“We are uninformed about the situation. We have no means to let you know anything. Please don’t make things difficult for us, Madam Loren.” Out of options, the front desk manager tried to brush it off. “You should know that I’m part of the branch too. I just want to make sure I know enough to cater to the individual’s needs.” Katie could not let it go. “We will not hold anything back from you, Madam Loren, but we simply know nothing about the VIP.” “You could at least tell me if the person is a man or a woman.” Katie made concessions just to get her hands on anything. “I think he’s a man. He drove a red Ferrari. I’m guessing that he’s in his middle years. That’s all I know.” The front desk manager knew better than to reveal too much. Though he had some information at hand, saying too much would bring a lot of issues. Still, Katie was his superior. The front desk manager had to give Katie something to be in her good graces. “Is that so?” “That’s as far as we know
Joey needed the job, so she had better watch her tongue. Standing in the elevator, Katie was deep in contemplation. Her plan was to marry her daughter to the most powerful man in Butterworth. She had other ideas now. Katie needed to observe the VIP. It would be great if the VIP was interested in looking for a partner. Joey stood nearby, reading Katie’s expressions. She, as Katie’s assistant, could have her input, but certain things were beyond Joey’s reach. She could only support Katie and nothing more. The matter concerned Leah’s happiness. However, Joey had no right to interfere. The only thing she could do was stand on the sidelines. The moment the elevator door opened, Katie stepped out. There was only one room on the entire floor, and Katie’s purpose was to meet the guest staying there. “Wait here. I’ll knock on the door.” Katie stopped Joey from seeing the person inside. Standing in front of a mirror, Katie straightened herself up. Despite going through
With time in his hands, Kaze could have a good rest. “Close the balcony door. I doubt we’d have any visitors.” Kaze knew that Alfonso was busy with several meetings to meet him. Arthur closed the balcony door and put on relaxing music. Privacy was important to talk about sensitive matters. “I’ve inspected the room. It’s clear. The room is reserved for the Viper’s Den’s VIPs.” “So no one knows who I am for now.” Kaze did not want his identity out. It would make things more interesting. “No one will know who you are unless you let them.” Arthur would stand in between those who would try to pry into Kaze. “Do the staff of the hotel know anything about me?” Kaze ran into Katie during the day. She was the CEO of the Northborn Group. As CEO, Katie would have the right to acquire some basic information from the hotel. “They can’t interfere with an order in place. Even if the staff read anything about you, they won’t say a word.” Arthur ranked high in the Viper’s D
“The Frosts own numerous subsidiaries. Ever since Jet took over, he gained control over more assets. “The family frequently imports goods from overseas, which are then distributed to the subsidiaries.” Arthur, though not an expert in business, had a good grasp of the Frosts’ profitable businesses. “Plus, the Frosts own a fleet of cargo ships for transporting goods. It’s an integrated operation where they can control every aspect of the supply chain.” Now that Arthur thought about it, the Frosts were pretty amazing to run small ventures by outsourcing them to small businesses. The partnership would help the small firms grow in success with the Frosts’ core operation. Many subsidiaries had strong ties to the Frosts, leading to repeated collaborations. Kaze furrowed his brows in surprise. “Get a copy of the intel for me.” Kaze needed to do his homework before shaking the Frosts’ foundation. It was never in Kaze’s plan to attack the Frosts. Now that his mind was made u
Katie’s bruised ego left her in a foul mood. Still, the last thing she wanted was to get on the VIP’s nerves. She cautiously backed away. She and Joey walked into the elevator. The smile on Katie’s face vanished the moment the elevator door closed. Katie knew why Jonathan was calling. “I heard that you’re throwing a party for your daughter’s birthday. I should bring my wife and kid along.” Jonathan cut to the chase. He had collaborated with Katie. Though Jonathan ran a small business, his business ties with the Frosts pushed his business to great heights in Butterworth. Anyone who had worked with Jonathan became friends with him outside the work setting. Though the partnership with Katie was in the past, there was a chance they could work together again. Today’s competitor could be tomorrow’s partner so long as there was a profit to be made. Jonathan had different ideas when reaching out to Katie. Despite his partnership with the Frosts, Jonathan only stood to gain
Kaze adopted a hands-off approach to his job, leaving the company in the employees’ hands. The employees were remunerated fairly with extra perks for their work. Putting trust in his staff, Kaze handed them the reins. Despite his experience in running a business, Kaze was still surprised to discover the Frosts’ assets.The Frosts dabbled in various industries while identifying the lucrative sections. Most of the time, the family would choose to partner with smaller enterprises, providing them with opportunities while securing the lion's share of the profits. They sure were manipulative. After careful observation, Kaze fixated on some of these smaller companies. “These subsidiaries don’t stand out, but they are heading in the right direction.” Kaze could see through Jet’s plan. Arthur prepared a comprehensive document, giving Kaze insights into the Frosts’ assets. The annual tax records and day-to-day business dealings were included in the file. The data differenti
Kaze nodded. He was not asking for much. “Keep tabs on these firms. Don’t be hasty. Just take your time,” Kaze uttered casually. “I got it. Are we not going to do anything?” Arthur thought Kaze’s approach was merciful. They should be making a stir to move forward. After all, Jet sent his people to abduct Kaze. Arthur believed it was only right that they fought back. “We are. Get our people to get in touch with the owner of the gaming company. We should coach talents in developing games.“This is a serious business rivalry.” Kaze understood that mobile game companies had high initial costs. The employees of gaming companies would be very protective of their data while trying to recoup their investment. It would be very easy for the Viper’s Den to retrieve this information. “Are you trying to recruit the employees, Mr. Lee?” Arthur was surprised. However, it would pull a rug from under Jet. He would be livid. “Just approach the owner and see if they’ll bite,” Kaze sa
“Just let Alfonso know if you need his help. You don’t have to talk specifically about this to him. I’m just going after Jet,” lying on the deck chair, Kaze uttered nonchalantly. He did not care who would be in the know. His priority was finishing the job. Despite having his qualms, Arthur said nothing else. His primary task was to protect the VIP in the shadows. Everyone working in the core operations of the Viper’s Den was strong enough to fend for their own. They did not need Arthur’s protection. Kaze was clearly a trained fighter whose abilities were far superior to Arthur’s. The street gang would not stand a chance against him if Kaze were to fight. Arthur knew why Kaze did not retaliate against the street gang. It was all to see if Alfonso had his best interests at heart. This led to Arthur showing his face. Arthur realized that Kaze was unlike the hot-tempered superiors from before. Kaze was approachable, but it was not easy to get along with him. Without a w
“Tell me, what do you think I added inside the tofu?” Master Fully asked confidently, assuming that the girl would never know the answer. When he made the tofu, he did not know what to add yet and simply wanted an original taste of the soybeans. Suddenly when he was grinding the soybeans, he had a spark of a thought and believed he should add something to enhance the flavor. It would save him the work to cook it when the tofu was formed. “It’s simple. Other than some salt, you also added some sauce. I believe you made the sauce yourself. It’s the sauce that makes the tofu so silky smooth. It feels like I’m eating a piece of cloud. It also has a unique fragrance when bitten.” Leah expressed her thoughts and then looked at Master Fuller with anticipation. Master Fuller was slightly surprised but on second thought, it only made sense. “You are quite a bright child. You did your homework,” he said. “When I was younger, I always messed around with the ingredients in the kitche
“I see. So that’s how this restaurant operates. It’s something new and interesting. I can bring my friends here next time,” Leah said specifically. She did not expect a small establishment would have such a unique way of serving customers and it was refreshing. “Just tell them what you want and they will prepare for you,” Kaze said. “I’m not particularly into anything right now. I don’t really have an appetite, so maybe something light?” Leah never had any favorite food. “If that’s the case, let’s just go with something casual,” Kaze said, with a hint of urgency as he was hungry. Master Fuller knew Kaze’s identity but he did not engage in a conversation because of Leah. He simply smiled and nodded. Then, appetizers were served. Kaze forked the cucumber and took a bite. A sweet taste filled his mouth with every crunch. “How is this cucumber made? It looks like it’s not seasoned but it's so sweet!” Leah was amazed by the taste. She got used to the exquisite cuisine
“Here for dinner? What would you like to have?” The elderly man, Master Fuller, was surprised to see Kaze. He thought after stepping down from serving government officials, it would be difficult for him to meet powerful figures anymore. To his surprise, someone powerful arrived at his little establishment. “We’re hungry. We are just looking for something simple to eat,” Kaze said as he simply sat down at the table. The table was part of a big circular formation, surrounding a huge cooking space in the center, where hungry patrons could watch the chef cook. Kaze sat down at the outer ring of the table, granting him a clear view of the chef’s cooking station. Leah sat right beside him. The girl had been scanning the room from the moment she entered. The room was surrounded by many wooden sculptures coupled with old drawings. All the sculptures and drawings looked interesting. She wondered if they were all real. “This place feels great. I can visit whenever I have the ti
The reason why the chief opened up a restaurant in a secluded alley was because he had stepped down from his previous position. To maintain the chance to practice his culinary skills, he set up the restaurant that targeted the wealthy and powerful. He might even meet customers who could appreciate his skills. The restaurant might not be well-known, but since it only served a selected audience, a reservation was mandatory. Walk-in customers were unlikely to get a seat at any time of the day. The signage in front of the alley served as a reminder but not many people knew it was actually a restaurant. Kaze walked inside because he saw the Viper’s Den symbol. Without the symbol, he would not walk into a secluded alley. Standing outside the opened wooden door, Kaze knocked on the brass knocker. Two knocks later, footsteps came rustling from within. He then took a step back; Leah did the same as well. The alley was secluded but the front of the restaurant was not exactl
People who had the courage to travel were capable in their own way. However, not everyone could be a reliable figure. Kaze simply gave a piece of reminder but he did not want to terrorize her, so he had to make it clear so that the girl knew what she should do. “Sounds complicated. If I could travel, I would want to go on a solo adventure. Too bad my mother won’t let me do it. Besides, she has plans for me…” Leah was determined to break free from her mother’s control but she also knew that it would be difficult. The upcoming birthday party was a chance for her mother to showcase her to other families. Even if she ultimately did not marry someone from the Viper’s Den, she would marry into another powerful and wealthy family. In short, Katie would never spare her daughter, let alone allow her to travel the country alone. “Don’t think so much. Look, there’s still a stall open.” Kaze saw a well-lit signage at the alley, wondering if it was a place where they could get somet
“Have you experienced something similar? Otherwise, why would you say something like that?” Leah was curious. Kaze always maintained a frosty demeanor that could push people away. However, his frosty demeanor was precisely what piqued her curiosity. She wondered what had happened in his past to shape him into the person he was today. “I’ve experienced my fair share of humanity and I can’t possibly put them all into words. It’s just some experience I gained from old times.” Kaze did not want to disclose his past. Whenever he thought of Riverbank, that woman would appear in his mind. Unfortunately, not everyone was reliable. Kaze did not want to dwell in the past but it was difficult to erase it. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pick on your old scars. I’m just curious. I promise you I won’t ask again.” Leah apologized immediately when she noticed the changes in Kaze’s eyes. She wondered if it was something she said that made the air around him grow heavier. “It’s okay. It’
“What do you want to eat?” Since Leah already understood the situation, explanation was no longer necessary. Kaze asked her another question instead. “I always had steak but I’ve grown tired of it. Why don’t we go somewhere else?” Leah was not a fan of the restaurant despite the menu frequently changing. She no longer enjoyed dining at the place because she had been eating there for as long as she could remember. “Then let’s go have a stroll. Maybe we can stumble upon a new restaurant or something.” Kaze liked strolling around the city. The dishes prepared by a grand restaurant were nothing short of delicious but they lacked sentimental value. Whenever he was away on a trip, he preferred to visit stalls or smaller restaurants operated by individual owners to enjoy the warmth and hospitality that one could never experience in a large establishment. The emotional value he felt when dining would certainly make the food taste better. “Sure. I have never really been outside
“That’s perfectly fine too. So long as you’re happy, you should have a say in the kind of life you want to live.” Kaze would not tell Leah what to do because it was her life. Leah was the master of her own destiny. “You’re the best. I feel relaxed around you. You won’t judge me.” Maybe Leah had lost her sense of self, being controlled by her mother. She would fall back to her usual habits when confronted with challenges. Eventually, she would lose her identity and the will to change everything. Every little thing would become an obstacle to her, but she would want to break free. “To be honest, we just met. I don’t have the right to tell you what to do. This is the way it should be. I’d be overstepping to ask more of you.” Kaze felt that Leah was being too strict with herself. “You’re right. My experiences shaped my personality.” Leah believed she should not be trivial. Kaze had a point about enjoying life. She should learn to say no. Leah was too afraid of hurt
“No, but thank you for the reminder.” Kaze was not afraid of Katie. Leah had no reason to panic. “Do you really not blame me? But if you work here, there are some things you must avoid.”Leah wished the incident never happened. Without Kaze’s help, she would not have escaped Perry’s harassment. If she had not introduced Kaze to her mother, a misunderstanding between them would not have occurred. Sometimes, Leah wondered if she was cursed to bring the people around her bad luck. “It’s nothing. The minor issue can be resolved.” Kaze did not care if Katie was out to get him. If Katie knew who he was, she would be all over him to get in his good graces. Leah was simply oblivious to the situation. She would know what to do once she figured everything out. “Have you had dinner?” Kaze’s stomach was empty. He did not have an appetite while in the room. He left the penthouse seeking food. His question took Leah by surprise. “I didn’t feel like having anything earlier.