Chapter 319: Changing the Cruises

"Hello, Mr. Trump..."

"No need to be so formal. Just call me Donald."

Duke shook hands with the middle-aged man, who wore his trademark smile, and offered a casual compliment. "Your inspiring story is a model for young people to learn from."

"You haven't done badly yourself!"

Just as the rumors said, Donald Trump showed no trace of modesty. He spoke with a casual brashness. "I've always admired you."

Offering a reserved smile, Duke said nothing more to him and shifted his gaze to the side.

This was Donald Trump's daughter. Perhaps because she wasn't yet an adult, or perhaps it was just her natural features, her face still carried distinct baby fat. Her curly blonde hair was neatly pinned up behind her head, and a crushed diamond necklace hung around her smooth neck.

She was a typical white girl, tall, with broad shoulders and a full chest.

"Hello, Miss Trump."

Duke stood up again and extended his hand. Ivanka Trump shook it lightly.

"Hello, Director Rosenberg."

Unlike Donald Trump, she appeared much more cautious and reserved—at least on the surface.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Duke added. "You can call me Duke..."

"Mhm..." Ivanka Trump nodded and sat back down in her seat.

"There's no need to be so formal."

Donald Trump suddenly spoke up. "We're all old friends here..."

He looked at his daughter. "Duke, you can call her Evie."

"I will."

Duke's eyes drifted past his mother's face, and he offered a faint smile.

From his mother's words earlier, Duke could tell that Saintphia only had business dealings with Trump. Besides, given his personality, he certainly wouldn't become his mother's friend.

Regardless of whether this legendary New York real estate tycoon still actually possessed a billion-dollar fortune, the words coming out of Donald Trump's mouth were incredibly extravagant. Even if he had few actual listeners, putting on a show and self-promoting seemed to have become pure instinct.

"I hope the Federal Government can bring about real change. I just hope my running in the election can stop the Republican Party and Democratic Party from treating politics like a child's game."

After just a few sentences, Donald Trump steered the topic toward his massive publicity stunt. "Politics needs reform, not stagnation. I have no interest in the presidency, so now that I've seen the American public gradually awakening, I consider the goal of my campaign achieved. I can proactively withdraw."

Mrs. Leah had gone elsewhere to socialize, leaving Duke as one of his only two listeners. Not wanting to be rude in this setting, he had no choice but to ask, "Donald, will you participate in the next presidential election?"

"Of course I will!" Donald Trump declared righteously. "When the time is right, I will compete for the presidency and bring necessary change to America."

Holding back a laugh, Duke picked up his water glass and took a sip. The man in front of him could easily compete for Best Actor at the Oscars.

No... it should be the Razzie Award for Worst Actor.

Although he didn't know if Donald Trump would actually run again in the future, Duke knew one thing for sure: his high-profile presidential campaign was just a show, a commercial publicity stunt put on for the American public.

Trump suddenly leaned in closer and lowered his voice. "If you're interested, we could be running mates. Duke, with your influence in film, we could definitely garner a considerable amount of support."

"Sorry." Duke shook his head without hesitation. "I've never considered going into politics."

Donald Trump's commercial publicity stunt was one of the most normal marketing methods in this country, but Duke had never been interested in acting as someone else's promotional gimmick or stepping stone.

Likely realizing that Duke wasn't the type to be easily swayed by words, Donald Trump dropped one last remark before heading to another table to socialize and continue his one-man show.

That left only Duke and Ivanka Trump at the table.

"Your father is a very amusing man," Duke said to Ivanka Trump while slicing a small pastry. "Humorous, steady, and resolute. It's no fluke that he was able to walk out of his predicament."

Ivanka Trump turned her head and looked at Duke. "Do you really think so?"

Duke shrugged. "Anyone who achieves success has traits worth respecting and learning from."

"Director Rosenberg..."

"Call me Duke."

"Duke..." She looked at him seriously. "I might only be seventeen, but I worked as a part-time model for a while. I don't lack social experience, and I won't lose my head just because someone sweet-talks me for a few sentences."

Setting down his knife and fork, Duke picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth. "Evie, do you think I'm trying to flatter you?"

"Aren't you?" Her eyebrows twitched. "Everyone in America who has paid attention to you knows that you're a playboy who changes women faster than clothes."

"You actually think I'm interested in you?"

Tapping his forehead lightly, Duke put on an expression of sheer disbelief. "There are far too many women in Hollywood prettier than you. It's no exaggeration to say..."

Duke raised a finger and gestured. "If I just crook this finger, half of them will come running to my side."

Having said that, he shook his head and prepared to resume his dinner.

Ivanka Trump clearly misunderstood Duke's meaning. She asked, "You think I'm not pretty?"

"Of course not."

Looking up, Duke glanced at her. "Evie, that's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?" she pressed.

Putting down the knife and fork he had just picked up, Duke decided to be blunt. "You just don't fit my aesthetic preferences."

Beauty, prettiness, looks—these were extremely sensitive topics for any woman. Ivanka Trump noticeably furrowed her brows, clearly displeased.

"You still think I'm not pretty."

She kept staring at him. Duke sighed helplessly, as Ivanka Trump clearly didn't intend to let the matter drop. She asked again, "May I know why?"

"Are you sure?" Duke didn't answer immediately.

Ivanka Trump lifted her chin slightly, like a proud princess. "I'm sure!"

Duke tilted his head and studied her for a moment, waiting until Ivanka Trump shifted uncomfortably before he finally spoke. "Your face is too big, your shoulders are too broad, and your back is too thick. If you didn't have..."

Estimating with his eyes, Duke continued, "If you weren't nearly six feet tall, you would look incredibly bloated."

None of his earlier words seemed to pack as much punch as that final sentence. Ivanka Trump's face instantly darkened. "You're actually calling me fat?"

Young girls still trailing the tail end of their rebellious phase were the most troublesome. Duke simply shut his mouth.

"You think I'm fat?"

As she spoke, Ivanka Trump stood up. Fortunately, she moved very slowly, and with people walking back and forth mingling nearby, her action didn't seem too abrupt.

She was clearly wearing sky-high heels. Once she stood up, she looked exceptionally tall, visually measuring around six foot four.

Duke quickly made a pressing motion with his hands, reminding her, "Evie, do you want the two of us to cause a scene at an event like this?"

Ivanka Trump was not Paris Hilton, after all. She glared at Duke and sat back down in her seat.

Seeing her glaring at him indignantly, Duke sighed and offered an explanation. "My words only represent my personal view. My individual aesthetic doesn't equate to the public's standard of beauty."

He left it at that. If she insisted on twisting his words through the lens of a rebellious teenager, then there was no need for him to explain further.

"Hi, Evie."

A greeting suddenly rang out from behind Duke as Aerin Lauder walked over and took the seat next to him. "Is the Wharton School of Business on holiday?"

"No."

Facing Aerin Lauder, Ivanka Trump immediately put on a smile. "I came back specifically for this. Dad insisted that I attend this banquet..."

She suddenly looked at Duke, who murmured something to Aerin Lauder. "You two know each other?"

"We're friends."

Seeing that Duke had no intention of answering, Aerin Lauder smiled and said, "We've known each other for years."

Aerin Lauder exchanged a few more pleasantries with Ivanka Trump before quickly turning back to Duke.

"What happened between you two?" she asked softly, somewhat puzzled.

Duke glanced at Ivanka Trump sitting opposite him. Her eyes kept darting in their direction, but he paid it no mind and replied in the same low voice, "She mistakenly thought I was trying to pursue her. In reality, I have no interest in her. During our debate, I pointed out a few ways she doesn't fit my aesthetic, and this rebellious little girl turned into a bristling blonde cat."

Aerin Lauder grew even more curious. "What did you say?"

"I merely said her figure was a bit bloated."

Hearing Duke's words, Aerin Lauder couldn't help but pinch the bridge of her nose. She lightly patted his arm. "For any woman who cares about her looks, that is an absolutely forbidden topic."

Duke nodded with full awareness. "Which is why I didn't plan on continuing the conversation with her."

Footsteps approached from the other side. Donald Trump walked back over. He was clearly acquainted with Aerin Lauder, greeting her familiarly before sitting down next to his daughter.

A few minutes later, Mrs. Leah also returned. After exchanging a few words, Duke left the area, moving alongside Aerin Lauder to expand his own social circle.

Attending a networking party like this and not putting in the work would be a complete waste.

They made a round through the venue. The younger generation of business families was Aerin Lauder's primary focus when introducing Duke. He also saw more names he had heard or seen before, such as the sisters Nicky Hilton and Paris Hilton.

Duke only gave them a simple handshake. In the eyes of people like him and Aerin Lauder, they were nothing more than two little girls who only knew how to fool around and have fun.

Even though this party was held close to the New Year, Duke didn't leave New York right away. His long vacation was far from over.