Chapter 113
At the Grand Majesty Hotel, a tall man in his thirties, impeccably dressed in a suit, stood at the gate. This was Clinton Field, heir to the Horizon Group, one of Vista Verde's top ten financial groups. The Grand Majesty Hotel itself was a Horizon Group property. His bodyguards, secretaries, and assistants stood respectfully nearby.
Three black Mercedes approached. Clinton's eyes lit up; the NexusTV crew had arrived. He was particularly eager to see Lilian. He'd arranged this lunch party for her.
As the cars stopped, he winked at his bodyguards, who promptly opened the doors. Michael Hamilton, several TV station staff members, and the "Run, Friends, Run" cast emerged. Lilian, however, was absent.
Clinton frowned, his confusion evident. Approaching Michael, he asked, "Mr. Hamilton, where's Lilian?"
Michael offered an awkward smile. "She's on her way. Her brother came from Oakhaven to join her for lunch." He'd lied, claiming Gilmore was Lilian's brother to avoid Clinton's jealousy and protect the sponsorship contract renewal.
Clinton seemed to accept this. "I'm glad her brother's coming," he said, then instructed his staff, "Escort the NexusTV executives and celebrities to the private room upstairs."
Just then, a bicycle bell rang. All eyes turned to see a young man on a shared bike, with a girl as a passenger. Her long hair streamed in the wind, and her stunning beauty captivated everyone. It was Lilian. The young man was Gilmore.
They hadn't arrived with Michael, but had opted for a shared bike ride. Lilian, her arms wrapped around Gilmore's waist, seemed carefree and happy. Gilmore parked the bike and announced, "We're here." Lilian nodded, dismounted, and gently wiped sweat from Gilmore's forehead with a tissue.
Clinton felt a pang of unease, but Michael's explanation eased his mind. The young celebrities were bewildered by Lilian's unconventional arrival. Doesn't she know she's a star? they wondered.
Lilian, arm-in-arm with Gilmore, approached the hotel entrance. Michael, relieved, urged them inside, fearing Clinton might question Gilmore's identity. He'd been strictly instructed to secure the sponsorship renewal; Lilian was crucial to that, and he couldn't afford to offend either her or Clinton. He desperately hoped his lie wouldn't be discovered.
Clinton, however, had other plans. He wanted to cultivate a relationship with Lilian's "brother." Smiling, he greeted Lilian, saying, "Lilian, you're here. Mr. Hamilton mentioned your family was joining you."
Lilian was slightly perplexed. Does he mean Gilmore? she thought. Even though we're not married, he's family to me. She nodded. "Yes, Mr. Field. How did you know?"
Clinton gestured towards Michael. "Mr. Hamilton told me. I'm delighted to have lunch with you today." He then nodded politely to Gilmore, who responded in kind.
Lilian noticed Michael's embarrassed expression and realized his deception. Clinton usually gets upset when other men are near me, she mused. Why is he so happy my boyfriend's here? If he dares hurt Gilmore, I won't let him get away with it.
Smiling, she said, "Thank you for your hospitality."
Clinton gestured towards the hotel. "You're welcome. This way, please!"
The party was held in a lavish eighth-floor private room. After everyone was seated, waiters served a delicious meal. As the lunch progressed, Michael, seizing the opportunity, broached the subject of the "Run, Friends, Run" sponsorship renewal.
Clinton smiled enigmatically. Michael, uncertain of his intentions, mirrored the smile. Then, Clinton patted Michael's shoulder. "No rush on the contract," he said. "I have something important to attend to today."