Travis’s life with Joanna had been far from smooth. In truth, it had been a hurried one, pushed by circumstances from her family, and marred by his financial limitations that prevented him from giving Joanna the elaborate wedding she truly deserved.He had hoped to make amends over time, but their relationship had struggled to regain its footing, especially after the ordeal involving Maya. Travis believed that reuniting Joanna with her family would heal their wounds, but reality proved him wrong.Hopefully, it won't be the biggest mistake he ever made.Determined to mend their bond, especially now that he has the money and connections, he arrived at one of Grove City’s prestigious establishments, Royal Elegance. Here, he intended to provide Joanna with an experience that would make amends, enlisting the talents of one of the finest chefs in the city.To bring his vision to life, he had set his sights on the renowned culinary artist, Isabella De Luca. Her name was synonymous with culin
Joyce arched an eyebrow at Travis in surprise. “Mocking you?” She chuckled and continued, “Oh, sorry, I didn't mean to bruise your ego; I was merely reminiscing about the past. Since you have the guts and the face to ask for my help, of course, I'll be glad to be of assistance, Travis. So tell me, what brings an ordinary man like you to my abode?”A flicker of annoyance sparked within Travis, but he swallowed his pride and decided to go straight to the point. “I need to arrange a meeting with Isabella De Luca.”Joyce’s jaw practically dropped, soon giving way to laughter. “Are you being serious right now? You — you’re seeking an audience with Isabella De Luca. The Isabella De Luca of Royal Elegance!”Travis nodded resolutely. “Indeed. I desire a meeting with her to discuss an important and urgent matter.”Joyce let out a scoff, her gaze piercing as she sized up Travis with a derisive curl of her lip. The audacity he displayed was beyond her comprehension. "Hold on, haven't you already
Twenty seconds.Travis waited.A middle-aged man clad in a meticulously tailored suit of the highest caliber dashed out in a state of disarray.He was a loyal follower of the Danforth family, a force to be reckoned with.Since he arrived at Grove City and his ascendancy to the role of leadership in Royal Elegance, he had held a position of unparalleled respect in the city. When had he ever appeared this discomposed?Yet, his composure shattered, compelled to this uncharacteristic rush, never fathoming that the new chairman would make an appearance in the very Royal Elegance he oversaw. It was an honor, but also a fear in his heart.As Joyce readied herself to mock Travis, she was abruptly met with the sight of security guards in her vicinity staring past her with sheer dread etched on their faces.Instinctively turning her head, she was thunderstruck to find President Vic Davidson sprinting towards them, a sensation like lightning coursing through her.In an instant, her gaze swung to
Upon entering Vic Davidson's office, Travis got straight to the point, saying, "My wife's wedding anniversary is approaching, and I have a particular plan in mind."Vic Davidson's attentive expression mirrored his willingness to assist. "Please share your vision, Master Travis. If there's any way I can be of help, I'm at your service."Travis nodded. "I'm interested in engaging Isabella De Luca, the distinguished chef from Crown Jewel. I'm seeking her expertise for a private dinner to be held in my home. Can you facilitate this?"Vic Davidson hesitated, considering the uniqueness of the request. "Isabella De Luca is known for her unwavering principles. She's consistently turned down private dinner engagements and requests from even our highest-tier members. However, I will strive to make it happen for you. Let me contact her right away."As Vic reached for his phone to make the call, Travis leaned back in his chair, preparing to await the outcome.Vic Davidson concluded his conversati
The following day, Joanna informed Travis about her plan to treat Sophia to a meal at a high-end hotel as a way to reconnect with old friends. She mentioned that Sophia wanted to thank Travis for the warm welcome he had extended to her.Travis let out a scoff upon hearing this. “Warm welcome? You can tell her she doesn’t need to bother. What I did wasn’t anything to make a fuss over.”During breakfast, Joanna glanced at Travis and responded, “She probably felt appreciative and wanted to express her gratitude. She mentioned that Williams and Allison were causing a lot of trouble and almost ruined her day, but thanks to you, she managed to escape from that situation. I heard those two got quite a beating. Seems like your security guard instincts are sticking with you like a leech.”Travis wasn’t sure whether to interpret that as a comment or an insult. He could only stare at Joanna with a slightly furrowed brow.He was already contemplating avoiding Sophia due to his lack of trust in he
Travis couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness upon hearing his wife's words. Her acknowledgment that his choice of hiring Isabella De Luca for the private dinner would delight her was immensely satisfying.Sophia excused herself briefly to visit the restroom, and when she returned, she seemed astounded. "Joanna!"Joanna was taken aback by Sophia's sudden exclamation."Joanna, you're quite extravagant!" Sophia declared. "I overheard some gossip that this Crown Jewel is far more expensive than any other Crown Jewel in different cities. Is that true?" She inquired, settling back into her chair.Joanna grinned and replied, "I didn't mind splurging a bit, especially when it's for you, Sophia. Besides, coming from your affluent background, I'm sure this is just a drop in the bucket for you."Sophia casually waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, Jo, you really didn't have to go this far. It sounds like a lot, even for me."Joanna nodded in agreement. "You're absolutely right. Ordering in th
Bianca is here in Grove City just for a meeting?That woman had grown desperate but then he expected it because he knew she was not just going to sit tight and allow him to temporarily or permanently remove her son from the company.He turned to Joanna and said, “I’m sorry, but I need to go. I have somewhere to be.”Joanna, curious to know where Travis was headed, asked, “Where are you going?”“To meet a friend,” Travis lied and walked away without waiting for further questions."Is that how he behaves when you two talk?" Sophia suddenly inquired, capturing Joanna's attention. "Does he just walk away like that?"Joanna sighed and responded, "I don't even know anymore. I'm just so exhausted.""Why are you feeling so worn out when your life seems to be at its peak of success? Don't tell me you've stopped loving your husband," Sophia continued to dig.Joanna shook her head, contemplating her feelings. "I honestly don't know."Sophia nodded understandingly. "Alright. It's just that I was
Edwin approached his mother’s room with eager anticipation, his demeanor reflecting his burning curiosity about how her meeting with Travis had unfolded. He knocked on the door, and after her approval, he entered the room, shutting the door behind him. A knowing look exchanged between them, words became momentarily unnecessary.However, noticing the weariness in his mother’s sigh as she took a seat on her bed, he couldn’t resist breaking the silence. “Well, Mom, how did it go? I’m not in the mood so I’d rather not be kept in suspense.”“And I'm not in a good mood, either,” Bianca said, casting a glare upon her son. “That Travis… The boy has undoubtedly grown audacious. The way he spoke to me, his demeanor irked me to the core.”“Did he insult you?” Edwin inquired with a concerned furrowed brow.Bianca gave a solemn nod. “Everything he did was an insult to my dignity; he didn’t need to utter a single word.” She sighed and continued, “For your sake, I had to suppress my pride, and fortu