Chapter 327: The Red Sofa

In Darwin, northern Australia, on the afternoon of January 13th, a convoy dusty from travel pulled into the parking lot of the Diamond Beach Casino Hotel, located on the southern seaside of the city. Many passersby couldn't help but stop and watch.

The convoy, clearly having traversed great distances, consisted of 11 vehicles: eight off-road vehicles, one tanker, and two container trucks. The vehicles were all covered in dust, and several of the off-roaders bore noticeable dents—a clear sign they had just crossed the Australian continent, a journey enjoyed by both domestic and international travel enthusiasts.

However, this convoy was extravagantly equipped compared to other travelers. Not many people traveled with a tanker and container trucks in tow.

Simon stepped out of a Mercedes G460, dressed simply in a T-shirt, jeans, and thick boots. A week spent traversing the Australian outback, plus a prior trip to Antarctica, had given his skin a deeper tan, enhancing his robust, masculine aura.

Like many, Simon had always harbored the idea of traveling the world. Now with the means to realize some of his dreams, he was taking full advantage.

Driving an off-road vehicle across the vast, red sandstone deserts of Australia was exhilarating. After a continuous journey from Melbourne to Antarctica and across the continent, the youthful vigor befitting a man in his twenties had rekindled in him.

Simon resolved to undertake such trips every few years.

As Simon alighted from his vehicle, the hotel manager approached him enthusiastically, while others from the convoy gathered around.

The group consisted of 31 people, though only six were principals: Simon and Janet, David Johnston (the fourth child of the Johnston family) and his girlfriend Leslie Whittaker, Patrick Johnston (the fifth child) and his girlfriend Sarah Keston, with the rest being bodyguards, drivers, and other attendants.

Given their resources, they ensured the best security for themselves, which was prudent given the harsh natural environment of the Australian interior. Having a large entourage did not diminish Simon's enjoyment of the trip.

This Australian venture began with a formal engagement ceremony, insisted upon by Raymond Johnston, who was traditional at heart.

After Christmas was a trip to Antarctica, a journey just for Simon and Janet, though attendants were present.

They spent New Year's on a cruise ship in Antarctica, akin to a mini-honeymoon.

Returning from Antarctica, they embarked on this cross-continental Australian adventure, joined by the Johnston family's fourth and fifth siblings and their partners.

David Johnston had no interest in traveling, claiming he had a thesis to work on. His family unanimously decided to bring him along anyway. Patrick Johnston, having been denied the chance to join the Antarctic trip, was eager not to miss out this time.

As the group greeted each other, Janet came over from the passenger side, waving a satellite phone at Simon and others, saying, "Mom says she's started preparing dinner and wants us to come home to eat tonight."

Patrick, whispering something to his girlfriend, perked up and said, "Why go back so early? Sis, why don't we head to Bali instead? It's close, just two hours away."

Janet shot her brother a look. "You've been gallivanting for half a year, Pat. When we get back, Dad's setting you up with a job."

Patrick, older than Simon by three years, had been a perpetual student at the University of Birmingham, lacking any academic distinction compared to Cambridge scholar David Johnston. After six years without earning a degree and accumulating a record of misdemeanors, he was expelled last year and loitered in London before being summoned home.

Janet, unimpressed by her brother's pleas, wagged a finger. "We have an hour. Take a shower, change, then we go home. If you don't, you'll stay here and drink seawater—Dad will cut off your credit cards."

Ignoring Patrick's protests, she looped her arm through Simon's and led him into the hotel, guided by the manager.

The group flew out of Darwin Airport in Simon's Boeing 767. The vehicles they left behind would be handled by others.

Once airborne, Patrick roamed restlessly around the cabin before settling back in the small lounge where everyone was gathered.

Leaning over to Simon, who was chatting with David, he sat on the armrest and proposed, "Mate, why don't I go to Hollywood? Just find me any job, ideally something that makes it easy to meet girls."

Before Simon could reply, Sarah, seated on a nearby sofa engrossed in a handheld game, looked up and glared at Patrick. "I can hear you, you know."

"Then let's break up, Sarah? Why don't you tell your dad and mine that I'm not good enough for you?"

"We're adults, Sarah. You should have the courage to defy your dad."

"Sorry, I don't have the guts," she said and returned to her game, ignoring him further.

Simon listened with amusement to their exchange, also observing the girl clad in a baggy black tank top with a punk vibe. Sarah Keston hailed from a Western Australian mining family, the Kestons, who were old friends with the Johnstons. Her father, Lewis Keston, was especially close to Raymond Johnston, rumored to have shared more than just business ties but also a deep personal bond, leading to their children's arranged engagement.

However, as Janet explained, the families hadn't seriously intended to arrange Patrick and Sarah's marriage; it was more about letting things take their course. Despite growing up together and constantly bickering—fighting as children and arguing as adults—they never parted. They went to the University of Birmingham together, flunked out together, and formed a uniquely combative partnership.

From his interactions with them, Simon sensed that Sarah, with her heavy eyeliner and a Shakespeare quote tattooed on her arm reading "all devails are here," dominated their dynamic.

Rejected by his girlfriend, Patrick quickly forgot his request and asked Simon, "Mate, what's the code for the front cabin? I want to check it out."

Simon gestured towards Janet. "Ask your sister."

"123456," Janet replied offhandedly.

Patrick jumped up, pausing to ask Sarah, "Wanna come?"

"No," she replied without looking up.

Undeterred, Patrick left but returned shortly, looking hurt. "Are you sure it's 123456?"

Janet rolled her eyes. "That's our bedroom. What do you want in there?"

"Taking up a third of the cabin for a bedroom—are you playing tennis in there?"

Ignoring her brother, Janet showed Simon a draft of the office design. "How about this one? The renovation at Daenerys Studios in Los Angeles has started."

Leslie Whittaker, studying architectural design at Cambridge, aimed to join her father's firm in London—a moderate-sized company that couldn't handle a project like Daenerys Studios but could easily manage an administrative section. She had hoped to get involved, especially with the interior design, believing it would benefit her career to have such a project under her belt even before graduation.

Simon and Janet wanted to design their villa themselves but couldn't turn down a rare request from David, so they assigned Leslie the design of an office building at Daenerys Studios, where Simon's office would be located.

While Leslie

 was about to graduate and wasn't ready to tackle a building's design alone, Simon had signed a formal contract with the Whittaker Design Company in Los Angeles, allowing her to seek help from her father's more experienced staff, giving the Whittakers a foothold in the North American market.

Simon glanced at the design, chuckling. "Change the red sofa, everything else is fine."

Confused, Leslie said, "It's a dark wine red, Simon. I think it matches the overall style of your office."

"Do none of you know what a red sofa implies?"

The room looked puzzled until Sarah, still playing her game, spoke up, "It's an old Hollywood casting couch rule. If an actress enters an audition room and sees a red sofa, she knows to undress and wait for the director or producer. Then, she gets the part."

Janet's eyes widened. "Really?"

Simon nodded.

Quickly, Leslie retracted the design. "I'll redo it."

Patrick squeezed next to Simon on the sofa, half-jokingly saying, "Even if it's not red, actresses would still be happy to undress in front of you, right?"

Simon didn't respond, instead flicking Patrick's hand off his shoulder.

Patrick turned to Janet, complaining, "Your man hit me."

"You can hit him back," she replied nonchalantly.

Patrick mimed a punch but didn't follow through, instead changing the subject. "Mate, did you really break five guys' legs once?"

As Patrick asked, everyone else seemed to perk up.

Simon just shook his head. "It's been too long, I don't remember."

"Hey, you're even worse than..." Patrick trailed off, then perked up again. "Hey, why don't we go out tonight? The Parks have opened a new spot on the south bank, heard it's thrilling."

Simon was noncommittal. "Ask your sister."

"I've tanned a lot, I'm off to get a SPA tonight, and Leslie and Sarah are coming too," Janet said, then turned to Simon, "You go out with Pat, take David too."

David Johnston immediately shook his head, "I'm not going."

"I'm not taking David," Patrick quipped. "Imagine if he starts lecturing about fluid physics in front of everyone—how awkward."

From Melbourne to Darwin had taken a week, but flying back took only four hours.

By evening, everyone was back at the Johnston family estate on the outskirts of Melbourne.

As it was Saturday, Anthony Johnston and Norman Johnston had brought their families for dinner, and Veronica Johnston also joined.

With some time before dinner, Simon and Janet retired briefly to their room in the mansion.

Changed into a light pink dress, Janet emerged from the walk-in closet to find Simon lying on the bed, resting. She leaned over him, resting on his chest, and murmured, "Mom and Dad will probably want to talk about the wedding tonight, right?"

Simon wrapped his arms around her waist. "I'll be busy when we go back next week, but starting preparations now, a month and a half should be enough."

Nuzzling closer, Janet said, "If you think it's too rushed, we can delay it a bit."

"I'd like to get it done before your birthday in March. It feels different after that."

"Hmm, I might just bite you," she playfully nibbled at his neck then looked up, "Actually, I've noticed something."

"Oh?"

"I think you're slowly becoming a part of the Johnston family."

"Why do you say that?"

"Intuition."

"Is that feeling a bit too self-satisfactory?"

"Hmm, what do you think?"

"I refuse to answer that."

Though he dodged the question, Simon was indeed feeling a deeper connection with Janet's family—a connection he hadn't fully acknowledged even to himself. This intuitive bond made him more receptive to the upcoming marriage.

Holding Janet closer, they fell silent.

It was Leslie Whittaker who eventually knocked to remind them dinner was ready, and they joined the family at the table, hand in hand.

The lively dinner proceeded with Raymond Johnston eventually proposing a wedding date—March 3rd, a Saturday, giving them just enough time for preparations.

With no objections from Simon or Janet, the family began discussing the details.

After dinner, Janet eagerly went for a SPA treatment with the other women, not wanting her tan to affect her wedding appearance.

While Anthony Johnston wanted to discuss the recently settled accounts of Cersei Capital with Simon, Patrick whisked him away to a fighting arena near the Crown Casino on the Yarra River's south bank—a venue the Parks had recently opened.

Compared to his later life events, James Park, heir to the Park family, was then just a brash young adult, and his camaraderie with Patrick suggested they shared a penchant for extravagance.

The matches were freestyle fighting.

James, adept at playing host, surrounded them with an entourage of girls and secured a prime viewing spot

, even asking Simon if he wanted to place a bet.

Engaging in the spirit of the venue, Simon casually bet $10,000 on a fighter after observing the contestants, then immersed himself in the charged atmosphere as fights raged and the crowd cheered.

Several matches later, Patrick leaned over and whispered to Simon, "Mate, want to have a go?"

The question lingered as they watched the fierce competition, the roar of the crowd surrounding them, blending into the night's excitement.

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