Jason and Shenna sat side by side at a corner table, sharing a pair of earbuds.
While the grand ballroom buzzed with chatter, music, and the clinking of champagne glasses, the two of them looked as though they existed in a world of their own.
They weren't mingling, flattering anyone, or playing the subtle games of high-society charm.Instead, they sat quietly, smiling, listening to the same song—utterly at ease, perfectly content, and yet completely out of place amid the glittering crowd.
From across the hall, Shenna's elegantly dressed mother—watched the scene with a small frown.
She leaned toward the tall man standing beside her. "Ethan, look at your daughter. Since when has she ever sat that close to a boy?"
Shenna's father, glanced in that direction, a faint look of surprise crossing his face. "You're right. Normally, she's surrounded by her girlfriends. Honestly, I was starting to wonder if she even liked guys."
Margaret shot him an exasperated look. "You're still joking? Aren't you afraid your precious daughter's going to get whisked away by some smooth-talking kid?"
Ethan chuckled softly. "Honey, she's going to be 'whisked away' sooner or later. You want her to be single forever?"
She sighed. "Of course not. I just want her to find someone… appropriate. The boy looks good—polite, confident, not arrogant. But his family background is unknown. That's not nothing."
As she spoke, she pulled out her phone."Don't tell me—" Ethan began, but it was too late.She was already opening her contact list.
"I'll just have someone check him out," Margaret said casually. "Discreetly. A quick background scan, nothing major."
Ethan gently lowered her phone hand with a sigh. "Maggie, no. You promised her. You start digging into every classmate or friend she brings home, she'll never trust you again. This is exactly what she warned you about."
Margaret hesitated, remembering Shenna's sharp tone from a week ago: "Mom, stop checking up on people I talk to. I'm not twelve."
Reluctantly, she sighed and tucked the phone away.
Still, her sharp blue eyes didn't leave Jason and her daughter. "I'll let it go—for now," she muttered.
Ethan smiled faintly. "That's progress."
But they weren't the only ones watching.
Two young men across the room—both dressed in sleek suits and clearly from wealthy families—were glaring daggers at Jason.
One of them, Liam, tried to keep his composure. He was naturally even-tempered, and even though jealousy burned in his chest, he managed to sip his champagne quietly.
The other, Chase, wasn't nearly as restrained. His slicked-back hair gleamed under the chandelier, his jaw clenched tight.
"Unbelievable," Chase muttered. "That guy just waltzes in here and takes center stage next to her like he belongs."
Liam gave a resigned shrug. "You're really going to make a scene at the Reeves' event?"
But Chase was already walking off, anger pulsing behind every step.
He slipped out into the quiet hallway, took out his phone, and made a quick call.
A few minutes later, a balding man in a crisp black suit appeared at the corridor's end — Mr. Drew Zane, one of the hotel's senior managers.
His tone was all politeness and flattery. "Mr. Laughton! I thought you'd be with the Reeves' guests. What brings you out here, sir? Is there something I can help you with?"
Chase leaned casually against the balcony railing, his phone still in hand, his expression cool but predatory.He kept glancing down the hallway to make sure no one was approaching.
"There's a small matter," Chase said smoothly. "Something I'd like your help with."
Mr. Drew straightened slightly. "Of course, sir. Please, go ahead. I'll do whatever's within my authority."
"There's someone in the ballroom who wasn't actually on the guest list," Chase said. "Some guy crashed the event. The Reeves family is too polite to make a scene, but they don't want him here. You understand?"
Drew's eyes narrowed slightly.
Chase went on, lowering his voice. "All I'm asking is that you find a way to get him outside quietly. No drama. Maybe tell him someone's waiting for him in the lobby, or that there's a problem with his car—whatever works. Once he's out, don't let him back in."
The hotel manager didn't respond right away.He'd been in this business long enough to know when something smelled off.
He translated Chase's smooth words into reality:
The Reeves family didn't ask for this.The guest hadn't caused trouble.This was personal.
He offered a polite, hesitant smile. "Mr. Laughton, that's… difficult. If the Reeves family hasn't instructed us to remove anyone, I can't take that kind of initiative. It could cause misunderstandings."
Chase's voice sharpened. "The Reeves family wants him gone—they just can't do it publicly, not during the Old Man's birthday party. I'm helping them save face."
Drew stayed silent, his professional smile stiffening slightly.He'd heard that excuse before. It usually translated to: This guy annoyed me, and I want him out.
Still, Chase's family name carried weight.
The question now was whether this was a favor worth cashing in on.
After Liam Chase's relentless persuasion, Manager Zane still looked uneasy. The man's shoulders slumped under the weight of hesitation, his tone nervous but firm.
"Mr. Chase," Zane said, his voice low, "I really can't do that. You know what happened to Manager York, right? His position was miles above mine, yet the moment the new owner took over, he was fired overnight. The guy's strict—cracking down on every little thing. I can't afford to get caught in something shady right now."
Liam clicked his tongue in irritation, crossing his arms as he leaned against the marble balcony. From below, the glittering lights of Hotel's grand ballroom shimmered like scattered stars. "Come on, Zane. You're overreacting. Who's gonna know? You think the boss monitors every guest's conversation?" He gave a sharp grin. "You do this for me, and I'll make sure some of my business associates hold their next events here. Big tips, big exposure. Win-win."
Manager Zane grimaced, torn between fear and greed. "Mr. Chase, you've always been good to us, but… this could get me fired."
Liam's smile faded, replaced by cold annoyance. "So that's how it is? After all the tables I booked through you, all the favors I pulled, you suddenly grow a conscience? Don't make me regret helping you before."
Zane hesitated. The man's tone had shifted—from persuasive to quietly threatening. That familiar corporate PUA pressure crept in; it was hard to resist when someone like Liam Chase started playing that game.
Finally, Zane sighed, rubbing his temples. "Fine. But at least tell me who this guy is. I'm not stupid enough to act without knowing the other party's identity. If he's someone important, I'm not touching it."
Liam smirked, thinking victory was near. "Relax, he's a nobody. Showed up late with that stray cat and got lucky enough to stand beside Shen Family's young miss. You really think the Shen Family invited him? Please. Probably some random freelancer who got dragged in through a side door. I don't know much, but his name's Jason Carter."
The moment those words left his mouth, Manager Zane froze. His expression stiffened, pupils dilating slightly as if he'd just seen a ghost.
"…Wh-what did you just say?"
Liam frowned, puzzled. "Jason Carter. You know him?"
Zane didn't answer immediately. Instead, he fumbled for his phone, scrolling quickly through his gallery until he found a photo—one he'd made a point of memorizing. He held the phone out, his hands trembling slightly.
"The Jason Carter you're talking about… is it this man?"
Liam leaned closer, squinting. The photo showed Jason standing casually in front of Tower, dressed in a simple black suit with that same unreadable expression he'd seen at the banquet.
"Yeah," Liam said. "That's him. You do know him then."
Zane's face drained of all color. A bead of cold sweat rolled down his temple as he staggered back a step. "Oh my god…"
"Hey," Liam said, confused. "What's wrong with you? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Zane glanced around frantically, as though terrified someone might overhear. His voice dropped to a shaky whisper. "Mr. Chase… don't ever mention this again. To anyone. And forget you talked to me. If someone asks, we never met tonight."
"Wait—what's that supposed to—"
But before Liam could finish, Zane turned on his heel and practically fled down the hall, disappearing into the staff passageway without looking back.
For a long moment, Liam just stood there, dumbfounded, his mind trying to piece together what had just happened.
He'd just threatened a man into kicking someone out of a party… and that same man had reacted as if he'd tried to get the President thrown out.
"Jason Carter…" Liam muttered under his breath, looking back toward the banquet hall's glowing doors. "Who the hell is that guy?"
Inside, Jason was still seated beside her, the two of them sharing a pair of earphones, quietly enjoying a song in the middle of all the high-society chatter.
From a distance, everything seemed calm. But outside, a ripple of tension had already begun to spread through the Hotel's staff—whispered conversations, hurried messages, and a few nervous glances toward the new boss who had just unknowingly walked into the lion's den.
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