However, right now, offending Gideon would not benefit them at all.
After all, they were currently relying on him to gauge the true standing of the businessn in this city. More importantly, Ashley also wanted to see whether Gideon’s company truly possessed enough influence and power to pressure the local tyrants controlling Maple Leaf City.
If Gideon could really break through that power structure using his own thods, then following behind him and riding on his influence would make things far easier for them moving forward.
Although this situation was never part of Ashley’s original plan, opportunities often appeared unexpectedly, and only those bold enough to seize them could truly benefit.
And right now...
Gideon himself was that opportunity.
So if he could genuinely help them, then benefiting from his influence with minimal effort would naturally be the smartest choice.
Because of that, Ashley knew this was definitely not the right ti to offend him.
Before the tension inside the elevator could escalate any further, the elevator doors finally slid open with a soft ding, revealing the fifth floor where their private room had already been reserved.
The mont the doors opened, both Gideon’s assistant and the restaurant manager secretly let out shaky breaths of relief almost simultaneously.
The two of them had clearly sensed the invisible sparks flying between Gideon and Gage during the entire elevator ride. Although neither man openly raised his voice nor made any obvious aggressive move, the silent confrontation between them was already oppressive enough to suffocate everyone caught in the middle.
Especially with how Gideon deliberately crowded Ashley while Gage continuously tried to separate them, the atmosphere inside the elevator had beco so tense that even breathing felt difficult at tis.
Fortunately, the arrival on the fifth floor finally interrupted the confrontation before it could worsen further.
"Please, this way."
The manager respectfully gestured forward, quickly reminding the group to step out of the elevator before leading them down the luxurious hallway.
Not long after, they arrived in front of the private room reserved for the gathering, the largest and most prestigious private room within the entire restaurant.
Along the way, the hallway itself already exuded wealth and elegance. Nurous exquisite paintings and sculptures worth millions adorned the walls and corners, each piece carefully positioned under warm lighting that highlighted their beauty and value.
anwhile, the private room itself was even more extravagant.
Dedicated display cases had been arranged throughout the room to showcase so of the restaurant’s most expensive art collections and cultural treasures acquired from prestigious auctions over the years.
So were famous ancient vases, while others were priceless scrolls, scriptures, and paintings with deep historical value. Every piece was either displayed within thick glass cabinets or placed inside reinforced glass casings illuminated by soft spotlighting so guests could properly admire them.
Beyond simple decoration, the entire arrangent subtly showcased the establishnt’s wealth, influence, and status.
After all, only those standing at the very top of society were qualified to dine in a place like this.
And for Gideon to personally host this gathering here naturally revealed how much importance he placed on the people he invited, while simultaneously displaying his own terrifying standing within the elite circle.
As soon as they were led inside the private room, Gage took several long strides toward the circular dining table. Without the slightest hesitation, he pulled out one of the chairs beside him and looked at Ashley with a gentle expression.
"Ash, co on, sit here..." he offered softly.
Ashley paused only briefly before taking the seat he prepared for her. Technically, it was improper.
Gideon, as the host, had yet to sit down himself, and within their social circle, such details carried weight. Etiquette dictated that the host should lead the gathering, taking his seat first before the guests followed, even beginning the al ahead of everyone else as an unspoken signal that the others could do the sa.
It was a subtle but deeply ingrained display of respect among people of their status.
Yet Gage knowingly ignored that custom and asked Ashley to sit first anyway, making his dissatisfaction toward Gideon painfully obvious. As his sister, Ashley could only choose between two sides; it was either correct her own brother to show Gideon that the discourtesy was unintentional, or silently support Gage’s actions by following along with his whims.
Fortunately for her, she had only recently returned to the family. She could easily pretend ignorance toward such social cues, unlike Gage, who had been raised in that environnt his entire life.
After sitting down, Ashley released a faint, helpless sigh before lifting her gaze again. To her surprise, Gideon showed no visible displeasure.
Instead, he calmly pulled out the chair beside hers and took his seat there. His movents were smooth and unhurried as he reached for the teapot already prepared at the center of the table, pouring her a cup with practiced ease so they could have sothing to drink while deciding on their orders.
Honestly, Ashley was a little surprised by how composed he remained.
After all, a man in Gideon’s position should have been prideful. People like him placed heavy importance on social etiquette and unspoken rules, especially within high society, where even the smallest gesture could carry layers of aning.
Earlier, Ashley had been worried about offending Gideon because she still intended to remain on good terms with him and benefit from his influence, but who could bla her when Gage stubbornly decided to hold onto his grudge and pull such childish antics?
Truthfully, she had expected Gideon to show at least a trace of displeasure or disdain. Instead, he remained completely unruffled, his expression calm and unreadable as though Gage’s deliberate disrespect had not affected him in the slightest.
He even moved the teacup slightly closer to Ashley’s right side for her convenience since he was seated beside her on the right while Gage occupied the seat to her left. The simple gesture was smooth, natural, and strangely attentive.
anwhile, Gage felt his jaw clench tightly. An indescribable helplessness crept over him as Gideon continued acting like a stubborn plaster that refused to peel away, no matter how openly unwelco he made him feel.
Deep down, Gage knew his behavior was immature and unbecoming of him, especially considering the upbringing and discipline instilled into him by their family’s culture. But the truth was, he genuinely did not know how else to deal with Gideon anymore.
His entire life revolved around fighting, bloodshed, and straightforward battles. He understood fists, weapons, and killing intent far more than the suffocating intricacies of high society’s silent wars.
So, although his actions were crude and sowhat foolish, he truly believed that after repeatedly showing hostility, Gideon would finally get the hint and back away.
Yet not only did Gideon refuse to retreat, his composed deanor only highlighted Gage’s own impulsiveness and made him look childish in comparison, especially in front of Ashley. If he continued acting like this, he would only end up making a fool of himself.
In the end, Gage forced himself to stop. Instead, almost as though competing for Ashley’s attention, he reached for the serving tongs and picked up a small pink macaron from the dessert stand before carefully placing it onto her dessert plate.
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