World Domination Begins With Getting a System in a Modern World-Chapter 154: Hovering Vultures Of The Elitist World

The atmosphere had shifted from what had once been a warm, casual morning filled with laughter, sunshine, and soft music now fell into a bone-chilling, suffocating silence.

The silence wasn’t loud or obvious, but it was subtle, poisonous, and insidious. And James recognized it instantly.

He understood where he was — at the Bel-Air Country Club, an institution built on generations of old money, power, and social hierarchies so rigid they may as well have been carved in stone.

Here, appearances were everything. Public behavior was polished, mannered, and yet, dripping with fake politeness.

But private thoughts and private judgments? They were a constant, unspoken battle beneath the surface, a silent war fought with glances, whispers, and carefully veiled insults.

Every person at a country club like this was acutely aware of class, beauty, wealth, and status. And any disruption to that delicate equilibrium would always send ripples through the polished surface like a stone tossed into a mirror-calm lake.

As for Patty and Leslie, they were exactly the kind of women who drew attention, with their stunning, fresh, untouched by the careful plastic sheen that marked many of the longtime female members. And they weren’t jaded or over-polished.

James wasn’t surprised when he caught men — both young and old — staring.

At places like this, beautiful women were always noticed. But new beautiful women, untouched by the subtle conditioning of these circles, were even more magnetic.

And the younger men, the sons of wealth who had not yet learned the cold discipline of their fathers, were far more obvious about their desires.

Their gazes were hungry — bold in ways that their upbringing should have restrained but didn’t.

The older men were no better, only slightly more discreet — their glances masked beneath thin layers of politeness.

Women like Vivienne saw newcomers like Patty and Leslie — unrefined beauties — as threats to their carefully controlled social spheres.

And in places like these, threats weren’t fought openly. They were bled out slowly, through smiles, whispers, and a thousand tiny cuts of social cruelty.

James understood all of this but understanding didn’t erase the slow, boiling rage rising in his chest.

He caught Vivienne’s eye and he saw the smile on her face. But it wasn’t a pleasant smile. It was like a wolf’s grin — triumphant, vicious, petty.

He saw how she watched him like a cat watching a mouse, hoping for a reaction, hoping he would slip, hoping he would lash out.

She definitely wanted a scene. Because the two of them understood very well that in these circles, the one who loses control first, loses everything.

James smiled as he forced himself to focus and enjoy the day. He guided Patty and Leslie with a light smile as they approached the elegantly set tables for brunch.

The table assigned to them was beautiful, decorated with fresh flowers and sparkling glassware.

Plates gleamed under the filtered sunlight, laden with gourmet dishes — smoked salmon, wild mushroom omelets, delicate pastries, and towers of ripe fruit.

Patty gasped softly at the spread, her hand covering her mouth in amazement. Leslie’s eyes widened, and she leaned in closer to whisper a comment only James could hear and it brought a genuine smile to his face.

James understood that today wasn’t about the food. Rather, it was about him sharing this moment with them. About showing them that this world — no matter how twisted or judgmental it is — could be theirs too.

James set down his bag and helped pull out chairs for both of them, and they sat down. They were just beginning to serve themselves when a familiar, shrill voice cut through the air like a blade.

Of course, it’s Vivienne Harrow. Who else was it going to be?

James didn’t even need to turn to recognize her tone that was filled with that false sweetness that drips venom underneath.

"Enjoy it while you can, darlings. Rare chance for commoners like you to dine somewhere civilized. Eat, drink, and pretend you belong," Vivienne cooed from a few tables away, her voice pitched just loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

A ripple of fake laughter followed from her gaggle of socialite friends.

Another woman chimed in, barely hiding her disdain and disgust.

"First time tasting real champagne, isn’t it? Make sure you drink enough Moët today, ladies. And please don’t choke on it." she said, laughing into her flute.

A third woman followed, her voice dripping with contempt.

"Don’t worry — even if you spill on yourselves, it’s not like you’re ruining couture."

James’ hands tightened on the edge of the table, his knuckles whitening, when he heard what the ladies were saying. His heart pounded in his ears and every instinct screamed at him to act — to stand, to destroy them and to humiliate them the way they deserved.

He almost did but he stopped himself when he felt Patty’s gentle, warm and loving hand slid over his.

She squeezed his hand once, firmly and kindly, and when James turned to her, he saw her face — the soft, calm smile on it. freēnovelkiss.com

James knew that that smile wasn’t ignorance, neither was it weakness. No, it was strength. The kind of strength that understood the cost of fighting battles that weren’t worth it.

And her eyes told him everything: Not here. Don’t let them ruin this.

Beside Patty, Leslie was trembling with fury, her hand gripping the linen napkin so tightly it threatened to tear.

Patty reached out and squeezed her daughter’s hand too, calming her.

Even though Patty was trying to calm him down, for a long, painful moment, James struggled.

Everything inside him raged but he exhaled — long and slow — and forced himself to relax.

For Patty and Leslie, he will let it slide for now but he will definitely get at Vivienne and her gaggle of bitches.

Slowly, he turned back to his plate, picked up his fork, and began eating.

Leslie hesitated for a moment. Her body stiff and her breath was still shallow, as she tried to calm herself.

She sighed deeply and finally followed suit, mirroring her mother.

Across the terrace, Vivienne watched, her eyes narrowed. She was waiting for a reaction. Craving it.

And when none came. When James didn’t rise up to curse her and cause a scene like she expected, she frowned, her lips tightening into a thin, brittle line.

She had expected fireworks. A public meltdown. But instead, she got something she hated far more: composure and dismissal.

But she wasn’t willing to give up. She must make sure that she definitely cause him to lose his cool and show himself for the peasant he is. She will make sure to humiliate him and those frogs with him.

She hates those filth that crawls out of nowhere and suddenly started breathing the same air as her.

***

The brunch continued.

Patty and Leslie, after the initial tension, relaxed again.

They chatted softly, pointing out dishes to each other, sampling pastries and delicate cheeses, sipping water from crystal glasses.

James stayed alert but he also made himself laugh along with them, made himself enjoy their company.

***

When brunch ended and the guests began to disperse across the grounds — some to lounge near the private pool, others to stroll the sculpture gardens — James rose with Patty and Leslie.

They walked toward the parked cars slowly, with no rush.

Vivienne watched them go from her shaded table, her friends whispering around her like a pack of vultures.

James, Patty and Leslie were right at the parking lot when they saw a young man blocking their way. And it was the same young man with the boldness from before.