Laxus entered the kitchen and saw Drake sitting with his legs crossed, clearly ignoring the work that needed to be done. Laxus frowned slightly but decided to focus on his own tasks. He grabbed the ingredients and began prepping for the busy day ahead.
“Hey, Drake,” Laxus greeted, trying to keep things civil. Drake, however, didn’t respond. His eyes followed Laxus, but he made no move to help. Laxus sighed but kept working, arranging everything for the dishes they needed to prepare.
After a few minutes of silence, Laxus glanced at Drake again. ""You're going to help? We’ve got a lot to do before noon, and there’s no way I can handle all this alone.""
Drake leaned back in his chair, his expression unbothered. ""I’ll help when I’m ready. Stop trying to boss me around.""
“I’m not trying to boss you,” Laxus replied calmly. ""I just think we should get started before the rush hits. We’ve got the company staff coming in soon.""
Drake scoffed. ""You love to work hard, don’t you? Go ahead, do everything yourself, since that’s what you’re good at.""
Laxus didn’t respond. He knew Drake was trying to provoke him, to push him into an argument or worse. But Laxus wasn’t going to give him that satisfaction. He continued chopping vegetables, trying to focus on the task at hand.
A few moments later, Henry walked into the kitchen, the heavy door swinging behind him with a soft thud. Drake, who had been leaning against the prep table, immediately stood up. He moved to the counter, grabbing a knife and some vegetables, pretending to be busy. His movements were quick and slightly erratic as he chopped, clearly trying to avoid any interaction. Laxus, sitting by the sink with a towel in hand, noticed but didn’t say anything. The irony of Drake’s sudden diligence wasn’t lost on him. He smirked quietly but kept his focus on cleaning a set of pots.
""Great work, guys! I can already smell the food from out front,"" Henry said, his voice cheerful as ever. He walked in with a broad grin, completely oblivious to the tension hanging in the room. He slapped both Drake and Laxus on the back in his usual friendly manner, though the force was enough to make Drake’s knife slip a little. Drake quickly corrected himself, giving a nervous chuckle, while Laxus simply nodded.
"Keep it up!" Henry added before heading back out, whistling a tune as he disappeared through the door.
Once Henry was gone, the kitchen fell back into its familiar silence. The only sounds were the faint hum of the overhead lights and the clatter of utensils as Drake continued to slice. Laxus resumed scrubbing the pots at a slow, methodical pace. Nessy, the restaurant’s head server, popped in occasionally, her sharp eyes checking the orders lined up on the counter as customers started coming in. She gave quick glances around, nodding in approval before darting back out to the front.
Despite the steady stream of customers, the real test was still ahead. The company group, a large party of twenty, would arrive by one. The pressure hung in the air, unspoken but heavy, as both Drake and Laxus knew the rush was only just beginning. The calm before the storm was almost over.
Laxus glanced at the clock. It was noon. He finished up the side dishes, satisfied with how they turned out. Now, all that was left was the new burger recipe. He started assembling the ingredients when Drake suddenly spoke up.
“What are you doing?” Drake asked, his voice cold.
“It’s the new burger recipe I talked about,” Laxus explained. “Henry gave me the go-ahead to try it out today.”
“New recipe?” Drake sneered. ""Why mess with what works? People like the way we do things now. You’re just trying to impress my dad with this nonsense.""
Laxus sighed. ""It’s not about impressing anyone, Drake. It’s just a new idea. Something fresh.""
Drake’s eyes narrowed. ""You think you can just walk in here and start changing things? This is my restaurant. You don’t get to decide what’s on the menu.""
“I’m not trying to change anything,” Laxus said. “I just want to give the customers something new to enjoy.”
Before Drake could respond, Nessy walked in, having overheard their argument. “What’s going on?” she asked, looking between the two of them. “I’ve been calling you guys for a while now, but you’re both too busy arguing.”
“We’re not arguing,” Laxus said quickly.
Nessy raised an eyebrow. ""It sounded like arguing. Look, we’ve got customers to serve. We should focus on that.""
She paused, glancing at the new dish Laxus was working on. ""Actually, I think Laxus’s right. It wouldn’t hurt to try something new. If it doesn’t work, we’ll go back to the old recipe. But the variety is good. People get bored with the same thing all the time.""
Drake rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything. Nessy smiled at Laxus and then turned back to Drake. ""Let’s just finish this up, okay? The big clients will be here soon, and we need to be ready.""
Laxus nodded, grateful for Nessy’s support. “We’re almost done,” he said. “Just a few more things to prep.”
Nessy smiled again. ""Great. Let me know if you need help.""
“We’re good,” Laxus replied. He didn’t want to involve her too much since she wasn’t experienced in the kitchen yet. “Thanks, though.”
As she left, Drake muttered under his breath, “You’re really something, you know that?”
Laxus ignored the comment. He knew Drake was bitter, but he wasn’t going to let it ruin the day. Instead, he focused on finishing the meal, determined to show that his new recipe could be a success.
Just then, Henry’s voice called from the front, “It’s time!”
Laxus glanced at Drake. “Let’s get this done, okay?”
Drake didn’t respond, but he grudgingly joined Laxus at the counter as they prepared for the rush.
As soon as Henry announced the arrival of their important guests, Nessy left the kitchen and rushed to the front of the restaurant. She needed to prepare for her role as the host, making sure everything was in order for their distinguished clients.
Meanwhile, Drake remained in the kitchen, still fuming. He looked at Laxus, who was working diligently. With a harsh tone, Drake barked, "Pass me the napkins!" His eyes were locked onto the serviette near Laxus, barely concealing his anger.
Laxus handed it over without a word, sensing Drake’s frustration. Drake yanked it from his hand with an irritated glare. "You won today," he muttered under his breath. ""But don't think you'll keep getting your way. I make the rules around here, not you.""
Laxus didn't respond. He had already done most of the work in the kitchen, and it was clear that Drake wasn’t interested in contributing. Instead, he focused on finishing the last of the preparations. With everything neatly arranged, Laxus whispered to himself, "Time to get this out there."
Just then, Nessy reappeared in the kitchen. "Laxus, I need these orders," she said, holding up a list for the guests.
"Are they here already?" he asked, feeling a wave of nervousness. Even though he was confident in the food he had prepared, the thought of serving it to such important clients made him uneasy.
""Yes, they’re seated and waiting. And trust me, they’ll love what you’ve made."" Nessy smiled at him before heading back out. "I'll come back for the food in a few minutes."
Laxus nodded and quickly started plating the dishes. He knew the presentation had to be perfect.
As he worked, Nessy’s words echoed in his mind, but he couldn’t shake the thought that Drake should be helping. "Drake should be here," he muttered to himself.
But Drake was nowhere to be found, likely cooling off in the dining area, pretending to be busy. Laxus decided he would finish everything himself and join the others in the dining room once the food was served.
Out in the restaurant, the company staff had already filled three large tables. Nessy expertly handled the orders, her experience as a former waitress showing in her confident demeanor. She smiled at every guest, taking their orders and making sure they were comfortable. Her goal was to make them feel like royalty. The more satisfied they were, the better it would be for the restaurant’s reputation.
Drake, despite his earlier mood, was now at one of the tables, putting on a professional smile for the guests. His ability to switch between his personal frustrations and his public expression always amazed Nessy. But she knew it was just part of the job everyone had to play their part when it came to customer service.
Laxus eventually joined them, carrying out plates of food. The other staff seemed relieved to have the extra help. As the dishes were served, the clients began to smile and nod approvingly, clearly impressed with the flavors. Laxus couldn’t help but feel proud. His hard work was paying off.
As he moved between tables, he felt someone’s gaze on him. When he turned, he caught Nessy looking at him with a bright smile. He quickly looked away, focusing on the task at hand. He didn’t have time to get distracted now, especially with the boss watching.
By the time the company finished their meal, their compliments were flowing. "The food was amazing," one of the clients said, praising the new recipe Laxus had introduced.
Henry beamed with pride. He was unaware of the earlier tension between Laxus and Drake in the kitchen, but was pleased with how everything had turned out. The clients were satisfied, and that was all that mattered. After the guests left, he gathered everyone together.
"Well done, everyone!" Henry said, grinning widely. ""You all did an excellent job today. Nessy, you were fantastic with the customers.""
"Thank you, sir," Nessy said, her face glowing with pride.
Henry turned to Laxus and Drake. ""And our chefs' brilliant work. Laxus, your new recipe was a hit. I’m glad we decided to add it to the menu. Drake, I’m sure you’ll pick it up quickly so both of you can run the kitchen together smoothly.""
Drake clenched his jaw but said nothing, clearly still upset about Laxus’s success.
"And finally," Henry said with a dramatic pause, "tips for everyone!"
The room erupted in cheers, and for a moment, the tension between Laxus and Drake was forgotten as the team celebrated their success.
Related Chapters
Rise Of The Rightful Heir Tears Of The Forgotten
After the boss handed out the tips as promised, most of the staff began heading home. Laxus stayed behind. He had picked up a few extra hours to add to his income, something he had worked out with the boss earlier. The restaurant had quieted down, leaving Laxus with a bit of solitude to finish up his shift.Once he finished the bulk of his tasks, Laxus headed to the small break room. Exhaustion weighed on him after the long day, so he decided to rest for a bit. He climbed onto the top bunk, shifting around to get comfortable. But no matter how he positioned himself, sleep wouldn’t come. His thoughts were too loud, and the cot was nothing like his bed back home.Frustrated, Laxus pulled out his phone, hoping to pass the time. As he scrolled through social media, an article about his family, the Kinkaids, caught his eye. His heart sank. The headline brought back memories he’d tried hard to leave behind. Curiosity got the better of him, and he clicked on the article.Photos of his family
Rise Of The Rightful Heir Walking In A Stranger's Mansion
Laxus woke up with a severe hangover. He could not remember the last time he got himself this drunk. Actually, the last time had been when he was still living with his family and some days had been harder than others. On those days, Laxus would hide away and soak himself in something strong to make him forget his problems. In all honesty, Laxus had also hated himself times when he had to drink himself into forgetting the kind of family he came from, but since he left home, he hadn’t taken a single sip of alcohol until he stumbled upon the family pictures online.“Ugh, my head hurts,” Laxus cussed. He would have appreciated a steamy cup of coffee with only sugar, no cream; that was his specialty. Apart from the fact that Laxus liked to have that every morning, it also made his hangover less torturous. Then Laxus looked around him. “Damn, where the heck am I?” he asked no one else but himself.The room reminded Laxus of the Kinkaid mansion. For a minute, Laxus thought he was right bac
Rise Of The Rightful Heir A Stranger's Offer
“I know I messed up last night, and I am deeply sorry,” Laxus started to plead immediately. If he was lucky enough, this man would not report his misbehavior to Mr. Henry, Laxus’s boss.The man smiled and walked fully into the room. Then he settled himself comfortably on the settee that was just beside the bed.“You did not mess up last night,” the man said.Laxus was not a fool, neither was he a child. He knew that he must definitely have done something inappropriate the night before; maybe talk too much, dance on the bar table, spill his drink, throw up, or even worse, talk rudely at one of the restaurant’s biggest customers. One report and Laxus knew that he was done for.“I know I did,” Laxus insisted, “You are just trying to make me feel better,” Laxus said. He knew how most people like this operated. They would act as though they were not bothered about unprofessionalism, but the very next day, they would stroll into the working space of that person and ruin the person’s life.
Rise Of The Rightful Heir Unexpected Guest
As Laxus mixed the ingredients to start making hamburgers for the day, he could not shake off the conversation he had with the man in his house. Laxus still did not know the man’s name, as the man did not answer Laxus’s question about his name, or maybe the man had actually told Laxus his name the night he was drunk but could not recall.“Hey, you better hurry up with that,” Drake said as he entered the kitchen. For some days now, Drake had been coming in later than the usual opening time, but no one seemed to have the balls to tell him.""Make your hands work faster and stop acting like a sissy. Soon enough, customers will start trooping in,"" Drake added as he flopped on the chair he usually sat in the kitchen.Laxus decided to ignore him again; he had other things on his mind.The man had told Laxus that they should meet at his house much later when Laxus wasn’t working, so that he would tell Laxus about the deal he had for him. Laxus shivered at the thought of it.""What is it? Do
Rise Of The Rightful Heir Brothers At Odds
Laxus froze in his position.What was his brother doing at the restaurant where he worked? What was his brother doing in Las Vegas?""He was pretty impressed, and he wanted to see the chef making the hamburger. You might get a huge tip, you know.""Laxus heard a voice behind him whisper. Luther was busy with his iPad while he waited, so his head was bent low. Laxus turned and discovered that it was Nessy that was whispering words into his ear. He released a tight smile, because he did not want Nessy to grow suspicious.She seemed like a really smart person, because the first time she witnessed an altercation between Laxus and Drake, she had immediately sensed that something was going on between them, so he needed to make an appearance before she began to ask funny questions.""He seemed like a very wealthy person, Laxus. Like, he basically reeks of wealth and affluence,"" Nessy praised Luther.Laxus’s jaw tightened in annoyance and stark jealousy. He did not realize that hearing someo
Rise Of The Rightful Heir Leave Her Alone
Laxus wiped the kitchen counter with anger and vigor. “Argh!” he growled in annoyance.This was the fifth time that Laxus was wiping the kitchen counter, and it was already as shiny as a diamond, but he still continued to wipe it clean as though it was the first time. Laxus had cleaned the entire kitchen sparkling clean all by himself without waiting for the restaurant cleaner to do it, and all because he was freaking upset.“Damn it!” Laxus’s voice was louder and more painful this time around. The sound of his voice echoed all around the restaurant, as well as his pain and pain. Tears gathered in Laxus’s eyes, and before he could even realize it, they began to fall, and Laxus let them drop. As they dropped on the counter, he wiped them away with vigor and strength. At least now, he had something to actually wipe off the counter.The restaurant closed up completely about an hour ago, and all the staff signed off nearly forty-five minutes ago. Even Mr. Henry himself had closed up and
Rise Of The Rightful Heir A Long Night
After Drake stalked off, Laxus turned to leave. He still hadn’t forgotten his own pains, predicament and troubles. Also, he still hadn’t forgotten that the same Nessy had been drooling and gushing over his half-brother, but as he turned to walk away, he heard Nessy whimpering.Groaning internally and in frustration, Laxus turned and saw that Nessy was visibly shaking. Laxus would have thought that she was cold, after all the weather was chilly, but it was not enough to cause an adult to shiver, especially one like Nessy who wore a jacket as thick as his.“What are you doing here at this time of the night and with Drake?” Laxus’s voice was gruff and hostile, but instead of Nessy answering his question, she burst into tears.“Oh God, not tonight,” Laxus grumbled to himself. He had just finished shedding his own ocean of tears, and he was not about to watch someone else do theirs. Besides, one thing Laxus could not stand was watching a woman cry. It was one of his greatest weaknesses; on
Rise Of The Rightful Heir A Stubborn Guest
As soon as they began to walk towards Laxus’s apartment, he began to regret his decision. A lot of things could go wrong; as if a lot of things were not already going wrong.They walked to Laxus’s apartment in silence. When they arrived at his front door some minutes later, their boots had already gathered some snow that was already beginning to fall.“We would have frozen out there waiting for a taxi,” Nessy said. She sounded like her old self; the Nessy Laxus knew.Laxus ignored her completely. He opened the door with his key and urged her to get into the house, but Nessy stood still without moving.""Come on, I am really not down for any attitude tonight. You agreed to spend the night at my apartment for your own safety, didn’t you?"" Laxus’s tone was harsh and visibly upset. He was also impatient, and he did not intend to hold out his door for long, because he would hate to invite the cold into his small apartment.Then it dawned on Laxus that, perhaps, Nessy had thought that he s
Latest Chapter
Golding Boy
“Bowman, someone took a shot at my life last night,” Laxus told Bowman while he waited for the arrival of the agent that Bowman talked about.“You cannot be a businessman without enemies,” Bowman simply said.“But I did not have enemies or faced life threats when I worked at the Kinkaid Distillery Company,” Laxus said, pondering on what had happened.“That should tell you a lot,” Bowman said.“Hold on…does that mean that my family is the one behind this?” Laxus asked.In all honesty, he had never known antagonism and threat until he turned his back on his family. A few weeks ago, Linnie had shown up at his doorstep unannounced and he had been arrested right after that happened. Right now, Laxus could not think of anyone else that might want him harmed except his family, but would they be dangerous enough to want him dead?It was one thing to be set up by one’s own family, but murder? Laxus shuddered at the thought.“Listen, Laxus, I think you should focus more on getting your apartmen
A Lifestyle Of Dread
“Whoever you are, come out and stop hiding in the shadows,” Laxus instructed, trying to put on bravado.He was alone now, and he did not even realize until now that the bright lights illuminating the aisle leading to the hall had been turned off, so the place was slightly dark.“Who is there?” Laxus asked again as he began to look around for something that could pass as a defensive tool.He had barely spent twenty-four hours in the premises and he was already being scared by only God knows who, but the last thing Laxus wanted to do was pose as a fearsome man.“You better come out and make yourself known right now or I will call the cops on you. Don’t think that I don’t have them on speed dial,” Laxus threatened with a lie. “This is my property, and I will not allow a riffraff make a nuisance here,” he added firmly.Then Bowman stepped out of the dark and entered the hall.“Christ, Bowman!” Laxus screamed out, holding his chest and releasing the breath he did not even know that he was
Acquaintance
The party had ended and Laxus bid the last guest off as his exited the hall with his beloved wife.“Oh, damn,” Laxus said as he sat down on one of the seats in exhaustion.Since the party began, he had not had the chance to rest his feet, and now, he felt as though he could close his eyes and magically find himself on his bed. Laxus looked around the big hall and reflected on all that happened in the last three hours, and he could not help but feel a sense of exhilaration and fulfillment. At the same time, Laxus was eager to begin. He could barely wait until Monday which would begin with the rigorous task of conducting interviews and selecting his first staff members, but then again, he had the weekend to get a suitable apartment and settle into his new lifestyle.For Laxus, this was a new beginning for him.“Nice party tonight,” a female voice said, startling Laxus.Laxus turned abruptly, almost in fear, because he had thought that he was left alone and everyone had left, but as he t
A Show For Infuriation
“Damn him!” Darwin barked as he angrily flung the remote and it hit the TV squarely, causing it to crack and go off instantly just the time when Abby was captured talking to Laxus with a sweet and suggestive smile on her face by the bloggers who were reporting live.For more than two hours, Darwin, Luther and Linnie had stood rooted in their spot and watching Laxus take on the world in a launch party. The anger oozing from Darwin emanated in the entire living room and it overpowered whatever emotions Luther and Linnie might have felt watching it.“I think you have destroyed the TV, dad,” Luther said.Darwin whirled around like a wounded monster and charged at Luther. “Are you daft or were you not watching the TV?!” Darwin asked Luther angrily, droplets of saliva flying from his mouth; he was extremely furious.“Well, that is not enough to destroy the TV, is it? It didn’t do anything wrong,” Luther said flippantly, making Darwin more aggravated.Linnie was certain that Darwin would hav
That One Guest
Laxus was not given the luxury of time to dwell in his shock for long, because the cheers of people around him reminded him of where he was and his responsibility.“Bowman has tricked me; the bloody old man,” Laxus cursed under his breath.Even after all he had said and tried as much as possible to stand firmly on what he wanted, Bowman still outsmarted him. He should have known that everything was too good to be true, but Laxus could not turn around in the midst of these people and turn everything down.He just couldn’t. “Congratulations, Laxus, this is such a big feat.”“This is more than anything we have seen in Las Vegas, and we have no doubt that it will thrive under your care.”“Laxus’s Distillery Cave; sounds like a fantastic name to me!”“For a startup company, this is absolutely mind-blowing. Congratulations, Mr. Laxus.”“Cheers to this big start, Laxus, and please know that we are always available to partner with you in any way possible.”A lot of those congratulatory words
Drastic Steps
Bowman arrived at the location that Dragon was waiting for him, and as soon as Dragon noticed Bowman’s presence, he got out of his car and joined Bowman in his. Then Bowman’s driver drove off.“You left the party,” Dragon observed.“I never planned to attend it,” Bowman answered strictly.Dragon was rarely ever surprised, because most times, he always knew that moves people were about to make before they made them, even Bowman, but he did not see this one coming at all. Dragon was not offended that Bowman did not tell him about this plan; Bowman did not tell Dragon everything to begin with. He was just taken aback.“That is strange,” Dragon stated. “Isn’t it your party as well?” Dragon asked.Bowman remained quiet; his mind was on the task they were going to carry out, and in situations like these, Bowman preferred to stay quiet, because it helped him stay focus on the task at hand. Also, it helped him stay calculative even though he trusted that Dragon had already put everything in p
Name Unveiled
Laxus almost had his mouth open when he came out and he saw the caliber of people in the company’s hall.It was a large and gigantic hall with the biggest capacity that Laxus had ever seen, and it was beautifully decorated just for the occasion. “Please, let us all pay attention, because the CEO of this new company is about to make his first grand entrance,” the anchor of the party had said.Then there had been a still calmness.Laxus had stood in front of a wide curtain, not knowing what to expect, and as a result, he had been left with anticipation that rushed through his veins like adrenaline.“You can do this, Laxus,” Laxus had told himself firmly.Bowman already told him that the launching party would be aired live on the biggest and most popular TV channels and shows all over the entire country, and everyone would watch it just as it was happening. This was the biggest and hugest thing that had ever happened to Laxus. This feeling was completely new, because when he had worked
Godforsaken Interview!
“We should be ready to begin in a couple of minutes,” the interviewer, a sharp-witted, bright and cheerful, yet professional young lady said to her crew members.They were at Luther and Linnie’s matrimonial home for the couple’s interview of the year which would come with the juiciest deals they had ever gotten. Although the venue of the interview had initially been scheduled to take place at the TV station space, but it was later decided that interviewing them at the comfort of their home was better; of course, Darwin did pull a few strings to make that happen.They had been here for more than an hour now, but they were all patiently waiting for Luther and Linnie, because they knew that they were the power couple of the year, even though it was getting somewhat late.As soon as the interviewer and her crew members saw the stylists coming downstairs, they breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that it was an indication that their couple was done and they would be downstairs in a few minut
A King's Treat
Laxus did not bother much about Bowman’s absence or his conversation with the scary-looking man, because he was too engrossed with his thoughts.As Laxus looked around the wide, large, and incredibly spacious factory and all the things that Bowman said to him, he could not help but marvel.“All you should worry about is making a lifelong impression on everyone that would attend, and the world that would watch the highlight of the grand opening.”Those were Bowman’s words and they still rang in Laxus’s head like a bell. “I have a special speech to prepare for in a couple of hours,” Laxus told himself.He looked at himself and discovered how low he was looking, but then again, Bowman had said that there were already hired stylists. Everything was happening so fast and it felt like a sweet dream, and Laxus had to literally pinch himself to see if he would wake up.“So I am going to be the one responsible for building this from scratch,” Laxus talked to himself.Bowman’s time away was giv