Reborn, Reawakened, Rekindled novel Chapter 184

Neil seemed so pissed at Bonnie. Would he still turn up for the dinner?

I wondered.

"This dinner is a sudden one hosted by Bonnie under the name of Rosemont's business association and funded personally. Neil is bound to show up, given the wide network involved," Russel always had a knack for guessing my thoughts, even over the phone.

Bonnie's influence is not what it used to be, and it’s only normal she could get the business association of Rosemont on her side.

"I'm not feeling it. Find yourself another date," I thought for a moment and turned Russel down.

"Don't you want to meet the person who has turned Bonnie's life around?" Russel asked again.

That was a question that tickled my curiosity. Who in the world was Abner's wife? Why would she take Bonnie as her goddaughter? Would she show up at the dinner tonight?

Neil's attendance at the dinner has to do with this person to some extent.

I changed my mind, wanting to meet this mysterious VIP, and arranged with Russel a time to leave.

Tonight's dinner was held on a yacht. The entrance was strictly controlled, requiring an identity check.

Before boarding the yacht, I met up with Russel, and we boarded together.

I wore a little black dress decorated with sequins and hollowed at the waist. It was a mix of elegance and sexiness. I had put on a little weight recently and no longer looked as skinny as before, so I felt pretty good in this little black dress.

Russel, on the other hand, wore a white suit, exuding an air of elegance. He was quite the charming gentleman, except for the fact that he didn't smile much, which made him seem aloof.

We arrived at the banquet hall on the yacht. It was spacious and decorated in a European palace style, grand and luxurious.

The dinner hadn't started yet, but there were already quite a few people. Looking around, I saw Stella, Alicia, and Barbara.

I went over to them immediately, "You guys got here before me?"

"Like we had a choice!" sighed Stella. "I came with Mitch, and it wouldn't be appropriate if he didn't show up for this kind of event."

"I'm here to network," Alicia always saw herself as a workaholic.

Barbara pointed to Silas not far away, "I'm here with someone too. But Rena, what's the deal with you? Why are you here with Russel?"

She rolled her eyes and stood up suggestively.

Stella immediately got excited, "Do you guys have something going on? Did sparks fly when we weren't looking?"

I looked back at Russel. He stood out in the crowd due to his height. His cool and noble vibe was quite attractive.

He noticed me looking and gave me a gentle smile.

"Look at that! The ice-cold dude is giving you such a warm smile!" Stella teased. "Rena, Neil's over there. You should totally go over and link arms with Russel. That'll piss him off!"

"He's here already?" I looked around but didn't see Neil.

"He was here. Where did he go?" Stella was also puzzled as she didn't see Neil either.

I turned my gaze back and pinched Stella's cheek, "Stop trying to set me up, you trickster! Did you lie to Neil that I have a boyfriend abroad?"

Stella blushed, then defended herself, "Well, he's always asking Mitch about you. I made that stuff up just to annoy him."

"Stop making up stories; my reputation is in ruins!" I warned her, pretending to be angry.

Suddenly, he put his hand on my right shoulder.

I turned to look at him. He had already withdrawn his hand. He was twirling an earring with his fingers, a faint smile on his lips, "You dropped your earring."

"Thanks." I took the earring from him, put it back on, and moved forward a few steps without a fuss, keeping a little distance from him.

Russel, who was just here, was nowhere to be found at this point.

I was standing pretty much at the front, and Neil was tall enough to stand out, so Bonnie had noticed us early on. The smile on her face was slowly fading.

Fortunately, she had finished her speech. Following that, she introduced her godmother, Gloria.

Gloria, around fifty and from Rosemont College, was well-preserved and glitzy from head to toe. She spoke with a slight accent, and oozed the charm of a mature woman.

When she first appeared, I heard a rustle behind me. Turning around, I saw Neil had done a runner.

I couldn't see his face at that moment, but my gut was screaming at me, "He knows Gloria!"

"Have a blast, everyone!" After Gloria finished her speech, the banquet officially kicked off.

I came here simply to scope out Bonnie's godmother. Now that I've seen her, I had no desire to stick around. So, I ducked out of the banquet hall, caught some breeze on the yacht's deck, and then headed back to my room for some shut-eye.

Just as I reached my room, Bonnie was there waiting for me.

Her face was as cold as ice, her eyes ablaze with anger. "Irene, why do you insist on being my enemy? Since you're not into Neil anymore, can't you keep your distance?”

"You're talking about the earring?" I calmly touched the earring on my right ear, smiling slyly. "I didn't ask for him to get close to me, so don't lay the blame on me without cause."