“Mr. Tenby, I thought you were speaking out for your friend, but you were just looking for an excuse to ask me out.“Try your luck with another girl. Here is not the place for you to pick up chicks.” The crowd gave Draig strange looks. Draig turned red. He glared at Buffy, tempted to lash out. Fuck. He got played. Buffy hit on him, and he simply responded. She turned things around and made it sound like he was picking her up. Unbothered by Draig’s rage, Buffy smiled charmingly. “Besides, a nice gentleman has invited me for dinner.” The crowd made guesses about who would be having dinner with Buffy. Buffy sauntered toward Kaze and sat next to him. As the crowd watched on in disbelief, Buffy hooked her arm around Kaze’s. Um… It was an eye-bulging moment. Nothing more needed to be said. It was unbelievable. Instead of steering clear, Buffy showed her fondness toward Kaze, a dumped divorcée. Buffy would make herself a laughingstock. Besides, Kaze did no
Snow, dressed in a fairy-white dress, walked in. The breaths of many hitched. Snow was just as beautiful as Buffy. If Buffy was a blazing fire, Snow was a block of ice. Moths were drawn to the flame, but no creatures would approach a block of ice. Snow was unapproachable. However, she made a beeline toward Kaze. Buffy, still clutching Kaze’s arm, glanced at Snow and furrowed her brows while Snow grabbed Kaze’s other arm. “Chairman Lee, why can’t you put on a suit for the celebration today?“Come on. I’ll take you to pick a suit.” Buffy grimaced. She knew what Snow was up to. Snow was trying to show that she was closer to Kaze than Buffy was. Buffy and Snow were able to get along before Kaze got a divorce. They were in the same boat, and misery loved company. However, Kaze was single now. Buffy and Snow realized that they were rivals now. Sparks flew as they exchanged glances. Buffy said with a smile, “Ms. Frost, weren’t you an assistant to Kaze? Your jo
Even when Draig got his ass handed to him multiple times, Draig refused to believe that Kaze was stronger than him. It had become an obsession of his. Once again, Kaze gave him another blow. Kaze was lost for words. Snow usually would not care about his attire. Even if Kaze wore his briefs to work, Snow would know where she stood as an assistant and kept her thoughts to herself. Yet now, she was going at it with Buffy. Caught between two women, Kaze felt the strain. He said helplessly, “That’s enough.” Buffy and Snow exchanged glances without another word. The crowd was filled with emotions. Some of the men were impressed with Kaze. It was not uncommon to spot moochers. However, Kaze was on another level. If these men were not so concerned about their reputations, they would bombard Kaze for tips about living off women. “What’s the point of putting on a show, Kaze?” While the crowd was envious of Kaze, an angry voice belonging to a woman echoed. The cr
Kaze frowned. “We can talk somewhere private.” Usually, Darcy was not the type to have an outburst in public. Darcy was not as composed as she made herself out to be when it came to the divorce. “Why should we talk in private? Can’t you admit to what you’re doing?” Reading Kaze’s intention wrong, Darcy said furiously, “You must have been waiting for this day for so long. Now that we’re divorced, you can screw around with other women without fear of letting me know.” Buffy and Snow grimaced. Sure, they had feelings for Kaze. Unlike Snow, Buffy had only met Darcy a handful of times. Buffy said curtly, “Ms. Quint, don’t push it. “I’ll be honest. I fancy Kaze. I had feelings for him before you were divorced. “I can only dream about marrying a responsible and competent man like him. “But Kaze and I have always hung out as friends before your divorce. We have never crossed any boundaries. “I had my moments of weakness, but even then, I would never stoop to stealing anot
Buffy was surprised that Snow was not backing down either. She had no advantage over this rival. Buffy and Snow stood by Kaze and professed their love openly at the risk of ruining their names. Darcy was overcome with a mix of emotions. She was angry, indignant, and jealous. Kaze was still her ex at the end of the day. These two women were eager to steal Kaze away in less than 24 hours after the divorce. Darcy felt disrespected. “Kaze, you expect me to believe that nothing happened?” Darcy snapped an angry look at Kaze. “If you didn’t do anything, why would they fall for you? Did they fall in love with you out of the blue? “I trusted you. I thought you were a dependable man. I thought you would never betray me.“I guess I was wrong.” Livid, Darcy lashed out. Her emotions got the best of her. The guests widened their eyes, intrigued by the drama. To think Hannah’s celebration would turn into a soap opera. The man standing next to Darcy spoke up, “Don’t be ma
Many had not met Hunter before. Perhaps they only knew him by reputation. However, Casius, Jet, and South were pretty well known among the Riverbank Seven. Their fame extended far beyond Riverbank and the South River State, reaching the neighboring states. Hunter, who commanded the respect of these brilliant young men, was certainly no Average Joe. The guests from out of state stared at Hunter with intrigue. Some even looked cautious. Kaze raised a brow. It explained why Hunter expressed his intention to Darcy so openly. The mysterious one out of the Riverbank Seven had the right stuff. If Kaze remembered correctly, he had crossed paths with the man before. They once had a showdown, just not in person. Kaze came out on top of the fight. Madam Hacks of the Hackses, one of the top four families in Geranium City, sought Hunter’s help to put the squeeze on Kaze. Hunter did not show up. All he did was give Madam Hacks a writing to present to Kaze. The incident was
“You and Darcy were married. Heck, you even took Darcy’s family name. “I learned that no one took much of you when you were in Lilyrose. “Even then, Darcy did not dump you. She stuck by you regardless of what others thought of you. “Despite what was going on, she had her own battles to fight in her career.“She dropped you out of her life because of your cheating. It’s only less than 24 hours, and you’re here riling her up with these other women. “Do you think your behavior is appropriate?” Hunter spoke composedly, but his words packed a punch. He painted Kaze as an ungrateful and petty jerk. Instead of feeling blessed to have Darcy in his life, Kaze wanted to get back at her. This kind of guy got no respect anywhere. Many guests nodded, seeing that Hunter had a point. Kaze seemed badass before. Now, Kaze was the very person everybody wanted to avoid. Hunter, on the other hand, earned considerable approval from the crowd. Not wanting to waste time with Hunter,
“Tsk!” Many guests scoffed. Kaze was just dumped. Yet, he threatened Hunter with death. He sure did not know his place. Darcy was furious. “Are you a serial killer, Kaze? Do you think killing Madam Quint and Joan makes you invincible? Do you think you can do whatever you want?“Mind your own business. I know the type of person Mr. Yaphet is more than you. “Who are you to lecture him?” Hunter said tenderly, “Don’t be mad, Darcy. Though Kaze has no right to tell me what to do, I think he has a valid point.” He turned to Kaze and grinned. “Don’t worry, Kaze. I’ve always conducted myself with integrity. I find it beneath me to play games, especially with the ones I love.“I will be a gentleman in courting Darcy until she accepts me. “As for you, Darcy is right. Don’t talk as if you can take another one’s life so easily. “We live in a society with rules. Don’t get yourself in trouble. “I believe Darcy is too kind to see you go down the wrong path even though you’re s
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