"You guys are here too."
"Yeah. We've signed our partnership with Vincent. Finally!" Mikael had a broad smile on his face. After saying that, he returned his attention to the table as his turn to shoot.
When Mikael missed the second ball, Lucas quickly positioned himself to shoot next and successfully made three hits.
"Damn!" Mikael cussed.
"Hey, John!" Rob walked toward him and handed a glass with spirit.
"Thanks, Rob." John accepted the drink and gulped half of the content. With the alcohol entering his system, it eases the tension in his nerves.
John followed Rob—he strode toward a single couch near the pool table and took a seat. He watched Lucas, Mikael, Rob, and Kian Lynch playing. Then his eyes casually toured around and studied the other men in that room.
On their way, he saw not only Hailee's knights but also Chairman Jacob's men. It was apparent that Vincent was taking over Oceania Continent.
Mikael Davidson's family had a vast influence in G Country, while Rob Dawson dominated T Country for its petroleum and coffee business.
John sneered in his heart, thinking about it—both countries are where J Group has its large operation in South East Asia or as part of the Oceania Continent. Having these men, Vincent effortlessly suppresses his business.
'Vincent Shen… They indeed underestimated you!' He is undoubtedly a cunning man!
"So, you guys are Vincent's business partners now, huh?" John would like to hear about it more.
Mikael replied with glee, "Yeah. Vincent eventually accepts Lucas's offer. So, Vincent is now the new Martel Maritime Builders Vice President."
"What?" John was surprised to hear this fresh news.
"Yeah. It was the only highest title Lucas could give Vincent, as he has a greater job from now on. We are celebrating Vincent's promotion! He is officially the new President of Davies Corporation. Uncle Jacob formally stepped out in his seat, and he was simply the chairman now."
'So soon? Then it means Vincent is the big boss of the Davies Corporation, not only in the Oceania Continent but in the entire world where they operate their businesses.' John muse.
He doesn't know what to feel, either be glad or be alarmed because it means people should think first about harming or offending Vincent. Now, he has the power of crushing anyone with his own hands. Contemplating over this, John clenched his jaw as he emptied his glass.
'It was the end of the game.' He grinned at himself. From here on, only a fool would have the courage to provoke Vincent Shen. To be in his good book, only wise men would survive.
"Hey, John!" At the doorway, James called out to him, cutting his train of thoughts. James tilts his head toward the direction where Vincent was waiting, he goes on. "Vincent will meet you now."
John nodded his head, got up from the couch, and followed James. He was brought to an elevator, and James pressed the upper deck button after his keycard scan by the system.
The yacht would have its advanced security to ensure the princess's safety the whole time, even though she was surrounded by dozens of knights protecting her.
And by this time, the person whose privilege was none other than the princess's husband, Vincent Shen.
John smiled to himself as he rode the lift alone. James only escorted him by the door, saluting at him as the door shut-in. It didn't take long, and he arrived without him knowing.
'What a smooth ride.' He muttered inwardly. Before he exited the elevator, John heaves a deep breath to release the tension pent up in his chest.
At the upper deck, he was welcomed by an extensive space. It was the first time John boarded Hailee's superyacht as only special people are invited, and he did not consider himself lucky because he knew that there was a reason he was here tonight.
John swept his gaze and praised the exquisite decorations on every corner of the hall that showed modern and luxury.
As he continued scanning the room, his eyes landed on the man seated in the main chair in the middle of the hall. Then his gaze passed the glass wall, toward the sundeck, and saw four people lounging near the pool.
John recognized Prince Alexander Martini and Mitchelle Romanoff, a man who has a title as Prince of Russia.
All of a sudden, his feet were nailed on the floor. He was in a daze, realizing that tonight, there were more important people on board the yacht.
To see Rob and Mikael tonight is already a shocking sight to him. What else to find the royal men?
"Why don't you take a seat, Mr. Jackson? Please, don't treat yourself as an insignificant guest. Come and help yourself." Upon saying that, Vincent waved his hand at different liquors presented in the long cocktail table.
He already noticed his arrival, but John remains standing in front of the elevator and is dazed while looking at the waterfall in the pool. As a designer, Vincent admits it was a beautiful idea. The pool was designed, specifically for Hailee as she loves watching a vivid lighting background.
John walked toward Vincent and took the seat opposite him.
"Welcome to the Queen of the Ocean." Referring to Hailee's superyacht, Vincent humbly welcomes John—even though he is the king in that vessel, he has a good intention of inviting him tonight.
"Thank you, Mr. Shen, or shall I address you as President Shen?" John senses the humbleness in Vincent's tone. It was far different from the last time they encountered each other, which was full of tension. And so, he has no reason not to lower his pride as well. Besides, in this vessel, Vincent was the boss.
"Please, have a drink. These are the vintage wines I received from my wife during our honeymoon in Tasmania."
Now that Vincent mentioned his wife, he suddenly remembered his last encounter with Hailee and her warnings. Now it makes sense. What she said was true. The princess gives support to her husband to go rogue to whoever provoked him.
Now, it's not only her knights standing behind Vincent but even Lord Jacob's trusted men.
John snapped himself from dazed and met Vincent's eyes. He smiled and uttered, "It was difficult to have the Davies Orchard vintage wine. So I will seize this opportunity to enjoy them."
"Sure." Vincent nodded. There is a faint smile playing on his lips.
Since Vincent offered him the drinks, John thought not to refuse. He picked up a clean wine glass and chose Pinot Noir. Carefully, he opened the bottle and poured the contents. He watched the red liquid adoringly. The pleasant aroma lingers in his nostril; he breathed in and indulged in its heavenly taste.
John knew Vincent scrutinized him as he sipped on the wine. Since he already made a decision tonight, there's nothing to be hasty.
Besides, he and Vincent have been in the business world for a while now. So as both businessmen, they don't need a lot of words to express each other's thoughts, but comprehend one word and convert it to a hundred meanings. All they needed is to read each other's body language and stick close to the things that they would both benefit from.
"Well, we started in an unpleasant situation, and I want to bury it in the past. What do you think, John?" After a long silence, Vincent was first to speak, since he was the one who needed something from John.
On the other hand, surprise has no more room for John as tonight, so many things seem to have happened to him.
Now, Vincent is offering him a peace treaty by removing the formality between them. So then, who is he to reject that? He isn't crazy yet, so he would gladly accept it instead.
"I would admit that it all started with my wrong judgment," admitted John.
"Let bygones be bygones," Vincent proposed.
John concurred, rephrasing Vincent's quote. "Let bygones be bygones."
Vincent picked up his wineglass and offered a toast to John. The latter quickly stretched his hand and clinked his glass to Vincent, and both drank the content in one gulp.
John placed his glass and raised his gaze. As he stared at Vincent with intent, the latter asked him a question.
"You seem to have something in mind, John."
"Ah, I'm just intrigued until now. It was the same reason I spat out something in the past." John is referring to their ugly encounter in the washroom.
May he and Vincent be on good terms now, or what he wants to believe from here on; John could not stop himself from recalling it.
"Then why don't you share your thoughts?" Vincent urged him.
John could see that Vincent was warming up to him, and it was a good sign. Then it wasn't wrong if he loosened up around the guy by being honest with his thoughts.
"Are you aware that you and Liam Huo have a lot of resemblances?"
Vincent narrowed his gaze after John asked him this question. John is not the first person who brought this up to him, and he doesn't like it, actually.
"You are not the only people that noticed, and I actually hate it," said Vincent with honesty.
He actually hated when someone would mention how he and Liam had a resemblance then compared them—the reason he was triggered when John told him those words back then at the washroom.
"Alright. I learned my mistakes now, so I would not mention him ever again." John quickly yielded, as he didn't want this conversation to take a wrong turn. He doesn't want to offend Vincent, so he will shut his mouth and will just open them when Vincent permits him to speak.
However, Vincent is determined to open up to John. He waved his hand and said,
"You can carry on. I am just expressing what I truly felt about it. So tell me what is on your mind."
He continues to encourage the guy. He wanted to know more about Liam, and John is the perfect guy as he and Liam are good friends.
Vincent had a cunning smile hiding on his lips as he thought of this.
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