Kyle was approached by a man with a panda mask and instantly knew it was Nakamura even without him speaking thanks to his body posture.
Kyle couldn’t believe that he had access to this place but the mask prevented him from identifying who was who.
This meant that he didn’t have the opportunity to selectively pick out who he wished to talk to, forcing him to be social, hoping that whoever he spoke to was someone of note.
Better yet, he hoped that they would approach him and strike up a conversation because there was no way no one would speak to him if they sensed he was a new blood.
Nakamura took him under his wings and Kyle gulped, the air in the room was intimidating.
Kyle began to understand how Ella felt at the diner that night but it wasn’t as intense.
Kyle knew he was richer than most of them but they had an air of authority that he lacked despite his wealth.
These people were on another level and Nakamura led him to a table, this was a sophisticated gathering and wasn’t anything like he thought it would be.
The music playing was classic, it had a slow and steady rhythm, not fit for dancing but enough to keep the atmosphere cherry.
“I’m very happy you could come, Kyle. Forgive the masks, this is the only time wealthy people can come together without fear of being preyed on by the outside world,” Nakamura said but Kyle knew this was bullshit.
There had to be another reason why they wore these masks but as long as it wasn’t illegal, he was fine with it.
“I see, that is an interesting concept. I have seen it a lot in movies but have never been in one. It feels a lot different,” Kyle pointed out, taking the tiniest of details into account.
“You have a good eye…” Nakamura said before leaning over to him.
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“These people are heads of companies and corporations. The wealth in this room is beyond your imagination. I don’t think I need to tell you but you will be approached by a few people,” Nakamura pointed out, putting a thick Cuban cigarette between his lips.
“They will test you out and I have to say, the greatest mistake you can make would be to bow to them,” Nakamura pointed out, letting out a puff of smoke from his barely parted lips.
“I see… Eat or be eaten,” Kyle said.
This advice wasn’t taken for granted because Kyle knew that this man must have climbed a roughly paved road to reach where he had reached.
This wasn’t just a man giving advice, it was a man sharing a scenario he, himself, had experienced.
“You’re a smart kid, I like you, Kyle,” Nakamura pointed, resting on the chair.
Yuki watched awkwardly and began to wonder what was going on in Kyle’s head.
There was something strange about him that made her uneasy and not in a good way.
Nakamura was a man who had changed her entire life, there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for him because without him, she wouldn’t have had a life.
They proceeded to engage in small talk but that was all it was, Nakamura didn’t talk about anything business-related and instead chose to use this opportunity to gather surface knowledge on Kyle.
He wanted to keep the conversation surface-level and not dive too deep into his personal life.
Of course, he gave up a few details of himself as well and it was like Kyle expected.
This man clawed his way to the top, it wasn’t given to him but that wasn’t the most interesting part of this story,
Nakamura had nothing on his back when he came to the United States which made his story all the more impressive.
But that was about it, Nakamura knew that the party was well underway and thus, could allow Kyle to join the fray.
People had greeted him and Kyle but never attempted to strike up a conversation with Nakamura there.
Nakamura had to get Kyle prepared because he was going to act as a reflection of him.
If he gave them a bad impression, it would directly affect how he was perceived.
In a sense, Nakamura was taking a risk he didn’t need to but he knew Kyle had what it took to strive in his world.
Kyle walked into the crowd to navigate his way to the bar at the corner of the room.
It was strange, Kyle couldn’t feel anyone’s eyes on him.
He was like an invisible ghost that wished it still had a corporeal form and this contradicted the importance that Nakamura put on it.
Kyle knew some people had seen him without his mask on and was aware that this was what he looked like under the mask.
He sat at the bar but before he could order a drink, someone sat beside him.
“A glass of D’Amalfi Limoncello Supreme for my friend and me over here,” A man said, Kyle, could tell his race simply by the bass of his voice and the connotations of his words.
It was an African-American but the way he was dressed made it impossible to see his skin complexion, he was one of the more flamboyant dressers telling Kyle that he might belong to a certain group. That would go in hand as to why he just bought him a cup worth millions.
This drink was easily over $44,000,000 and Kyle knew this wasn’t a dick-measuring contest either considering that this was their first interaction.
“Wow! Thank you so much,” Kyle showed his gratitude right away, he knew he had to remain humble but not harmless.
“Don’t mention it, I’m surprised that Mr Nakamura brought you here,” The man got right to it.
Kyle didn’t want to get into whatever he might have with Nakamura.
“Don’t you think it is polite to introduce yourself before you vent?” Kyle asked and the man’s man clasped shut. He had just bought Kyle a drink worth millions to show his social status and in turn, subconsciously subdue Kyle but it had failed.
“Pardon?” The man was bamboozled and Kyle could tell but Kyle knew this was a good opportunity to break his ego. Kyle handed the waiter his black card.
“And drinks are on me…” Kyle said right before walking away.
There was no way that this man was anyone of importance if he chose to gossip like a woman behind Nakamura’s back.