Agnes tore into Kaze. Kaze listened quietly without defending himself. “Miru even said that she’d assign a new deputy manager to Hudson Investment Firm. Kaze, you should work closely with this new deputy.”Agnes broke the news to Kaze before glaring at him. “You hear me, Kaze?” “Yes.” Kaze nodded, unconcerned about the new deputy manager. He would not mind so long as the new deputy manager was capable, unlike Jem who kept harassing him. Once Agnes was gone, Darcy drew close and urged Kaze earnestly. “Cherish the opportunity, Kaze. Do your best, okay? “My mom will stop giving you an attitude when you show her results.” “Your word is my command, babe.” Kaze hugged her with a smile, giving her a little squeeze on her hips. “I’m taking a shower.” Darcy rolled her eyes and went upstairs. Kaze was about to hit the showers when he received a call from Johnson. “What is it, Johnson?” Kaze took the call and asked. Johnson replied, “Mr. Lee, Cosmo has been transport
Following the fall of the top three families, Lilyrose became a free-for-all. Various powerhouses wanted a piece of the pie. Johnson was a capable man, but he was at his wit’s end dealing with all the problems. The Lees even openly demanded Cosmo’s release. The arrogance of the rich and powerful knew no boundary. With Kaze holding the fort, Johnson could relax. Anybody would have to leave their cockiness out the door the moment they entered Lilyrose. “But, Johnson, I prefer a hands-off approach. Don’t bother with the daily duties of the mayor. I’ll intervene only when necessary.” Kaze made another request. He did not want to stick around the mayor’s office all day, toiling away at paperwork. “Don’t worry, Mr. Lee. I will tell my people not to disturb you on trivial matters.” Johnson patted his chest and promised. Soon, Lilyrose local council announced Johnson’s participation in an exclusive training course, and a Mr. Lee would be standing in his position for the
“Alright. We’ll leave it to Samson.” Gregory nodded menacingly. “Kaze broke the legs of his son too. I bet he’s more eager to kill that bastard.” … Kaze had no idea that his brief stint as acting mayor would brand him a loyal supporter of Loid.The Lees ceased fire for that reason, directly at least. The next day, Kaze’s presence was requested at the meeting room when he arrived at his office at Hudson Investment Firm. “Why are we having a meeting?” Kaze asked Sophie after stepping into the meeting room. Sophie whispered, “Miru was here after you were gone yesterday, Mr. Chairman. She criticized your lack of accountability and informed us that her assistant would act as the deputy manager here. “The new deputy is here, and she called for this meeting.” While talking, a beautiful and commanding woman in a power suit walked through the door. She glanced at everybody condescendingly and went on. “I should introduce myself. I am Jennifer Barwise. I am filling the role of
Jennifer was surprised by Kaze’s compliance. The disdain she had for him ran deeper. “Alright, that’s it for today’s meeting. Meeting adjourned.” Jennifer clapped her hands, announcing the end of the meeting. She did not care whether Kaze had anything to say. She saw herself as the highest-ranked superior at Hudson Investment Firm. Once Jennifer was gone, the senior executives gathered around Kaze. “You’re the only leader for me, Mr. Lee. I’ll follow you wherever you go.” “That’s right, Mr. Lee. We will only take your orders. Ms. Barwise doesn’t even respect you. Why should we listen to her?” The group was eager to prove their allegiance to Kaze. Yesterday’s incident left a dent in them. These people would not take Jennifer’s side right away because Kaze backed off. “Enough!” Kaze yelled, interrupting the group’s chatter. The senior executives exchanged glances. They were only trying to show their loyalty to Kaze. Kaze should be happy. Yet, he looked pissed. “
“I’m at the hotel next to the mayor’s office. Come over,” Kaze said. Soon, a young woman dressed in work attire drove over. Kaze parted ways with Caleb, Don, and the others. He asked Jennifer’s assistant, “What’s your name? Why haven’t I met you at the office?” “I’m Lilith Fair. Ms. Barwise asked me to join her from Lefteria Group,” the woman said proudly. She put herself above others because of her connection to Lefteria Group. Lilith pursed her lips at the smell of alcohol on Kaze. Sure enough, Kaze pulled strings to get where he was. He must be befriending the superiors at the mayor’s office by drinking with them in the afternoon. Lilith recognized these high-profile figures when Kaze parted ways with them. Nevertheless, Kaze was the CEO of Hudson Investment Firm by name, so Lilith was not surprised he could engage with these leaders. The way Lilith saw it, Kaze must be using his high-ranking position to establish connections with others. She had seen too many of K
The crew gave Kaze a strange look. They thought the interviewee was a VIP. Instead, Kaze was a moocher bankrolled by his wife. The crew held Kaze in disdain. “Sherry, you’re the anchor of our network. Yet, Hudson Investment Firm sent a moocher in for the interview. Isn’t that disrespectful toward you?” “That’s right. I’d suggest getting someone else. A regular employee is better than a moocher who got the manager position by pulling strings,” the crew said. Knowing Sherry was not pleased with Kaze, they stood up for her. Lilith glanced at Kaze, assuming Sherry held a personal grudge against Kaze. Otherwise, Sherry would not be so quick to call Kaze out. However, Sherry’s attitude did not bother her. Lilith said, “Even so, Mr. Lee is the CEO of Hudson Investment Firm, Sherry.“Ms. Barwise said he will be making public appearances and helping with the company’s publicity.” Sherry understood Lilith was Jennifer’s assistant. She could tell from Lilith’s indifference toward
“Are you ready, Mr. Lee? We should begin.” Sherry was professional, diving straight into work mode the moment the producer kept the cameras rolling. She said with a smile, “Today, we have invited the CEO of Hudson Investment Firm, Mr. Kaze Lee. Please say hello to the cameras, Mr. Lee.” “Hello, everybody. I am Kaze Lee.” Kaze waved at the cameras. Sherry said, “As everybody knows, the role of a CEO is very demanding. Experience is one of the essential requirements major corporations look at before hiring a CEO. “But after reviewing your resume, we discovered something rather strange. “Mr. Lee, you had no experience in investment before you took up the position as Hudson Investment Firm’s CEO. “To our knowledge, you have been living off your wife’s family. Is that true?” Sherry looked at Kaze and asked with a smile, “I am curious. How did you go from an unemployed house-husband to the CEO of a well-established investment firm?” “The questions seem a little too person
The interview ended in half an hour. Sherry stood up and stretched happily, having acquired all the information she needed. The nearby male crew members ogled at her bare midriff. Sherry’s eyes flickered with delight, and she soon turned to Kaze sarcastically. “You are such a loser, Kaze. You don’t even have the guts to refute my questions.“Don’t you know how absurd you look? Should I get the cameraman to show you the footage? “You are going to be famous at the broadcast of the interview. You should thank me for the appearance. “Sure, you’re getting publicity for the wrong thing, but that’s one way for the public to remember you. “Your life is in my hands, Kaze.“If you kneel and lick the sole of my heels, I might consider editing the parts that make you look bad.” Sherry took jabs at Kaze, assuming she had him by the balls. Unfazed, Kaze said indifferently, “You’re nothing more than a gold digger, getting ahead in life with your personal assets. “You’re a little
“Kaze can pull the punches for sure. I mean, he has the Butterworth branch chief’s trust for a reason. “There has to be something for him to win the branch chief’s approval.” Edmund doubted there was depth to Kaze. After all, Edmund decided whether to take on a person based on their abilities. It made no sense to pay attention to losers, as he would hold them in contempt. Edmund had been impressed with Herman, who excelled in strategies and management. That was why Edmund bumped Herman up and made sure he stayed on top. “Got it.” Herman nodded and had one foot out the door. “Don’t be in a hurry to leave. There’s one more thing.” Edmund pointed at the table. Herman approached and stood on bent knees. Pleased with Herman’s submission, Edmund passed him a wine glass. Herman took the drink humbly before looking carefully at Edmund, awaiting his orders. “The wine was just airlifted from abroad. I can vouch for the taste. If you’re looking to sip on the finest, yo
Time went by, and a towering man in a suit showed up outside the door. Picking up on the noise inside the room, he knocked on the door. It was hard to tell whether the person inside could hear the knocking, so the man waited outside. The door was opened, and a woman, her face flawless with makeup, popped her head out and saw him. She cocked her head back at Edmund. “You have a guest, Mr. Witterson.” “Let him in,” Edmund instructed. He then leaned in to take the drink from the girl next to him with his mouth. The other girls cheered him on. The group was lost in their fun. The man, who entered the room, stood by the sofa respectfully. He kept his head down, his gaze staying low at the bottles of alcohol spread across the table. It was a bit of a wait before the man approached at Edmund’s order. “Tell me about Dwight.”While listening to the girls’ singing, Edmund turned to Herman. Herman rushed over as soon as Edmund called. He won a lot of money at poker toda
In this particular circumstance, Morris had to play it safe so that things would not get out of hand. The last thing he wanted was to be dragged into the mess. At least, he finally saw the Wittersons’ true colors. Morris’ friendly advice was met with disrespect and insult. However, the Wittersons were a force of nature, and Morris was not about to take them head-on. Despite his frustration, Morris had to walk away. Well, Edmund would soon face his downfall at the height of his power, and Morris would be there to enjoy the ride. Still, it did not sit well with Morris to have a young fella walk all over him. It had crossed his mind to keep the Wittersons in check, but there was only so much he could do. Morris had to be the one to back away as the Wittersons grew haughty. Morris believed there was more to Kaze’s visit to Westeros. Nothing major happened in Westeros recently. At least, there was nothing worth the other branch’s attention. However, a representative of the
Morris suggested entertaining Kaze well. Things would not be good for the branch if Kaze got dirt on them. That was where Edmund disagreed with Morris. His idea was to send someone to sound Kaze out. Edmund was smug because Morris’ decision was wrong. “You shouldn’t do that. Kaze is here on behalf of the Butterworth branch. You don’t want tension between both branches.” Morris looked at things from a wider perspective. Edmund believed Kaze was just a doormat of little importance. “You just overthink things, and it’s not good for your age. You’re getting senile.” Edmund did not take Morris’ advice seriously. He believed he was right. “You’re not getting it. Kaze is from Butterworth. Even if he doesn’t hold a high position there, we were in the wrong. We did not keep our tracks clean either. “Now that he’s back, I’m worried that he’ll cause us harm.” Morris was only giving a heads-up because the whole branch was at stake. Edmund was young. Due to his lack of judgmen
“We should be generous to our guest from Butterworth. You can arrange as you see fit. Please don’t house him in a messy home. Hire cleaners to tidy up the place. “You can report back to me if you need more money, but it’s not a reason for you to misuse the funds.” Herman wanted to hang up. The money was now in Dwight’s bank account, so he was washing his hands off the matter. The plan was to keep Kaze happy. He was just an insignificant member of the Butterworth branch anyway. The whole thing would blow over soon enough, so long as Kaze kept to himself without taking things too far. Herman would figure out a way to get him out quickly anyway. Maybe Herman and his friends did not have to do anything to get rid of Kaze. “Got it. I’ll be a good host, Herman. I won’t let you down. I’ll keep you in the loop.” Dwight was over the moon to get the notification about the money transfer. “Just play by ear and arrange what you see best.” Herman hung up and continued playing pok
“It’s becoming a hassle now. Are you going to inform the Viper’s Den about the change of accommodation?” After much hesitation, Kaze nodded to take up the offer. Dwight was thrilled. It only hit Dwight that he had to communicate with the Viper’s Den. Kaze was booked for a hotel stay, and Dwight’s job was to take him to the destination. Yet now, Dwight took him to his home. “I’ll tell my superior and see what he has to say.” Dwight was not sure whether the change was appropriate. Nevertheless, he did not want to pass up on a great opportunity. He simply grabbed the bull by the horn. If Kaze stayed at his place, the Viper’s Den members had to respect Kaze’s request even if they had a problem with it. “But when they ask, you can say that you’re getting along well with me. Living together just makes work more convenient.” Feeling unsettled, Dwight tried to get their stories straight with Kaze. Hopefully, the Viper’s Den would not come after them. “Aren’t we friends? I k
Dwight gave some suggestions. “But I’m worried about being a nuisance to your family.” Kaze remained hesitant, torn between decisions. “No, you won’t. I usually live alone. They stay somewhere else. They barely visit. I’ll just let them know not to visit for now,” Dwight replied. Dwight figured out what was in it for him. He could not let Kaze leave. “I don’t want to put your family in an awkward position.”Kaze was still considering the matter. “Relax. They don’t live with me anyway. The room I have for you is tidy. No one has stayed there before.“I’ll hire some help to freshen up the place. I can guarantee you an experience no less than at the hotel.” Dwight spoke with great confidence. “We should finish our food and doggie-bag the rest. I’ll take you to my place.” Dwight was ready to get things going. Kaze took the offer and nodded. “I’ll be in your care then.” Kaze was glad that his plan went through. Dwight had no idea that he got played. Nevertheless,
“I’m new to the place, so I don’t know much. Can you show me around when you’re available?” “No problem, but I usually have some stuff to take care of. I can’t be there 24/7. “Why don’t you propose to the branch that you want me to be your guide and attendant?” Dwight suggested. There was no telling whether Kaze would accept his proposal, but it was an opportunity to prove himself. He was never involved in the core operation. Often enough, he was the branch members’ punching bag. Though Dwight was aware that he was not good enough for the big stuff, he still wanted to succeed. Kaze was the trusted aide of the Butterworth Branch chief. He was in Westeros for a reason. By joining Kaze, Dwight would come across the major players. Kaze saw through Dwight’s plans. “Sure. I’ll do that.” Kaze did not mind the request. “Great. I’ll let them know on your behalf. I’ll be responsible for your needs while in the city.” Dwight was overjoyed at the opportunity. “So you live
“You must be rich. I often see rich people picking tabs for everybody. Talk about extravagance.” The tension in the air was lifted when Kaze offered to pay for everything. “I’m not. Consider it an apology,” Kaze explained, not wanting to cause unnecessary misunderstandings. He did not see the point of continuing the conversation. Dwight’s angry screams came from outside. “What the hell is this? I only ordered a bunch of stuff. Why am I being charged an exorbitant amount?“What do you mean my friend is paying for everybody? That’s throwing money away,” Dwight said while storming his way over. “I know you have money, but you shouldn’t do this, Mr. Lee.” Dwight did not approve of this type of generosity. “You rubbed them the wrong way. It was only right to apologize. Besides, it’s not a lot of money.” Kaze looked at the bill and handed a bank card to Dwight. “It’s my treat.” The consumption was barely a dent in Kaze’s savings. The meal did not cost more than his us