Bluno was a businessman, not forgetting to introduce her daughter to him, wearing an ingratiating smile, "This is my daughter Lindsay, just started her freshman year at college. I’m a bit embarrassed to say, while my kid’s still hitting the books, your grandson’s already running the whole show at the corporation, haha, quite the prodigy!"
Lindsay knew exactly what her father was aiming for with his words. She played along, gracing Phillip with a sweet smile as she said her hellos.
"Hello, Mr. McMillian, I’m the unfilial daughter, Lindsay."
"Unfilial? No way! Nice to et you."
Phillip had no clue who the people around him were. His plan for the evening was simple: to bring a birthday present for Eugene, have a slice of birthday cake, and most importantly, to see his darling
granddaughter-in-law. He hadn’t expected to be sward by guests, packed tighter around him than sardines in a can, leaving him gasping for air.
It was his own fault for not bringing the butler. Had the butler been there, at least a few eager faces might have been kept at bay.
"Phillip? Is that you, or are my old eyes deceiving ? How long has it been since we last caught up?"
Mr. Gardner barged in, elbowing Bluno aside. He stretched out a hand and shook Phillip’s whether he wanted to or not, chuckling, "We used to play chess together, rember?"
Actually, Phillip had no mory of it, but considering everyone present had been invited by Mr. Albright, he nodded politely, "It’s been ages, hasn’t it?"
"Yeah, ages! Our last ga must’ve been seven or eight years back. You were vacationing at the McMllian Corporation’s villa resort, staying in the presidential suite. I was right next door. I happened to
be carrying a chess set as you were heading out, and we ended up playing a few rounds."
This jogged a vague mory for Phillip, but it was a distant mory, one he wouldn’t have recalled without prompting.
"Look at how big my granddaughter has gotten. Sylvia, where are you? Co say hello to Mr.McMllian, would you? Kids these days, no sense of propriety." Mr. Gardner said, eyes crinkling with a
smile, "This is Sylvia, my granddaughter. If I rember correctly, you ntioned having a grandson about her age?"
"They do seem to be peers," Phillip replied, looking to move on.
"Phillip? Is that you?" A well-dressed elderly lady with a kindly face approached him, "It’s been so long. I’m Amanda, Ted Remington’s wife. Do you rember ?"
Phillip did rember Ted - a well-known chess master. While not as famous as Eugene, Ted was still beloved by many.
"How has he been?" Phillip inquired with genuine interest.
He rembered watching Ted win championships and had even played chess with him a few tis.
Their longest ga had stretched from dawn until dusk, with als eaten over the chessboard. They had shared a certain camaraderie.
"He passed away." Amanda’s voice trailed off as her eyes welled up, and she dabbed at the corner of her eyes with a handkerchief, her act so overdone that even Bluno wanted to curse out of sheer irritation.
"I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked."
"It’s okay. He passed away happy. Before he left us, he passed on all his chess knowledge to his granddaughter. Oh, speaking of which, this is my granddaughter, Mabel. Co and say hello to Mr.McMllian," Amanda called out.
"Pleasure to et you, Mr. McMllian." Mabel greeted with a well-mannered smile that seed to convey a depth of knowledge, "My granddad used to speak so highly of you. Now that I see you in
person, you indeed carry yourself with such distinction. He always regretted not having the chance to play another ga of chess with you. If you find the ti, may I have the honor of playing in his stead?"
Bluno, who stood nearby, couldn’t hide his disdain as he snorted in amusent, sparing no rcy as he exposed her, "If I’m not mistaken, that’s exactly what you said to Mr. Albright just a mont ago."
She had claid that her grandfather’s biggest regret was not having the chance to play another ga of chess with Mr. Albright.
"Young lady, it’s not good to fib at such a young age."
"What fib? My dear departed husband always kept two chess companions closest to his heart: Mr.McMllian and Mr. Albright. What would a youngster like you know? Now step aside," Amanda retorted
with a mix of scorn and dissatisfaction that only soone of her advanced years could get away with when addressing a man of Bluno’s stature.
However, when she turned to Phillip, her tone softened considerably, "Phillip, let raise a toast to you on behalf of my late husband, shall I?"
"Oh no, no need. I can’t partake in spirits anymore; my personal physician has forbidden it. No alcohol, no spicy food. I must stick to the doctor’s orders."
"It seems this young doctor of yours knows their stuff, to keep you so in line." Amanda didn’t press the issue further, but added, "Speaking of which, I’ve been feeling quite worn out lately, as if my body can’t
keep up. Perhaps when you’re free, you could introduce this doctor to ?"
"She’s very busy, and it was a huge favor to have her treat ." Phillip was reluctant to burden his precious granddaughter-in-law with more work, "I think it’s just your age catching up to you. If there’s no serious ailnt, any general practitioner should suffice."
A tad embarrassed, but still smiling, Amanda conceded, "You’re right."
"I better go greet the birthday boy; I’ve already arrived late as it is. Please excuse ."
Despite Phillip’s words, a number of guests were still eager to hobnob with him, seizing on this rare opportunity. His presence was a golden chance they didn’t want to miss.
Phillip quickened his pace, wishing he could fly over to Eugene’s side, all the while wondering where on earth Roo was. It was already late, and he was nowhere to be seen, not there to offer him so much-needed assistance.
"Alright, break it up. Don’t scare Phillip away now. We’re here to celebrate Mr. Albright’s birthday, not to talk shop," President Barton knew exactly why these people were hounding Phillip - they were hunting for a chance to collaborate with the McMllian Corporation. Crowding around Phillip would only annoy him.
"President Barton, we just wanted to say hello to Phillip," a persistent guest insisted, champagne glass in hand.
"Yeah, just a quick word, and then we’ll be on our way."
"We haven’t had the chance to thank Phillip properly for the big favor the McMllian Corporation did for us."
"The McMllian Corporation isn’t under his managent anymore. If you have business, go talk to Roo." President Barton steered Phillip away by the shoulders, "If I hadn’t spotted you from afar and co to your rescue, you’d still be stuck in the sa spot."
"Yes, yes, you’ve got the keen eye. Where’s my darling granddaughter-in-law?"
"There you go, just as I thought. You’re here to see Rosemary," President Barton chuckled, well aware that the presence of these old tirs was due in no small part to that young lady.
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