Chapter 33. Circle of Friends: The Affluent Young Generation Group.

JARED

Incredible, truly incredible. I never imagined that a famous person would want to spend time with me. I'm completely astonished.

"Now you do. May I have the privilege of knowing your name?"

I extend my hand toward her. "Jared Hale."

She grasped my hand with a grin. "Nice to meet you."

It's pleasant that someone chose to spend time with me. I glanced over at the dance floor, which provided some amusement. I quickly felt the boredom set in after just a few minutes. I never imagined I could become disinterested so easily from participating in activities that wealthy people enjoy daily.

"So? Are you waiting for someone? Girlfriend?"

I smiled and laughed softly. "I don't have that. I'm actually here to meet a friend; he asked me to get to know his friends."

"Oh? I'm available, would you like to give it a shot?" she said with a playful tone and a sly grin, which made me shake my head even more emphatically.

"Thanks, but no"

She purse her lips and gave me puppy eyes. "so mean"

She's a great person, but I don't believe we're meant to be in a relationship. I prefer to stay single. With women like Selestine, I realize it could lead to complications that I'd rather avoid in the future.

Beauty is bound to attract headaches, and women are trouble.

~~~

As they immersed themselves in their own discussion, Matthew walked in. His gaze swept across the room until it landed on the table occupied by Jared and Selestine. His brow furrowed when he spotted Selestine, who was laughing with Jared at her side.

"Ugh!" His expression twisted in distaste as he observed them, aware of Selestine's true nature.

He constantly shakes his head while making his way towards his friends, who are observing the two, but they quickly look up at Matthew.

"Hey." 

"By the way, where's the friend you wanted us to meet?" 

He presses his lips together and points at the man next to Selestine. 

"What a coincidence." 

Matthew motions for them to follow until they arrive at the other table. Jared gives a nod to Matthew, and Selestine turns her head, raising her brow as though questioning what they are doing, standing before them.

"It's great that you both are acquainted, but you should keep your distance from her; she's toxic," Matthew earnestly counseled Jared, his gaze filled with genuine concern and caution.

Jared laughed, while Selestine frowned as she directed an intense glare at Matthew but quickly turned to Jared with an inquisitive expression. "Is he the friend you've been expecting?"

Jared gave a nod in response. 

The others in the group settled down, holding their drinks. 

"Everyone, meet Jared, a friend I wanted you all to be introduced to." 

"You already know me, Matthew Hall and Selestine Amon; now I want to introduce you to them."

"Hello," he grinned at them and gave a nod.

"I'm Nessie Marco, a pleasure to meet you," the girl next to Matthew introduced herself. In contrast to Selestine's wild energy, Nessie exudes a captivating presence with her long, straight hair and bangs that enhance her round, lovely face, brightening her look even with minimal makeup. Her dimples add to her cuteness. She is petite and curvy but exudes a sexy charm.

She's the kind of girl who requires safeguarding. Delicate and delightful, Nessie could easily attract the attention of predators and those with malicious intent. She embodies the essence of someone who deserves to be cherished and treated like royalty.

Meanwhile, the guy next to Nessie gave a slight nod to Jared and introduced himself.

"Filio Aurora" radiates the charm of a gentleman, effortlessly pulling off his elegant casual suit complemented by a warm smile resting on his slender lips. With prominent eyebrows and lengthy lashes, it's no wonder his hazel eyes draw envy from the women nearby.

And then there's the man next to him...

"Gandrick Helmier," in stark contrast to Filio's gentle demeanor, resembles a fierce wolf with an intimidating presence. His thick brows, piercing gaze, prominent nose, thin lips, and defined jawline contribute to his commanding look, making his casual black outfit appear reminiscent of a powerful CEO from a gripping novel.

Regardless of how you view it, this bunch of friends resembles characters lifted straight from a book. With their affluent and renowned status, it's no surprise that people are eager to engage with them.

Jared knitted his brows, sifting through his thoughts to understand why their names seemed somewhat known to him.

Then, a sudden realization hit him, allowing him to identify the individuals standing before him.

It was them...

Years ago, numerous companies gained prominence by establishing ventures similar to those found in other nations. As time passed, the business accumulated substantial wealth and expanded its branches. Some family-owned enterprises remain situated in the city's heart, while others operate as partnerships. One such growing conglomerate is Nexus Horizon. Ranking among the top 10 business empires in the Imperial Country, Nexus expanded by merging several enterprises from five families into a single entity.

Nadia Hall focuses on retail, transportation, and insurance. Marco manufactures home products, including thermostats and security systems. HM Foods specializes in fresh produce, whole foods, and manufacturing. Amon offers an online shopping platform that serves the entire Imperial Country, while Aurora is a streaming media service for films and television shows.

With multiple businesses combined, the conglomerate's market value skyrocketed to several trillion, positioning them among the top 10 companies in Imperial Country.

People like these convene at one table, and Jared couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder deep within.

"It's no surprise that your names sound so familiar. You all are the next generation of Nexus Horizon. It's a privilege to have such distinguished individuals at my table," he remarked.

For Jared, the praise was utterly sincere and filled with admiration, while the others felt that his compliments lacked the arrogance and insincerity they often encountered. They perceived his words as genuine appreciation devoid of any deceitful pretense.

Shortly after the introduction, the atmosphere became lively, filled with endless chatter and laughter.

"So? What do you do for a living? Are you local? This is the first time we've seen you around here," Gandrick inquired before taking a sip of his drink.

Jared leaned back, resting against the couch while elegantly swirling the clear alcohol in his glass, then slowly brought it to his lips. "Currently, nothing. I wanted to make the most of my time, and I'm from this area. I just don't typically go out much."

They nodded, but the rest of the group was eager to hear more. Given his brief reply, they were curious about the kind of person their friend had introduced.

"I get the sense that you're a bit private. I'm not quite satisfied; I'd like to know more. Are you involved in any business? What kind? Don't take it the wrong way; we're just interested in knowing in case we need a little assistance down the line."

Jared pressed his lips together while agreeing with Selestine's words. He started to speak, but a strong hand unexpectedly rested on his shoulder.

"Glad i saw you, you f*cking b*llsh*t!" The raging tone is filled with resentment.

The man approached them with a piercing stare directed at Jared, who appeared unfazed by the unexpected presence.

He identified him as the individual from the boutique, known as Mr. Connor.

"Hah! Do you even realize what you've done?! You arrogant fool, how dare you pull out our investment on a whim! Who do you think you are?!" With a powerful voice filled with anger and contempt aimed at Jared, the customers couldn't help but glance at each other.

"Oh...who are you?" Jared intentionally provoked him, causing even more animosity to appear on the man's face.

"I'm Brent Connor. How dare you! You're the reason my wife divorced me! My father nearly kicked me out of the house! It's your fault!"

After that, Jared scanned him from head to toe. In contrast to their last encounter, the man, once brimming with the confidence of a wealthy individual, now bore the marks of past struggles. The youthful aura of a privileged generation was entirely absent. Although he donned expensive clothing, the presence he exuded resembled that of a forsaken puppy, unwanted and alone.

Matthew and the others simply sat by, observing the man brimming with resentment and Jared, who appeared unfazed.

"Am I to blame for your affair with a saleswoman behind your wife's back and for harassing the unsuspecting woman in the store where your wife was present? Choose your words carefully. Consider yourself lucky that the only thing I took from you was your money. And let me be clear, I refuse to associate with thoughtless and disrespectful individuals like you. What would happen to my business if I allowed someone like you to be involved?"

Brent tightened his fist. "My family is the only investor, and you have no authority to remove us, even if you are the owner! You don't have the right to throw us out! I will take legal action! I promise I will sue you!..."

As he yelled, two security personnel quickly grabbed him by the arms in an attempt to restrain him.

"Let go of me! Do you really think you're powerful enough? Ha! I'll hire a lawyer to confront you!"

Jared motioned for the two men to cease their efforts as they attempted to pull him out. He filled another glass and raised his gaze to Brent, his eyes filled with an icy coldness.

"Absolutely. I understand you could pursue legal action because I removed you, but I possess the rights. While I acknowledge that you are the primary financier of the company, that company lacks any additional investors or stakeholders. The only way for you to succeed is to secure majority support from the others, and since there are no other participants who would cast a vote besides the former owner...this implies you won't have an opportunity."

"My dad is friends with the former owner! I will ensure you regret what you've said! We will reclaim the place once more!"

Jared massaged his forehead. It feels as though communication was impossible with someone like him.

It's frustrating attempting to engage in conversation with a person who lacks complexity.