By night, Opal Lounge stood as one of the city's landmarks, showcasing a different side of its identity. The plaza, filled with luxury cars, was managed by valet attendants who ushered them in to cater to the elite. Politicians, business tycoons, and socialites relaxed here, enjoying drinks and entertainment, and some even risked fortunes at the casino. All of this was possible because of the lounge's privacy—it offered the rare luxury of anonymity for celebrities. Unless, of course, someone deliberately wanted to be photographed by the press, but that was a different story. Finnegan was meeting with a few successful business friends in a private VIP room at the club when one of his bodyguards quietly entered, leaning in to report something to him.
It was likely the butler calling to report that Sanaa had forced her way into the residence today, along with the reaction of his newlywed wife. The bodyguard went on to mention that Sanaa had called no less than ten times that evening, but all her calls were brushed off as per Finnegan's instructions. Jayson had always found Sidney's attitude toward the Calderon family odd, and after this incident, he became even more suspicious of her relationship with Esteban. He turned to the son of a director from Chase Bank sitting next to him, raised his glass, and exchanged a few casual words. Then, almost as an afterthought, he asked about the connection between the Calderon family and Chase Bank.
The Bank is one of the largest banks in the area, and almost every business has had some form of loan or partnership with it. The son of the Chase Bank's board member, Josiah Rojas, returned to the country and started as a mid-level manager in his family's bank. When Jayson asked him about this matter, he thought for a few seconds before responding: "The Calderon family that's into construction? If I remember correctly, their daughter is your sister-in-law, right? You should ask your father-in-law about this. It's not something I can discuss!"
"Actually, it's not a big deal. My father-in-law is just being overly polite and won't let me help. I just want to understand the situation. We're all family here, so it's no problem to talk about it."
"Bro, you really know how to handle things," Josiah said, raising his glass for another toast. "Since the Calderon family promoted Sanaa to CEO, most things have been handled by her and her husband. Unfortunately, her husband is useless. Last year, he won a bid at a ridiculously low price, only to end up losing money. Then, the houses they built were found to have defects, and the improvements needed are huge. That's when the Calderon family's financial issues started. Esteban claims that their family fortune is still stable, but he had to use the house he's currently living in as collateral for a loan. Isn't that their family fortune right there?" Josiah swirled his whiskey glass in his palm.
"I know about this. I think that loan should still be manageable for my father-in-law," Jayson responded.
"Really? Last month, the Calderon family requested an additional 50 million loan from us. We approved it, seeing as the Nixon and Calderon families are now connected by marriage. We trust the Calderon family will be fine."
"Then I'll have to rely on you," Jayson said politely, clinking his glass with Josiah's.
"Not at all, it's all because of the care you've shown me, Opal Lounge is one of the biggest clients we have at the bank, and I hope your new company will continue to work with us in the future!"
"That's definitely the case!" Jayson raised his glass, but in his heart, he thought to himself, The Sanaas has caused such a huge mess. It looks like the resort project is crucial if they're urgently looking for me tonight.
At this moment, another young man, who frequently socialized with Jayson, signaled for the waiter to open the door. A few curvaceous, scantily-clad women entered the private room, each choosing a man to sit beside.
The men who often frequented Opal Lounge were well-versed in this environment, and they quickly intertwined with the women. The women, soft and seductive, flirted with the men, occasionally coaxing them to drink or performing some actions that made the atmosphere blush-worthy. Since returning to the country, Josiah also spent a lot of time here. The girl attending to him seemed familiar, and she boldly straddled his lap, grinding her body against him. Josiah buried his face in her neck, whispering something that made the girl laugh uncontrollably.
The girl beside Jayson naturally knew her boss. She sat down politely next to him, picked up a glass, and poured herself a drink before offering a few well-wishes to Jayson. He glanced at her but gave no response, his mind preoccupied with other thoughts.
Seeing Jayson slightly furrow his brow, as if displeased, the girl quickly leaned closer, pressing her body against his back, and softly said, "Boss, don't be upset. I'm new here, and I don't know how to make you happy. Please teach me."
Only then did Jayson turn to face her. She was a woman he hadn't seen before.
As Jayson stared at her, the girl gently kissed his cheek. Seeing that he didn't object, she leaned in to kiss his lips.
