(Chapter 62) Invitation To A Charity Event

"Yes?" Astrid sat at her desk as she took the call.

"Boss, the head of the Katafawa clan has agreed to meet you." The caller spoke in native Japanese.

"Good, I'll send over the demands for them to be submissive to us. Make sure to force their hand, you'll go instead of me." Astrid replied back in Japanese.

"Understood boss. There have been rumors that the government had been planning to clear out the Yakuza families still in control of vital businesses." The Japanese man also gave more information.

"Make sure we are on their side. Give them some presents, make sure to give information about the Yakuza that we aren't going to take over. The police will then lean to us in the future." Astrid didn't hesitate in her decision.

"I understand. I will report when the mission is complete." He hung up the call.

Astrid took away her phone and started to hack into the police files in Japan, she left them some 'gifts' and made sure to take her own payment from them.

By the time she was done, it was time for her to eat. After a joyful dinner, Francesca ended up going back home. And Winoa reported that what Astrid requested earlier had been completed.

"You have been invited to the opening of Dinfia mall in Rome. Accept or decline?" Winoa was now going through Astrid's invitations she had for events.

"Decline." Astrid monotonously responded, she wasn't interested in a mall or shopping centre.

"You were invited to the opening of the annual charity event hosted by the Guilliano family." Winoa kept going.

"Accept." Astrid didn't respond with much emotion this time either.

"You were invited by Blockstar Entertainment for a banquet." Winoa's eyebrows subconsciously rose.

"Mm, make sure Wu attends in my place. I will shadow." Astrid this time was a little interested. Blockstar Entertainment was the largest entertainment studio in Europe. They were probably going to make her bow down to her or even pressurize them to give up. Hence she was interested.

"I declined the other events due to the Vice President being too busy, and the dummy not being able to accept anything for a couple of months." Winoa put down her notebook to look at Astrid.

Seeing Astrid nod she took her leave. Astrid was left to smoke outside on her own. As her plans formulated in her mind...

.......

"May I see your invitation?" First up on the agenda, was the charity event hosted by the Guilliano family. This year was the 50th anniversary of the family running an official annual event. Some of the most influential people in Europe were invited, some even from other continents where the Guilliano family had expanded.

Astrid took out a silver invitation from her bag and showed it to the guard. When he saw the slither of silver he immediately showed a smile ready to bootlick.

"Apologies honored guest, I'll escort you to your seat now." Astrid was close to the first guest to arrive. So no one could see the guard's expression when he saw the invitation slip...

Astrid sighed quietly, she should have expected her invite to be different from others. Not only her connection to Leone, but also to Lewis...

Astrid was escorted inside the venue and into the special side room that only the host could enter. The venue was owned by the Guilliano family and had been used for charity events since the beginning. The older renaissance architecture showed the significance and cost of the building.

The guard bowed 90 degrees at the door. As Astrid opened the private door. Revealing a table full of food and snacks.

"I didn't expect you to come." The first voice Astrid heard was the annoying tone of Lewis...

"Why wouldn't I?" Astrid retorted back as she immediately gravitated to the table of food.

Lewis sat at the table and watched as Astrid started to gobble up the food. He was stunned when he saw her enter the room. She had grown so much since he last saw her. She also became prettier...

Astrid was wearing her skin mask that could subtly mask her beauty. It also didn't make it as obvious who her parents were, just for safety...

"I thought you must have been joking when you made that deal to me back then. I did my part, and then I heard you had left." Lewis stated, only he knew the feelings he had when he heard from Viviano that Astrid had left the country. He tried to keep a good eye on her, but he slowly lost track of her.

Astrid didn't respond, she just ate the slice of strawberry cake on the table in complete silence.

"So, why did you come here?" Lewis had gotten older and more mature, with it, came a new angle of persuing Astrid...

"It's good to spend money for charity, I have enough to spare." Astrid replied with a muffled tone, she was hungry...

Lewis gave a wry smile as he took a bite of food. "Really now? If I didn't know you well enough I would think you were telling the truth." Lewis snorted, did she think such a silly lie would get past him?

Astrid glanced at Lewis. He hadn't changed much since last time. He was still Adonis. God's most blessed creation. His cold demeanor was nowhere to be seen as he had a light smile on his face. It would make all the ladies tonight go mad if they saw it...

"There is something I'm interested in. Also I guess we can finally confirm our partnership no?" Astrid then focused back on the food in front of her.

Lewis chuckled at Astrid's words. If it were any other woman, they would become entranced with him. But Astrid blew him off. "I guess so. I heard from a birdie that you will be staying here for a while?" Lewis then asked the question which had been bothering since he heard Astrid returned.

Astrid didn't hesitate to nod. She couldn't lie to him when he had already heard the news from Leone who had heard it from Francesca. Little did she know, that if she did lie. He would believe her instead of Leone...

Lewis threatened to crack a beaming smile. As he now felt sending an invitation to Astrid was the best thing he had done in years. "Wipe away that smile. It looks creepy." Astrid chided the man. As she continued to eat.

Lewis shrugged his shoulders. "What can I say? This handsome face must be accompanied by a smile at this time." Lewis was quite shameless...

Astrid raised her eyebrow. "I didn't know you were such a narcissist... Also your stubble needs to go. It looks like you have pubes on your face." Astrid hit the man quite harshly.

'She doesn't like beards. Got it.' Lewis would remember that remark...

"Mmm, pubes on my face or not. Women won't stop looking at me." Lewis gave a flirtatious smile to Astrid.

Astrid put down the cake she was going to eat and covered her mouth. "Revolting, I never knew you were a playboy. I wonder how many women you had fucked Mr. handsome?" Astrid now lost her appetite, as her expression changed while looking at Lewis.

Lewis had a blank look on his face. "How did this turn into me being a playboy? Also why do you say it like that? I believe the phrase should be 'make love to', not 'fuck'." Lewis responded in a tone that Astrid couldn't read.

This was why Astrid actually found Lewis quite entertaining to talk to. Sometimes she could read him like she could others. But sometimes she felt she couldn't understand him. He was like a puzzle she wanted to crack...

"There is no way you don't have a line of women outside your office door every night. Do you 'make love' to those women? Or do you fuck them and then dump them?" Astrid replied as she leaned in the chair.

Lewis narrowed his eyes. 'This woman doesn't think I'm faithful. I've already decided you are the only one for me in this lifetime. I'm a pure and innocent virgin. And I will only make love to you. Not dump you.' He would love to speak his mind. But he was afraid he would be dumped before they were even in a relationship...

Not hearing anything in response, Astrid looked at Lewis. To her surprise, he was looking at her with a serious expression. It made her blink. 'What is he doing? Couldn't he at least respond with something?' She didn't understand what was going on through his mind right now.