Chapter 63: Birthday Party

The night sky was clear and filled with stars as Alex's 27th birthday party began. The resort was beautifully illuminated with strings of fairy lights and lanterns, casting a warm, inviting glow over the entrance and garden. The sound of laughter and music filled the air as guests began to arrive.

Alex stood at the entrance with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Barreto, greeting the arriving guests warmly.

"Welcome! So glad you could make it," Alex said with a broad smile, shaking hands with each guest.

"Thank you for coming," his mother added, her voice filled with genuine warmth. "We hope you enjoy the celebration."

Mr. Barreto stood beside them, nodding respectfully to each guest. "It's a pleasure to see you all here. Thank you for joining us on this special day."

Guests streamed in, a mix of family friends, business associates, and locals from the island. The atmosphere was lively, and the guests were dressed in their finest, ready to celebrate.

"Happy birthday, Alex!" a family friend exclaimed, handing him a wrapped gift.

"Thank you so much," Alex replied, accepting the gift graciously. "Please, make yourselves at home and enjoy the festivities."

As more guests arrived, Mr. Barreto engaged in polite conversation with several prominent figures from the community.

"It's wonderful to see such a great turnout," Mr. Barreto commented to a local business owner. "Alex has been looking forward to this day for a long time."

The business owner nodded in agreement. "It's a beautiful setup. Your family always knows how to throw a memorable party."

Mrs. Barreto guided some guests toward the garden, where tables laden with food and drinks awaited. "Please help yourselves to some refreshments. We've prepared a feast for everyone."

A group of young people, friends of Alex, approached with laughter and playful banter. "Hey Alex, ready to party?" one of them called out.

Alex laughed, clapping his friend on the back. "Absolutely! Let's make this a birthday to remember."

As the laughter continued, a sleek black car pulled up to the entrance. Mr. Dante Fernandez, his son Luke, and John stepped out, their presence immediately drawing attention. Alex quickly excused himself from his friends and approached them.

"Good evening, Mr. Fernandez, Luke, and John." Alex greeted them warmly, his smile genuine but his eyes carrying a hint of seriousness.

"Good evening, Alex," Mr. Fernandez replied, shaking Alex's hand firmly. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you, sir. I'm glad you could make it," Alex responded, nodding to Luke and John. "Please, come inside. The party is just getting started."

Luke grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, Alex."

John followed silently, his expression neutral. The trio entered the resort, blending into the crowd as they made their way toward the dining area.

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After a sumptuous dinner, the guests dispersed to enjoy the various activities and entertainment. Mr. Fernandez and his group found a quiet corner of the garden where they could talk without being overheard.

Mr. Fernandez leaned in slightly, his voice low and deliberate. "Alex, now that we've had dinner, I need you to tell me—who is the guy who found the statue?" 

Alex glanced around, ensuring they were alone before responding. "He's one of our guests tonight."

Alex discreetly pointed to where Reese was standing, talking with Dwight while eating cake. Mr. Fernandez, Luke, and John all looked in Reese's direction.

As soon as Luke and John recognized Reese, their eyes widened in shock. "It's him!" Luke exclaimed, barely able to contain his surprise.

John's expression mirrored Luke's surprise. "I can't believe it. They're the ones from the ferry!"

Mr. Fernandez and Alex looked at Luke and John in puzzlement. Mr. Fernandez's brows furrowed. "You know those two?"

Luke nodded, his face a mix of anger and embarrassment. "Yeah, we know them all right."

Mr. Fernandez's curiosity was piqued. "Explain. What happened?"

Luke took a deep breath before launching into the story. "When we were on the ferry coming over, John and I tried to talk to the woman with them. We were just being friendly, but the other guy got all protective. Then this guy," he pointed at Reese, "stepped in and made things worse."

John continued, "We were trying to smooth things over, but then that guy there humiliated Luke in front of everyone. He made a joke that got the whole ferry laughing at us. It was... pretty bad."

Mr. Fernandez's eyes narrowed as he listened, and Alex's expression hardened. "I see," Mr. Fernandez said slowly. "So, that guy has already made quite an impression."

Luke nodded, his face set with determination. "Yeah, and not a good one. But if he's the one who found the statue, we need to talk to him."

Mr. Fernandez considered this, then nodded. "Alright. We'll approach him carefully. This could be our chance to finally uncover the statue and its secrets."

With a plan in mind, Mr. Fernandez, Luke, Alex, and John began to make their way toward Reese. 

Unbeknownst to them, they were already on Reese's radar. The moment Alex pointed in his direction, Reese used his spiritual sense to scan the area. Since the arrival of the first guest, Reese has been on high alert, his spiritual sense extending outward like an invisible web, diligently checking for any potential threats. 

When Alex subtly pointed toward him, he felt a shift. His spiritual sense honed in on the four men, sifting through the myriad of emotions and intentions that radiated from them.

As Reese's gaze followed Alex's gesture, he was taken aback to see Luke and John among the guests. "I did not expect to see them here," he thought, his surprise palpable. "So, Alex is friends with Luke and John. Interesting."

Reese's mind raced as he connected the dots. He hadn't realized the connection between Alex and the two men he had encountered on the ferry. The unexpected reunion piqued his interest even more, especially given the context of their conversation about the statue and its secrets.

"This just got a lot more intriguing," Reese mused, his curiosity intensifying. He decided to play it cool, keeping his focus sharp as he waited to see how they would approach him and what information they might reveal. 

Mr. Fernandez, Luke, John, and Alex made their way towards Reese and Dwight. As they approached, Alex took the lead. "Reese," he began. "I'd like you to meet Mr. Dante Fernandez," he said, completely disregarding Dwight.

Mr. Fernandez extended his hand to Reese. "Pleasure to meet you," he said as he gripped Reese's hand firmly.

Reese shook Mr. Fernandez's hand with a polite smile. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. Fernandez," he replied. Reese turned to Dwight and gestured toward him. "And this is my good friend, Dwight."

Alex's jaw clenched visibly, his face reddening with irritation. "Yes, well," he started, trying to regain his composure. "Mr. Fernandez and I were hoping to—"

Reese cut him off smoothly, his gaze shifting to Luke and John. "Luke, John, good to see you again. It was just yesterday, wasn't it? Quite the memorable encounter we had on the ferry." 

Luke's face flushed with anger, and he was about to retort when Mr. Fernandez shot him a stern look, signaling him not to make a scene. Luke clenched his fists but nodded curtly, staying quiet.

Alex, seizing the moment, turned back to Reese. "Reese, do you have a moment to talk in private? Just us." His eyes flicked briefly towards Dwight, making his intentions clear. 

Reese nodded, sensing the opportunity to learn more about the statue. "Sure, lead the way," he said, eager to uncover the secrets they seemed to hold. 

Before following Alex, Reese turned to Dwight. "Keep an eye on Chloe and Jasper," he said, gesturing towards where they were socializing with their friends. "I'll be back shortly." 

Dwight nodded. "Got it. Be careful."

Reese turned back to Alex, Mr. Fernandez, Luke, and John, who were waiting with a mixture of anticipation and subtle tension. "Lead the way," he said to Alex.