141 Gallante's Party 1

Diane laid on her back, thinking about what she had read. These were all private functions and meetings, parties and other things unrelated to the prostitution den. Gallante's contacts were businessmen, food traders, and friends. Nothing more.

She scanned the papers, which was scattered on the bed, again and looked through them the third time. Diane decided to separate the business meetings from the personal ones. Her eyes scanned the room and spotted a laptop on a table.

She took it, placed it on the bed, and opened Windows Excell. She opened a blank spreadsheet and encoded Business and then Personal in separate columns. The date, place, and occasion for each kind were included.

After an hour elapsed, she rested. She massaged her nape, moved his body, and stretched her hand up after typing almost three hundred occasions. Suddenly, her eyes caught a glimpse of a place she partly noticed earlier and were written like a pattern. Excitement raced through her. This could be it.

Her feet were light as she ran out barefooted, laptop in hand, toward the conference room.

"I found it?" she cried as she ran to where John and Leonard stood. They looked at her, anticipating.

"This Thursday is Mrs. Gallante's birthday. She will be having a birthday party."

"You mean to sneak in?" Leonard frankly asked, his face unmoved.

"Yes and no," she said, confusing the people listening to her. She hurriedly talked. "Let me explain. Every year he will hold a party for his wife and children. And …," she pointed one of the places the parties were held. "Elegant Gourmet Restaurant, this is owned by Beauty's husband's family. This is their biggest restaurant with a ballroom. This' where we can go and mingle at the party." She was smiling like a child who got her candy. Her excitement glowed out of her.

However, the rest just stared at her unconcerned. Her excitement faded like a wilted flower. "What? What's wrong with what I said?" She asked, unable to understand their cold reactions.

"The party venue could be changing every year," John spoke for the rest.

"No, you're wrong. His wife's parties are always held here. See?" She pointed the cursor to the spreadsheet and highlighted the restaurant's name for every year and it was exactly as she said. It was repeatedly written. "As you can see, there were only two separate years that they didn't use the place. I don't know why but I'm confident they will be reserving it again this Thursday."

"Jenna, call Beauty if there's a reservation from Mr. or Mrs. Gallante," Leonard commanded, hoping what Diane said was true.

Unexpectedly, someone walked in the room unannounced, Clarence and the pregnant Beauty.

"I think I heard my name," Beauty said, walking hand in hand with Clarence.

"Why are you here?" Diane asked.

"I think I should be the one asking since I'm an old face here," Beauty said.

"Okay, I'll answer first. I'm here with John. And you?"

Clarence and Beauty curiously glanced at John.

"Diane is my girlfriend," John said in a matter of fact tone as he held her hand in front of them, making Diane shy a little but elated to hear him admit it openly.

Beauty dazzled with smiles. "I'm happy for you, Diane." The two embraced again.

"I'm actually here to meet grandma Julliane for her birthday. I can bring your list to her," Beauty said to Diane.

John suddenly remembered and snapped a finger at Leonard's direction. "Leonard, Diane's package list?" He said, blinking at his brother, who utterly forgot.

"I'm giving it now," Leonard said swiftly as he held his phone in hand and called his wife. Diane was delighted to hear Beauty's help. With her friend here, she could certainly get the orders and that would be awesome. Somehow, as of the moment, she set it aside. It could wait. Gallante's party occupied her mind.

"Beauty is here. We can ask her now." Diane said to Leonard, her face brewing with exuberance. She could not wait to know the result of her research.

"Ask for what?" asked Beauty.

Diane could not wait any longer and did it herself. "Is there a reservation for a birthday party this coming Thursday in Elegant Gourmet Restaurant?" She said with fervor.

Everyone's eyes were on Beauty, waiting.

"Yes," Beauty nodded.

"Who reserved it?"

"We have three reservations, which one are you asking?"

Diane's heart pounded with the thrill and clasped her hands together. "Is there a birthday party for Mrs. Gallante?"

"Oh, that one. Absolutely, yes," said Beauty. Diane could not express her happiness, she hit the bullseye. She wanted to jump for her success.

"But it will not be in the restaurant. We'll do the catering in their house," added Beauty.

"Double awesome," Diane shouted.