Katie got angry. She already had a bad day for not being able to meet the guest at the penthouse. She was already embarrassed but due to that person’s identity, she was forced to endure the resentment and dared not voice her disagreement. Here, however, she did not need to hold back. Master Fuller was a member of the Viper’s Den but he used to be a normal agent, not someone extremely powerful. Katie was the CEO of Northborn Group. Her status and identity were far higher than Master Fuller’s, yet she was rejected by a mere waitress working at the restaurant. Master Fuller was simply being foolish. “I am the CEO of Northborn Group. Master Fuller is considered a subordinate to me. If I will it, you will go down with this entire place.” Katie thought that by revealing her identity, the waitress would be deterred and let her in. She quickly wore a smirk on her face and was ready to set foot in the establishment, but the woman refused to budge. “I’m sorry, we are not accept
Katie did not want to give up just yet. She lost her temper over her daughter’s matter but in order to prepare the perfect banquet, she had to get Master Fuller’s help. She knew how good Master Fuller was. The man used to be a chef at the national kitchen, serving high-ranking government officials, and also a member of the Viper’s Den, which explained his prestigious status. He always used his identity of the Viper’s Den to reject a certain job. However, being a great chef, the VIP customers he served fell in love with his food, which earned him more connections to many prominent figures. Therefore, making acquaintance with Master Fuller would also be making connections with his social network. Master Fuller retired from the national kitchen and settled down in Butterworth, and he was able to stay hidden in a small establishment because of his unusual dual identity. Most of the customers never knew his true identity. Katie knew because she was also backed by the Viper’s
“He was having a meal on the balcony earlier but the room is empty now.” Joey knew her boss’ temper, so she did her homework and provided every possible update she could get her hands on. At the same time, she also knew that her own value was impacted by this matter, and if she couldn't use it to appeal to her boss, she could easily be replaced. “So he’s not in the penthouse right now?” Katie asked, her tone doubtful. “Yes, Madam. The VIP is not in the penthouse. Only his personal belongings are inside but they are just clothes. I believe he’s a single man.” Joey knew exactly what answer would satisfy her boss, so she bribed the waiter who had delivered the room service earlier to get the information. Since she had no intention of leaking it to anyone other than her boss, the hotel staff would remain unaffected. “I see. Find out about his schedule. If there’s a chance, we’ll use it and orchestrate an encounter.” Katie refused to let this opportunity slip, especially after
“You might be able to fool others, but not me. When I arrived earlier today, I saw you bring a girl into the room,” Kody said. Since he already knew what Katie was planning, he was displeased by how he was treated. His family was indeed after Katie’s influence in the Viper’s Den but her actions were simply a disrespect toward the Leed family. Kody traveled all the way to Butterworth just to meet Leah, yet Katie sent her assistant to patronize him. On top of that, how could Katie simply send her assistant to handle the guests? It was inconsiderate and arrogant of her. “Mr. Leed, you might have been mistaken. Leah never came to the hotel today; she has been resting at home all day.” Joey believed as long as she denied it, Kody and the others could not do anything to her. “Stop fooling around and tell us what you want. We intended to proceed with the marriage but your attitude is simply disrespectful.” “Yeah. It’s too much.” The others echoed in agreement. However, som
“We sent everyone an invitation and hoped that you could attend Leah’s upcoming birthday banquet. If you intend to approach her with your proposal, then it’s up to all of you to showcase your communication skills.” Joey gave a vague answer but everyone knew what it meant. If they wanted to marry Leah, then they would have to show more sincerity. “Everyone, I still have matters to attend to. You guys enjoy the food and the drinks, or maybe go have some fun at the basement bar. Madam Loren and I will take care of the bill for tonight.” Joey then stood up, drained the wine to the last drop, and put the empty glass down. Her actions felt like an apology, as well as a form of closure. Kody might not be happy about it but he knew there were lines that he could not cross. If Joey informed Katie about his behavior, then all of them might not have been invited to the birthday banquet at all. He was merely resentful because Katie had acted arrogantly and sent her assistant to dea
“Don’t be stupid. There are things that you shouldn’t talk about.” “I don’t want to talk about it either, but I just want to find out more. Who is the guest? A man or a woman?” The group of hotel staff got closer and started to whisper about the mysterious guest. Joey bumped into them discussing the matter. She originally intended to find out more about the guest and luck was on her side. “We don’t know if that’s a man or woman, but when I cleaned the penthouse, I saw the food barely touched. Only a little wine was consumed.” “Really? The guest is really picky. Not even the food cooked by a five-star hotel chef fits the appetite?” “I guess so. I just know that person is quite tall. I caught a glimpse of the back and I believe it’s a man.” “What? You saw? When?” Rogue asked excitedly. “Dinnertime. When I was taking the elevator to the basement, I saw someone come down from the penthouse using the stairs. Since it was only for the guest’s use, I saw the person walking dow
“Fine. You will get a double bonus this month.” Joey then waved her hand and dismissed the hotel staff. All the hotel staff left except for Rogue. “You saw that, Ms. Hamilton. It’s not that we don’t want to talk, it's that we don't really know who that person is. If the guest is staying for a while, we will get a chance to see him in person eventually,” she said. She wore a flattering smile and poured a glass of honey water for Joey. She might be from the housekeeping department but she had ears in the kitchen department as well. Joey had a little too much alcohol for the day and her face remained red even after vomiting. Rogue knew she was feeling ill. “The boss is urging me and I cannot just do nothing. Leah’s happiness is at stake here.” Joey frequently collaborated with Rogue and she knew the woman was trustworthy based on her personality. “There’s no rush in that. It’s not easy. You guys shouldn’t jump to conclusions either. We don’t know what that man is think
Passersby would spare an extra glance at the expensive car but dared not pause to inspect further. The woman in the car looked anxious as she relentlessly tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. Katie was still waiting, hoping to find out who Master Fuller’s guests were. Her patience was thinning by the second. Since she picked up her daughter, everything had gradually slipped out of her control, and she hated the feeling. Back at the restaurant, Master Fuller and his guests were still chatting over delicious dessert. Kaze had a bite and was amazed by the taste. As expected of a national-level chef, his culinary skills could turn the simplest ingredients into the most amazing delicacy. “I thought this was just a normal sweet potato but there’s something else added inside.” After an enjoyable dinner, Leah finally had the chance to taste the final dish—the dessert, which appeared to be an ordinary sweet potato. When she peeled the skin and took a bite, she realized
Katie proudly made the statement, convinced that she had done a lot for her daughter. It was only right for Leah to be grateful and understand her sacrifice. To Katie’s surprise, Leah chuckled. “What else have you done for me? You never showed me any attention. You don’t know what I like. You have no idea what I want.” Leah finally saw her mother as the person she was. This side of Katie was terrifying. “What more do you want? Am I not supposed to work? Should I be spending every waking minute of the day with you?” Katie understood Leah’s needs. However, there was no way she could make it happen. It was not easy for a woman to take hold in the Northborn Group, much less secure a high position there. Katie went through great pains to get where she was today. Alas, Leah could not understand where she was coming from. “I’m not asking you to be with me every day. I’ve tried my best to do everything you asked of me, but you can’t even be there for me during my birthdays.
“Everything I do, I do for you. Get this straight. The guy approached you because of what I could bring to the table.” Katie was pissed by her daughter’s defiance which was becoming worse with age. “I know the kind of person he is. Without Kaze’s help, I wouldn’t have escaped. Where were you then? You’re in no position to say that. “Even if there’s something he’s after, what would he want from me? I have nothing to offer.” Leah did not believe a word Katie said. Clearly, Katie was out to get Kaze. “He’s nothing but a poor kid. Why are you blowing this out of proportion? I’ve clearly stated what needed to be done. Why are you still being stubborn?”Katie believed she had not raised her daughter right. Leah turned out pretty naïve. “I told you. He has no ulterior motive. He doesn’t know who I am. He doesn’t have any other intentions. I approached him, not the other way around.” Leah kicked herself for pulling a reckless stunt. All she did was give Kaze more problems. Kat
Leah hated her mother being unreasonable. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I fed you, I gave you clothes, I put a roof over your head, I gave you life! The least you could do is to listen to me!” Katie did not expect her daughter to go so far as to defy her. Kaze remained silent, knowing that no matter what he said, it would be meaningless to someone unwilling to listen. “Kaze, I’m sorry. It was my fault that you are in this mess. I’m a jinx…” Leah blamed herself for getting Kaze in trouble with her mother. If not because of her, he would never encounter her mother. “Shut it! Why are you apologizing!? He approached you with purpose and you can’t even see that? He’s not worthy of your time!” Katie was livid. She felt her daughter was blinded by emotions, incapable of making the right decision. And to make matters worse, the girl even apologized to Kaze—what nonsense! A poor man without any background was no match for her daughter and her status. He approached the girl becaus
Katie suddenly chuckled. “What’s the matter? You are after my daughter and you tried to give me advice? What are you trying to do?” She looked down on a man with no future. She stubbornly believed he approached her daughter because of her. If he said as such, he must have known something else. It was no secret that Katie was preparing the birthday banquet for Leah and one could easily find out about it with a little research. Katie took his words not as a suggestion but as a challenge to her power. “Whatever. You stubbornly believe that anyone who approaches you or your daughter is after your power, does that mean there’s no emotions or love throughout your life?” Kaze suddenly looked at Katie with a pitiful gaze. She had been consumed by the thirst for power and it wiped her humanity. Katie would eventually be a sacrifice of someone else before she knew it. “Don’t look at me with those eyes. Who do you think you are? I see through you right away! I’ve seen a lot of
Frustrated, Leah tried to shake her mother’s hand off, but Katie tightened the grip and did not let it happen. The more the girl resisted, the more Katie felt challenged. She felt that her authority was being shaken by her daughter’s defiance. “Stop it! I told you before that if you don’t listen to me, I will make you regret it! And, don’t let me catch you with this bastard anymore, or he won’t have a future here in Butterworth!” Katie shouted at the girl to silence her. Leah could resist her mother and defy her, but not at the expense of her friend’s well-being. She knew her mother always meant what she said, and once those words were spoken, she would certainly take action against Kaze. Therefore, she quickly fell silent and let her mother take control of the situation. Katie glared at Kaze resentfully. “Stay away from my daughter or I will make you pay!” she bellowed. She then dragged Leah to her car and told the girl to get in. Right after she closed the door, s
Without further ado, Katie stormed out of the car and dashed over to them. “Leah!” she shouted, startling her daughter. When Leah saw her mother, she knew doomsday was upon her. She was frightened and stunned on the spot. Kaze was surprised by the coincidence as well. He was not afraid of the woman but she was charging at them like a ferocious monster. “I told you not to be with this guy! Why didn’t you listen to me?!” Katie could not tolerate her daughter’s defiance. She saw it as a direct challenge to her authority and bottom line. She stepped up and dragged her daughter away. “I told you not to see this poor bastard. Why didn’t you listen to me?” She was consumed by rage and paid no attention to her choice of words. All she cared about was the fear that her daughter had nearly fallen into a stranger’s hands. Leah disliked her mother being unreasonable. She had no idea what changed her mother into an unreasonable wretched hag. “Mom, what are you talking about?” “W
“Katie’s daughter dined at my restaurant and she met the man Katie intended to match her with, yet Katie knew nothing and even threw a tantrum at the door. Why do you think that happened?” Master Fuller shook his head helplessly and poured himself a glass of beer. The last guest of the day had left and he could enjoy his rest peacefully. However, the last guest of the day was a rather interesting pair. “Isn’t it a little contradicting? She’s trying to get Mr. Lee to marry her daughter but she’s asking for trouble at the same time.” The woman was surprised but also found it interesting. “Do I have to deliver the meals to Mr. Lee?” “Let my disciple do it. Don’t you get involved in this, it’s better to stay away from trouble.” Master Fuller wanted to get back at Katie, yet he did not need to do anything because the woman was actively bringing trouble upon herself. The woman did not say anything and simply gazed into the distance. The wooden door at the entrance was ope
“It’s getting late. Let’s get you back.” Kaze knew that Leah had snuck out of the hotel, so it would not be good to let her stay out too late. Katie was a tough mother to deal with. If she found out her daughter snuck out without her permission and spent dinner with him, she would lose her mind. Kaze was not afraid but Leah would have to suffer her mother’s wrath. “It’s getting late. We have to go back.” Leah liked the cozy atmosphere of the restaurant. She felt free of restraints while on the premises, but time flew by quickly, leaving her with little time to savor the experience. She wished she could enjoy more moments of peace and quiet while indulging in good food. “Do visit if you have time. We usually open at night only,” Master Fuller said when he noticed the heavy look on the girl’s face. “Great. I’m definitely coming again!” Leah then got up and headed out. Kaze then pulled his wallet out and wanted to pay for the meal. “Mr. Lee, what are you doing here?
Passersby would spare an extra glance at the expensive car but dared not pause to inspect further. The woman in the car looked anxious as she relentlessly tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. Katie was still waiting, hoping to find out who Master Fuller’s guests were. Her patience was thinning by the second. Since she picked up her daughter, everything had gradually slipped out of her control, and she hated the feeling. Back at the restaurant, Master Fuller and his guests were still chatting over delicious dessert. Kaze had a bite and was amazed by the taste. As expected of a national-level chef, his culinary skills could turn the simplest ingredients into the most amazing delicacy. “I thought this was just a normal sweet potato but there’s something else added inside.” After an enjoyable dinner, Leah finally had the chance to taste the final dish—the dessert, which appeared to be an ordinary sweet potato. When she peeled the skin and took a bite, she realized