“That’s right. She was only running a small business a month ago, and now she’s the chairwoman of both Quartet Group and Sky Ocean Corporation. That’s a lot of wealth in a short amount of time, don’t you think?” “I read online that her husband is the biggest mob boss in the city. Mr. Vikram, Mr. Logman, Mr. Joestar, is that why you’re afraid of him?” “Maybe the Vikrams, Logmans, and Joestars are in on it with Darcy. I bet they are aiming to be the next top three families. Even the former top three families weren’t as bad as you people.” “A-Are you trying to rebel?” Bernard and his friends shook with rage. They rushed to put out the fire, but they got burnt instead. In fact, the fallen top three families were deemed better than them. “Lilyrose Commerce Guild is for everybody. You don’t decide everything for us. What do you mean by rebelling?” “That’s right. We demand an answer.” Strength in numbers, the members gathered around Darcy demanding that she did right by the
“Hold up!” Greg cut Darcy off from speaking. “Why are you making such a big deal out of things, Ms. Quint? “I’ll tell you what. I’ll talk to the staff member about the tiny mistake.“This is to show that I’m taking the matter seriously,” Greg said with a chuckle, his tone unhurried. Enraged, Darcy blurted, “Are you still asleep, Mr. Nanas? The online community is attacking Lilyrose Commerce Guild over this. “Over a hundred of our members’ businesses are currently facing boycotts, and distributors are returning their stock.“If we don’t address the issue promptly, things will only get worse. The trade industry in Lilyrose will falter. “Businesses will close down, people will lose jobs, they won’t be able to afford their mortgages, and we can see an increase in social unrest. “Are you going to be responsible for the chain reaction?” The members clenched their fists in rage. Darcy was not practicing scaremongering. The incident could very well happen. The consequenc
Kaze spoke callously. Greg had pissed him off for the last time. “Haha. Are you talking to me, Kaze? “It has only been a night. Did you forget that your wife pleaded for your release when I tried to straighten you out?“Fine. Come and find me. “I read online that you’re the biggest mob boss in Lilyrose. Come here, and I’ll validate that you’re no more than a criminal to the public. “I’ll make sure you and your wife will never live in this town again.” Greg hung up. He did not take Kaze seriously. The Red Foundation dominated the narrative in public opinion. They ran the show. The disconnected tone ensued. Kaze put down the phone emotionlessly. The sparkle in Darcy’s eyes dimmed. Greg was hell-bent on destroying them. “Tsk, tsk. Lilyrose Commerce Guild has lost its reputation, but you still find time to get together.” A group swaggered into the place. The three individuals acted haughty. The leader, a bespectacled woman, was proud. Disregarding the bu
“I heard that you are trying to get new investors for Rove, Kaze.“Let me put this out there. It’s pointless. “Lil Dee’s fans will attack Rove’s live stream by flooding and crashing it on command. It’s just a few thousand views anyway.” Kaze remained unfazed in the face of Emma’s threats. Standing in the crowd, Hart, who arrived not too long ago with another group of members, became upset. He had checked Desmond’s live stream out before. Fans swarmed into the live stream the moment it started. It was a struggle to keep up with the flooding comments, and soon, the live stream crashed. The engineers had to work around the clock to fix the bug. The major corporations, including Hart, were jealous of Desmond’s huge following. Rove did not have many followers to sell products to. If Desmond’s fans were to crash Rove’s live stream, the business could really go down. Kaze smiled faintly. “Sure. Desmond can tell his fans to do that. “I was thinking how to get the tractio
Greg, Faye, and Lilian only fell asleep late into the night. In between, they talked about ways to ruin Kaze and Darcy. Concerned about the donors’ list, Faye arrived early at the office and instructed the staff to remove Lilyrose Commerce Guild from the list. Greg and Lilian were still in bed at that point. “Save me the small talk. Change into your uniform and form a line. “I received notice from the mayor’s office that the mayor will be coming for an inspection.” Greg pulled Faye away and waved his arm. Although they were intimate the night before, Faye did not mean anything to him. His career took precedence over any woman. Faye pouted. She knew Greg too well to express any displeasure. “Don’t just stand there. Didn’t you hear Mr. Nanas? Get out there and line up for the VIP.” Faye turned around and yelled at the other staff. Minutes later, dozens of people formed a line outside the building. Greg stood in the middle while Faye stayed by his side. They were
Last night, Lilian and Faye gave Greg a night to remember. Although they were not as pretty as Darcy, they were unrestrained in bed. They knew how to please a man for sure. Greg told Faye to powder her nose, wanting her to try and hit on the mayor. He could gain the mayor’s favor if the latter was pleased with Faye’s service. Besides, Greg could earn the right to brag about sleeping with the same woman as the privileged-born mayor. “Really, Greg? You don’t mind?” Faye got the hint, and her eyes sparkled. She could secure a pampered life by becoming the mayor’s woman. Greg said with a smile, “I only want what’s best for you. It’ll help me if you get together with the mayor too.” Though many things were left unsaid, the message was clear. Greg was honest about his plan to Faye. Faye nodded. “Of course. Please put in a good word for me too.” She might work for the Red Foundation in Lilyrose, but she did not hold any important roles. Greg would have to put her o
Greg was furious. Somehow or rather, he bowed to Kaze. More infuriatingly, the loser accepted the grand gesture instead of moving away. Kaze was blind to his actions. He did not deserve a bow from them. Faye was ballistic. Stomping her heels, she clomped her way to Kaze. “Don’t you know where this is, Kaze? “This is the office of the Red Foundation. The residents around here are rich and powerful.“What’s a moocher like you doing here?” Faye pointed at Kaze with a look of disdain. Greg pulled himself together and said sternly, “I don’t care what you are here for, nor do I want to know, Kaze. I don’t have time for you. “Now get lost! “I’m warning you. Don’t make me mad, or I’ll make you pay!” The mayor was arriving any minute, so Greg did not waste his time with Kaze. Faced with the pair’s tirade of abuse, Kaze remained unfazed. He shook his head amusedly. “I knew something was up. I thought pigs were flying since you welcomed me with open arms. “Sure enou
“Go on. I dare you to keep up with your act, Kaze. “If I hadn’t made that life-saving call to settle the Queens down last night, Conan would’ve killed you by now. “You never learn. You’re digging your own grave by disrespecting the mayor.” Greg stared at Kaze with a smirk. “We all heard you. I’ll tell the mayor when he arrives. “Wait till he gets you arrested and thrown in jail.” Greg looked at Kaze like he was a dead man. “You seem to have the wrong idea about the mayor, Greg.” Kaze said indifferently, “I need to clear the air for him. He isn’t like your kind. He won’t ruin others because he isn’t seen as a VIP.” The trust was that Kaze was not that petty. “Tsk. Who are you putting on a show for? Clear the air? Do you think you’re a spokesperson for the mayor’s office?” Faye clicked her tongue and said menacingly, “You’re not the mayor. How would you know what he is like?“Besides, even if he feels it’s beneath him to deal with you, you and I have unfinished busin
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
Kaze observed as the jeep took off further off course, past the towering buildings to a run-down neighborhood. “This is where I usually reside. My home is not too far away, but I think you might have trouble adapting to this place.” Dwight did not forget to book Kaze a hotel. Kaze could not possibly stay with him. The hotel was around the area anyway. “Didn’t you say that you haven’t tried the local cuisine? I’ll take you out for a bite. “The barbecue ribs here are to die for. We’ve got the dry-rubbed and saucy kind.” Dwight parked the car and hopped out right away. Opposite the parking lot was not the cleanest food joint. Looking in from the outside, Kaze realized that the place was packed. Kaze understood that the restaurant must be known for some kind of dish. The customers were from all walks of life, so the food must be great. “There’s not much to see here, but the food is tasty. If you don’t mind, we can order something inside.” Kaze was not particularly con
Dwight was surprised and curious as to who Kaze really was. From what he gathered, Kaze was a confidante of the Butterworth Branch chief. The purpose of Kaze’s visit was to learn and share. Dwight worked on the fringes, so his access to information was limited. Nevertheless, he got the feeling that Kaze was just an ordinary guy just like him. The only difference was that Kaze was lucky to rub shoulders with important people. Dwight did not get chances like that. “Who are the most influential people in the Viper’s Den Westeros Branch?” Kaze asked in the car. Dwight was taken aback by the question. Still, he had an answer to that. “So you don’t know much about the situation?” Dwight suddenly felt important. “Well, I’m new to the city. I will be running into them soon, so I need to make sure I get my facts right,” Kaze said humbly. This was Dwight’s shot, and he needed to present his best. “Relax, Kaze. I’ll tell you everything I know.” Dwight would reveal some info
Kaze glanced at the flowers. There was a card for well-wishes too.Curious, Kaze reached out to read the card. It was written, “To my eternal lover and sweetheart.” Dwight grabbed Kaze’s bag. Since the sign in his hand was getting in the way, Dwight tossed the placard in the trash can. As Dwight turned his head back, he saw Kaze reading the card that came with the flowers. He tried to stop Kaze, but it was too late. Dwight had not attended to a guest of high importance before. The task was assigned to him at the last minute. In the past, Dwight was usually on the sidelines, never getting close to major matters. He would always get the small, insignificant jobs. Dwight often bought drinks for his superiors to build connections. However, he had always been kept out of the loop. Now that an opportunity had fallen onto his lap, Dwight was not about to let it slip. He wanted to show what he could do. When Dwight arrived at the airport for the pick-up, most people car
The incident did not sit well with Kaze, so he left them out to dry. After much searching, Kaze came across a café. Kaze bought a cup of coffee. Cupping the drink between his hands, Kaze sipped slowly. Many passengers swarmed the arrival hall in the airport, dragging along their luggage or pulling out their phones to get a pick-up. They all had a destination, a place they had to be in a rush. Intrigued, Kaze followed the crowd out. Kaze turned on his phone, and a text message from his airport pick-up came in. He glanced at the message, curious about who the person was. Nevertheless, Kaze trusted that the Westeros Branch members would not set him up out in the open. At most, they would pull little stunts to mess with him. Kaze was not the type to sweat the small stuff. However, he would not tolerate any extreme behavior. He had been keeping a low profile back in Butterworth, keeping the limelight off him. The purpose was to handle Jet without unnecessary complicati
“Alright. I will work hard to be the manager of the Northborn Group. You need to show me the ropes and teach me about management.” Leah looked at Katie with a smile. She believed Katie had not lost her mind. Katie simply had her memory mixed up. “You need to keep your people in line and reward those who deserve it. It all boils down to profits. “You need to work toward managing your people and working with rivals. You’ve got to keep the balance, and nobody loses out. “You need to build your own system when it comes to working together. Don’t be led around by the nose.” Hearing that Leah would start work soon, Katie imparted her knowledge. “Don’t worry too much about things. Joey is nice. You can go to her for help,” Katie said earnestly. Katie seemed to be herself at the moment. Leah wondered if Katie faked her insanity to escape the punishment. “What have become of you? Did they do something to you? “Did you really betray Kaze?” Leah whispered while leaning close
Leah kept working on her knowledge until late into the night. Just as she was about to hit the sack, she got a message from Snow. Learning was a hard enough process. The text message came out of the blue. Leah did not expect Snow to contact her at night. The message was strange as well. Leah could not understand why Snow would give her the address of a nursing home. Leah was determined to turn things around. She strived to become stronger instead of being a burden. She was grateful for Kaze’s help. At least, she had a job now. However, her gratitude was not extended to Snow. She believed Snow had gone too far. Snow left her feeling powerless. Leah did not think much about the message. She assumed that the text was not meant for her. Since Leah did not respond to the text, Snow put the matter aside and went to bed. Leah called Snow the next day. “Why did you send me an address?” Leah went straight to the question. She had been equipping herself with knowledge before