewise. It's all thanks to you and the excellent promotion your film had," Heidi replied with a warm smile.
"Aren't you tired of all this socializing?"
"Darling, my mission tonight is to keep you company and shield you from any unwanted attention."
"Good. I like how responsible you're being." Linton was quite pleased with Heidi's behavior.
...
As they chatted, many guests who noticed Linton approached to greet him, quickly surrounding the pair. Linton raised his glass, returning greetings one by one. With men, it was manageable -- after a quick hello and some small talk, they moved on.
But the enthusiasm from the women was almost overwhelming. Had Heidi not been holding onto his arm, some of these women would have dived straight into his embrace.
Before long, a number of room key cards found their way into his hands. The message was clear, if not outright stated.
Unfortunately, although a few of the women were somewhat attractive, they paled in comparison to Heidi. Besides, they weren't major celebrities. Linton wasn't interested in any of them.
...
Finally, the crowd around him began to thin. Heidi whispered to him, "These women would have swallowed you whole if I weren't here. You might still be stuck here if it weren't for me."
"It can't be helped, I guess I'm just too handsome."
"Yeah, now I finally understand why you avoid these parties."
"Enough about that. Want to head to the estate villa tonight?"
Heidi Klum had arrived in Phoenix three days ago but was tied up with rehearsals for the crucial runway show and had stayed at the Hilton with the other five Angels. The nights before had been booked solid, so no time for parties or dates with Linton, who hadn't bothered her.
With the show's tremendous success today, it was time to relax.
"Darling, can you stay tonight?"
"Aren't you planning to join Winnie and Catherine at the villa? They're still waiting for us there."
"Not just me. If it were only me, I'd happily join you at that party."
"You've invited others?"
"Darling, that's because you're too handsome and powerful. Remember the three-day party in New York before Christmas? Daniela, Stephanie, and the other three were completely won over by you. They haven't stopped thinking about you since. When they found out you'd be at the Super Bowl, they came to me a couple of days ago, asking to throw another party and have another round with you."
"So you've already planned it for tonight?"
"Yes, they were so enthusiastic! After hearing you'd attend the thank-you party tonight, they all swung by to see me. We've booked an executive suite upstairs. So, can you stay?"
"Why do you want me to stay here for the party? Wouldn't it be better at the villa?"
"I'm the captain of the Angels, of course, I take care of the team's work and life. For the Angels to become a powerful brand, we all need to work together."
"And you're a very responsible captain?"
"Darling, considering how successful the show was today, just stay for me, alright?"
"Okay, for you." Linton was actually quite pleased with last time's 'one against six' experience. Plus, with today's successful show, the Angels' fame would definitely be soaring. Staying here to recharge might even speed up his own progress -- a win-win situation.
"Great! Then let's go upstairs."
"Not going to let them know?"
"No need. They'll come up on their own."
Hand in hand, they quietly left the ballroom and took the elevator upstairs.
...
Once inside the room, Linton first made two calls. One to Winnie, letting her know he'd head back tomorrow morning. The other to his assistant Meena, asking her and Li Xiaoran to return to the villa by themselves.
Then, he swept up the shimmering-eyed Heidi in his arms...
As Heidi sang her heart out...
Daniela Pestova, Stephanie Seymour, Tyra Banks, Helena Christensen, and Laetitia Casta had all slipped away from their respective groups and arrived one by one at the executive suite upstairs.
They didn't interrupt Heidi's singing but instead smoothly joined in.
Heidi's solo soon became a beautiful duet.
Then a triuplet...
Eventually culminating in a six-part harmony.
Of course, alongside their enchanting singing, there were also some peculiar noises interspersed...
Maybe thanks to their experience from the last party, everyone moved in perfect sync like a well-rehearsed ensemble.
Or perhaps it was the exhilarating success of today's Victoria's Secret Angels show that ignited their fiery passion and unleashed their full energy.
Making Linton's experience especially enjoyable.
What surprised him even more was that, just as he anticipated, the Super Bowl Victoria's Secret lingerie show had not only conquered the 80,000 fans in the arena but had also captivated millions of viewers watching live on television.
He clearly felt that the Angels' popularity had shot up tremendously compared to last time.
It was as if they were all upgraded celebrities with a higher star status.
Linton silently gave a thumbs-up, wanting to simply say: the upgraded Victoria's Secret Angels were even more dazzling.
*****
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