Chapter 135

After Kevin and Michael wandered off, Isabella made her way over to Gabrielle.

"Hey there, Mrs. Hamilton. You and your husband have such an amazing relationship," Isabella said, switching to Thalassian.

Gabrielle looked a bit surprised but responded in Thalassian too, "I didn't know Mrs. Williams spoke Thalassian!"

Isabella grinned. She knew Gabrielle hadn't been back to Thalassia much since she left with Kevin and had been speaking Avalonian for years.

Isabella used Thalassian to make Gabrielle feel more at home and to get closer to her.

"Thalassia is such a beautiful place. I visited once and even thought about moving there," Isabella shared, reminiscing about her time in Thalassia.

As a Taylor, Isabella had picked up a bunch of languages, including Thalassian.

While Isabella and Gabrielle were hitting it off, Michael and Kevin were having their own chat.

"Michael, you didn't bring Isabella just to catch up with an old friend, did you?" Kevin asked with a knowing grin.

Michael chuckled. "You got me. Isabella's actually the brains behind the design of your new product."

"You know I don't let personal stuff cloud my judgment," Kevin said, swirling his wine.

Michael took a sip and replied, "I have total faith in Isabella. She's just here to get a feel for your preferences for the design."

Kevin raised an eyebrow. "That's all?"

Michael nodded and smiled. "Yep, that's all there is to it."

Kevin laughed heartily. "I'm really curious about what kind of magic Isabella has to win you over. You usually don't get involved in these small matters, so you must really love her."

"You're right, I do love her a lot," Michael said, glancing tenderly at Isabella across the room.

Isabella, who was deep in conversation with Gabrielle, felt Michael's gaze. She turned, blushing as she smiled and nodded at him.

"It really takes me back to when we were young. Gabrielle and I used to be just like that," Kevin said, a bit nostalgic.

Meanwhile, Isabella and Gabrielle were engrossed in their chat. They talked about everything from Thalassian customs to local crafts and even its cultural spirit.

Isabella mentioned that the romantic vibe in Thalassia was unmatched by Solstice, and she liked to call Thalassia the Country of Romance, a sentiment Gabrielle agreed with.

"Speaking of Solstice, their romance might not compare to Thalassia, but their wine is pretty good," Isabella said, smoothly shifting the topic to wine.

Gabrielle showed a hint of regret. "Their wine is good, but I don't drink much, so I can't offer a detailed opinion. However, I have had an exceptional wine on one occasion-a truly rare and difficult-to-find vintage."

A spark of excitement lit up Isabella's eyes. After all this time, she could finally bring up the wine she had in mind.

"I have a vineyard on the Aurora Continent that produces a really nice wine. I think you'd like it. I'm not sure if it's the one you had in mind, but I'd love to give you a bottle for you and Mr. Hamilton to try," Isabella offered, keeping it casual. It wasn't a grand gesture, but she was confident that once Gabrielle tasted it, her plan would be halfway there.

Unaware that the wine Isabella had mentioned was her favorite, Gabrielle accepted the gift with a smile, thinking it was just a friendly gesture.

Meanwhile, Michael and Kevin were deep in conversation when Michael's phone buzzed.

Michael glanced at the caller ID; it was Jerry. He quickly stepped aside to take the call.

"Jerry, what's up?" Michael asked, knowing Jerry wouldn't call without a good reason.

Jerry's tone was serious, "Mr. Williams, my team just reported that Mr. Mason Williams is ready for the family dinner and is waiting for you. You should be getting his message soon."

Michael's expression darkened. "Got it. I'm on my way."

After hanging up, Michael walked over to Isabella and said with a smile, "Isabella, enjoy your time with Mrs. Hamilton. There's something urgent at the company I need to handle."

Isabella blinked but didn't press for details, simply telling Michael to be careful.

Leaving the banquet, Michael headed to a nearby hotel and met Estella in the presidential suite.

Upon seeing Michael, a man renowned in the business world for his enigmatic nature, Estella was struck by his striking appearance.

Michael didn't waste any time. "Did you remember everything Jerry told you?" he asked coldly.

Estella, nervous but determined, nodded quickly. "Yes! We met in a bar where some thugs were bothering me, and you stepped in to help. We didn't talk much then. Later, at a banquet where I was performing, we met again. Feeling a special connection, we exchanged numbers, and eventually, we fell in love and got married."

Estella delivered the script Jerry had provided, a document detailing even the most minute aspects of Michael's preferences, down to the presence or absence of leg hair and a possible mole on his buttocks.

At first, Michael was pleased with Estella's performance. But when she started mentioning private details, he shot a fierce glare at Jerry.

Jerry awkwardly touched his nose. As Michael's most trusted subordinate, they'd been to hot springs together many times, so he knew a lot about Michael's body.

'If I knew how long you lasted in bed with Isabella, I would have included that in the script too, along with your favorite positions,' Jerry thought smugly as he rubbed his nose.