They were almost reaching the restaurant. Gabriel wanted Andrei to dine with him there and asked him to but Andrei hesitated due to the exquisiteness of the restaurant he mentioned for he didn't know that Gabriel was taking him to such a luxurious restaurant. "It's just dinner, Andrei," Gabriel insisted, trying to persuade his friend. "You don't have to worry about the restaurant. I've got it covered."Andrei hesitated, glancing at Gabriel with uncertainty. "I appreciate the offer, but I don't want to impose," he replied, his tone tinged with reluctance.Gabriel shook his head, a reassuring smile playing on his lips. "Trust me, you're not imposing at all," he reassured Andrei. "Besides, it's been too long since we've caught up properly. Let me treat you to something nice."After a moment of consideration, Andrei nodded, a grateful smile spreading across his face. "Alright then, I'll join you," he agreed, his reservations fading away. "But I'm warning you, I'm going to enjoy every bit
Gabriel tried to maintain his composure in the face of Nora and Aliyah's mocking. Nora raised an eyebrow skeptically. "Oh, meeting someone, are you?" she quipped, her tone dripping with sarcasm.Aliyah chimed in with a smirk. "And who might that be? Someone as fancy as this restaurant?" she teased, her eyes gleaming with mischief.Gabriel shrugged, refusing to let their taunts get to him. "Just a friend," he replied nonchalantly, though inwardly he bristled at their remarks.Nora and Aliyah exchanged amused glances before bursting into laughter. Gabriel forced a smile, trying to brush off their ridicule. Deep down, though, he couldn't shake the feeling of embarrassment creeping over him.His jaw tensed as Nora and Aliyah continued their mockery, their words stinging like barbs. "Pretending to be rich now, are we?" Nora sneered, her tone dripping with disdain.Aliyah chimed in with a smirk. "Yeah, like we're supposed to believe you belong in a place like this," she added, her words la
As Gabriel stopped the waiter, his tone firm yet polite, he requested her to summon the manager. The waiter hesitated for a moment, clearly annoyed by Gabriel's persistence, but ultimately complied with his request to call the manager. With a reluctant sigh, she made her way to the manager's office and relayed Gabriel's complaint, emphasizing her frustration with his lack of preparedness and insistence on accessing the private room without a membership card.Meanwhile, Gabriel remained composed, knowing he needed to address the situation promptly. He glanced briefly at Nora and Aliyah, who were watching the scene unfold with amusement and disdain.A few moments later, the manager emerged from his office, his expression neutral but curious. The waiter gestured towards Gabriel, silently conveying the reason for her interruption.The manager's demeanor shifted from impatience to surprise as recognition dawned on him. "Oh, Master!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with disbelief.Gabriel n
At the house, Camella returned home with her daughter and slumped on the sofa. Jessie hurried off to get water for her mother.When she returned, Jessie handed her mother the cup of water, concern evident in her eyes. "Here, Mom. You look like you could use this," she said gently."Thank you, sweetheart," Camella replied, taking a sip and sighing deeply.Jessie sat down beside her mother, her brow furrowing with worry. "What's been bothering you, Mom? You seem really stressed lately," she observed.Camella hesitated for a moment before deciding to confide in her daughter. "Well, honey, I've been thinking a lot about my project at work," she admitted. "I have this opportunity to reach out to the Wellington Group, but I'm afraid they'll reject me because of the differences in our levels. It's been weighing heavily on my mind."Jessie reached out and gently squeezed her mother's hand. "I'm sure you'll do great, Mom. You're smart and capable, and you've worked really hard on this project
Gabriel leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face as he considered Andrei's question. "Well, Andrei, influence isn't something that comes overnight. It's about building relationships, gaining trust, and proving yourself worthy of respect," he explained cryptically.Andrei nodded slowly, his curiosity piqued. "But how did you manage to do it so quickly? It's like you have the whole world at your fingertips," he pressed, his eyes searching Gabriel's face for answers.Gabriel chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Let's just say I have my ways," he replied mysteriously, a knowing smile playing on his lips.Andrei raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Gabriel's cryptic response. "Well, whatever your secret is, it's definitely working," he remarked, a note of admiration in his voice.Gabriel nodded, a sense of satisfaction evident in his expression. "Thanks, Andrei. Just remember, influence is about more than just power. It's about using that power respon
The three men engaged in a conversation and Gabriel learned that Louis had retired from the underworld and opened a small shop. "That's quite the change of pace," Gabriel remarked, a note of surprise in his voice. "What made you decide to leave the underworld behind and open a shop?"Louis chuckled, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "It was time for a change," he explained. "After years of living on the edge, I wanted something more stable. Plus, I've always had a knack for business."Andrei nodded in agreement, impressed by Louis's decision. "It takes courage to leave behind the life you know and start something new," he remarked, his tone admiring.Louis shrugged modestly. "It wasn't easy, but it was worth it," he admitted. "I'm happier now than I've ever been."Gabriel smiled, genuinely happy for his friend. "I'm glad to hear that," he said sincerely. "And I'm sure your shop is doing well."Louis nodded, a proud gleam in his eyes. "It's been a success so far," he confirmed. "But en
The following day, Camella returned to the company and reported directly to Mark about excelling in the project by securing the cooperation with Wellington Group.Camella stood before Mark, her expression proud as she reported the successful collaboration with the Wellington Group. "I've secured their cooperation for our project," she announced confidently.Mark's response was not what she expected. He scoffed dismissively, shaking his head in disbelief. "You? Securing cooperation with the Wellington Group? Don't make me laugh, Camella. You're not capable of such a feat."Camella's confidence wavered, but she refused to back down. "I assure you, Mark, it's true. I've worked hard on this project, and my efforts have paid off."Mark's skepticism only seemed to grow. "I find that hard to believe, Camella. You've never been able to handle projects of this magnitude before. What makes you think you can now?"Camella's frustration mounted, but she maintained her composure. "I understand you
Gabriel realized it would be inconvenient not to have a car to pick up his daughter, so he went to the car dealership to buy one. Gabriel strolled into the car dealership, scanning the rows of gleaming vehicles with a sense of anticipation. Before he could make his way to the sales desk, he was intercepted by Fredrick, the sharp-tongued salesman notorious for his snarky comments."Well, well, well, look who's here," Fredrick remarked with a smirk, eyeing Gabriel up and down. "Back for another round of window shopping?"Gabriel raised an eyebrow, unimpressed by Fredrick's sarcasm. "Actually, I'm here to buy a car."Fredrick's smirk widened into a sneer. "Buy a car? With what, pocket lint?"Gabriel ignored Fredrick's jab, his expression remaining impassive. "I'm here to buy a car, not to discuss my financial status with you," he retorted calmly, his tone firm.Fredrick scoffed, a smirk playing on his lips. "Buying a car, huh? With what money?" he taunted, crossing his arms.Gabriel's e