Chapter 2

All the construction workers in the cafeteria rose to their feet.

Aaron snatched up the plastic stool at his feet, the veins in his neck bulging. "You really don't know when to stop, huh? Guess I'll have to smash this place to pieces!"

Dozens of workers took a step forward.

The cigarette in Peter's hand shook. He instinctively took a step back and hid behind Veronica.

She started shrieking. "Help! These construction workers are attacking us! They're trying to destroy the cafeteria!"

I stepped forward, grabbed the stool from Aaron, and set it on the ground. "Put that down."

I didn't raise my voice, but he gritted his teeth before backing down. I had spent 12 years on this construction site, so these men knew I was the one calling the shots.

I pulled out my phone and transferred 50,000 dollars to Veronica's bank account. A notification chime rang out in the quiet cafeteria.

"I got the money," Veronica said.

All the construction workers in the cafeteria froze.

But Aaron stomped his feet in frustration. "Mr. Walker, why did you pay her 50,000 dollars? That's clearly daylight robbery!"

I raised my hand to cut him off. I had paid 50,000 dollars to wipe the slate clean with Peter and Veronica after three years.

From the moment they got the money, Peter and his cafeteria stopped being my concern.

Veronica stared at the amount on the screen, her eyes practically shining. She clutched the phone to her chest, grinning widely. Her face twisted into a sneer as she reached out to tug at the red-and-gold banner hanging on the wall.

The project team gave the couple the banner three years ago. It read, "Preferred Food Service Provider".

She patted the banner, then gave the construction workers a scornful look. "Since you're so quick to pay up, let me make it clear.

"From now on, don't expect any special discounts from us. Starting tomorrow, one boxed lunch will cost you 30 dollars. Take it or leave it!"

The money had gone straight to her head. She flung open the door and yelled out into the street.

"Richard! Ethan! Come check this out! Mr. Walker's filthy rich. He can even afford to cover my depreciation costs!"

The moment Veronica started yelling, the curtains at the two stores next to hers flew open. Richard Lloyd, who sold work gear and cold drinks on the left, and Ethan Kemp, who ran a convenience store selling cigarettes, beer, and snacks on the right, came rushing out.

Veronica stood at the curb, gesturing wildly as she tried to get them on her side.

"I told you the Vances are about to strike it rich. It won't be long before this street is crawling with big shots pulling up in BMWs and Mercedes. The property values in this area are going to rise!

"Look at all these construction workers hanging around our street all day, stinking up the place. Who'd want to shop here? We can't keep letting them get away with this!"

Richard and Ethan exchanged glances, unable to hide the greed in their eyes.

I stepped out of the cafeteria into the sunlight and looked at Veronice, Richard, and Ethan.

Back then, when the construction site was being developed, it didn't even have electricity. It was a wasteland, miles away from anywhere.

At that time, Richard was sitting in a warehouse full of rubber boots that nobody wanted, so he couldn't even pay his employees. Ethan's convenience store was doing so poorly that he was on the verge of losing his tobacco license.

They were locals who had been forced out by the development, so I stepped in to help them. I signed exclusive supply agreements with them.

Richard was the sole supplier of work gloves, hard hats, and wire for the construction site. I even had my workers purchase cigarettes and water from Ethan's store.

I stared at Richard. "Richard, you still have the exclusive supply agreement we signed three years ago in your drawer, don't you?"

Richard cleared his throat, his gaze shifting uneasily, but he still refused to give in.

"Mr. Walker, that's ancient history. Your workers spend ages in my shop just to buy a two-dollar bag of salt.

"On hot days, they come in just to enjoy the AC. They buy nothing but a bottle of mineral water for a dollar and 50 cents. I barely make any profit from that.

"But those young men working at the sales center next door buy imported sparkling water from me. I can make five dollars per bottle."

Ethan spat on the ground. "That's right. Your men always smoke those cheap cigarettes, and that smoke is unbearable.

"Yesterday, I saw a few big shots come by to view properties. The moment they saw your men stuffing their faces with watermelon on the curb, they turned around and left.

"I could've sold those big shots a few cartons of premium cigarettes worth thousands. Who's going to compensate me for that?"

Veronica, Richard, and Ethan stood at the end of the street, talking over each other. They were all too busy trying to figure out how much they could profit, and they had forgotten how they had once swallowed their pride and begged me to help them get by.

I looked at them and said calmly, "Back then, I got my crew to hook you up to the site's power supply so you could open your shops. I even had them connect you to the main water line overnight, and I didn't even charge you a single cent for that."

Veronica rolled her eyes and let out a loud snort. "Cody, don't flatter yourself. This land was ours long before you came here.

"The government built the roads and brought in utilities for us. We were lucky that things worked out for us. What does that have anything to do with you?"

Veronica stepped forward, her hands on her hips as she announced how things were going to be done her way.

"Since we're putting everything on the table, I'm setting a new rule. Starting tomorrow morning, anyone in a reflective vest or rubber boots has to pay 50 bucks as a maintenance fee if they want to come down this street.

"Can't afford it? Then stay away from us. We don't want you dirtying up this street!"

Richard and Ethan chuckled and nodded along behind her.

The construction workers gripped their hard hats in fury.

I took in Veronica's smug expression and nodded. "Sure. You'll get exactly what you want."