Conan pulled out two tissues without being asked. Kaze took the tissues and wiped his mouth while saying aloofly, “Mr. Ettinger, right? “Here’s your last chance to leave Hannah and 10 million dollars here. “You can get down on your knees and apologize before leaving. “This is my promise to you, or you’re not walking out of here today.” Kaze stressed. “Here’s something to note. I expect an apology from you.” “Oh, my…” The group with Collier burst into laughter. They sneered at Kaze. If Collier was not there, they could understand Kaze’s bragging. The point was Collier was present. Yet, Kaze challenged Collier’s authority, demanding him to apologize. The group had seen plenty of people showing off before but none as desperate as Kaze. “Ha! I won’t be able to walk out of here?“That’s a big claim to make.” Amused, Collier drew close and smacked Conan in the head. “Get out of the way. I need a talk with your leader.” Conan glanced at Collier like he was an id
“I’m going to kill you,” the burly man shouted menacingly. Before he could pull the trigger, Conan rammed into his chest and threw the man to the ground. While the man shrieked in horror, Conan snatched the weapon out of his hands and gained possession. “Not bad. You have been training well.” Kaze sat there with a faint smile. Conan was nothing but a street punk before. He lacked formal fighting training and was physically frail. Given the nature of Kaze’s work, danger was a constant threat. Kaze did not expect him to be an Olympic fighter, but he should be able to keep himself safe. Hence, Conan had been training hard under a strict teacher. Today was the day Conan would see if his training paid off. “Do you think you’re all that for having a firearm?” Conan smashed the gun on the burly man’s chin. “Smack!” The burly man lost a few teeth and grunted before passing out. The crowd stared at Conan, their eyes wide. Conan was wimpy a minute ago. Out of the bl
“Argh!” Collier let out a harrowing cry. He shook his head violently and contorted at the excruciating pain. No one expected Kaze to assault Collier. He was brutal at it. The butter knife cut through Collier’s hand. The crowd empathized with Collier’s pain. “Why do this to yourself, Mr. Ettinger? “You could have agreed to my terms and walked out here without a hitch. Why must you make me hurt you? “You suffered for nothing,” Kaze said with a faint smile while slapping Collier’s face. “I-I…” Collier trembled and looked at Kaze in fear. His arrogance and insolence disappeared there and then. The fact that he was the young heir of the Ettingers and the deputy chief of the South River branch did not matter. He knew that his life was in Kaze’s hands. Besides, Kaze did not see him as a threat. Kaze’s brutality said enough. He was nonchalant throughout and attacked without warning. Kaze was vicious. “Let Mr. Ettinger go.” “Unhand boss!” Coming back to
Kaze whacked Collier multiple times on the face without holding back. Soon, Collier’s cheeks were bruised and battered. Collier was seeing stars at this point. The worst part was the unbearable humiliation. For the thirty years of his life, Collier had never been so insulted. “Have you considered the consequences for what you have done to me, bastard?” Collier shouted angrily, his eyes red-rimmed. “Ugh.” Kaze’s response was to stab Collier’s hand with another butter knife. The blood spilling from Collier’s palms stained the table. The surrounding tough-looking men gritted their teeth in a panic. However, Collier was at the mercy of Kaze. Conan stayed close with a stolen gun aimed at Collier. The burly men knew better than to open fire. Collier’s sidekicks, both men and women, were stunned. The women put their hands over their luscious lips, stopping themselves from shrieking. Losing their attitudes, they looked at Kaze in horror. Kaze was a mean killing mach
Without looking at Hux who was yelling his lungs out, Kaze said indifferently, “Don’t you people ever learn?” He plunged the butter knives into Collier’s hands once more. “Argh!” Collier lifted his head and screamed harrowingly. As his hands were pinned to the table, Collier could not break free. “What’s that again? If anything happens to Mr. Ettinger, what are you going to do to me?” Kaze dug his ear and asked. Collier struggled desperately while Kaze remained nonchalant. The stark contrast was striking. The anger on Hux and the others’ faces turned into fear. It dawned on them that Kaze, a harmless-looking guy from out of town, was ruthless. Collier’s life mattered more than anything else. Yet, Kaze did not care. If the group carried on clamoring, Kaze might just torture Collier to death. “Why did you stop shouting? Weren’t you making a fuss about doing stuff to me?” Kaze grinned and looked at Collier, wincing on the ground. He tapped Collier’s forehead with t
Kaze removed the four butter knives lodged in Collier’s hands and carried him out. “W-Where are you taking Mr. Ettinger?” Hux asked with a grimace. He kept his voice low, fearing Kaze might harm Collier further. Kaze replied indifferently, “Mr. Ettinger is taking us for a ride. I’ll drop him back two hours later. “All of you must wait here.“If any one of you sneak out, I will break one of Collier’s limbs. One limb for each person.” Kaze then carried Collier out of the restaurant as the crowd watched on. Collier knew he met his match when his eyes fell on the Rolls Royce. The Rolls Royce was nothing special to someone of his caliber. Heck, Collier’s family owned several Rolls Royces. However, the vehicle proved that Kaze was not the country bumpkin Collier thought he was. Without time to care what was on Collier’s mind, Kaze dumped him in the trunk. Conan kept the firearm and followed Kaze into the car. Soon, the Rolls Royce turned around and drove off. Hux and
“Did you take me here just to humiliate me, Kaze?” Hannah felt her hot cheek and said curtly, “You can kill me, but you can’t insult me.” Kaze? Playing dead on the ground, Collier found the name familiar. “Insult you? Do you think you’re worth my time?” Kaze sat down opposite Hannah and wiped his hand with a wet wipe. Hannah raised a brow and took a deep breath to fight back the rage. She quickly let out a wry smile. “That’s true. You defeated Magnus and crippled me with one hand after all. “I don’t qualify to fight you. Now that I am nothing, I don’t even deserve any humiliation from you. “You can kill me easily.” Hannah glanced at Collier before meeting Kaze’s gaze. “I heard that you killed Newell’s family. Is that true?” “What? Are you planning to avenge Newell’s family?” Kaze smiled amusedly, not denying that fact. He had no reason to hide anyway. “Uh…” Collier went through a range of emotions. Kaze!Collier’s memory was coming back now. Kaze was th
Kaze shook his head. Even now, Hannah was so full of herself. “Why don’t you tell me how you plan to repay me?” Kaze said amusedly. Hannah grimaced and said coldly, “Why must you insult me, Kaze? “I am just a loser. What can I even do for you? “Power? I’m just the deputy chief by name. No one takes me seriously. Even Collier can corner me.” Collier shuddered and replied, “I was blind, Hannah. I really respect you.” Hannah snapped at him with an angry look and brushed him off. “Money? That’s something I don’t have. “You just want to see a high and mighty woman standing humbly before you. “Maybe you’re after my body just like Collier. “Do as you please. I can’t fight back anyway. “But we’re even after tonight.” With a pale face, Hannah closed her eyes, ready to accept her fate. Hannah could be a virgin for all Kaze knew. Kaze pursed his lips. “Forget it. I prefer the romantic type, not the unwilling ones like you. You just lie there and play dead.“Besides,
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
Snow could not believe her eyes. Katie suddenly went quiet and behaved like the CEO she was.However, Katie did not look like she was right in the mind earlier. “What’s going on? She seems to have gone insane.” Snow turned to the warden, still digesting the change. Katie had lost touch with reality before the Viper’s Den did anything to her. “How did this happen? She has been taking her meals. Just days earlier, she nagged about getting out because she was worried about her daughter. As usual, we didn’t respond to her requests.” The warden found the whole thing peculiar too. Just a few days ago, Katie demanded her release. Now, she kept to herself and abided by the rules. Out of the blue, Katie went nuts. Things had gotten complicated. Snow wanted to keep Katie behind bars due to her betrayal. However, Kaze decided against pursuing the matter for Leah’s sake. Katie would be let go soon enough, but she would lose her job at the Northborn Group. Katie’s presence woul
It was quiet in the office. Snow sorted the last bit of paperwork before picking her head up in exhaustion. Her initial plan was to delegate the tasks. However, Katie was controlling. Previously, she personally oversaw many matters. Snow could not distribute the responsibilities because the employees had no experience in handling them. They came to Snow for every tiny, little thing, and Snow really got her hands full. Despite her frustration, Snow could let things go as Katie was locked up. “I should pay her visit.” Snow decided to see Katie. Some things should not be left unsaid. Leah would be working for the Northborn Group soon, and the mother and daughter should meet to tie up loose ends. The truth would put Leah to shame, and her guilt would stop her from ever betraying Kaze. After a quick bite, Snow drove to the prison. Katie was furious when she was imprisoned. She was one step away from victory. She was so close to leaving Butterworth to head to Westeros
“Why do you want to sell the properties? Do you need money? Don’t you have some saved?” Joey had a good understanding of Leah’s finances since she ran all the paperwork. “My mother is being held, and I need money to ask favors. Maybe I can get her out.” Leah was not thinking much. Money could always be replaced, but not her mother’s freedom. “Don’t be silly. This is not the way to go.” Though Joey did not have the details, she observed that things were not as simple as Leah thought. Kaze was safe now, but the fact that Katie had betrayed Kaze and revealed his whereabouts remained unchanged. Katie had broken the Viper’s Den’s rules. Even if she got out, she would be a wreck. With Snow running the Northborn Group, Katie would remain a failure. Either way, Katie would not get away with it. Even if Leah offered all her assets, Katie’s situation would not change. It was a waste of money and resources for Leah to save her mother. Nothing would come out of it. “But I
“Give me an answer. Are you taking the job? If you are, you should sort out your affairs. Don’t bring your personal feelings to work.” Snow was not the type to go easy on fragile women. If Leah did not have what it took, she could be forced to leave the company. Nevertheless, Katie had left a lot of assets to Leah. Even without work, Leah could very well survive. The girl would have trouble keeping the wealth, seeing that she was without power or connections. If Leah had a job, she would have the resources to hold onto her assets. Leah had seen the best and worst of mankind. She was once the center of attention, and now, everybody avoided her. It dawned on Leah that it was over for Katie. If Leah could not even keep a job, she would lose everything. “I didn’t know things would happen.” Leah never thought that Katie was capable of stabbing Kaze and her in the back. The thought of betrayal put Leah in distress. Kaze was a great guy who helped Leah a lot. Feeling ete
Leah got dressed and was ready to leave, but she did not know who to turn to. She thought about going to her wealthy friends to see if they could uncover anything through their connections. However, Leah could not get a hold of them. It dawned on Leah that loyalty would fade when power was gone. Even though Katie was just missing, intel spread around Butterworth very quickly. These people must have found out and have chosen to stay away. Leah had always been treated like royalty. Nobody had ever avoided her like the plague. Nevertheless, she had not been in touch with these friends since her injury. Now, in her attempt to contact them, she could not reach them. “Why is this happening? My good friends have gone MIA, and I’m getting silence from those who have been trying to connect.” Sitting on the couch, Leah looked out the window in despair. She tried to seek help with her mother’s search, but her efforts were futile. She could do nothing for her mother. All al
“I have to work hard starting today. But before that, I have to get some sleep.” Snow remembered that Kaze punished her to get some sleep. He said her face looked tired and pale, signs of how hard she had been working. It felt great being cared for. It was because of his kindness, Snow fell for Kaze uncontrollably. Yet she understood not all things were meant to be. After she returned home, she went to sleep immediately without talking to anyone. She only woke up in the afternoon after a comfortable and easy sleep. Next, she would have to work on many things, first being taking over Northborn Group. Katie’s disappearance had the company shaken, but it gave many others a chance. They tried to calm their subordinates down and contact the higher-ups for more information, hoping that they could replace Katie as the new CEO. Little did they know, their preparations would eventually fall short. Snow and her secretary arrived at Northborn Group in the afternoon, and her a