The graceful figure in white who stepped forward to diffuse the situation was none other than Jennifer Swift, the heiress of the Marriott Hotel Group—the same woman who had shared an elevator ride with Mavi.
The blonde woman, upon realizing that Mavi was already "spoken for"—and to someone of far higher social status, no less—forced a polite smile, made up an excuse, and quickly left the awkward scene.
Mavi glanced at Jennifer, puzzled. Given her background, it was unlikely she was interested in his wealth. After all, Jennifer had everything he did—perhaps even more.
So, if money wasn't the reason for her approach, what was? Mavi was at a loss.
As he pondered this, Jennifer, now standing beside him, flashed a beautiful smile and asked, "Want to take a walk? It's too stuffy in here."
Jennifer wasn't fond of these social gatherings and hadn't planned on attending tonight. However, since her parents were unavailable and she had the time, she reluctantly showed up to make an appearance.
What she hadn't expected was that an encounter in the elevator and a song playing in a portable music player would pique her curiosity. As someone passionate about music composition, she had been eager to ask Mavi about the song—its title and composer.
Since a wealthy heiress was inviting him for a walk, Mavi saw no reason to refuse.
He nodded, and under the watchful eyes of those around them, he gracefully exited the banquet hall with Jennifer. They stopped in front of a floor-to-ceiling window that offered a breathtaking view of the night sky.
Mavi wasn't arrogant enough to assume Jennifer had feelings for him. After all, this was their first meeting, and they had barely spoken.
So, he simply stopped overanalyzing and focused on enjoying the view. Since she had initiated everything, he figured he might as well wait and see where it led.
Standing beside him, Jennifer cast him another curious glance.
From childhood, she had been pursued by countless suitors—wealthy playboys and dashing elites alike. If they were to form soccer teams, she could probably fill several with her admirers.
But Jennifer had never been interested in handsome men or rich heirs.
One particularly persistent heir had pursued her for over six months, yet she hadn't spared him a glance, let alone agreed to a dinner or shopping date.
The two stood in silence, admiring the view outside the window.
Finally, after a long pause, Jennifer's curiosity got the better of her. She turned to Mavi and asked, "Can you play that song from your MP3 player again? I'd love to hear it once more."
Mavi turned to face her, realizing that all of this stemmed from his MP3 player.
"Sure."
Without hesitation, he pulled out his portable music player and pressed play, letting You Raise Me Up fill the air.
The year 2000 marked the rise of MP3 players. As the beautiful melody played, Mavi noticed Jennifer's expression becoming intensely focused, her entire demeanor serious and absorbed.
The bright overhead lights illuminated her exquisite features, making her look even more captivating. Her lips were slightly pursed, and her eyes shimmered as the music enveloped her, blending with the night beyond the window.
Mavi quietly admired her beauty—not out of affection, but as a simple appreciation of aesthetics.
Meanwhile, Jennifer was entirely engrossed in the song.
She had never heard such an enchanting melody or such moving lyrics. The more she listened, the more she fell in love with it.
When the song ended, she pursed her lips, reluctant for it to be over. She turned to Mavi and asked, "What's this song called?"
"You Raise Me Up," he answered honestly.
"Great title. Who sings it? I don't think I've ever heard it before."
Jennifer's interest was piqued. The song had sparked a creative idea within her.
Mavi didn't dare take credit for the song. He was merely a "porter of time," not a true creator of such an exceptional piece. Even though it was his own voice singing the song, he wouldn't shamelessly claim it as his own work.
"You like it?"
In his past life, Mavi had loved music but was hopelessly tone-deaf. However, in this life, he had been blessed with a naturally beautiful singing voice. Even the high notes of the song posed no challenge to him.
"Mm…" Jennifer nodded, lowering her head slightly as a strange, unexplainable feeling stirred within her. It was subtle yet persistent—something she had never experienced before.
Last year, a wealthy businessman had offered her a luxury yacht and a mansion, but she had declined without a second thought.
Yet now, the simple act of Mavi letting her listen to a song had left a deep impression on her.
Even as the party ended and she drove away in her Aston Martin DB7, the song still lingered in her mind.
And later that night, as she lay in bed wearing her pajamas, the melody continued to echo in her ears.
Women could be such mysterious creatures.
If the wealthy men who had once tried to woo her with extravagant gifts knew about this, some would probably spit out blood in frustration. Some might even become so dejected that they'd lose their appetite entirely!
Before falling asleep, Jennifer sent Mavi a text:
"That song was amazing today. Let's have dinner sometime. Good night."
By then, Mavi was already fast asleep, sprawled across his bed. His Motorola phone, which had received the message, was tossed onto the couch—where it would remain unnoticed until morning.
…
Meanwhile, the ten-acre estate Mavi had purchased in Longwood was already under construction. The work crews had started, and within three months, at least half of it would be completed.
Mavi had no intention of overseeing the renovation personally. That was a job for professionals. His priority was figuring out how to wisely invest the money sitting in his bank account.
For instance, this Wednesday afternoon, he had a scheduled meeting with the two founders of what would eventually become the world's largest search engine company—Google.
The topic? Negotiating an investment deal.