In the Meladona Prime, inside an office, currently, two figures were sitting going through some files.
"Well done!" Keith happily smiled after he went through all the documents Sebastian handed to him.
His right-hand man had not disappointed him. All of 155 Km² of Land that he asked him to buy now belonged to him. Because of some legal bindings that concerned the land he bought from the state, he had to buy an extra 9 km² of land as well, which was of no use to him. But he did not care about it. The area he wanted was his now, and those who sold it to him were going to regret their decision in the coming two weeks.
"Did you spend all of the money?" He inquired.
"No, Young Master. I managed to save 83 Million Neris." Sebastian truthfully revealed.
"Keep it. It's yours!" He smiled and said.
"Thank you!" The tall young man did not refuse it and graciously accepted the generosity of his Master.
Even though he had no real need for this amount of money, he still decided to keep it to take care of the Company he was in charge of now.
Keith then went through the recent performance of the Meladona Nightclub Chain. Luckily, they took over the chain when it was the busiest week of the year. It saved the company's projected profits from derailing due to the sudden change in the management, and the people he had recruited under the recommendation of his mother were doing their job diligently.
"Young Master, can you tell me now why you wanted this land?" Sebs couldn't help his curiosity and asked.
"You will find out on the 27th why I wanted it, and on the 2nd of February, everything will be clear to you." He smiled mysteriously. "I have another job for you."
"Please say."
"I need you to investigate all the journalists who have been vocal and sceptical about our family's affairs." He seriously said. "You don't have to buy them if they are already on the payroll of our opponents, but you must gather every evidence of their wrongdoings that can help us keep a check on them. I want the unfavourable voices at a minimum in the coming next months."
"All of them?" Sebastian frowned and asked.
"If possible, yes." He smiled. "But leave out some renowned critical voices, who are not biased or serving our enemies."
"Young Master, it could prove detrimental in the long run," Sebs advised him. "We should not interfere in the media at such a large scale. Our Family already has enough power in the Media Industry, and no matter what happens, we are in a position to control every damage before it manifests."
"I understand your worries, but I have calculated these things." Keith appreciatively nodded his head, glad that Sebs was not hesitant to share his thoughts. "We won't suffer as long as we pass the next few months without anything negative on our image. And even if there is anything negative, it can be taken care of. It is only a matter of profits. There's no loss either way."
"I will take care of it." Sebastian relaxed after hearing those words, and he understood that he did not need to necessarily resort to extreme measures. "Any faction in particular that I have to pay more attention to?"
"The Environmentalists." Keith nodded and said. "They will come hounding at us when the plans are revealed for the development of these lands that we have acquired. However, as I said, you don't have to hold back anyone who is genuinely critical. All you must focus on is gathering anything incriminating against those who are working for our enemies."
"I understand." Sebastian nodded his head and assured him.
After his Meeting with Sebastian ended, Keith exited the Office that once belonged to Gouzo and walked towards the Gallery over the Music Venue where the ladies were waiting for him.
The Meladona Prime was a posh place, and as usual, it was filled with posh people in their fancy clothing, accompanying their selective group of friends.
It was Friday night, a busy one, and as always, a special performance was planned.
A renowned Disc Jockey was performing right now, and the crowd was swaying to his beat, dancing and drinking themselves to a hazy night.
Celine had been very excited and had pulled him and Venessa to the dance floor when they arrived here after their dinner, but Qingyue and Amelia were just not in the mood to dance. The two had settled in the gallery from the start, sitting by the side and watching over them.
It was all fun, except that his outrageously beautiful mother attracted a lot of unwanted attention. They ignored the eyes and advances of people as they kept enjoying themselves, but he was sure that this situation made both Amelia and Qingyue more sure of their decision to not come to the dance floor.
Keith had been away for over half n hour now, after receiving Sebs' call that the task was complete, but he was certain that neither of them had changed their mind about dancing when he was gone.
His arrival attracted a lot of attention from the ladies who were seated in the gallery or stood at the bar. And a few even approached him, looking at him with such infatuation that it could terrify a normal person.
"Keith!" Someone called out and barged into the ring of girls surrounding him. "What took you so long?" She asked as she locked her arm with his.
"Sorry." He apologised and allowed her to drag him away under the heartbroken gaze of the girls.
She was not dressed in anything fancy, and all she was wearing were jeans and a shirt, and a black jacket to top it off, but still, she was the object of envy of all the girls who considered themselves beautiful.
"Mama and Aunt Venessa are having shots after shots." She worriedly said after there was no one bothering them.
"Don't worry." He chuckled when he caught sight of Celine swaying left and right as she sat at a reserved table, still reaching for another glass of Gimlet. "Did you order a drink?" He asked.
"I tried out a Martini. And it's not my thing." She shrugged and said. "I just like Wine."
"Heh..." He chuckled and then pulled her up to the bar. "A Blood Orange Spritz, a Special Sangria, and a Negroni on the Rocks." He placed his order to the bartender, much to the curiosity of his partner.
"Are they for me?"
"Try them." He nodded and said. "If you don't like them, I will drink them."
"Okay." She sweetly smiled and nodded, subconsciously tightening her hold on his arm.
"So?" He playfully smiled when Qingyue tasted the Spritz, and proceeded to finish it up.
"It's good!" She admitted, tempted to order more of it, but then her eyes settled on the Negroni.
He chuckled when her expressions changed at the bitter notes of it, but she managed to finish it up as well since it wasn't an unpleasant taste.
"It's nice, but I guess I prefer the Spritz." She smiled before picking up the Special Sangria and taking a sip of it. "It's good!" She nodded her head, appreciating the fruity taste and the wine.
"Glad you liked it." He smiled and then turned to the bartender, who was looking at Qingyue weirdly. "I want another Negroni on the Rocks."
"2 minutes!" He said and started preparing it for him.
"Why was he looking at me like that?" The grey-eyed girl asked lightly.
"Maybe because he saw you finish your Negroni and you showed no signs of drinking one of the strongest cocktails at the bar." He chuckled.
"Was I supposed to get drunk?" She frowned.
"Have you ever gotten drunk?" He smiled and asked, and smiled some more when he found her shaking her head. "Ever tried?"
"Never." She simply said. "I don't think I would like getting intoxicated."
"Let's try." He suggested and then called out to the Bartender to get him two Sazerac, and a Long-Island Iced Tea as well.
Keith picked up the Negroni he ordered for himself and pushed the two Sazerac to Qingyue.
"You won't like their taste, but try to finish them. And then you can have this Iced Tea."
"Miss, I don't think you should listen to this gentleman." The bartender could not help but cut in.
"Why?" She smiled and asked. "You think he would take advantage of me?"
"I am not sure what his intentions are, but if you take all these drinks, you might not retain any sobriety." As a responsible bartender, he told her the truth.
"Don't worry. He's my husband!" She chuckled and lied to him, which shocked the man, and then he apologetically bowed to Keith.
"I am sorry for the interruption!"
Keith chuckled at his behavior and shook his head.
"Don't worry." He waved his hand and turned to look at the Assistant Manager who approached the bar after witnessing the bartender apologising to Keith, fearing that something wrong must have happened.
"Everything alright, Mr. Demiliore?" The middle-aged man with a refined mustache respectfully asked.
"Everything is fine." He assured him and turned to look at the bartender. "He's an honest man. Take good care of him."
The Assistant Manager wasn't sure if Keith was implying something else from his words, but he still nodded his head.
"I mean it." He smiled. "Also, the tip I leave solely belongs to him."
"Yes, Mr. Demiliore!" The man sighed in relief that nothing wrong had transpired and briefly spoke with the bartender before taking his leave, informing him of Keith's identity.
"Thank you, Mr. Demiliore!" The bartender sincerely bowed to him, grateful that he had not taken offence to his action.
"Please excuse me and my partner now." Keith smiled and said, making the man step away immediately and get back to his work.
"He's scared of you now." Qingyue giddily laughed and picked up the Sazerac. "Let's start." She said and took a sip. "Yuck!" The reaction was spontaneous, and it looked as if she would vomit the drink out.
"Ahahaha..." Keith couldn't help it and burst out laughing at her reaction. It was just too precious, and he was glad he put her through it.
"How can anyone drink this?!" She hated the taste that lingered in her mouth, but still braved her heart and finished it in two gulps.
Without waiting for his response, she picked up the other glass and finished it too, making people around them look at her in sheer disbelief. And they were even more stunned when they found out that she was absolutely fine after drinking two glasses of Sazerac.
"And this is not helping!" Qingyue complained as the Iced-Tea failed to remedy the horrible taste of Sazerac in her mouth.
"Want more Spritz?" He playfully asked.
"Yes!"
Minutes later, after taking three Blood Orange Spritz, she finally managed to erase the taste of Sazerac from her mouth.
"How do you feel?" Keith lightly sipped on his Negroni and asked.
"Full!" She displeasedly said.
"Not drunk?" He reminded her why he even made her drink something that she thought was so horrible.
"No." She frowned and asked, and to test it out, she stood up and walked a few steps. "I feel fine. The buzz is there, but I am not drunk."
"I know." He smiled and nodded to her as she sat back down at the bar.
"What is it?" She knew something was wrong and straightforwardly asked.
"Nothing to worry about." He assuredly smiled at her and flicked her nose. "I will tell you about it later."
"Okay!" She agreed and then turned to look in the direction of her mother, who was completely drunk and leaning on Amelia as she blabbered to her friend. "Keith..."
"Don't worry." He said and stood up before grabbing her hand and leading her to join the ladies.
"Was everything okay?" Venessa asked after he returned.
"Yup. It was Sebastian, and I needed to discuss a few things with him." He informed her why he left them earlier after receiving a call. "Aunty..." He gently said as he leaned over Celine.
"Keith!" She was drunk, but she recognised his voice and immediately leapt at him, hugging him. "You know, you smell so nice!" She childishly said and nuzzled her face in his chest. "Shooo goood!"
Her action embarrassed Qingyue, but even she couldn't help but join the rest of the ladies giggling at her antics.
"Thank you, Aunty!" He chuckled and hugged her back, comforting her. "Let's get you home."
"But... I want to dance again!" She said and made no attempt to get out of his embrace.
"We don't want you throwing up, do we?" He lightly said and then grabbed her waist, supporting her. "We can dance again when we get home."
"We will dance at home?" She raised her head and expectantly looked at him. "P-promise?"
"Yes!" He said and then nodded to everyone, who were all ready to leave.
"Keith!" Celine suddenly yelled when they were about to put her in the car.
"Yes?"
"Venessa is a cheat!" She complained, nearly on the verge of crying. "She can only drink more because she can cultivate. It's not fair!"
"We know!" He chuckled and then carefully helped her in the backseat, putting her in the arms of her daughter.
"We will head back to the Manor," Amelia informed him as she walked over to the other car with Venessa, Sibyl, and Ingrid.
"I might be late."
"No worries!" She smiled and said before getting into her car.
"Let's go!" He took the passenger seat and let Yingying drive them to the Robin's Nest.
