Leron yelled through gritted teeth, โKill me if you have the balls. You can forget extracting any information from me, Lee!โ โCrack!โ Kaze stomped on Leronโs left hand. Despite breaking out in a cold sweat, Leron would not relent. With both arms broken, Leron was incapacitated, so Kaze waved at Hannah. โGet him transported to the hospital. Treat his hands. โIncapacitate these people on the floor and deliver them to Casius. Tell him that you admire Leron, so here he is. โBut he better take good care of Leronโs family. โIf anything happens to Leronโs family, Casius will be the one to pay.โ Lying on the floor, Leron paused and shouted angrily, โYouโre vile, Lee! How dare you drive a wedge between me and Casius!โ โCall me vile.โ Kaze smiled offhandedly. โYour friendship should be a two-way street. โArenโt you loyal and devoted to Casius?โWhy donโt you take this chance to see if Casius is worth your commitment? โDonโt worry about your family. Iโll make sure Hannah h
โGo on then.โ Kaze waved his arm and looked at Dayton with a pretentious smile. โAre you ordering takeout with us, or are you going for your favorite lavish dinner?โ Dayton had a bad feeling. His blood ran cold as Kazeโs ruthless method of setting Leron straight came to mind. โTakeout, it is.โNo lavish dinner is better than your takeout, Kaze. โI didnโt get it before, but itโs clear to me now. Buffy knows whatโs best for herself. She made the best decision by going with you.โIโm trash compared to you.โNo, I mean. I canโt compare to you at all.โ With Dayton backing down, Buffy and his sidekicks made strange faces. Dayton was not the arrogant and badass man they knew. He was not the proud student of the Viperโs Den chief branch at all. Dayton seemed to have lost his spine. He was afraid of Kaze, scared of his ways. Just moments ago, Dayton acted high and mighty in front of Kaze. Now that Dayton thought about it, he wished he could have done better then. It
Seeing through Dayton, Kaze said with a fake smile, โYou arenโt much of a fighter, but your mentor is Alfonso, the ex-branch chief of the Viperโs Den Butterworth branch.โHis reputation can be intimidating.โ Dayton chuckled dryly. Kaze was rather blunt.His words were nowhere hurtful, but the insult was clear. Kaze said, โI can forget about the past if you stay by Buffyโs side for a while.โ As the conflict over the South River State branch escalated, Jude and Casius would only go to greater extremes. Kaze understood that Buffy would only be in danger until he got rid of them both for good. However, Kaze had other things to worry about. Hannah and Collier had to be kept on their toes for any attack. Hence, Dayton would have to protect Buffy. Daytonโs heart sank. So there was a reason why Kaze had not taken any action against him. Gritting his teeth, Dayton replied, โI will do everything in my power to keep Buffy from harm.โRest assured, Kaze. They have to go throug
The beautiful woman was Stacey, Draigโs friend. She sized Kaze up in an unfriendly way. She quickly lost interest in Kaze. Kaze was plain and boring, standing next to Draig, who always stood out. Kaze was not worth Staceyโs time. Noticing the disdain from Stacey, Kaze did not take the offense to heart and said indifferently, โIโm here for Snow.โ โWho do you think you are? You canโt meet Ms. Frost just because you want to.โ Stacey blocked the door and said unhappily, โJust leave. Draig and I wonโt let any riff-raff into the room. Hey! What gives!โ She burst out angrily, raising his arm to pull a punch at Kaze. โSmack!โ The air crackled when the blows met. With a scowl, Stacey lifted her knee to knee Kaze in the groin. Stacey was going in for the kill. Without looking at the incoming attack, Kaze unfurled his fingers. He flicked Stacey right in the palm. โClomp! Clomp!โ Stacey fell back and rammed onto the shut door in the back wide open. โNot bad. Youโre all
Kaze smiled. โDonโt be a stranger to me. If they are too much for you to put up with, just tell them to leave. I can get you someone else. โBut I get it. Those with talent can be proud.โ Kaze walked into the ward and glanced at Bass, who was unconscious in bed. Snow said, โBass had surgery to remove the bullet. He should be fine, but recovery will take some time since he is advanced in age.โ โBass is devoted to you and Mrs. Frost. You should stay here and take care of him. This seems like a nice place. It wonโt be different to living in a hotel.โ Kaze nodded. So as not to disturb Bass, he and Snow closed the bedroom door and took their conversation in the living room.St. Maryโs was a well-known private hospital in Riverbank. With its advanced medical care, the center attracted many powerful and wealthy individuals for treatment and health services. Bass was put up in a ward that was no different from the presidential suite of a five-star hotel. โAny word from Jet?โ Kaze
Draig pointed at Kaze. โIโm warning you. I donโt care if youโre the chairman or president. Iโll take away your manhood if you donโt get your filthy hands off Ms. Frost.โHe stared icily at Kaze, his gaze reeking of hostility. Standing at the door, Stacey frowned and looked at Snow unhappily. Stacey understood that Draig was blown away by Snowโs beauty and demeanor when they first met at the hospital. Since Kaze was special to Snow, Stacey went to Draig to let him know that Snow had feelings for Kaze. Staceyโs motive was for Draig to give up on Snow. To her dismay, instead of backing down, Draig stormed into the ward. Draig was livid to find Kaze and Snow behaving rather intimately. Stacey, who always had a soft spot for Draig, was upset. Meanwhile, Kaze met Draigโs intimidating eyes with a hint of amusement. He understood where Draig was coming from. Snow was a charming woman. With his heart belonging to Snow now, Draig made quite an embarrassing scene. Frustrated,
โBesides, you arenโt even close. โNo woman will fall for this type of man.โ Triggered, Draig closed in on Kaze. โAre you telling me what to do, boy?โ Draig clenched his fists, his knuckles popping. He narrowed his eyes dangerously, eager to show Kaze who was boss. โThatโs enough, Draig!โ Snow shook in rage. โWhat are you trying to do? Donโt you dare hurt Chairman Lee. โDonโt you know that Conan acted on his orders to seek your help in protection?โ Kaze said mockingly, โAre you attacking your boss, Draig? So much for doing your duty.โ Draig looked at Kaze in surprise, but he quickly smirked. โDonโt put that on me, Lee. Who are you to hire my services?โโIf I canโt pay you good money and hire your services, who can?โ Kaze asked indifferently. โDraig doesnโt need your money.โ Stacey jumped in to defend Draig. โTo be honest with you, Lee, Draig didnโt want to take the job when the Butterworth Queens asked. โDraig canโt stand people who think their money and influe
Birch was an Arcadian fighter in Uleania, and he was well-accomplished in his career. He made a name for himself in Uleania, showcasing the beauty of Arcadian combat in films. His films reshaped the worldโs perception of Arcadia. Hence, Birch was not just well known in Uleania. He was famous locally too. Even Kaze would watch Birchโs movies to pass the time when there was nothing better to do. Upon learning that Draig was Birchโs son, Kaze intended to let the formerโs rudeness slide. โWhat? Are you scared now, Lee?โ With Kaze holding his silence, Draig grew smug. โYou better watch out. Donโt get handsy with Ms. Frost or get close to her. โI donโt care that youโre her boss. I will break your limbs.โ With Drag taking things far, Snow became furious and wanted him to leave. Nevertheless, Kaze waved his arm at her, gesturing for her not to take things to heart. He turned to Draig and said indifferently, โI hope you can do this to those who put Snow in harmโs way.โ โHmph
The incident did not sit well with Kaze, so he left them out to dry. After much searching, Kaze came across a cafรฉ. 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
โAlright. I will work hard to be the manager of the Northborn Group. You need to show me the ropes and teach me about management.โ Leah looked at Katie with a smile. She believed Katie had not lost her mind. Katie simply had her memory mixed up. โYou need to keep your people in line and reward those who deserve it. It all boils down to profits. โYou need to work toward managing your people and working with rivals. Youโve got to keep the balance, and nobody loses out. โYou need to build your own system when it comes to working together. Donโt be led around by the nose.โ Hearing that Leah would start work soon, Katie imparted her knowledge. โDonโt worry too much about things. Joey is nice. You can go to her for help,โ Katie said earnestly. Katie seemed to be herself at the moment. Leah wondered if Katie faked her insanity to escape the punishment. โWhat have become of you? Did they do something to you? โDid you really betray Kaze?โ 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 Kazeโs 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. โWhy did you send me an address?โ 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. โWhatโs going on? She seems to have gone insane.โ Snow turned to the warden, still digesting the change. Katie had lost touch with reality before the Viperโs Den did anything to her. โHow 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 didnโt respond to her requests.โ 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 Leahโs sake. Katie would be let go soon enough, but she would lose her job at the Northborn Group. Katieโs 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. โI should pay her visit.โ 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
โWhy do you want to sell the properties? Do you need money? Donโt you have some saved?โ Joey had a good understanding of Leahโs finances since she ran all the paperwork. โMy mother is being held, and I need money to ask favors. Maybe I can get her out.โ Leah was not thinking much. Money could always be replaced, but not her motherโs freedom. โDonโt be silly. This is not the way to go.โ 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 Viperโs Denโs 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, Katieโs situation would not change. It was a waste of money and resources for Leah to save her mother. Nothing would come out of it. โBut I
โGive me an answer. Are you taking the job? If you are, you should sort out your affairs. Donโt bring your personal feelings to work.โ 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. โI didnโt know things would happen.โ 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. โWhy is this happening? My good friends have gone MIA, and Iโm getting silence from those who have been trying to connect.โ Sitting on the couch, Leah looked out the window in despair. She tried to seek help with her motherโs search, but her efforts were futile. She could do nothing for her mother. All al
โI have to work hard starting today. But before that, I have to get some sleep.โ 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. Katieโs 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