Chapter 4: Steve and Tony

"Do you think he'll agree to it?" Steve

 inquired.

"Absolutely. It's an enticing deal. Why would he pass on it?" Tony confidently responded.

Steve furrowed his brow slightly and asked, "Couldn't we have chosen a more impressive location for the meeting?"

"Jeremy rarely leaves his house, so I thought an enchanting evening at an art exhibition would be a refreshing change for him," explained Tony.

"Refreshing?" Steve scoffed. "How is an art exhibition refreshing? It's just a gathering of pretentious individuals staring at paintings, trying to decipher abstract concepts that nobody truly comprehends."

"Just because it may not be your cup of tea, Steve, doesn't mean others won't find it engaging," Tony retorted, his attention focused on navigating the road. They were en route to Jeremy's Estate on the outskirts of the city.

Steve and Tony were among the handful of close friends Jeremy had. Steve possessed an exuberant and outgoing personality, while Tony emanated a calm and composed demeanor. Together, they made a dynamic duo, particularly with Steve's knack for livening up any occasion.

Entering the house, they discovered Jeremy comfortably seated on the sofa, fixated on the glass of Scotch in his hand.

"Hey, man," Steve greeted.

Jeremy wearily turned his gaze towards them, then back to the glass of Scotch.

"You didn't inform me of your visit," he mumbled.

"I assumed we were always welcome," Tony interjected as he took a seat. Meanwhile, Steve wasted no time pouring himself a glass of Scotch.

Jeremy despised when these two made themselves too comfortable in his home.

"I never explicitly stated that," Jeremy replied, his frown deepening.

"Well, you didn't need to. Your warm nature speaks volumes," Steve sarcastically quipped, relishing in riling up Jeremy. The amusement on Steve's face at that moment was priceless.

Ignoring Steve's antics, Jeremy turned his attention to Tony.

"We're here regarding the partnership with Razor Tech. All the details have been finalized, but they would like to meet you in person before returning to Singapore. I took the liberty of arranging a suitable meeting place," Tony explained.

"And where might this meeting place be?" Jeremy inquired.

"It's an exclusive art exhibition party," Steve chimed in.

Disregarding Steve's remark, Tony sought to provide a more enticing explanation.

"It's the highly anticipated annual Arts Exhibition Program. The artwork on display is both exquisite and valuable, with pieces imported from around the world. If you're interested, you could even consider purchasing a piece. Trust me, it promises to be an enchanting evening."

 Tony urged, hoping to persuade Jeremy. Before he could elaborate further, he heard Steve yawning and remarking, "Boring... it'll be a snooze fest."

"Well, what do you suggest, Steve? A meeting at a lavish strip club?" Tony retorted, his annoyance evident. He couldn't help but lament having such a friend who never seemed to know when to be serious.

"Yeah, now that sounds like a blast. Let's do that instead," Steve jested, raising his glass of Scotch in jest.

Tony simply shook his head, feeling a sense of disappointment in himself for keeping a friend like Steve.