Chapter 313 The Party on the Golden Cruise
Rachel scowled at Jason’s words. “I’ll see you at the Deluxe Hall of the Golden Cruise at 7.30PM. I’m sure you’ll meet the people you’re interested in at the cocktail party.”
“I’ll go.” After hanging up the call, Rachel traded glances with Jolly.
“Jason told me to join a cocktail party with him on the Golden Cruise.”
“The Golden Cruise?” Jolly became startled. “Is it an event organized by the Jockey Club?”
“Do you know anything about it?”
“My dad was one of the founders of that club. When I was a young kid, he used to bring me to the events organized by the club. For some reason, he stopped attending them one day and quit watching horse racing altogether.”
“Did anything happen?”
“I’m not sure. I was already in the university when that happened, so I wasn’t home most of the time.”
Upon hearing that, Rachel fell into her thoughts. Just then, someone knocked on the door from outside.
“Come in,” Rachel uttered.
The person who came in was the secretary to the director of the Advertising Department, Linda Cook. “The director told me to send you this, President Hudson. It is Leroy Bennett’s latest schedule.”
A puzzled Rachel asked, “What do I need his schedule for? Why can’t we contact his agent directly?”
Linda explained, “The director has already come to an agreement with Leroy’s agent regarding the contract. However, Leroy is different from other celebrities—he likes to take things into his hands. Therefore, the contract has to be sent to him and signed by him.”
“Can’t we just meet up with his agent?”
A helpless Linda uttered, “Leroy is the hottest celebrity now, so he has a tight schedule. If we want to book a time slot with his agent to have a meet-up, that will be two months later.”
Upon hearing her explanation, Rachel said, “In other words, you’re saying that we have to fit into his schedule and look for him to get the contract signed wherever he is.”
“That’s right.” Linda appeared embarrassed. Since she was worried that Rachel would be displeased, she quickly explained, “That’s how things work in showbiz, President Hudson. Brands have to cooperate with the hottest celebrities to get them to endorse their products.”
While Rachel was silent, Jolly uttered, “Let me handle this. You can do your own work first.”
“Alright.”
After taking the schedule, Jolly flipped through it and lamented, “It’s all easy money in showbiz, huh? It just proves that these brands are right to look for these celebrities to endorse their products. These celebrities are basically giving themselves airs, but their fans are still willing to support them.”
Rachel knitted her brows. “You should meet up with Leroy. If there’s a problem with his personality, I don’t want him to be our spokesperson. We’re in the market for the long term, not just to sell something quick.”
“I get it. Don’t worry.” As she spoke, Jolly suddenly saw something and frowned. “The Golden Cruise? Leroy is going to the Golden Cruise as well, Chris.”
“What? Is he also a member of the Jockey Club?”
As Jolly went through the contents of his schedule, she said, “I don’t think so. It’s mentioned here that he’s attending an event, so I think he’s been invited to the cruise.”
“Can you get all the information regarding the Jockey Club?”
“I’ll look into it.”
Jolly ran a quick search about the Golden Cruise and the Jockey Club, but she realized that there wasn’t anything useful. “Why don’t I call my dad and ask him about it?”
“Wait a minute.” Rachel raised her hand to stop her. “There’s no need for that right now.”
Something was probably off since the event on the cruise ship had something to do with Jason. Rachel reckoned that she’d better not inform the older generation about it so that they wouldn’t be worried. Regardless of the purpose of this event, Rachel had to attend it.
“I’m going with you,” Jolly said with the schedule in her hand. “I have to look for Leroy anyway.”
“I only have one invitation card. How are you going to get in?”
“I’ll just go home and get it.” Jolly smiled smugly. “Even though my dad no longer attends these events, those from the club still insist on sending him the invitation cards to all the functions, and I know where he places them.”
Some people would scramble to get their hands on the invitation cards so that they could attend the event on the cruise ship, but to Jolly’s parents, the event was like a plague that had to be avoided at all costs.
Soon, darkness descended upon them in the evening.
Clad in evening dresses, Rachel and Jolly arrived at the harbor in Riverdale.
When the attendant took the invitation card from Jolly, he became startled. “You are…”
“This is my dad’s invitation card. He told me to come here on his behalf.”
Upon hearing her explanation, the attendant said, “You’re Miss Carter. Welcome, and this is your room card.”
“Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Rachel and Jolly boarded the cruise ship in an arrogant manner, and it wasn’t until they stepped into the elevator that they breathed a sigh of relief.
“If my dad finds out that I came here with his invitation card, he’ll kill me.”
“Why? The attendant was pretty respectful when he saw your dad’s name.” Rachel examined Jolly’s room card for a bit. “It seems that your room is a suite.”
Jolly wasn’t surprised at all as she had already expected it. “My dad is one of the founders, so they have to show him enough respect. The other founders are also my dad’s friends, but they quit contacting each other a long time ago.”
“Who are they?”
“They were my dad’s classmates at university. One of them is named Baxter—I always called him Mr. Baxter. The other person is a woman named Bowman, and I’d call her Mrs. Bowman.”
After a pause, she went on to say, “I don’t think you know them as their entities are not in Riverdale, and I have no idea the nature of their businesses. My dad fell out with them eventually. I remember mentioning Mrs. Bowman at home one day, and my dad immediately blew his top.”
“Your dad is a mild-tempered person. I can’t believe he blew his top because of this.”
“That’s right. I also find it inconceivable. As far as I’m concerned, he rarely throws a tantrum.”
“There’s something off about it.”
Just as Jolly wanted to say something, Rachel suddenly took her arm and uttered in a grim voice, “Let’s get into our room first.”
The Golden Cruise was a large cruise ship where many events could be held at the same time. This time round, the Jockey Club had booked the entire cruise ship. Since the event had yet to begin, the vessel was still parked beside the harbor as they awaited the guests’ arrival.
Upon entering the room, Rachel examined everything thoroughly.
“What are you looking for?”
“Shh.”
Rachel shut the curtains and scanned the room with her phone’s torchlight. Upon making sure that there were no hidden cameras, she turned on the light as the room became illuminated.
“Someone was stalking us in the corridor just now.”
Jolly’s expression changed. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Jolly immediately dashed toward the door and looked out through the peephole. Presently, only other guests were walking along the corridor, so she wasn’t sure whether they were being stalked.
Rachel uttered, “Stop looking. The stalker wouldn’t stay right outside our room.”
“Who could be stalking us?” Jolly frowned as a name sprang into her mind. “Could it be Ryan? He must be insane! I’m calling him right now.”
“Wait a minute.” Rachel pulled the other woman’s arm. “We’re on the Golden Cruise now. Are you sure Ryan’s men can get in here?”
Upon hearing that, Jolly was startled.
