[Chapter 61: In the Name of Rasputin]
The ambassador suite of the Four Seasons Hotel.
Orlando looked down at Daisy, who still wore a sleepy expression, and couldn't help but shake his head with a smile.
Don't be fooled by Daisy's calm, reserved demeanor -- when the mood struck, she could be truly wild.
After three hours of nonstop action, she gritted her teeth and pushed through.
Even when her whole body tensed and twitched at the end, she held onto Orlando tightly, her eyes vacant but transfixed on the fireworks exploding outside.
These two lovers -- one with an unfair advantage, the other fighting through sheer willpower as if in their prime -- were a force to be reckoned with.
Though Daisy was stuffed from dinner, in her own words, "I need to see if you've been messing around with my deposit in your XXX bank!"
Orlando gently traced his finger over Daisy's fiery red lips that just begged to be kissed, admired her perfectly rounded figure that he couldn't let go of, and took in her stunningly high beauty standards.
Under his touch, Daisy, with a slightly husky voice from all the shouting earlier, said softly, "Honey, you really are amazing. I almost thought you'd kill me..."
Orlando chuckled and leaned in for a kiss.
After a while, releasing her lips, Orlando looked down at her flushed, beautiful face and smiled. "It's already past six in the evening. Are you sure we want to go meet Miss Lauren?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't we? I know Dylan Lauren. I even know why she invited you to dinner. I'm pretty sure she'll be very... surprised."
Orlando didn't ask why Daisy's presence would be such a surprise to Dylan Lauren.
Right now, Daisy was in his arms, her whole heart and soul still focused on him -- she was practically an open book to him.
This gave Orlando insight into many things that made him both speechless and a little proud.
Apparently, he had become somewhat famous among a certain age group in New York's socialite circle.
It started because he was "widow Daisy's" secret lover -- which seemed to no longer be much of a secret in New York.
How had it gotten out?
From moving into Daisy's apartment; from Daisy bringing in Seymour and Frank to assist him; from Kurt and Melvin to her cousin George Morgenthau...
Too many details to count.
In fact, Daisy wasn't afraid of her relationship with Orlando becoming public within their social class.
For one, she was a widow -- her husband had been dead for five years.
Even if he hadn't died, in their circles, it was not uncommon for men or women to have lovers on the side.
The key was that both parties had roughly equal status, family power, and prestige.
What went on before marriage was reflected after marriage.
Provided it was kept unofficial and out of the media spotlight.
Naturally, lineage purity had to be maintained -- the children had to carry the family bloodline; no illegitimate children from outside relationships could be recognized at home.
When Daisy Morgenthau was younger, she was one of New York's social scene's shining stars.
Under the halo of being the "suspected secret lover of Daisy Cuomo," socialite women her age or former society ladies had a natural curiosity about him.
That curiosity only intensified as Orlando rapidly gained fame in the music and entertainment industries -- especially after being "certified" by Madonna, the so-called 'bad girl.'
From what Orlando gathered in Daisy's deepest thoughts, he was dumbfounded.
Centered in New York but spanning cities like Boston and Miami, some 430 notable wealthy families controlled roughly a third of the entire U.S. East Coast.
These families operated mainly out of Boston, New York, and Miami.
Due to historical and economic reasons, New York has always been America's premier city.
No matter where their main estate was, all these 430 or so families had activities in New York.
So they were often called the "New York 432" or the "East Coast 432."
Within this circle, intermarriage went on for generations.
Every year, they held dozens of matchmaking events akin to speed-dating parties for young unmarried heirs.
These frequent gatherings meant those of similar age within these families were pretty well acquainted.
This was a relatively closed American aristocratic circle.
They looked down on the Midwestern and Southeastern elite as country bumpkins.
They considered the West Coast's Los Angeles and Seattle crowd as nouveau riche and flashy.
Only they themselves were the true American aristocracy.
Thanks to Daisy and Madonna, Orlando realized he seemed to have become the "Rasputin" figure for the older socialite women and young aristocratic ladies in that small circle -- those around Daisy's age.
He and Daisy's relationship wasn't public but pretty much confirmed.
Daisy had been widowed for years with no rumors -- and after just over a month of knowing him, they were already living together.
Add to that Madonna, who wasn't part of their circle and was regarded in it almost as synonymous with "bad girl."
Orlando had instantly been "certified" by both the pure Daisy and the wild Madonna.
In the noble circles, honestly, purity was barely a concept. Often, as long as there were no illegitimate children, or if any children born carried the husband's family bloodline, most aristocratic marriages were more or less open arrangements.
Take Rasputin, for instance.
Back in St. Petersburg, he had scandalous affairs with nearly half the noblewomen. The Russian Empress herself was said to be his lover.
Orlando, sensing Daisy's thoughts telepathically, knew she guessed that Dylan Lauren -- the socialite group's former assistant girl -- was probably approaching him because of this rumor and the 'secret lover of Daisy Cuomo' title.
How could Orlando not be speechless?
He thought these so-called socialites and aristocratic women must have way too much free time.
But he was also a bit proud.
Which normal man wouldn't envy Rasputin?
Rasputin, who, whether or not he fathered the Russian Empress's child, was rumored to have wielded enormous influence.
Now Orlando even suspected this predecessor might share similar supernatural abilities.
Telepathy, probably not--
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been tricked and murdered.
Maybe he also had powers to discharge electricity, or similar abilities.
Otherwise, how could an Empress and multiple Russian noblewomen have fallen at his legs?
Putting aside these wild thoughts inspired by Daisy's secret inner world, the two got up, washed up, and changed.
---
In the executive lounge on the fourth floor of the Four Seasons, they met Dylan Lauren, daughter of the founder Ralph Lauren, a 28-year-old with refined looks and an unmistakably artistic wealthy heiress air about her.
When she saw Daisy Cuomo and Orlando approaching with smiles, she hesitated momentarily before standing to greet them warmly.
"Wow, Daisy, I really didn't expect..."
"Good evening, Dylan. How long has it been? At least over a year, right?"
"Yeah, nearly a year. Daisy, please have a seat. Honestly, I didn't expect you'd come with... Orlando."
*****
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