Her Childhood Crush

"Oh, I'm so sorry Mr. Andrew but I'll be leaving the ship with my father in about thirty minutes so I won't have the time to accompany you," Silver said, as she raised her hand to point at a helicopter that appeared overhead, trying her best to look as apologetic as possible.

But she gave the man a contemptuous glance where he could not see.

Just as Andrew was regretting not asking Silver out earlier, she added with a fake smile, "But I still have your business card so you don't have to worry, I'll contact you when we land in Diamond Dynasty."

This made Andrew who was already feeling down perk up suddenly, a bright smile immediately plastered on his face.

As she bid the man goodbye, Silver tightened her grip on the towel around her body and sneered.

'Fool.'

She turned a corner and soon arrived in front of a huge white door leading to her father's suite cabin. 

No one on the cruise ship knew about this but her father Simon Nielson was actually the owner of the cruise ship.

She didn't want to let that information out because she knew that even the sharks in the sea wouldn't compare to the savageness of these greedy men.

With a graceful raise of her hand, Silver pushed the door open and was instantly engulfed by the loud laughter of her father.

"Hahaha! You rascal Montero! What do you mean? I may have gotten old but you know you can never beat me at drinking. If alcohol is water then I'm a fish! Haha!" Simon Nielson's ash-colored beard shook with mirth as he engaged in a lively phone conversation, the sound reverberating through the room.

Silver couldn't help but shake her head in amusement at her father's boisterous banter. She decided to make her way into one of the adjacent rooms, gently closing the door to block out the noise from her father's conversation.

Quickly pulling off the towel in a swift and fluid motion, she went in for a quick shower. 

Minutes later, she emerged from the shower, feeling revitalized and renewed. Her choice of attire, a sunflower-yellow floral maxi sundress, exuded an aura of lightness and joy.

Even though she was leaving, she still had to maintain her docile image.

As she reentered the main room, her father's eyes met hers. Wearing a beige suit which did hardly little to cover his slightly protruding belly, he was seated comfortably on a plush sofa by the window, holding a glass of white grapefruit juice in his hands. His smile was infectious. 

"Silver dear, come here, I have good news for you," Simon said with genuine excitement, extending his hand toward his daughter.

Arching an eyebrow, Silver crossed the room and accepted her father's hand. 

With a playful smirk, she couldn't resist teasing, "Are you done boasting about your drinking skills, Dad?"

Simon's chuckle was warm and hearty as he pulled her closer to his side, "Well maybe I've had enough with that Montero brat. But let's be clear, you should know that you won't find a better drinking partner than your old man."

Silver rolled her eyes playfully, amused by her father's unending confidence in his abilities. "Of that, I have no doubt, Dad," she conceded.

With a satisfied grin, Simon leaned back in his seat and took a sip of his grapefruit juice. The morning sun filtered through the cabin's windows, casting a warm glow on their surroundings.

"Now," Simon began, lowering his glass, "about this good news, my dear. I've just closed a deal that will change everything for us." 

Silver tilted her head in curiosity and listened attentively.

Simon's eyes sparkled with a mixture of excitement and pride as he continued, "You know that project I've been working on for the past year? Well, it's finally coming to fruition."

Silver's interest was piqued. 

She settled into the chair across from her father, her sundress billowing gracefully around her. "What project, Dad?" she inquired, leaning forward.

Her father had been involved in a lot of projects since the past year and she had lost count.

Simon leaned closer and lowered his voice as if sharing a well-guarded secret. "The Nielson Wineries expansion, Silver. I just got off the phone with my friend and we spoke at length. Long story short, we've secured a deal to acquire the prestigious Valentina Estates. It's a vast vineyard with a long history, and it's going to be our crowning jewel!"

Silver's eyes widened with astonishment.

Valentina Estates also known as the land of wine was renowned for its exceptional vineyards, producing some of the world's finest grapes that were known for their extraordinary flavors, resulting in rich, full-bodied wines.

With a long and storied history, dating back generations, acquiring Valentina Estates was nothing short of a triumph for Nielson Wineries. 

"Dad, that's incredible!" She couldn't help but smile, genuinely thrilled for her father.

Simon beamed, clearly relishing the moment. "I knew you'd be as excited as I am. With Valentina Estates under our wing, Nielson Wineries is going to soar to new heights and further solidify our reputation in the industry. We'll soon be producing some of the finest wines in the world!"

Silver nodded, her heart brimming with pride. "I'm proud of you, Dad. This is a momentous achievement."

Then she paused, "But Dad, Valentina Estates belongs to the Valentine family and they've been making a lot of money since I could remember so how did their estate end up in your hands?" 

Simon leaned back in his chair, a shadow crossing his face as he considered Silver's question. 

"Well, my dear, that's where things get rather interesting. You see, it appears the Valentine family has fallen on hard times in recent years."

Silver's eyes widened with surprise. 

Valentina Estates had been a symbol of wealth and prestige for as long as she could remember. To hear that it had fallen into such dire straits was unexpected.

Simon continued, "The Valentines were left with no choice but to place Valentina Estates up for auction. The estate had become a heavy financial burden, and they were unable to sustain it any longer. An old friend of mine happened to learn of their predicament and alerted me."

"So you bought the estate?" Silver inquired.

"No, I didn't buy it. In actual fact, I don't have my hands on the estate yet because it is up for auction."

Silver listened intently, her curiosity piqued by the twist of fate. "An auction, Dad?"

Simon nodded. "Yes, that's why we're leaving. The auction is highly exclusive and will be held tonight. It's an invitation-only event attended by the world's wealthiest wine connoisseurs. Only a select few will get a chance to bid and try to acquire Valentina Estates."

"But with how much potential that is locked up in Valentina Estates, those wealthy companies would also try their best to acquire it. How are you so sure that we'll win?" Silver probed further.

"Do you remember Rodrigo Montero?" Simon asked instead.

Silver stilled in place as she tried to recall the familiar name. When it clicked, her deep blue eyes widened in surprise and she exclaimed, "Uncle Rodrigo! I spent almost half of my childhood in his house. How has he been?! How have Jake and Violet been?!"

Suddenly, a cold handsome face flashed in her mind which made her heart flutter but she ignored it, however, if one looked closely they'd notice that her cheeks were tinged red.

Simon chuckled and nodded at her exclamations, "Jake and Violet are fine and that old chap Rodrigo just threatened to make me walk home on my head after we meet for a drinking match tonight so he's definitely doing well." 

"So, back to your question dear. It was your Uncle Rodrigo who told me about the auction. He's one of the key organizers of the event, and his influence will help us secure some 'bonus points' if you get my drift." Simon's eyes glistened with mischief as he smirked and swirled the glass in his hand.

Silver's brow furrowed in thought, "So, it's not going to be an easy battle, is it?" 

Simon leaned forward, his eyes meeting his daughter's with a sense of determination. "No, Silver, it won't be easy. I also heard that brat Daniel Kozlov is also one of the bidders, but with Rodrigo's support, we have a strong chance. This auction is our golden opportunity, and we can't afford to let it slip through our fingers. I want you to be with me tonight when we make our bid." 

As a close friend of Rodrigo Montero, Simon and his family had spent a considerable amount of time with the Montero family. 

It was during these visits that he first encountered Daniel, a young orphan the Monteros had adopted into their family. 

And Simon was quite impressed when he heard of the young boy's achievements in recent years. He was the sole founder of the legendary empire, K and that was no ordinary feat.

Sometimes he wondered where Rodrigo found that boy.

Taking a sip of his juice, a glint flashed in Simon's eyes, 'That lad is not to be underestimated.'

Meanwhile, when Silver heard that name, her heart skipped a beat and a sense of excitement welled up within her. 

'Daniel was going to be at the event?!'

Although she despised the opposite gender, this man was someone who had a special place in her heart. 

As she reminisced about the young boy who was sitting under a tree reading a business book that was obviously bigger than his slender hands, Silver couldn't help but blush.

That rigid cold boy was her childhood crush.

Silver opened her mouth and was about to ask further questions when a knock at the door interrupted their conversation. 

Following the knock, Simon's assistant, Axel, entered, holding a leather-bound folder. "Mr. Nielson, the helicopter has landed and we're waiting for you to depart. Also, these are the documents that Mr. Montero's secretary mailed to us."

Simon nodded and took the folder. He glanced at Silver, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Shall we, my dear?"

Without thinking twice, Silver responded "Absolutely!"

'No matter what happens, I have to meet Daniel tonight!'