Betty's slap caused the other diners to glance in Moses' direction. “What's going on over there?” A lady asked. “A fight?” Her partner added. “That waiter must've offended her.” Another diner commented. Moses nursed his cheeks where he had been slapped. “You slapped me?”“What are you going to do about it, huh?” Betty hit him again. “You'll hit me back? I dare you, you piece of trash. Hit me!”“What's happening here?” Dave demanded, appearing on the scene. “I heard someone getting slapped.”“Darling, this idiot here was insinuating something offensive to me,” Betty reported.Dave turned to Moses, his eyes hardening. “You monkey, what did you say to her?”“She asked me when John Smith would come to eat,” Moses answered. “Out of curiosity, I inquired why you two weren't dining together, because it seemed to me she was hoping to dine with John Smith.”Dave glanced at Betty and realized Moses was making sense. She had gone out of her way to look extra beautiful, which was strange beca

“I'm curious to know, John Smith,” Madame Aurora said. “Who are you really, and where did you come from?”John Smith took his glass of wine and stirred it. “I'm a king of a distant sovereignty country.”Madame Aurora was startled. “There aren't that many monarchy governments nowadays.”“You're right,” John Smith said, cutting into a juicy steak. “But mine exists.”Madame Aurora was intrigued. “What's the name of your nation, John Smith?”“I'd rather not tell,” John Smith said with finality in his tone. “I'm here on vacation and would prefer to remain anonymous.”“As you wish, John Smith,” Madame Aurora smiled. “I believe the steak is up to your taste?”John Smith nodded. “They're incredible.”Moses stood behind John Smith, observing the entire conversation. From the looks in Madame Aurora's expression, he could tell she bought the little lie John Smith just told her. John Smith was no king, and neither was there any monarchy country that he rules. This was all a ploy to buy her tru

Sir Lin felt like someone had hit him with a sledgehammer. “What do you mean, the banks are demanding their money?” He asked, his voice unsteady.Sir Lin's secretary was restless on the phone. “This is a disaster, sir. We owe eight banks hundreds of millions. They're all threatening to foreclose on our assets if we don't pay up our debts.”“But that's impossible,” Sir Lin snapped. “I have done business with these banks for years. They can't do this to me.”“Unfortunately, Sir Lin, this is just the tip of the iceberg,” his secretary spoke in a shaky voice. “We were given an ultimatum–if we fail to pay up by the end of the week, they'll seize everything.”Sir Lin felt his blood run cold. “I don't believe this. They're bluffing. That's right, they must be bluffing.”“I'm afraid they're not, sir,” his secretary said hurriedly. “I spoke with their representatives a couple of minutes ago. If we don't pay up our debts, they'll take us to court, freeze our accounts and auction off our assets

Desmond Dekker was skeptical when Robert Doberman scheduled an appointment with him. At one point, he respected the Doberman's clan but after their great downfall, he viewed them with disdain. Robert Doberman didn't mention why he wanted to meet him, but Desmond Dekker could speculate what Robert Doberman was after. “Possibly, some financial aid,” Larry Dekker, his eldest son, said as he cut into his steak. “It's very obvious. The Doberman's clan is finished. I heard not even the bank would loan them money.”Robert Doberman chuckled as he sipped from his can of beer. “I'll like to see that blasted idiot try. If he dare ask me for help, I'll make sure I disgrace him.”Naomi Dekker, his daughter, chimed in. “Should you even grant the Doberman clan any audience? They're not worth entertaining.”“That's why I decided against holding this meeting in my office,” Desmond Dekker said. “I chose the beach, so I can keep it casual.” “I hate the Doberman's clan, especially that idiot, Moses,”

Valeria became John Smith's lover in a short space of two months since his arrival. Their relationship, however, was kept a secret from public eye as John Smith insisted on anonymity. Despite being lovers, Valeria still did not know what the man behind the mask looked like. However, this didn't bother her. She was madly in love with John Smith. She fantasized about getting married to him with a final revelation of him unmasked. Madame Aurora, on the other hand, was impatient. The subject of her hotel project had been brought up to John Smith once or twice. He had shown his interest, but hadn't taken any form of action yet. Madame Aurora had her eyes on Star beach. She spoke with Desmond Dekker and was thrilled to hear he hadn't sold his beach to anyone. Unknown to Madame Aurora, Desmond Dekker had lied to her under orders from Moses. Star beach was in possession of the Doberman's clan. This was all in accordance with Moses' plans. He kept in touch with Henry at the Impe