Thug and Idol: 10X Rewards Second Identity System

The after-party was held at a nearby restaurant, a part of which was closed from the public for the event. Guests quickly flocked to free appetizers, bite-sized sandwiches and flutes of champagne spread out on the tables and moved around by the waiters.

With the artsy decor of the restaurant itself, the after-party was clearly made to resemble an actual gala in miniature, although the mood here was much more relaxed. And although the press was still here, they were forced to leave their cumbersome cameras and other recording equipment behind.

As usual, as soon as Ilom entered the place, he sneaked along the walls, looking out for the specific people in the crowd. Tristan and Nel were right behind him.

"I will introduce you two to this pair and leave immediately after. I have to greet them anyway," Ilom had told them on their way here.

As they walked, they were noticed by several people. Some of them moved to greet Ilom again, but he suddenly began walking faster toward a couple of guests.

One of them was a stocky, balding man in a dark gray suit, who was sipping champagne and talking to his companion—a taller, gorgeous brunette in one of the most modest white dresses in the room.

The brunette was holding the man's elbow, making it clear they were a couple, but Tristan noticed that the man didn't have even a trace of a wedding ring. So, a girlfriend.

In a dozen long steps, he approached the couple and forced a smile on his face.

"Mr. Morsworn, Ms. Hale. What a pleasure to see you here tonight. My apologies for not greeting you before now—I was busy with, uh, things."

Morsworn smiled back.

"I'm sure you were, Mr. Ilom! It's your movie's first presentation, after all. But after seeing it, I'm even more sure that my investment will pay off."

Tristan and Nelson caught up with Ilom, and the director immediately stepped back, as if trying to hide behind them without actually doing so.

"Yes-yes… Absolutely. Anyway, those are my guests of honor, whose music I'm already a fan of. Let me introduce you to each other—Mr. Morsworn, Ms. Hale, these are rising musicians Tristan Gemello and Nelson Mayar. Mr.

Gemello, Mr. Mayar, those are Dominic Morsworn, one of the movie's investors, and Ms. Hale. I don't know about this year, but last year she was a judge at the Californian Young Star contest."

Tristan's eyes widened.

Those were incredibly useful connections to have! Although Ilom's usual antisocial manner, even with the compliment he made them, probably won't do anything to warm those two to Tristan and Nelson, even the introduction alone was immensely valuable.

Tristan smiled his best smile at Dominic and Rebecca and offered his hand for a shake.

"I'm very lucky to meet you both—there aren't that many people with an impeccable taste like yours, even in show business. Taste in both movies and finer things."

When they were shaking hands, Tristan nodded at the gold watch on Dominic's wrist.

"This is Ralex, isn't it?"

Ralex was the most famous brand of expensive watches, associated with luxury with name alone, even without the gold.

The watch was actually very gaudy and didn't fit with the costume at all, but it cost at least several thousand dollars. Since Dominic's suit was already incredibly expensive and tailor-made—something which a person with actual taste could tell by its fit—Dominic clearly thought the watch was his best way to show off.

The second best way was his girlfriend, obviously. But Tristan didn't want to threaten the man.

Rebecca already looked at him with too much interest.

Tristan's charming words, pointed directly at his weaknesses, made Dominic smile wider and preen.

"It is! It's an exclusive model, worth four thousand dollars."

Experience tales at mvl

"You have a good eye for luxury, Mr. Gemello. Not like you, Mr. Mayar, right?" Rebecca asked Nelson. "But I heard your performance, of course, and I'm sure that you will get used to finer things soon enough."

Nelson laughed.

"Honestly, I feel that no matter how many zeroes there will be on my bank account, and for how long, I will keep gasping and asking, 'Is this all mine? Really?!' every time!"

Everybody smiled and chuckled. Nel's genuineness was a perfect spice to Tristan's charm, making Tristan himself appear even more genuine than his 1315 points of acting skill did.

Even if Nel wasn't Tristan's friend, Tristan would've brought him around everywhere he could, just for this almost magical effect!

While everybody chatted, and their attention wasn't on him, Ilom quietly left. Tristan was the only one to notice him slithering away, but he wasn't going to call the man out.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Instead, he and Nel continued to chat up the pair, establishing a good rapport. They found that Morsworn often invested in various show business projects, from movies to music and TV shows, while Rebecca was a talent scout, and was about to be a judge for the finale of the CYS contest.

Occasionally, other guests stopped near the group to greet them, and Dominic and Rebecca introduced Tristan and Nel to many of them, giving Tristan another foothold at charming these people.

But most importantly, after half an hour of conversation about all kinds of things, Tristan was sure that he'd be able to make Rebecca spill the info about the 'surprise trial' that was going to happen at the CYS contest.

He was just about to lead to this question when another guest approached them—a young, handsome man with a trimmed beard and a swagger in his walk.

"Mr. Morsworn, Ms. Hale! I didn't expect to see you together with musical people today… Especially such inexperienced ones," the man said. His eyes went over Tristan and Nelson, as if scanning for weaknesses, and zeroed on Nelson. "Hm, I wanted to write something in my blog about the drama around your debut, Mr.

Mayar, but it felt like it wasn't worth my attention."

The man glanced at Dominic and Rebecca, checking their reaction.

'Who even is this guy?!'

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