Chapter 4

Early the next morning, I was jolted awake by the persistent ringing of my phone.

I glanced at the screen to see an unfamiliar number. After a brief pause, I answered. "Hello, who's this?"

"Hayden, you bastard! What the hell did you do?"

It was Jenny.

I pulled the phone away from my ear and rubbed my temples. "Jenny? We're broken up. Is there something you need?"

"Broken up? Stop playing dumb!" Jenny roared through the receiver. "Did you have something to do with this? Why did our supplier suddenly refuse to deliver beef to us this morning?"

So that was what this was about. My team certainly moved fast.

I sat up slowly from the bed and lit a cigarette. "Ah, that. What's the matter? I thought your grand steakhouse was far too high-class to ever run out of steak."

"Hayden! Don't you take that sarcastic tone with me!" Jenny snapped.

"I know you raise cattle out in the countryside and know a few local suppliers. Did you get them to hold back our shipments on purpose? I'm warning you! Get them to resume deliveries right now, or I'll make you regret it!"

Hearing her pathetic threats almost made me burst out laughing.

Even now, she still believed I was just some low-tier nobody who happened to know a couple of farmers.

"Jenny, who was it last night that swore she'd rather starve to death than beg me for anything?" I blew out a slow puff of smoke.

"Since you're so principled, why don't you figure it out yourself? Why reach out to a cattle farmer like me? Aren't you afraid of smelling like cow dung?"

"You…" Jenny choked on her words, completely speechless.

I couldn't be bothered to argue with her, so I hung up.

That afternoon, as I arrived at my corporate headquarters, I spotted a flashy red Porsche parked near the entrance.

Jenny and Brett were standing under the blistering sun, unable to get past the security barrier.

Sweat trickled down their faces, a stark contrast to their smug, arrogant demeanor at the luxury hotel the night before.

"I'm a VIP client here! If you ruin a multi-million-dollar deal, can a watchdog like you even afford to pay for it?" Jenny shrieked, pointing aggressively at the guard.

Brett stood beside her, dabbing the sweat off his forehead while putting on a grand show over the phone. "Hello? Mr. Salazar? Yes, I'm downstairs at Poole Corp. Mr. Poole is certainly putting on airs…

"Oh, please, I have connections back in Auristelle. Why should I be afraid of him?"

I instructed Adam to park the Rolls-Royce by the curb and made no move to get out.

Jenny's sharp eyes instantly caught sight of the vehicle.

But thanks to the heavy window tint, she had no idea I was sitting inside.

"Brett, look at that car! Isn't that a Rolls-Royce Phantom?" Jenny's eyes sparkled with greed.

"Look at that license plate! Four eights! That must be the mysterious boss of Poole Corp!"

Brett's eyes lit up as well.

He adjusted his messy tie and straightened his posture. "It has to be. A figure of that stature is the only one worthy of a ride like that.

"Jenny, touch up your makeup! If we can win him over, getting our beef supply restored will be a walk in the park!"

The two frantically touched up their appearance and trotted over to my car with obsequious grins on their faces.

Bending at the waist, Brett tapped gently on the car window. His tone dripped with humility as he said, "Hello, Mr. Poole. I'm Brett Walker. I recently returned from Auristelle and joined Morse Steakhouse as a consultant. I've heard a great deal about your reputation, and I was hoping to—"

The tinted window rolled down slowly.

Brett's brown-nosing smile froze the instant he caught a clear view of my face. "H-Hayden? It's you?"