The Banquet of Intrigue
When Charlie Lee spotted an old man dressed immaculately but carrying a faint "trench" smell, he welcomed him warmly.
"Charlie," the old man responded, giving him a hearty hug.
This was the man who, years ago, had shown kindness by buying Charlie's stocks at a 5% premium when Charlie had been in dire straits.
"We'll have a good chat later," the old man said, moving toward the ballroom, his footsteps blending with those of arriving guests.
"Welcome, Clara," Charlie greeted the next guest, clasping her hand warmly. They exchanged smiles and pats on the back before Clara made her way inside.
Soon, Charlie was welcoming other guests with equal fervor. Among them was a group of four, entering together with familiarity and laughter. Leading the group was a man in a wheelchair whose firm face radiated optimism and warmth.
"Welcome, Rose. I'm Charlie Lee," Charlie said, shaking hands with the man in the wheelchair. He didn't yet recognize the man's legendary future identity but admired his charm and positivity.
"It's an honor to be invited, Charlie," Rose replied, gripping Charlie's hand firmly.
"I'm David," another man from the group introduced himself, stepping forward with a smile. Gesturing to the others, he said, "This is Joseph, and this is Michael."
"Welcome, Mr. Kennedy," Charlie said to Joseph, a man of middling age with a stout figure and sharp eyes hidden behind gold-rimmed glasses.
"Welcome, Mr. McCarthy," Charlie added, addressing Michael, a younger man with a hint of arrogance in his demeanor.
"Please, come inside. I'm waiting for another guest," Charlie said politely.
"Oh? Someone else is arriving?" Joseph asked, his expression betraying a flicker of curiosity.
"Yes," Charlie said, glancing into the distance. A smile crept onto his face as he added, "And here they are."
"Nick! Ha-ha!" Charlie exclaimed, greeting a new arrival with a firm handshake and a jovial hug.
"Charlie, tonight I'm going to drink my exhaustion away," Nick said with a grin.
"Drink all you like. I promise you won't leave disappointed," Charlie replied. They walked in together, completely ignoring Joseph and his companions, who exchanged puzzled looks.
"Is that Nick Brandy?" Michael asked, his brows furrowed.
"Ha-ha, let's go in," Joseph said with a casual smile, pushing Rose's wheelchair forward.
As they entered, Rose murmured, "Joseph, I told you he wasn't here for peace. I think I'm right."
Joseph smirked. "No one can predict the victor until the final move, can they?"
Inside the ballroom, Charlie stepped onto the stage, silencing the room. The gathering was intimate, with fewer than ten attendees, complemented by twenty young, attractive waiters dressed in immaculate maid uniforms.
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming. Just a few days ago, I had a brush with death—a bullet passed through my chest," Charlie said, placing a hand on his right side. His gaze scanned the room before locking onto Joseph, his eyes cold and piercing.
Joseph's confident smile faltered for a moment, though he quickly regained composure. He reminded himself that he had nothing to fear—he wasn't responsible for Charlie's ordeal.
"Of course, I was lucky to survive," Charlie continued, breaking the tension with a laugh. "Let's raise a glass to the goddess of luck!"
The room erupted in toasts and laughter, with Nick joking, "Maybe the goddess will fall in love with you someday, Charlie!"
"If that happens, Nick, I'll invite you to the wedding," Charlie quipped, raising his glass.
After another toast to Nick's successful election as the next vice president, the reception officially began. Guests mingled freely, and Nick took Charlie's advice to enjoy a massage from the skilled waitstaff.
Meanwhile, Charlie turned his attention to Joseph. "Mr. Joseph, this way, please."
"I think I'll go relax as well," Michael said, excusing himself.
David joined Joseph and Rose, guiding the wheelchair to a nearby seating area where drinks, cigars, and hors d'oeuvres were served.
"The doctor told me to drink less, so I'll abstain," Charlie said, leaning back into the sofa with an air of casual authority.
"How is your injury?" Joseph asked, his tone measured.
Charlie smiled faintly, his eyes gleaming with a hint of menace. "My men are still searching for the shooter. I'm confident we'll find them—and the person behind them."
"Such criminals should be punished severely," David interjected, his indignation almost theatrical.
"Oh, they'll pay," Charlie said ominously. "I'll make sure they experience every conceivable agony. My homeland has thousands of years of cultural heritage—we're experts in such methods."
He listed a series of grisly punishments, his tone matter-of-fact. As he spoke, Joseph and David grew visibly uneasy, their discomfort mirrored in Rose's pensive expression.
"Of course, I'm only joking," Charlie said suddenly, laughing heartily. "Who would do such barbaric things?"
"Barbarians indeed," Rose said firmly, meeting Charlie's gaze with a mix of respect and challenge.
"Absolutely," Charlie replied, his tone steady. "But when it comes to enemies, kindness is a luxury we can't afford."
The conversation ended ambiguously, leaving Joseph and his companions unsure of Charlie's true intentions.
Later, as the banquet wound down, Joseph decided to return to his New York manor. On arrival, his housekeeper delivered troubling news: many of Joseph's Chinese allies had been swiftly eradicated.
"How could this happen so quickly? Did the police do nothing?" David exclaimed.
"The police?" Joseph scoffed, shaking his head bitterly. He stormed into the manor, leaving Rose behind.
"I think it's time for me to leave," Rose said calmly, requesting a car. As he departed, he looked back at the manor with a faint smile.
"The Kendy family's ambitions are too vast," Rose muttered to himself. "Perhaps it's time to make new allies."