Chapter 36 Spending Frivolously Amelia was convinced that Lindsey was there to help Finnegan save face, so she decided to smile and look the other way for the moment. After all, Lindsey was quite well-connected.
âLindsey, you came at the just right time. Let me introduce you to my brother, Dexter. Heâs a team leader at the sales department of Pentariver Group, while his girlfriend, Jessica Burton, is the vice president of Sales of Pentariver Group.â uttered Amelia, who was more excited to introduce Jessica than her own brother.
However, Lindsey ignored Ameliaâs introduction and also Dexterâs intent to shake her hand. âI was late because the road was a little congested, but I did take care of the document. Rhiaâs name is on it,â
reported Lindsey after approaching Finnegan and his sister.
Huh? This canât be real, can it? Could that car really be Rhiannonâs birthday present? Everyone at the scene was utterly dumbfounded as they stared at the little blue piece of document Lindsey pulled out.
Even Rhiannon herself was stupefied. âLindsey, this is mine?â
Unable to accept the fact that her limelight got stolen, Amelia walked over and snatched the document.
âThis has to be fake. Rhiannonâs family is broken, so how could her brother afford to get her something worth nearly two million? Itâs impossibleâ¦â
When Amelia read the document, she realized that Rhiannonâs name was actually on it and that information shown matched the vehicle in front of her.
Like Amelia, Xandra and the others were surprised to learn the authenticity of the document. Is Rhiannonâs family actually rich? Have they been hiding it all along?
Finnegan then took the document from Rhiannon and pinched his sisterâs cheek lovingly. âThereâs no doubt about it. I got this for you as your birthday present. Do you like it?â
When Rhiannon finally confirmed that she was not dreaming, her eyes teared up. âThank you, Finn!â
shouted Rhiannon as she gave her brother a big hug.
She was ready to be humiliated but was surprised by Finnegan instead.
Patting Rhiannon on the back comfortingly, Finnegan uttered. âYouâre a big girl, so you shouldnât be crying. Besides, itâs your birthday today! Letâs go inside.â
âNow I remember!â exclaimed Xandra suddenly, âRhiannon said her family would be paid a few million in compensation because they were forced to move. This car must be bought with that money.â
Amelia immediately regained her sense of superiority when she was reminded of that so thatâs how he got the car. Your brother sure knows how to spend frivolously, Rhia Your family was only paid a few million, yet he decided to spend most of it on a car worth almost two million. You and your family will probably end up renting a house before long The others nodded in agreement since they would rather believe what Amelia said was true than that Rhiannonâs family was secretly wealthy.
âLetâs go inside,â uttered Lindsey while grabbing Finnegan by the arm. She would rather not waste her time in convincing the others that he had used his own money on the car.
Even though Finnegan was uncomfortable with Lindseyâs action, he did not think it was appropriate to pull his arm away then, so he had no choice but to nod in agreement. âLetâs 1.
Finnegan had no interest in explaining himself to the others, nor did he think they were worthy of it.
However, Amelia and the others were convinced that Finnegan bought the car with the relocation funds and that he only walked away in silence because they were right. Amelia even took her speculation one step further. âEven if he didnât buy it with the relocation funds, he mustâve done so with Ms. Lindseyâs money.â
âThatâs right. Just look at how Ms. Lindsey holds his arm. They must be dating,â chimed in Xandra.
What the two did not know was that their words turned Dexterâs face bright red. With that, Dexter directed his resentment toward Finnegan. Hmph! Heâs a kept man just like me, so how did he end up with such a hottie?
The group then entered the room Dexter reserved, and it was enough to accommodate more than twenty people.
Rhiannon was glad at first, but then she got worried. âFinn, do Mom and Dad know you bought the car with the relocation funds?â
âSilly girl.â Finnegan tapped his sisterâs forehead lightly before continuing. âWe just got the relocation funds today; I booked this car in Bellridge long before that. You can ask Lindsey if you donât believe I paid for it with my own money.â
âYour brother didnât lie to you. He really bought this car with his own money,â reassured Lindsey after rolling her eyes at Finnegan since he acted as if they were very close.
Rhiannon did not doubt that Finnegan and Lindsey would lie to her, so she murmured, âSo you were actually serious about getting me a car that day? Had I known. I wouldâve picked a less expensive one.â
Imagining how much it would cost to fix the car worth two million even if she scratched it.
r Rhiannon dared not drive the car.
Chuckling, Finnegan voiced, âDonât worry, silly. If I can afford to get you the car, I can afford to repair it.â
âHow much do you have, Finn?â
âI never really checked, but I should have at least two billion. Thatâs why I can do more than just buy you a car. Next time, Iâll get you a mansion,â replied Finnegan half-jokingly.
Rhiannon rolled her eyes at her brother in response. âYouâre pulling my leg again, arenât you? Still, youâre going to have to be the one to explain this to Mom and Dad. Iâm not sure I have the courage to tell them!â
Even though Finnegan did not appreciate being doubted again, he did not explain himself because he knew his sister would find out about the truth soon.
Only after everyone had taken their seats did Amelia stand up. âRhia and I are celebrating our birthdays today, so my brother threw a feast worth sixty thousand at Goldarch Hotel. Bet sure to enjoy yourselves, everyone.â
Rhiannonâs face turned as pale as a sheet the moment she heard the amount. That means Iâll have to pay at least thirty thousand.
Meanwhile, the others praised Amelia and thanked Dexter for the grand gesture, having obviously forgotten that Rhiannon was splitting half the bill.
Finnegan, who did not care about the hypocritical flattery, whispered to Rhiannon to comfort his sister, âDonât worry. Iâve got this covered.â
Before long, the food and the drinks were served, including four appetizers, ten main courses, a bowl of soup, and two bottles of red wine.
The food was quite a spread, but everyone was curious when they saw that there were only two bottles of wine.
Clearly, the wine was not enough for almost twenty guests.
Amelia could tell what was on everyoneâs mind, so she coughed to get their attention. âMy brother has arranged for an after-party at Ark Bar, so please have some wine here first. Weâll drink to our heartâs content at the bar later.â After that, Amelia purposely turned to Rhiannon and inquired, âYou donât have any problem with us splitting the bill for that too, right?â
Rhiannon did not doubt that the after-party would break the bank since the feast at the hotel. was enough to make her shake in her boots, âOf course, she doesnât. What matters is that we all have a good time today,â chimed in pay Lindsey before Rhiannon could say anything. âIf itâs okay with you, Finnegan, Iâll Rhiannonâs share of the expenses. Consider it a birthday gift from me to Rhiannon.â
Finnegan wanted to turn down the offer at first, but since Lindsey said it was a gift, he nodded in agreement instead.
Because of that, Amelia lost her chance to humiliate Finnegan and his sister, so she could not help but voice, âMs. Lindsey, Finneganâs supposed to be the one throwing the party for Rhia. Donât you think he should be the one paying? I know you two are dating, but you should just let him be. Do you see my brotherâs girlfriend doing the same thing?â
However, Amelia did not say a word about the fact that Jessica was the one who bought the Mercedes-
Benz and that she gave Dexter the money for the celebration beforehand.
She was trying to stop Lindsey from paying so that Finnegan would hesitate to spend the relocation funds.
Even though Finnegan did not appreciate being misunderstood to be dating Lindsey, he smiled while responding, âSure. Iâll pay for everything that follows except for this meal.â