GEORGE'S POV
I am uncertain what to do with that woman, and she stays away from Florian. I want her out of his life. However, on the contrary, she could help me separate Florian from Stella.
It will be my chance once my cousin divorces Stella soon. I have been waiting for a long time for that to happen.
But the thing is, Stella never wants to divorce Florian. She would rather die instead than see him be with someone else.
Stella saw no one but my stupid cousin. But she deserves someone who would care for her feelings, and my cousin is not worthy of her love!
"Argh!" It frustrates me to think about what I should do. As I was thinking it over, an idea popped up in my head to offer that woman a hefty amount so that she could leave Florian.
'Hmm… Could it work?' Perhaps she could be helpful to me. So I may keep her around and see what Florian will do. I wondered how long he would keep his affair a secret.
Florian is an excellent actor in ignoring his mistress's presence in the same room as his wife. He acted very well as if his lover was a stranger and was not significant to him.
However, that woman could not stand being ignored and forgotten, so she walked out and left the party even before it started.
That woman has a thick face to climb up the ladder toward the Upper Class. So she thinks she is a match for Stella? She must be dreaming!
She only looks like a peasant, while Stella is a bright star shining above the sky.
I'd be glad if Florian would come after her. Then I can ridicule how he has terrible taste. Thus, I am waiting for him to knock on that door with a plan to coax his lover.
But it was strange that he hadn't followed us yet.
Is it because of Stella?
I wanted to see what Florian would do if he saw me being together with his mistress.
How about if I steal his mistress? I wanted to make Florian suffer and let him feel the pain when Stella married him.
How great that would be to make Florian jealous. That's right! I am a genius! Therefore, I need to think about how I can use her.
I was in the middle of deep thought when someone rang the doorbell.
"Maybe it was Rowan or Dillion."
I'm waiting for their report. Thus, it would be better if one of them was finally here. Besides, I have important tasks I want to hand over for them to take care of.
But it would be even greater if it was my stupid cousin Florian.
Thinking of an exciting scenario, I open the door without checking who it is. Thus, it surprised me when it was only the hotel staff.
"Mr. Graham? What are you doing here, sir? Where is Miss Palermo?"
"Miss, who?" I didn't know that woman's name, so I took this as a chance to learn her name.
"This is Miss Krishna's hotel suite, and yours is the one across. You aren't lost, right, sir?"
How funny that was. But the hotel staff is being nosy. So I snapped at him. "I know where my hotel room is and whose suite this is."
"Oh..."
The hotel steward became speechless; the confusion was written all over his face, in which he became an eyesore in my sight.
"What do you want?" I queried, using my haughty tones. According to his nameplate, the hotel staff member is a steward, and his name is Jim.
"Um, Mr. Graham... I heard Miss Palermo is not feeling well. I am here to check on her. She might need anything. Should I call the resident doctor, sir?"
"No." I gaze at Jim fiercely. He lowered his head to avoid looking into my eyes. 'Tsk.' I made a glance upstairs, particularly at the door Krishna went in. 'Is that her excuse?'
I don't care whether it's true. I believe she only uses that as an alibi because she cannot stand seeing Florian with Stella.
'What an actress!'
I despise her for being such a liar and pretentious. I started believing that she was capable of manipulating Florian.
I have the desire to slap her in the face or punish her. But if I do that, I'm sure that Florian and I will have a bloody fight. Then I will think of another way.
"Then... Could Miss Palermo go back to the party, Mr. Graham?"
"I don't think so." Until I could not decide what I really wanted to do with that woman, I would not let her disappear from my sight. "She needs rest. Maybe what you better do is bring our food over."
"Alright, Mr. Graham, right away, sir! I will also send some herbal tea for Miss Palermo."
"Whatever..." I waved my hand to dismiss the steward. Then shut the door. I need not hear him blab further. I walked up to the bar and grabbed a bottle of red wine, then a goblet, before returning to the sofa.
No one is reporting to me yet, so I take the leisure of sipping red wine while contemplating my next move.
But then the doorbell rang again. I went to the door and checked who it was through the peephole.
"Attorney Lawrence?" Why did one of the Crow Corporation directors come to Krishna's hotel suite? I wondered because he was already married.
Unless he is one of Krishna's patrons.
'That woman! How disgusting! I'd better take a shower pronto! I touched her earlier!' I fret thinking of how many men she slept with.
"Are you looking for Miss Palermo, Attorney?" I sounded teasing the director. But Attorney Lawrence creased his forehead, and confusion flashed through his eyes.
'Am I wrong? So? Why is he here?' It made me wonder.
"No?" Attorney Lawrence replied flatly. "I'm here to check on you. The security reported to me there were paparazzi inside the hotel. So I want to ensure that my team immediately works on it. They said they had already apprehended them and brought them to the interrogation room."
"Oh, great job, Attorney Lawrence! I'm glad that you immediately responded to it."
"Of course. The safety and privacy of our guests are our top priority, whoever you are."
Attorney Lawrence emphasized the last three words, and I understood he meant ordinary people like Krishna, a mistress, and a gold digger. Thus, it displeased me to hear this, but I didn't say a word and just kept it to myself, even though my chest filled with outrage and was about to explode.
"Thank you for informing me, Attorney Lawrence. I hope you will allow my brother to interrogate the paparazzi himself. I want him to learn how to deal with such situations and become familiar with the world we are living in."
As an active member in the Underground World, Attorney Lawrence certainly understood what I was saying.
"Of course. I let him handle the case. Then I will take my leave."
Attorney Lawrence curtly nods, and I return the same gesture and then watch his receding back.
I closed the door and lifted my arm, gently pressing my fingers to my throbbing forehead. Now those paparazzi are giving me a headache. I must punish them. But before that…
"I need to know who they work for and what article they plan to publish about me."
With this thought, I picked up my phone from the cocktail table, dialed Dillion's contact, and then instructed him when the call connected.
I had just ended the call when the doorbell rang once again. With the thought that the steward had returned with my food, I opened the door without checking the peephole this time.
Hence, it surprised me when I saw a couple instead.
"Captain Lawrence? Madam Lawrence? Are you here to check on me as well?" I assumed since Attorney Kier Lawrence had just left. I'm sure they met in the hallway, so the director should inform them I am okay. Honestly, they don't need to come at all.
"Well, actually, my wife is here to check on Miss Palermo, Mr. Graham." Captain Lawrence's reply to my query. He looked at his wife, and I followed suit.
Madam Anna Lawrence owns Anna Collections couture house, where I customized the tuxedo I wore tonight. If I am not mistaken, the store is also a sponsor for providing the lottery winners' party gowns tonight.
'Tsk. That woman surely knew how to climb the Upper Class.'
"Mr. Graham, what are you doing here, by the way?"
As I stayed silent and blocked the door, Mrs. Lawrence scanned me from my head to my leather shoes. But her next question disgusts me.
"Are you Krishna's boyfriend, as the rumor says?"