Hollywood Zenith

Sharon immediately got to working. While she was busy contacting other party, Delphina came closer to talk more about her friend.

" Well, you might have notice that Sharon is a bit cold toward you." She added which surprised Samuel and Nicole.

" Why do you say that? I didn't feel anything."

" It must be because she likes you. You don't know when I told her who you were she was very concerned. She had been hurt by men before especially wealthy men which led her to not trust those people carelessly." Delphina explained. There seemed to be a hidden story behind it but it was not right for him to ask about it so he left it alone.

" I will not ask but what about you? Have you been hurt before too?" He just asked going with the flow. But immediately regretted it. He vowed to keep it cordial but here he was digging for information like a schoolgirl. How would she answer him? Would she confirm his suspicion about her and Sharon's intimate relationship?

" You don't need to answer it if you don't want to. I was just talking casually." Seeing her staying silent thinking about it, he tried to rectify the situation.

" It's nothing. It's just....I am very happy with Sharon. It's just that, I don't have the same anger as her toward men." She replied pulling her hair behind her ear. Was it a signal? Samuel was too dense to understand the intricacy of seduction.

He just smiled and answered," It's it all freedom? You are free to do whatever you want after all who dare to question the first princess of fashion industry." He shrugged somewhat embarrassed about this topic. They only met two times which barely made them acquaintances, it's not his right to judge such a person.

It didn't take long for Sharon to return with some news. She had a faint smile on her face which was enough to tell that it was good news.

" I have already set it up. After half an hour, we can meet at 'Jockey Club'. He is already there so there shouldn't be any problem." She was excited for Delphina.

The Jockey Club de Paris was a traditional gentlemen's club and was regarded as the most prestigious of private clubs in Paris. It is best remembered as a gathering place of the elite of nineteenth-century French society. Today it was decidedly but not exclusively aristocratic. The club seat near the Champs-Elysees and it hosts the International Federation of Racing Authorities.

It has no more official links to the horseracing industry organisations which are separate professional bodies.

The Jockey Club was originally organized as the "Society for the Encouragement of the Improvement of Horse Breeding in France", to provide a single authority for horse racing in the nation, beginning at Chantilly in 1834.

The Jockey Club was directed by an annually-elected committee of a president, four vice-presidents and twenty-five members. New members were sponsored by two current members and must receive five-sixths of the members' votes present at the ballot. Hence 'No' votes, called black-balls require five 'Yes' votes, or white balls to be countered. Black and white balls are no more in use but for vocabulary.

It was an ancient club who lost it's history in public eye but behind the scene still holds quantitative amount of power. It's because every member is a bigshot politician or outright nobles. How could they not have a say in the society?

Still now some super wealthy people could go there to enjoy leisure life and put some bets on horse racing. Ordinary people still didn't have a chance but that's the power of money, the more one has it the eager they want to spend it away!

Other than racing there are many other activities like card games with no upper limit. One can play as much as they want on the premise that they had enough funds. Debt here had deeper meaning because not only they were playing for each other's capital, they were also gambling on reputation.

Even one was not able to give back what they own, they could only become a laughing stock for high society people. From family prestige to their ancestors everyone had to bear the grunts of young generation's mistake.

A noble with prestige was similar to ordinary wealthy people, the fame was the only thing that they had going for themselves so it was serious matter when their family's name was on the line.

Coupled with the fact that this was France, a country which had monarchy in their blood, it might not be as old as british royal family but they also had their own pride. The glory of their own family was very important, these old nobles would rather be martyred than have glory of their family destroyed!

This was precisely why Count De Hay was losing his mind right now. In the high end card game organized by the Jockey Club, he participated without an issue. He had always been a relatively calm person, someone experienced in life. But last night being provoked by Earl Aton, he became irrational.

Because there was no limit to drinking and enjoying, he became drunk at the poker table which meant he began throwing needless money without a care. By the end of the night, he was down 800 million euros in total, it was nearly one billion dollar when converted, a astronomical figure to lose at the table.

Such a wealth were only seen by about a thousand people, he emptied it all in one drunken night. Because the news was so explosive, Sharon was able to hear murmurs from her friends. Tens of millions transaction was nothing but such a large amount caused a fever among the elites!

One had to consider, Count didn't actually had such high amount of liquid capital. He put his ancestral house, a magnificent castle to make up the quota. After all people needed to know if one could actually put the money where their mouth was so collaterals were always recording before each game.

However there was no such thing as regret while gambling. But the other party was not heartless either, after all they were cut from the same clothes which meant he was given a very generous amount of time to settle his debt. Everyone knew such amount of money was not grown on trees, even if he wanted to sell his castle, he needed a interested buyer first.

It was fortunate that his father was not around, but if someone told him he would definitely jump out of his grave to scold his son severely.

Just when Count Hay was at a loss, he was contacted by Sharon. When she told him about why she called, it finally gave him a glimmer of hope. He had forgotten about the stocks he held in LVHM. It was left by his grandfather, back then, they were not worth much.

But now everyone knew about the fierce succession race, the value of these shares could be in their golden period! There shouldn't be any problem with paying of these gambling debts if he received ample compensation of it!

At least, he didn't have to lose his castle and antiquities. Sharon's call definitely made him tempted which was why he agreed to meet the other party at the club. He immediately made arrangements.

It could be said, he still hold some power in the club because otherwise Delphina and Samuel wouldn't be able to go inside. Samuel never reported his family background if so, even the president would have come to personally greet him. They were only two normal people who had some money in Count's eyes.

While, Samuel, Nicole, Sharon and Delphina were heading toward the club. Alan, her big brother was in a high-end bar enjoying life and luxury. He invited a famous French socialite who was known for his beauty.

He had been tense these past few days working with his nominal 'girlfriend', Alexis. He just wanted to unwind when his phone rang. He glanced at the caller name, 'Alexis' with a heart.

" Fuck!" He cursed in his heart. This eldest lady didn't give him any chance to unwind always pestering him with more and more work. If he really wanted to do it all by himself why would he ever ask for her help in the first place?

His hippie smile turned into a frown as he began to reach for his phone that's when the girl he was with called out to him.

" Honey, who is it?" The French social flower pouted with anger. He gave his word that no one would disturb their time together. She began twist her body seductively making him glance back at her. Anyone could tell that the girl was a master in the art of seduction with her full hips swaying with background music. It even made Alan forget what he was about to do.

" Nothing, baby, just a business call." Alan thought he should just ignore it for the moment. After few hours, he could go back and flatter Alexis, she should forgive him right?

But the phone kept ringing, which kept destroying the romantic atmosphere inside the private room. Seeing this, the girl came forward and exclaimed," Who is so annoying?" She didn't dare to do anything hasty on showing anger on her face.

" Wait a moment, I will answer it first. It seems urgent." He decided to pick up the phone but not in a good mood. The girl followed behind sticking close to him running her hands around his body erotically.

" What's the matter? I am busy right now." He answered the phone but his eyes were busy burning the large 'valley's' image in front of his eyes. He was busy thinking about what she would do next. Her body was just too hot for him to handle!

" Alan, I just received the news that Count De Hay lost a lot of money last night at the club. He is busy gathering money to his debt, this is an opportunity for us. He should have four percent shares of the group in his hand, we can discuss and buy him out!" Alexis informed him. She obviously heard the rumours and wanted to capitalize on it.

The reason why it took whole day for people to know was because the Club upheld tight secrecy. If Count wasn't running around asking for money, other people might not had heard of it.

" Oh, there is such a thing? Let go tomorrow morning. I will contact him and make arrangement. It's too late now, maybe they already left the club." He answered in his half absent tone. Obviously, his mind was focused on the social flower dancing around him.

" But, I am afraid that your sister will take the lead!" Alexis exclaimed with worry. Unlike his brother, she properly respected other party's strength. Her family taught her not to underestimate their opponent, it was the first sin of financial world!

" Don't worry, I am aware of how much money my sister has. It's impossible for her to do anything in such a short amount of time." He replied casually not worried about it at all!

" But, Alan..."

"Okay, I have something to do here, so let's hang up." Before the other party finished speaking, Alan hung up the phone anxiously. He couldn't let the girl wait for long, he had been running around trying to get his chance for two days. Only then did he manage to get this chance, how could he let such a opportunity go?