Stuck in you

"Yes," Rick answered. When he failed to Lea, he joked about it. "Lucas came with two beauties. The other one is like fire while this one is like ice. He is really fortunate to be able to bring two beautiful women here."

The last sentence was meant as a hidden taunt that men could easily comprehend the meaning.

It was the kind of joke that Jack would normal laugh upon hearing it.

However, this one sounded a little harsh to him. It seemed that Rick wanted to imply that there was there was something between Rachel and Lucas.

He pursed his lips, not saying anything more.

Rick never expected that he had invited Jack's wife and mistress to the party.

Jack's disinterest was eventually noticed by Rick, and it made him wonder whether his jests lacked its usual kick.

He lightly cleared his throat and immediately shifted the topic. He started to talk about corporate plans and Jack's interest was finally piqued by the new topic.

Rick paused to think about the plans and eventually decided to get it all done with Jack. Although he had already signed contracts with several hospitals, the health care hospitals of the MK Group and the Zhou family's hospital were his two major targets because of their longstanding reputation.

Rick was an ambitious man, and he wanted to capture fifty percent of the medical market of Ninwell City.

The lights on the host platform finally lit up.

The host walked up to the stage, approached the microphone stand and adjusted it. Loud applause filled the area as Rick was about to start his speech.

Rachel turned towards the direction of the balcony. She wondered how Lea could be so heartless and leave without warning.

"What brings you here?" Michael asked.

"My friend was invited. And I came with him," she replied casually.

Michael burst into laughter at her reply. "Do you know that Jack is here too?" he asked with a wink.

He briefly looked around the gathered crowd until his sight stopped at the row right in front of the stage. He turned to Rachel and twitched his lips to direct her to look at where his lips were pointing. "There, front row," he said to her as she leaned forward to look.

Rachel followed the line of seats in front of the small stage. At length, she saw someone familiar among the crowd.

And true enough, Jack was there. He listened attentively to the speech that was being delivered on the stage. One hand was in his pocket and the other held a glass of champagne. He looked downward for a moment and suddenly turned his head towards her direction when he sensed that someone was looking at him.

each other. Rachel eventually looked away as if her eyes

ashamed as if she was caught

she turned her head, she saw Michael with a hand on his lips, trying hard to hold

face had become, she decided to look away before anyone else noticed

to understand what was

decorations and forced herself to be calm

teasing glances of Michael and Marcus exchanged were made obvious for her. They stared and

burst into warm applause. Rachel turned towards the stage and saw Rick in a

applauded once more

as the applause faded. He twisted his lips into a slight frown as

Day celebration this year. This project is both a springboard and a foundation for us to

the party today. The other reason is that today is my mother's death

everyone present. They thought rick's mother was living abroad. They didn't expect

my mother passed away

after he spoke as he tried to hide the buildup of emotion on his

years since she passed away," he said and then paused briefly. "After all the years that have passed by, I thought that the wait was over to take back what was rightfully ours. But unfortunately, it's too late. My parents are all

expected that Rick would reveal his past to the

for them. And I want to do something to help people

not a savior. I know that I will not be able to help everyone, but I will do my best to

was eloquent and expressed himself

his speech was not as stimulating as it should

these are not just words that

delivered the next lines of his speech. "I invited all of you to come

Rick's speech was over, Jack clapped his hands. A

scratched his nose with his finger and leaned forward to whisper into Marcus'

Michael was trying to say and touched him slightly as a signal. Michael understood what Marcus meant to say

they were at an almost isolated area and it was difficult to

and suit. He then cleared his

was

to the party together, and

away from them, Michael suddenly

Jack together, shall we?" he